Beneath the fells and woods of green,

Where scarcely any man hath been,

There proudly festered in the gloom,

The goblin hall, built in a tomb.

Below the rotten beams there dwelled,

The goblin king and court was held,

Where many goblin folk did feast,

On mouldy mushrooms reeking grease.

Each night with cups of rancid ale,

The hunching goblins heard the tale,

How slinking sires through fissures narrow,

First made the hall amid the barrow.

One night when to the lore were listening,

Amongst the youths with wide eyes glistening,

A lad unhappy with his lot -

The goblin brave called Balgerot.

He heard of hushed in legends rare,

The graceful knights who true and fair,

With banners snapping ride, and run,

Above the ground, beneath the sun.

‘Must goblin-folk forever bide,

In damp, and crumbling holes reside?

To chivalry and beauty vex,

Forever pale with unwashed necks?’

So spoke the youth beside the hearth,

His siblings beat the bench and laughed,

Cruel mock’d and jeered his words with malice,

‘Want you a horse? A perfumed palace?’

They beat his brow, and snarling, taunting,

Beyond the hall they sent him haunting,

Lonely paths and tunnels deep,

Where by a pool he knelt to weep.

‘Is naught but one career my fate?

One route for goblinkind to take-

To filthy dwell in villainy,

No room for fair-fought chivalry.’

'If valour is too fine a word,

To under goblin hills be heard,

Then keep your grime, your thief’s renown,

Your crumbling cave, that stolen crown!'

Then in the dim-lit cavern pool,

With waters washing pale and cool,

Away the stench of hard-turned years,

And lifted clear his bitter tears.

Now creeping quite renewed and roused,

Whence war-loot long his kindred housed,

The pilfered plunder laid in hoard,

With arms and treasures, sleeping stored.

The haubregon - fair-brightly rusted,

With ancient links full bent and bursted,

Enclosed the limbs - cracked brace and greave,

His ancient ancestors once thieved.

A helm of spear-marked iron he found,

The cote, the shield, and lastly bound,

About his waist, decayed by dirt,

A belt and beaten sword well-girt.

Now Balgerot, full bold-arrayed,

From darkness climbed and clambered made,

His crossing out to the cave-mouth high,

Whence opened up beyond – the sky.

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Across the fells and woods of green,

Where scarcely goblin kind hath been,

He through the whistling trees did run,

Above the ground, beneath the sun.

But something close - and winding nearer,

The goblin crept to see the clearer,

A harnessed horse - bedecked to ride,

And sleeping soldier lain beside.

And Balgerot was full amazed!

With milky moon-round eyes he gazed,

Aghast, beheld the knight and saw,

The perfect panoply he wore.

The high-peaked helm of iron burnished,

With inlaid gold and leather furnished,

Figures wrought of ancient things,

And glittering mail of close-bound rings.

Then something in his heart came stirring,

A need his goblin hand was spurring,

For quick the bright-bound sword to thieve-

For Barrow boldly to retrieve.

The knight disturbed by shifting light,

Awoke - and startled by the sight,

Was scrambling standing to his feet,

His foreign friend or foe to greet.

‘Who hither brazen comes?’ he cried,

And standing straight - the orc replied,

‘My name is Balgerot of Barrow,

I fear not sword or quivering arrow’.

From foot to pate the knight surveyed,

The goblin brave so strange arrayed,

‘What mischief came you buy this gear?

Thou art no lord or squire, I fear.'

‘And who art thou?’ said he, ‘To be,

So armed with airs of chivalry,

Take up that thing from off your belt -

We’ll see what accolade thou'st been dealt!’

The two then drew their swords in kind,

And rusted iron met steel in bind,

So shield to shield and blade on blade,

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Went ringing out around the glade.

No shame he brought then as they fought,

Each blow that came, he made retort,

But soon his shield was split and broke,

His knees collapsed beneath the stroke.

So Balgerot lay splayed and beat,

Said the knight - ‘No Sir should know defeat!

I’ve tarried enough and now I’ll go -

Thou art not worth my mercy blow.’

Away he rode with rattling reins,

And left our lad to weep again.

‘More ways may not a knight be tested,

Than if he triumphs or is bested?’

So hunched he sat there in a hollow,

His quest had brought yet naught but sorrow!

But soon between his sniffles smelled,

A sweeting scent that liked him well.

The hurried knight had left his fire!

With meat and cheese, food well-desired,

He supped and sat there made his keep,

And laid him down beside to sleep.

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When came the rosy-fingered dawn,

With better hopes he went once more.

He climbed the rooted cliff all craggy,

And overlooked the verdant valley.

So down he went into the vale,

And walked a while the wooded trail,

But soon he spied with knives in hand,

And knotted staves - a cutthroat band.

