Silent Butler

In the house where I was born We tied our laces in the dark Then shuffled down the stairs without a lamp. We breathed a foggy whisper On a window webbed with frost And we swore, and we swore, And we swore the vows of knighthood every day. In the house where I was born We ate our breakfast standing up; The better for to make the swill go down. We dipped the dripping ladle, Closed our eyes and swallowed hard And we swore, and we swore, And we swore the vows of knighthood every day. Gravity, brevity, granite and lead, War bread and horseflesh, a pillar of salt, Tilt yard, curtain wall, tallow on slate, Crossed swords with diamonds; Et monstro fides. In the house where I was born We swept the dirt beneath the rug, Then nailed its ragged edges to the floor. We strapped our monkish duties Hemp and leather to our backs And we swore... CUM ET PIUS VIRTUTIS (With devout courage ET SUPPLEX VIRES And humble strength NOS PAREBIMUS DOMINUS We serve our lord ET MONSTRO FIDES Faithfully)