The battle of Framsburg
Moderator: Greg
The battle of Framsburg
So I'm not quite sure this one is ready to fly but I haven't made any changes in a year or two so that's a good sign also It's solstice and I'm feeling sentimental.
It is part of the saga of Eofor as sung in Rohan and is a poem in the heroic Anglo Saxon style, with many kennings and alliteration. I will probably record it at some stage if anyone is interested in hearing it read in the style of Beowulf and am sure to anyone familiar with that work, my own love of it will shine through this.
There is a line Elleth may understand better than others but please enjoy or move on as you prefer
The battle of Framsburg
Listen, the two troll hunters were known for courage and greatness
We have heard of those grim wardens
There was Eofor of the Black Tusk, fury in the field
A man of Rohan to start with, he wandered far from his home
Hunting the demon of his youth
And the skalds sing too of Heimir Brondolfson, the fiery hound
That canny fighter who dealt death from afar
Never would his arrows miss, while his bow string held
Many were the trolls who fell to these two
No greater score since Hurin himself
The weregild of Eofor was a heavy price
A trail led to Framsburg, home of his ancestors
No happy homecoming for the horse lord
His unrelenting feud drew him, nothing but war
An oath fulfilled, a return to his people
To ride again the grasses of the Westfold
These things drew him, nothing but war
Down through the mist bands the shadow stepper roved
To cross the bridge in search of flesh
He snuffed the watchers in the dark
A guardian stepped forth, straddled the span
The troll hammer, anathema to his foe
The fiend knew his name, a famous kin slayer
They met on the bridge, each hateful to the other
Roaring Eofor like a torrent down its bank
Ready for danger and eager for it always
Five times he struck, five fearsome blows
Still the rage of the ruin dweller was plain
He lunged at his foe, overpowering
Things would have gone poorly then for the son of Leofric
But for the man of Dale,
No hanger on in a heroes armour
Though Tilion slept at the tiller, the Hound erred not
Barbs burst skin, blood smoked forth
The great bow sang it’s war song
In behind his shafts flew Heimir, keen cutting edge in hand
He drove in with steel, the smiths masterwork
And like his namesake harried his prey
No harder contest had the scourge of men faced
He would pay a heavy price for this nights feast
For to drive off the hound he let go the boar
Thengels retainer was up, slaughter knife in hand
A murderous tusk to the ribs,
Bone lappings burst, Bright blood boiled forth
The Ogre keened it’s death note, it’s last harvest reaped
No more death mongering in the high country
Those brave men had dealt a fatal blow
Away from Framsburg they went by morning
Weighed down with war spoil and a star under sun
The body lay for wolves if any would touch it
The hunt would go on, death price still due
Hard tidings indeed for the proud Helmingas
Woe without ending, nothing but war
It is part of the saga of Eofor as sung in Rohan and is a poem in the heroic Anglo Saxon style, with many kennings and alliteration. I will probably record it at some stage if anyone is interested in hearing it read in the style of Beowulf and am sure to anyone familiar with that work, my own love of it will shine through this.
There is a line Elleth may understand better than others but please enjoy or move on as you prefer
The battle of Framsburg
Listen, the two troll hunters were known for courage and greatness
We have heard of those grim wardens
There was Eofor of the Black Tusk, fury in the field
A man of Rohan to start with, he wandered far from his home
Hunting the demon of his youth
And the skalds sing too of Heimir Brondolfson, the fiery hound
That canny fighter who dealt death from afar
Never would his arrows miss, while his bow string held
Many were the trolls who fell to these two
No greater score since Hurin himself
The weregild of Eofor was a heavy price
A trail led to Framsburg, home of his ancestors
No happy homecoming for the horse lord
His unrelenting feud drew him, nothing but war
An oath fulfilled, a return to his people
To ride again the grasses of the Westfold
These things drew him, nothing but war
Down through the mist bands the shadow stepper roved
To cross the bridge in search of flesh
He snuffed the watchers in the dark
A guardian stepped forth, straddled the span
The troll hammer, anathema to his foe
The fiend knew his name, a famous kin slayer
They met on the bridge, each hateful to the other
Roaring Eofor like a torrent down its bank
Ready for danger and eager for it always
Five times he struck, five fearsome blows
Still the rage of the ruin dweller was plain
He lunged at his foe, overpowering
Things would have gone poorly then for the son of Leofric
But for the man of Dale,
No hanger on in a heroes armour
Though Tilion slept at the tiller, the Hound erred not
Barbs burst skin, blood smoked forth
The great bow sang it’s war song
In behind his shafts flew Heimir, keen cutting edge in hand
He drove in with steel, the smiths masterwork
And like his namesake harried his prey
No harder contest had the scourge of men faced
He would pay a heavy price for this nights feast
For to drive off the hound he let go the boar
Thengels retainer was up, slaughter knife in hand
A murderous tusk to the ribs,
Bone lappings burst, Bright blood boiled forth
The Ogre keened it’s death note, it’s last harvest reaped
No more death mongering in the high country
Those brave men had dealt a fatal blow
Away from Framsburg they went by morning
Weighed down with war spoil and a star under sun
The body lay for wolves if any would touch it
The hunt would go on, death price still due
Hard tidings indeed for the proud Helmingas
Woe without ending, nothing but war
But the white fury of the Northmen burned the hotter, and more skilled was their knighthood with long spears and bitter. Fewer were they but they clove through the Southrons like a fire-bolt in a forest.
