The Most generous Eastern Counsels
Tindal and Alberic in regards to
Those that rise up to their inspired paths
Have found, to Our eyes, one whose service shines
From the Skies to the Center of of the Earth
Accursed Gorgons of ancient poets
Born in cavernous depths, were siblings three
Euryale and Stheno stood with Medusa
Both forever damned for that decision
Stheno put up brass hands for what was right
Timbrien, like the eldest Gorgon stands
For her sisters in arms. For their training
For support and for the role of leading
We do not bury low such a one as this
But set upon her brow, six pearls, like eyes
For all to see the Baroness Timbrien
Done today at the Coronation of
Ioannes and Ro Honig the second
In the Barony of Concordia
Word Count 136
The opportunity to compose Timbrien's Court Barony pleased me enormously, as I had written the words of their Silver Wheel. For the Wheel I had been told they favored Norse and Old English. so I had chosen the language of Beowulf. For the court barony, I decided to break out the Dróttkvætt meter.
The only line of description I had was: “continued fostering of the female fighter community.” That description alone had a marvelous amount of alliteration in it already, so I sat down to use the meter … and found myself struggling throughout the entire process. The syllable count and the rhymes were fighting me every other metric foot.
I had gotten through:
Robust Rings of Rending
Rule the staunch East kingdom
Tindal and Alberic
Together Consuls, fearsome
I had managed to work a kenning into the first sentence:
I found the kenning, “Ring-Damager - GENEROUS RULER,” from my beloved source The Skaldic Project. I played with it a bit and changed "Damager" to "Renderer," to fit the meter. "Robust" made the metre correct and the next line was Rule. I was pleased with it.
Then I was trying to work in Their Majesties names into the next section and I came to a crashing halt. I just couldn’t seem to fit “Tindal and Alberic” in any combination into the metre. I decided to continue writing and revisit that later.
I continued to work on the composition and I was tearing my hair out. Nothing was coming easily and I was struggling. I turned back to the recommendation and re-read that again, hoping to discover more inspiration. Then, to my horror, I noticed something that had not been included on their wiki or their previous write up. The recipient had a Roman Gladiator persona.
My writing did not match her persona!
Everything came to a screeching halt.
After waiting a full 24 hours, I began to do some research on Roman writing. From Wikipedia to several other sources I distilled their writing to Unrhymed Iambic Pentameter. And to misquote the 80s detective show, Moonlighting: “I hate Iambic Pentameter!” I have been thinking of taking some sort of online class on it because I don’t think I am truly understanding it through the written word. Perhaps hearing a lesson would help? It’s a project for another time.
My husband found a list on Wikipedia of a List of Roman Phases and I found a small essay on How would Caesar's contemporaries have addressed and referred to him? Armed with selections from these, I set about writing the first paragraph of the scroll.
The Most generous Eastern Consuls
This is directly from the article linked to above. “If you were grateful for a gift it might be liberalissime Caesar, “most generous Caesar.” I used the translation of the latin directly as this referenced something that was given, as the Consuls are giving the award.
Tindal and Alberic in regards to
Those that rise up to their inspired paths
This line was in direct reference to why the recipient was being given this award. For their continued works in their chosen area of focus in the East Kingdom.
Have found, to Our eyes, one whose service shines
From the Skies to the Center of of the Earth
Cuius est solum, eius est usque ad coelum et ad inferos - "From the skies to the center of the earth" - is a term that has its origins in the 13th century dealing with property laws. While I was not using it in its lawyerly context, I was particularly enamored of the images it invoked if the Roman Mythosand where the Gods lived. Little did I realize how much this would fit in with the body of the scroll ...
I had put out a message to Sir Ryouko'jin, one of the contacts listed in the write up and the one that I was friends with on Facebook. We shared a fabulous conversation, and gave me a wonderful piece of information. Timbrien identified with Stheno, one of the three Gorgon sisters. This information was GOLD! It led me to a fury of research.
My husband, computer wonder that he is, found a translation of Ovid, by Brooks More, who wrote the first iteration of Medusa. This version of the story made no mention of Medusa’s sisters. Then we found Medusa and the affair with Poseidon. This and some other internet sources including: Gorgons and Medusa, Britannica Gorgons, Greek Mythology and Stheno.
I HAD INSPIRATION NOW!!!
Accursed Gorgons of ancient poets
There are several versions of the stories of Medusa and her sisters.Not just by Ovid, though he does appear to be the first we have found. I felt invoking the poets would be a good transition from the brief description of TRM and the recipient I had included in the first, “paragraph.”
Born in cavernous depths, were siblings three
This is where I solidified the earth/sky motif I had inadvertently begun with the earlier quote, “From the Skies to the Center of of the Earth.” All of what I read seemed to agree that the Gorgon sisters were both born in caves and lived in them.
Euryale and Stheno stood with Medusa
Both forever damned for that decision
This is the first time I named the Gorgon sisters. Unlike the way they are usually referenced, in age order, for the flow of the scroll I listed them as middle sister, eldest and youngest. There is no other reason thanI started the second sentence after this with “Stheno.”
Stheno put up brass hands for what was right
I thought that “Put up brass hands” was evocative of “throw up hands” or “throw up some hands,” current phrases that indicate a willingness to fight. Brass was used for 2 reasons: Stheno’s monstrous description often includes, besides snake hair and tusks, that she had brass hands. It also makes one think of brass knuckles, which ties in with the “throw hands” image I was trying to evoke.
Timbrien, like the eldest Gorgon stands
Here is where I directly mention that Stheno was the oldest sister, since I'd mentioned her out of order earlier. I felt it was important to emphasize her implied higher rank.
For her sisters in arms. For their training
For support and for the role of leading
In these sentences I am emphasizing all the work that Timrien has done to earn the accolades she’s received.
We do not bury low such a one as this
This is the line that I felt brought the Earth and sky theme full circle in the scroll.
But set upon her brow, six pearls, like eyes
This line was in direct response to my discussion with Sir Ryou. He told me about the design for Timbrien’s coronet, which would include snakes with eyes that would be the “pearls!" I even passed this on to Magdalena, which inspired her to include snakes in her design. I feel like with one conversation I gained an inspiration that will influence all aspects of the award. This pleased me enormously.
For all to see the Baroness Timbrien
I can only hope the herald says this with the same amount of power and triumph in their voice that I hear in my head when I read it!
Done today at the Coronation of
Ioannes and Ro Honig the Second
In the Barony of Concordia
The concluding few sentences of the scroll don’t particularly feature any clever wordplay. I simply made them adhere to the 10 syllable line and put in all the pertinent information.
All told I am very proud of how this scroll turned out. It started in a completely different direction from where it started, to where it ended up. I am very pleased at the coordination between the illumination/calligrapher and with the coronet that the new baroness will receive.
Honestly I went from struggling to inspired on this piece, and I hope it shows.
Final Court of Their Majesties Consul Tindal and Consul Alberic
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