I am learning history and alternative history. Provisionally, at least, it seems that, in this Poul Anderson novel, the Battle of Marston Moor ends differently with Prince Rupert taken prisoner although Anderson accurately records both the Royalist defeat and the death during the battle of Rupert's dog.
Rupert and his companion begin to speak in verse. See here. Rupert continues:
"'Thou'st left thy blade forgotten, in my back!
"'I thought at least thou wert as good a dog,
"'If not as bright, as Boye that thou let die!
"'Farewell, Will Fairweather - fairweather friend -'" (p. 7)
One of Rupert's Roundhead captors speaks:
"'This is indeed Prince Rupert of the Rhine...
"'Your Highness, you will not remember me...
"'I was a humble knight you met at court,
"'That time in youth when you from Holland came
"'To guest his royal Majesty your uncle -
"'Who's still our King, and we his loving subjects
"'Who only fight his evil counselors -'"
Rupert:
"'You are so long of wind you ran me down...'"
Roundhead:
"'I beg of you, your Highness, that you yield.
"'You shall receive all honor due to you.'"
Rupert:
"'Else lie a corpse, or piglike stunned and trussed?
"'Well, have this of me, then, Sir What's-Your-Name,
"'Until another day. For after all,
"''Tis no disgrace to fall
"'To such as Cromwell.
"'Beneath your buff, you men are Ironsides.'" (ibid.)
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
And it was not till you pointed it out that I knew A MIDSUMMER TEMPEST was mostly written in blank verse, which I thought an ingenious literary twist by Anderson.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
Not mostly but a lot of the dialogue is.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
And I have wondered how many others, besides you, noticed that use of blank verse in A MIDSUMMER TEMPEST.
Ad astra! Sean
Post a Comment