A host of furious fancies...

[fajrdrako]

From Tom O'Bedlam, written anonymously in England c. 1600:

With a host of furious fancies
Whereof I am commander,
With a burning spear and a horse of air,
To the wilderness I wander.
By a knight of ghostes and shadowes
I summon'd am to tourney
Ten leagues beyond the wild world's end.
Methinks it is no journey.

Comments

[threeringedmoon.livejournal.com]

I've always been astonished how modern this poem seems, even without updating its language. I think I first encountered it via Poul Anderson's reference.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I first encountered it in a Marion Zimmer Bradley novel. It has such a nice resonance.

[auriaephiala.livejournal.com]

I've always loved this poem. What a great one to end with!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'm happy with the choice!

I've always thought this passage was a great metaphor for book-reading.

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

With a burning spear and a horse of air

I like that image. A very evocative poem for one so short.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

The whole poem isn't so short, but that's the best bit.

Nice icon.

[dejla.livejournal.com]

And I so love this one too.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

It's such a good statement of wonderment.

[raissad.livejournal.com]

Loved it. :)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Me too!

[duncanmac.livejournal.com]

I too probably encountered it first via Poul Anderson, but Michael "Moonwulf" Longcor's setting of it to music is what I usually remember these days.

One of these days, I'd love to come over and introduce you to Mr. Longcor's music -- I have a couple of his CDs. But I'll wait till you're better ... and I hope that happens soon. :-/

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Thank you - my cold is progressing the way such things do. I'm hoping the cough will have dissipated by tomorrow. Fingers crossed!

I think I've head music by Michael Longcor but I can't recall what.