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It was the dawning of the year
When five stars shot from the sky–
On shining wings of Vulcan, brazen tyrants to defy.
No weapon wrought of Earth could fell
Those five valiant men-at-arms;
No villain’s fury lay them low
Nor violence bring them harm.
But a lion can a fox become
When his need is for deceit–
T’was not by might, but cunning,
Brought our heroes’ first defeat.
Their enemy: an honest fiend,
High of head and chivalry,
A hawk of war that bit the hand he’d served so faithfully;
Without his hound, or lady fair, the chevalier arrived,
Hailed loud by shameless hunting horn,
He faced the host
Of five.
No plate nor harness had he worn,
On a horse of white did ride,
And though his sword was honed and sharp it hung harmless at his side.
His coat was soft, and azure blue,
And azure was the field
Against which blazed a lion Or
Upon his banner’s shield.
He offered no resistance to the company of foes,
And in his naked hand he bore
A single bloom
Of rose.
“Good gentlemen, my noble friends,
Brave warriors from the stars;
Never has the Earth beheld such grand and fearsome arms.
But though steel and arrows pierce you not,
You are but children that I see–
And none among you strong enough
To tilt a lance with me.
Therefore I come before you, unarmored in repose,
To propose a simple game:
A duel of traded blows.
Should you agree to fight me
Man to shieldless man,
You may strike before me and I’ll take the blow you land.
And should I flinch, or shy away,
Or if my knees should bend,
Then death will find me here and now,
And just will be
My end.”
The Fifth was first upon the scene:
As from a dragon long ago
His flame-lit spear, as well as sword
He bore; a matchless foe.
“I’ll take your wager and your game”
Proudly said the page,
“But before you perish at my hand,
I’d have you know
My name.”
They traded titles and salutes,
Then the Fifth of Five took aim,
Fearless, though his striking true would mean he’d take the same.
He knew nothing of this haughty man,
Save that he’d proven sly;
Thought he: “I’ll gamble that this knight
Will cower first, and die.”
His trident flashed– like vipers’ fangs;
That force to none would yield;
It might have felled a dozen knights, and broken any shield.
From those tips of deadly steel
The king of beasts would flinch–
They drove longside the Rose Knight’s face,
Who did not move
An inch.
Then quick as as silver, sharp as shame,
The second’s sword slid past his skin;
And twixt the two a skein of silk
Could not have passed therein.
The Fifth of Five had grasped his hilt
But no chance to pull it free–
As fast as it began the duel
Was lost, and so
Was he.
And now, though neither blood had spilt,
He knelt at his rival’s feet;
The Rose Knight lowered down his sword
And smiled, half discreet.
“Well fought,” said he, as though that night
He’d never once risked harm,
And to the vanquished boy he’d fought he offered up his arm;
“Nought but gracious thanks have I
For one so fierce in pride–
To come with might far greater
Yet for honor, leave it aside.
So, good friend, moan not your loss;
For the hour and field will be
Both likewise in your favor when we meet again,” quoth he.
“Twelvemonth from now, on Christmas Eve,
I wot our wager we’ll renew:
That whatever blow you land on me,
I shall return
To you."
Well-wroth the Fifth leapt to his feet,
Held aloft unbloodied brand,
Vowing: “however long the row ahead I’ll harrow til you’re dead;
And whether I cut first or no, on that Christmastide–
By eve’s end we’ll see how well
The loser pays his debts
from Hell.”
“I look forward to the day” was all the knight replied,
Sheathing sword, he turned his back,
And away to doom
Did ride.
–That bloody eve of Christmas,
Just as the knight foretold,
They met upon a field of stars
Whereon the future would unfold.
The Knight of Roses charged alone,
And with his sword, swung wide–
The promised wound he fell upon drove deep into his side.
Behind him shone the Earth in blue,
As blue as his maille and coat;
The Knight of Roses died in arms,
A word of praise within his throat.
The Fifth of Five cried out in pain,
Bright tears in his star-stung eyes;
Too late he felt his own heart break
On that wartorn
Wintertide.