- Elleth
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Re: The battle of Framsburg
Oh my...
... you have absolutely captured the feel and rhythm of the old songs. I'd have sworn you dug that out of a musty old book if I didn't recognize the names.
Very well done!!
... you have absolutely captured the feel and rhythm of the old songs. I'd have sworn you dug that out of a musty old book if I didn't recognize the names.
Very well done!!
Persona: Aerlinneth, Dúnedain of Amon Lendel c. TA 3010.
Re: The battle of Framsburg
Sir, I must protest. You are far too talented and it's quickly becoming offensive every time you post your work as I roil in jealousy that you have such a mind for writing.
Lol, I'm just being dumb. This is pure awesome sauce. Between you and Eric, I think we've got the foundation for the Inklings 2.0 here in our little group. Consider me as the first to ask, nay, demand a recording in the proper style at some point. Such prose deserves it. In fact, I'll probably recite it to my wife tonight as she enjoys poetry and she's been thinking about starting in on a Lady of Rohan kit. This poem is the perfect intersection of both.
Lol, I'm just being dumb. This is pure awesome sauce. Between you and Eric, I think we've got the foundation for the Inklings 2.0 here in our little group. Consider me as the first to ask, nay, demand a recording in the proper style at some point. Such prose deserves it. In fact, I'll probably recite it to my wife tonight as she enjoys poetry and she's been thinking about starting in on a Lady of Rohan kit. This poem is the perfect intersection of both.
Persona : Cimrandir - late 3rd Age Dunedain
- Taylor Steiner
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- Greg
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Re: The battle of Framsburg
But of course! How could I forget Mirimaran and the adventures of Daffodil Underhill!
Persona : Cimrandir - late 3rd Age Dunedain
Re: The battle of Framsburg
Excellent!
Re: The battle of Framsburg
You are all far too kind, especially since I know the quality of your own writings.
Thank you.
Thank you.
In my humble opinion nothing is more romantic in the bedchamber than a boisterous hwæt!
But the white fury of the Northmen burned the hotter, and more skilled was their knighthood with long spears and bitter. Fewer were they but they clove through the Southrons like a fire-bolt in a forest.
Re: The battle of Framsburg
You wrote that!? That was pretty epic! I would love to hear a reading while enjoying a full pipe and some ale.
‘If by your carelessness you wish to do our enemies work then you may as well carry one of his brands’
Re: The battle of Framsburg
I seldom need encouragement. Next time I have a quiet moment I will test out the new mic my wife gifted me.
But the white fury of the Northmen burned the hotter, and more skilled was their knighthood with long spears and bitter. Fewer were they but they clove through the Southrons like a fire-bolt in a forest.
- Iodo
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Re: The battle of Framsburg
I can't believe I left it so long to read this, it is amazing Eofor
Gimli: It's true you don't see many Dwarf-women. And in fact, they are so alike in voice and appearance, that they are often mistaken for Dwarf-men.
Aragorn: It's the beards.
Aragorn: It's the beards.
- Tom_Ranger
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Re: The battle of Framsburg
This is not just a flight of fancy; clearly you have put some serious effort in.
Well done.
Well done.
Life is a great adventure; if I live to be 10,000 years old, it won't be enough.
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Re: The battle of Framsburg
I too would love to hear this declaimed - even sung, perchance?
Having attempted alliterative verse, I know it's hard to do on its own, let alone including the kennings for the full archaic Germanic flavor. I salute you.
Having attempted alliterative verse, I know it's hard to do on its own, let alone including the kennings for the full archaic Germanic flavor. I salute you.
Glory be to God for dappled things
...
And áll trádes, their gear and tackle and trim. (Hopkins)
...
And áll trádes, their gear and tackle and trim. (Hopkins)
Re: The battle of Framsburg
Thanks Iodo, Tom and Loon.
I practice a lot by (when I am sure no one is around!) using heroic verse to describe whats going on or everyday things too.
Tom_Ranger wrote: ↑Wed Jul 06, 2022 11:38 am This is not just a flight of fancy; clearly you have put some serious effort in.
Well done.
Alliterative verse is so silky smooth off the tongue that it actually comes pretty easily to me and I think that's because I often forget my lines and have to improvise when doing Beowulf.Desert Loon wrote: ↑Sun Jul 24, 2022 12:08 am Having attempted alliterative verse, I know it's hard to do on its own, let alone including the kennings for the full archaic Germanic flavor. I salute you.
I practice a lot by (when I am sure no one is around!) using heroic verse to describe whats going on or everyday things too.
But the white fury of the Northmen burned the hotter, and more skilled was their knighthood with long spears and bitter. Fewer were they but they clove through the Southrons like a fire-bolt in a forest.