Sir Percival and Sir Roland

Sir Percival and Sir Roland

by Michael Espinoza



Sirs Percival and Roland
Were a-fighting for the crown.
Sing, sing, sing, sing a lay, O!
The king was dead without an heir,
And so to war went knightly pair
Upon the earth which they did tear
As fought they on the down.
Sing, sing, sing, sing a lay!

Fierce enemies were nobles twain
And neither one would give.
Sing, sing, sing, sing a lay, O!
They swore the war would never stop,
Until the one or other drop
And so the throne his foe would cop,
As only he would live.
Sing, sing, sing, sing a lay!

The knightly armies readied they
Upon that early morn.
Sing, sing, sing, sing a lay, O!
The two like bulls did paw the ground,
Unsheath their brands and start to bound,
As fanfare artists each did sound
A blast upon his horn.
Sing, sing, sing, sing a lay!

The enemies fought valiantly
For hopes of lasting fame.
Sing, sing, sing, sing a lay, O!
The battle lasted hours on end,
For neither did elect to bend,
That warriors with blades to rend
Were matched about the same.
Sing, sing, sing, sing a lay!

The clash of steel was heard for miles
From solitary hill.
Sing, sing, sing, sing a lay, O!
A thirst for blood was in the air
And were it not for one affair
Their ghosts would yet remain up there
A-fighting battle still.
Sing, sing, sing, sing a lay!

For in their midst a Babe appeared
Between the armies twain.
Sing, sing, sing, sing a lay, O!
Each knight did lower brand to thigh,
Called truce, that infant may not die
Upon that hill so towering high
And bring on both a bane.
Sing, sing, sing, sing a lay!

"From whence come thou?" the knights inquired
Of Babe so wondrous fair.
Sing, sing, sing, sing a lay, O!
The Babe looked up, but not a word
From out his mouth the champions heard--
Instead the infant softly purred
As though he lacked a care.
Sing, sing, sing, sing a lay!

"I'll save thee from this villain!"
Said Sir Percival to he.
Sing, sing, sing, sing a lay, O!
"Well, I like that!  'Tis I shall save
The child from thee, thou wretched knave!"
Sir Roland said.  "Or else behave
And cede the crown to me!"
Sing, sing, sing, sing a lay!

The voices raised provoked the child
Into a mournful cry.
Sing, sing, sing, sing a lay, O!
No man could say the knights so rough
Were less than manly, less than tough,
Yet both agreed they'd not rebuff
The child of tearful eye.
Sing, sing, sing, sing a lay!

"What sayest thou?  If Babe should choose
Among us twain his king,
Sing, sing, sing, sing a lay, O!
Upon my word I will agree,
And condescend to bend the knee
If it should hap that he choose thee;
I'll be thy underling.
Sing, sing, sing, sing a lay!"

Thus spoke Sir Percival unto
Sir Roland, his great foe.
Sing, sing, sing, sing a lay, O!
"If thou agreest, then no man
Since ever hath the world began
Can say of Roland that he can
Do less."  And bowed he low.
Sing, sing, sing, sing a lay!

"We put the matter now to thee,
Dear Babe," they did essay.
Sing, sing, sing, sing a lay, O!
"Which of us twain would thou have see
Be sovereign?  Which is it to be?"
The Babe did grin in boyish glee
But nothing did he say.
Sing, sing, sing, sing a lay!

"Now really, this is quite absurd!"
Sir Percival did cry.
Sing, sing, sing, sing a lay, O!
"I could agree more with thee none,
For there can only be but one
To rule, when all is said and done."
Said Roland in reply.
Sing, sing, sing, sing a lay!

The sun is nearing noontime peak
Upon that lonely hill.
Sing, sing, sing, sing a lay, O!
The morning is becoming late
As Percival and Roland wait,
And were it not for sudden fate,
They'd be a-waiting still.
Sing, sing, sing, sing a lay!

A fancy took Sir Percival,
And took Sir Roland, too.
Sing, sing, sing, sing a lay, O!
The two did genuflect to he
Who lay upon the grass to see,
And bowed they both the head and knee
As reign began anew.
Sing, sing, sing, sing a lay!

Sirs Percival and Roland marched
Into the neighboring moor.
Sing, sing, sing, sing a lay, O!
Betwixt them carried they their king,
As merry as a summer spring,
Unto the palace, there to bring
The child who'd stopped the war.
Sing, sing, sing, sing a lay!

Sirs Percival and Roland are
No longer two proud blighters.
Sing, sing, sing, sing a lay, O!
They've sworn unto his majesty
That ne'er will they be enemy
But ever will show loyalty
As his most valued fighters.
Sing, sing, sing, sing a lay!

Sirs Percival and Roland, with
Their armies in alliance,
Sing, sing, sing, sing a lay, O!
Are twice as powerful as one,
And since that day have just begun
Protecting realm, so there are none
Dare show the king defiance!
Sing, sing, sing, sing a lay!