To Elfrida My Love

To Elfrida my love To thee that I love, adore and cherish From a heart heavy with the burden of contrition Proceedeth these words that I may obtain restitution Of thy pure and undying love, lest I perish The evil that men doth contemplate Mine sire in the ranks and his councilors too Bears the fruit of treachery as they have determined so That thou be incarcerated on account of thy lowly estate At the behest of the vicar was I summoned Who sent a herald to report the theft of the sacred urn Hurriedly I heeded as duty beckoned And only learnt of thy misfortune at my return Was it not I, the slayer of the mighty beast Who along with my trusted cavalry Swore before thy father, to love and protect thee Though among men of substance he is the least Despair not therefore, o fairest Elfrida For my love like the sun, shining bright as ever Compels me to fight as I now take up arms So that soon I may once again hold you in my arms