Hearken to me, there's a tale I would tell you
Of love and of battle, of sorrow and grief
The deeds of a king, and the valor of comrades
The favor of gods, and the fate of a thief.
Felled were her guardsmen like rot wood in winter
Boot-trampled earth spoke of how well they fought
As each man lay lifeless I knelt and I swore
That the sacrifice given would not be for naught!
I heed not the warnings of rain and of thunder
I heed not the cries of my own panicked mare
I heed not the tides that would tear us asunder
For her, I dare!
Sunk in a tree was a silver-chased dagger
Carved in the fashion of far Barbary
Hung from its blade was the pirate's demand
For a ransom in gold that our lady go free!
I am the blade, but by her I am tempered
Strong in her love, I've a deed to perform
Set well our sails in the wake of the pirates
They are the shadow, but I am the storm!
I heed not the warnings of rain and of thunder
I heed not the darkness, I will not despair!
I heed not the tides that would tear us asunder
For her, I dare!
We put to the ocean in the swiftest of vessels
To sail on the Mediterranean Sea
But too light our ships for the winds of the gale
And the torrents of rain lashing mercilessly
"Mercy!" I cried to the god of the ocean
And spoke of the beauty my lady possessed,
How like the god's own graceful daughters seemed she,
And I offered my faith for his aid in my quest.
Thunderclouds parted, the sun lit the heavens,
The sea turned to glass as we sighted our prey
With the winds now behind us, we measured the distance
Soon their ships lay but a few leagues away!
"Now to your weapons, my men and companions!
Now for this perfidy they shall atone!
Leave not a man of the pirate's crew standing,
The head of its captain I claim for my own!"
I heed not the warnings of rain and of thunder
I heed not the fury of bloody corsair!
I heed not the tides that would tear us asunder
For her, I dare!
Bright were the banners and loud were the cheers
The morning my lady returned to my hall
And bright is the temple I caused to be raised
To the god and his power who heeded my call!
Of love and of battle, of sorrow and grief
Of valor and favor, my tale I have told-
This wisdom you hear from the lips of a king,
That no deed done for love can be counted too bold!
I heeded not darkness, nor rain, nor the thunder
And any who'd doubt me, be wise, and beware!
No force under heaven shall tear us asunder
For her, I dared! For her, I dared!