Of courtesy

[Lance Harrop <lharrop@mrj.com>]

Lady Susanna
> 
> 	Casually your memory courts the day, noting the passage
> of form, shadow-shifting whimsically, casting figures in much grander 
> scale than humble actuality-

Nay, I do not hold with these Greek philosophers, who think the world but 
a base shadow cast upon a cave wall, with perfection every beyond our 
sight, hidden, behind us.  Of such perfection that God or nature may 
allow, have I ever been the willing observor.  And grand has this 
striving for perfection been, humble, not at all.

> -such is perhaps the function of
> the sun, to color in imagined glory that which would otherwise
> remain grey.

Pray thee slander not the sun so.  'Tis the moon that gives false light 
which leads to imaginings and confusion.  The bright rays of the sun are 
every true, as even so 'tis your heart I'll warrant, and gives good report 
of what is and is not.  What errors I may compose of my memories are mine 
alone, and not the fault of treachous light, for the sun does ever give 
true report of your fair self, like as it does of all the fair flowers of 
Atlantia.

> 	Perhaps again (for what are these if not the musings
> and possibilities of Dream, composed of and created from the air?) the
> wind better deserves your badge.  Such is the power of wit's motion--to 
> sweep up and array in finery a common slip of cloth--cloth the
> red of flame, of the fair mountains of Isenfir--as pennant,
> militantly at attention or relaxed in lapping folds according to its 
> gust and whisper. 

T'was no common cloth, I hold, that so delightfully draped a form of 
grace and pose.  For if even common on the bolt, t'was surely ennobled by 
its purpose, and in so serving one so fair became finer in the cutting 
and sewing thereto.  That it be from the fair mountains of Isenfir, then 
only proof of its nobility.
> 
> So much like the sun to glare about, assuming such
> authority, known to all, and so by this familiarity, commanding
> here a room, there a chaperone.  Illumination tinted to his eye's 
> intent, the pigment on the page depicts in every merry shade of 
> red the flowers in her hand while outlining his sword in valor and 
> courage, lest her name and honor need protecting.  

Nay, my Lady, my intent is pure, and has no false or rosey tint.  And 
true it is that I'll defend those fair of heart, both name and honor and 
needs it, person, though t'would be no pain, indeed, to defend those also 
so fair of form.

> 	Perhaps your claim to sun-as-badge befits you, good my
> lord, and I was mistaken, after all.
> 
When badged, my eagle does charge the sun, as though encased by the fair 
inspiration of the good and noble ladies of Atlantia.  When arms, my 
eagle rises on the warmer airs same sun does provide, just as I hope 
someday to rise on the inspiration of these sweet and fair ladies, to my 
betterment and service to all.

In Service
Leifr