Sunday, July 09, 2006

XIII - The Challenge

[The scene] The young upstart, Percy Bysshe Silly, has issued a challenge to our hero, the Knight. He stands in a clearing with his faithful manservant, Sancho.

[Sancho]
xxxx"You must take up the glove, of course.
xxxxSuch challenges must be met.
xxxxI'll be there beside you, with my horse.
xxxxWell, it's pretend really; it's all that I could get."

[The Knight]
xxxx"Sancho, I really doubt it wise.
xxxxWhat does it show of me, a virile male,
xxxxTo lower myself to such enterprise,
xxxxAnd what if I was to fail?"

[Sancho]
xxxx"But Master, don't forget the prize!
xxxxThe lovely maiden: pure and sweet and chaste!
xxxxOf course, you may do otherwise
xxxxBut I beg of you: Accept! Post haste!"

[The Knight]
xxxx"But would a maid who sorts her beaux
xxxxBy way of pre-dawn thrust and parry
xxxxBe the sort of maid I'd want to know?
xxxxIn a biblical sense, maybe. But marry?"

[Sancho]
xxxx"O Master, do not worry so!
xxxxWith your skills, your opposite is quaking!
xxxxEnter! I beg of you; there's a week to go
xxxxAnd the prize is worth the taking!"

[The Knight]
xxxx"To protect the young maid's honour I'll
xxxxRespond to the taunting of this clown!
xxxxTo fight in such a tawdry way is vile
xxxxBut if declined, how would I live it down?"

[Sancho]
xxxx"Thank you Master! I will be your second!
xxxxI expect you'll trounce the cad, of course.
xxxxBut if things don't go as I've reckoned...
xxxxDo you think I could have your horse?"

---
© J Cosmo Newbery
--- Print this post

16 comments:

  1. Never mind previous comment in below post. I see the dueling has started...
    soooooo, break a leg, err, a word?

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  2. Sadly, I fear I am outgunned. The upstart Percy can call in votes from every policeman in NY.

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  3. AnonymousJuly 10, 2006

    Truly I do quake! Lol!

    Yet suppose not, O most churlish and reptilian unkempt cad, that thou shalt intimidate me as we await word on the proposed topic from the fair one.

    Talking trash is talking trash,
    I shall not flinch nor gulp.
    Thou can'st not turn my face white ash;
    I turn the heads of blocks to pulp.

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  5. They are all worth a fight; the true gentleman defends them all. And, God willing, there will be some fight in them too.

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  6. Thank you x-dell; you are obviously a man of discerning taste. A rare and most admirable quality.

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  7. A thousand ships launched,
    And Dragons Slayed~
    Sampsons secret spilled-
    For the love of a "maid"...

    Kingdoms built,
    Villages burned to a crisp-
    Knights mortally wounded,
    For a maidens kiss.

    And was the risk worth it?
    Was the maid worth the blood?
    As his arms encircled her body-
    He knew- he'd have died for her love!

    But what of THIS duel?
    One of words, prose and wit?
    Oh- These men will be safe,
    No blood will be spilt!

    And what of the maid?
    She's embarrased, but glad-
    This is( by far)the most bloggy fun,
    She's EVER had!!!

    -Cora/Maydens Voyage :)

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  9. So, I take it you plan to vote for Sir Percy Bysshe Silly.

    I'm not hurt. I'm not upset. No, no, don't worry about me. I'm fine, thank you. Just fine.

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  10. Okay now,
    I'm ready for some fun silliness...
    let's go...

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  11. Gentle Newbery- a scented handkerchief for you, warmed from being close to my body- given as a token of my affection for you, in light of the "slight" of one of your previous admirers...
    Be comforted~
    ;)

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  12. I love it here! I may wander back again. Poetry, prose and whimsy. What more could one want?

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  13. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  14. AnonymousJuly 11, 2006

    How would you know if they did? You know, if they told you then they haven't, have they? Sort of.

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  15. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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