After the fight at Otterburn
before the Ravens came
the witch-wife rode across the fern
and spoke Earl Percys name
Stand up stand up, Northumberland
I charge you ansewer true
If ever you dealt with steel and brand
How went the fray with you ?
Hither and yon the Percy said
As every fight must go
For some they fought and some they fled
And some struck ne'er a blow
But I prey you by the breaking skies
And the first call from the nest
That you turn your eyes away from my eyes
And let me to my rest
Stand up stand up, Northumberland
I will that you ansewer true
If you and your men were quick again
How would it be with you
Oh, we would speak of Hawk and Hound
And the Red Deer where they rove
And the merry Foxes the country round
And the Maidens that we Love
We would not speak of steel or steed
Except to grudge the cost
And he that had done the doughtiest deed
Would mock himself the most
But I prey you by my keep and tower
And by the tables in my hall
And I prey you by my Lady's bower
Ah, bitterest of all
That you lift your eyes from outen my eyes
Your hand from off my breast
And cover up my face from the red sunrise
And loose me to my rest
She has taken her eyes from out of his eyes
Her palm from off his breast
And covered his face from the red sunrise
And loosed him to his rest
Sleep or wake, Northumberland
You shall not speak again
And the words you have said twixt quick and dead
I lay on Englishmen
So long as Seven runs to west
Or Humber to the east
That they who bore themselves the best
Shall count themselves the least
While there is fighting at the ford
Or flood along the Tweed
That they shall choose the lesser word
To cloak the greater deed
After the quarry and the kill
The fair fight and the fame
With an ill face and an ill grace
Shall they rehearse the same
The greater the deed, greater the need
Lightly to laugh away
Shall be the mark of the English breed
Untill the Jugment Day..
Rudyard Kipling 1885-1936
now if it had a bit of Red about it.....
