OSONYL, grant me voice to sing
of fair Nolakotos, the king
most noble who was ever born
of Dynish wife, who crown has worn
upon his shining, golden hair:
the ancient Dynish king so fair.
His father made the Amethyst,
a mighty hammer in his fist:
Twtyl it was, who tamed the beasts,
and ate not meat at Dynish feasts. 10
His mother Ylys was, who made,
colored like trees within a glade,
the Emerald, fairest of any gem
that e’er adornéd crown or hem.
She, with her brother of the Stone so red,
was of the Dynish armies the head.
In Ylon Abak, Chysyr and she
strove from Erytyl to free
the Dynish peoples, and in the night
of Erytyl’s darkness to bring light. 20
His name, at first, was Kolyson,
and e’er he yet was fully grown,
and e’er he acquired honor or fame,
he showed he was worthy of his name.
His golden hair was as a mane,
falling down his back like rain;
and his voice commanded, in peace or war,
obedience, like a lion’s roar.
In fencing he succeeded fast,
and soon his masters he surpassed. 30
‘Tis said that none who wielded sword
could, over him, earn a reward.
Not only could he wield blade well,
he wrestled like a beast from hell.
His hands were hard, his body strong,
his legs were short, his arms were long.
For lengths of time he stood his ground,
defeated ever in but one round.
It was the time he had to face
good Chysyr, full of strength and grace. 40
Only he could quickly defeat
Kolyson, who was seldom beat.
Though Kolyson was not as skilled
at making things with power filled,
he could, when asked, produce a work
from which a lesser Dyn might shirk.
Upon a time he made a thing,
a harp of beauty that would sing
whenever his mother Ylys sent
her gentle breath upon its bent 50
and gilded form. This harp he gave
to her, and the present she did save,
and often, when her mood was low,
she on this gilded harp would blow.
Then music sweet would fill her ears,
and ended would be all her fears.
Just so all things he crafted were;
he made them musical, for her
whom he was proud his mother to call.
Not lightly grieved he at her fall, 60
for he had loved her. Twtyl too,
his father, who was brave and true,
he loved. It nearly broke his heart
when from those two he had to part,
when he had laid to rest the bones
of those who helped to make the Stones.
In Dynish legends is it told
that Lythyar, the strong and bold,
was not of Kolyson a friend,
and each the other wished to send 70
with sword-thrust to the pits of hell,
or else to hold on long and well
to the other’s throat in a choking grasp
so he could speak nor breathe nor gasp.
A challenge Lythyar gave one day,
in April or the month of May,
that they should fight ‘till death might take
one Dyn, and him his life forsake.
Kolyson gave his answer clear:
“Though fight we may for all this year, 80
thy challenge I accept with joy,
for I would slay thee, insolent boy!”
This answer angered Lythyar,
because the gap was not so far
between the ages of the two.
Then each from scabbard sword there drew,
and circling in an eagle’s span,
those two their famous fight began.
In deadly peril on they fought,
‘till Kolyson came upon a thought. 90
The skill of Lythyar he perceived,
and he said, “I would be sorely grieved
if now thy life by me was stilled.
I say that thou art highly skilled,
and I would have thee as a friend.”
And thus there was that day no end
of his or of the other’s life.
They ended then their foolish strife,
and ne’er did any love his kin
as Lythyar did that noble Dyn. 100
T. G. 2018 (?)
