He King sits upon his fair throne in his court
Hearing tales of good crops and good store
When into his bailey there rides a young page
Dismounting before the King's door.
"Forgive me, O King, for my road-weary state
But urgently you must attend,
For I come from the kingdom that lies to your North
And our land is besieged by foul men!
Oh, lend us your swords, your shields and your strength
To stave off the breach of our walls
This foe is too great, we cannot hold long,
Make haste before our kingdom falls!"
"Your peril is clear," the King answers the page,
"And fairly your words do implore,
But why should my countrymen suffer your fate
And ride off to die in your war?"
The King sips his wine with his steward close by
Giving word of fair weather to be
When into his hall runs a squire from the East
Who before the King falls to one knee.
"Forgive me, O King, for my road-weary state,
But urgently you must attend,
For I come from the kingdom that lies to your East
And our land is besieged by foul men!
Oh, lend us your swords, etc.
"Your peril is clear," the King answers the squire,
"And fairly your words do implore
But why should my countrymen... etc.
The harvest is in and the King is at feast
With his Queen he begins a pavane
When into his hall limps a knight from the West
With a helmet and coat of plates on.
"Forgive me, O King, for my road-weary state,
But urgently you must attend,
For I come from the kingdom that lies to your East
And our land is besieged by foul men!
Oh, lend us your swords, etc.
"Your peril is clear," the King answers the knight,
"And fairly your words do implore,
But why should my countrymen... etc.
The fires burn bright and the King bids his bard
Tell of deeds of the heroes of old
But the light is soon dimmed as the doors open wide
And a Duke staggers in from the cold.
"Forgive me, O King, for my road-weary state,
But urgently you must attend,
For I come from the kingdom that lies to your South
And our land is besieged by foul men!
Oh, lend us your swords, etc.
"Your peril is clear," the King answers the Duke,
"And fairly your words do implore
But why should my countrymen... etc.
The King sits upon his fair throne once again
Under siege is his castle so grand
His crops feed his foe while his own people starve
And his enemies ravage his land.
"O King, if you'd joined with your kinsmen but once
This day might have not come to be
But your indifferent heart finds you now without friends
And lays your realm naked to me!"
Take warning all ye who like islands would stand,
For when evil is laid at your doors
A land without allies becomes a land lost
And another man's war becomes yours.