But as he neared them to behold,

It's known no goblin carries gold,

No sooner seen his face of green,

Than had they fled and hid unseen.

So next he now continued forth,

As he went south, saw riding north,

A knight that bore a scarlet shield,

With golden hearts upon it's field.

'Well met, Sir Knight!' The goblin said,

'There are bandits by the road ahead-

Be wary lest they snatch your reins,

And take your goods for selfish gain.'

The rider jerked the bridle back,

And braced himself for an attack,

'I'll take your warning, Orc, but flee -

I have no time for Goblin schemes.'

So by the road on linden bent,

His head hung low - and heart full-spent.

Thus Balgerot when morning came,

Defeated; made for home again.

He trudged along and cried a curse -

'We are not meant for winning spurs.'

But when he knew the barrow near,

A dreadful din disturbed his ear.

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A hundred banners flew displayed,

Beneath his home in siege arrayed,

Where darts and savage stones were hailing -

Snarling hounds on leashes straining.

Our hero's heart was struck with fear,

For his goblin sires and siblings dear,

Though never had they been most kind,

They were his kin - and trapped inside.

But Balgerot devised a plan,

As only goblin braves well can,

He hid beneath the tangled briars,

To await the fading of the fires.

By shrouded moon, without a sound,

Past snoring knight and sleeping hound,

He cunning crept between them all,

Unseen - and vaulted o'er the wall.

As pale the sun began to rise,

The goblin-folk in full surprise,

Found Balgerot returned by night!

Now standing proud in the morning light.

The orcs despairing at their scrape,

Were frantic seeking some escape,

But fear had filled their minds with doubt,

'All ways are shut. Cannot get out.'

But Balgerot was not so cowed,

He had a scheme to calm the crowd,

Which soon besiegers backs might see,

And set his goblin family free.

So descended he to hollow tomb,

And from that ancient hoarding room,

He seized a sheet well soiled and old,

A tablecloth marked black with mould.

Now lashed to broken spear he set,

And tall above the parapet,

His ragged flag of truce was borne,

Upon the wind, and blew a horn.

The soldiers stilled and made no sound,

Dropped their darts, and silenced their hounds,

They stood in wait to hear what word,

That orcish parley now conferred.

He told those stood to siege his home

To leave his people well alone!

That goblin folk may worthy be

Indulged in fair-fought chivalry.

The knights knew not if this was jest,

But saw no risk to hear the rest,

All wondered why they would agree,

And squander certain victory.

Then Balgerot with sword held high,

Said 'Meet me now beneath the sky,

And when you goblin honour know,

You must put up thy swords, and go!'

Now long and raucous laugh they did,

'You're not of us so easy rid!'

They mocked with jeers at Balgerot,

As from his kin had often got.

But stepping forward from the host,

Well deaf to protest and to boast,

Alone upon that rugged field,

The knight with hearts upon his shield.

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The like no man had ever seen,

Two fighters on those fells of green.

Both called to arms by precious pride.

The fate of goblins to decide.

Without a word, now weapons clashed,

And cracking shields and armour crashed,

Much can be praised of Balgerot;

But master swordsman he was not.

When beaten all but to the floor,

His golden chance the goblin saw.

Green limbs aligned! With all his might -

Between the guard he struck full-right.

Upon the helm the blow well told,

And as a churchyard bell it tolled,

The birds were roused to wing the air,

As holy brothers called to prayer.

Agog were all who saw that sight.

Not least of all the heart-shield knight,

Now steadied on his sullen shield,

And gently swaying said "I yield."

The barrow-folk broke out in mirth,

Though late the hour, they saw his worth,

His knightly challenge saved them all!

They cried his name throughout the hall.

The bargain made, their plans uprooted,

But by their pride dared not refute it,

The knights laid down spear, stake and steel;

And corralled the baying hounds to heel.

The knight of hearts held out his hand,

Which gripped a chain of golden bands,

'My friend, you've shown your chivalry,

And well have proved it here to me.'

The goblin took the links of gold,

But in his paw were pale and cold,

He fixed a stare upon the knight,

With eyes that shone with steely light.

'If such esteem is got from luck,

And heavy blows on helmets struck,

Give up your badge of chivalry,

To every falling rock and tree.

By arms you've little honour lost,

You were wrong to judge me 'ere we crossed.

Though "friend" you'll be should we meet again,

If well you mean, take back this chain.'

The knight was took full by surprise,

But saw the ardour in his eyes,

He stood in some bewilderment,

Then with a courtly bow, he went.

Alone again upon the field,

With solemn aspect now he kneeled,

With naked sword the sign he made,

Upon himself, the accolade.

Beneath the fells and woods of green,

Where scarcely any man is seen,

There was defended well and right

A goblin hall by goblin knight.

Ci falt la geste que Georgius declinet

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