Sunday Scroll Text - Chiara's Cross
I'm going to start putting some of the texts I write for SCA scrolls here on the blog. We'll call it Scroll Text Sunday because why not.
For those who are not in the SCA, scrolls are provided whenever a person is granted an award. Many are written based on the time and place the recipient chooses to focus upon. From my perspective as a writer, I am constantly challenged to write in a different style to match that time and place, giving me a great chance to expand my skills.
Today we'll start with one that was presented yesterday. The Cross of Calontir is an award representing years of service to the kingdom.
Cross – Chiara di Paxiti
Chiara’s persona is of a 15th-century Florentine, hence I looked to Lorenzo di Medici for inspiration. He was not only the ruler of Florence from 1469 to 1492, he was also a patron of the arts and a poet himself. I wrote the text in ottava rima style, which originated in Italy and was used for heroic poems. It uses iambic pentameter and ABABABCC rhyming scheme. Medici used this style in some of his works, and I also used some of his other poetry as inspiration for some of the word choices.
The falcon soars across the shining sky with swiftest wings to claim a northern breeze Zephyr that lifts him is the softest sigh as he circles over towers and trees and to the wind he sends a searing cry 5 when thus with eyes aware a prize he sees below him is a sweet daughter of peace performing deeds that seem to never cease
Oft she appears when giants make their wars as fierce as brinded cats with flashing swords 10 for golden crowns the reddest blood they pour their greatest joys and deeds she right records then she to those with deepest wounds succors with water sweet relieving wounded hordes. When she completes such deeds, what spies his eye? 15 why tis but sweetest purple butterfly
The falcon’s eyes not only ones that see for Logan king and Ylva queen are wise so Chiara di Paxiti must be for deeds so collected clearly comprise 20 a Cross of Calontir now must decree and title given not her only prize from Pontmerci bestowed ten saccato and her sworn lady’s love now all shall know
Line 7: di Paxiti means daughter of peace
Line 9: she is a fan of the New York Giants, and I'm combining that love with the fact she is often helping out at tournaments and battles
Line 10: she is also a fan of the K-State Wildcats, and Shakespeare uses “brinded cats” in Macbeth as a reference to wild cats
Line 11-4: this is intended to cover both her job as listmistress and scroll text writing
Line 16: her device includes a purple butterfly
Line 23-4: Issabell wanted to make sure that Chiara, her protege, got land from Pontmerci, her own holding. A saccato is a Tuscan unit of area that is about 1.389 acres