Classic Poem

" Immediately before the Duke rode Taillefer the minstrel, singing with a loud and clear voice the lay of Charlemagne and Roland, and the emprises of the paladins who had fallen in the dolorous pass of Roncevaux. Taillefer, as his guerdon, had craved permission to strike the first blow, for he was a valiant warrior, emulating the deeds which he sung: his appellation, Taille-fer , is probably to be considered not as his real name, but as an epithet derived from his strength and prowess: and he fully justified his demand, by transfixing the first English-man whom he attacked, and by felling the second to the ground. " — Quoted from a description of the battle of Hastings, by Sir F. Palgrave.
In German Taillefer is a trisyllable, as it it also in old French, and as it would be even in modern French poetry . I have, however, made it a dis-syllable, as it is thus that most Englishmen, acquainted with French, would probably pronounce it. It means, " having an iron frame " . Compare the surname
" Ironside " , given to Edmund II
Duke William the Norman spake out one day:
" Who sings in my court and my room alway?
Who sings from the morning till late at night
So sweetly, my heart seems to laugh outright? "

" 'Tis Taillefer, my liege, that so sweetly sings,
In the court, as the windlass around he swings,
In the room, as the fire he fans and rakes,
When at eve he lies down, and at morn awakes. "

" 'Tis well " , quoth the duke, " I've a servant rare
In Taillefer, who serves me with faith and care.
The wheel he turns and the fire makes bright,
And so clearly he sings that my heart grows light. "

Then Taillefer answered — " were I but free,
Far better I'd labour and sing for thee!
How well on horseback I'd serve my lord,
And sing, as I clashed my shield and sword! "

Soon Taillefer rode to the battle-field
On a war-horse stout, with sword and shield;
Duke William's sister, as down she gazed
From a turret, the knight's bold bearing praised.

And when 'neath her turret he rode, he sang;
Like a breeze, and next like a storm it rang;
She cried — " When he singeth, what joys awake!
The tower is shaken, my heart doth quake! "

Duke William sailed with a mighty host
O'er the rolling billows to England's coast.
He sprang from the ship — on his hands he fell:
" Ha! England! " he shouted — " I grasp thee well! "

As the Norman host to the battle strode,
For a boon, to the duke brave Taillefer rode.
" Many years have I sung, while thy fire I made,
Many years, while the sword and the lance I've swayed.

If I've served thee and sung to thy heart's delight,
At first as a servant, and last as a knight,
Then grant me this boon — when the morn shall shine,
Let the first blow struck at the foe be mine! "

With sword and spear he his horse bestrode,
Before the whole army brave Taillefer rode;
Over Hastings' field his song rang out,
Of Roland he sang, and of heroes stout.

When the " Roland-song " rose loud as a blast,
Many standards waved, many hearts beat fast;
Its notes with courage the knights inspire;
For well, as he sang, could he fan their fire!

Then charging, his first quick thrust he gave,
An English knight to the ground he drave;
His sword he swung for the first swift blow,
An English knight on the ground lay low.

The Normans beheld it, and stayed not long;
With yells and smiting of shields they throng;
Hark! arrows are whirring, swords clash in the fray,
Till Harold is slain and his host gives way.

The Duke on the field his standard spread,
His tent he pitched i' the midst o' the dead;
A golden beaker his table graced,
And the English crown on his head was placed.

" Come, pledge me, my Taillefer brave, this day!
In love and in grief thou hast tuned thy lay,
But on Hastings' field thou hast sung me a song
Shall ring in my ears for my whole life long. "