[Ansteorra] We seem to be forgetting what it is bards *do*...
Peter Schorn
peterschorn at pdq.net
Wed Jan 9 19:44:16 PST 2008
-----Original Message-----
Michael Gunter <countgunthar at hotmail.com> wrote:
>I think it has become obvious that adding fighting to such
>an endeavor would not be too popular or that it would face
>a dearth of attendees because of no fighting.
Bards praise heroes. How do we know heroes? By the praise of bards.
Every fighter wants to be a hero. But not every fighter has the skill of a
bard, to make his or her deeds remembered in story and song.
On the bard's list there is a thread about the "no shit, there I was"
stories fighters tell. The consensus seems to be that it's honorable to
remember and celebrate the things these stories are about--but a shame no
one seems to want to do so in a period fashion.
Which suggests a proper (and period) theme for any Eisteddfod: turning the
rough, rude, boisterous tales of fighters into shining works of art that
will be as a lamp to those as yet ungotten and unborn.
And that's how we involve fighters: as patrons and sources of history and
anecdote for the bards. And as an audience for the works of those bards.
Fighters, would you hear yourselves praised as shoulder-companions of
Hengest? Would you rally to your ring-giver as Finnsburg flamed? Would you
stand with Roland as wave upon dark wave of Heathendom crashed upon the rock
of Charlemagne's knights at Roncevaux? Would you fight street-to-street for
your beliefs--whichever they were--at Acre?
Well, be generous to a bard, and you will. Even if it was just a
cattle-raid with old Llewarch or the Eighth Annual War for the Baroness's
Hot Water Bottle--it'll sound just as good.
Think about it.
--Cadfan
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