The Ballad of the Knight Tori l - Ториэль англ. ва

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Of an ancient legend I'll tell you today, Of a knight's heroic deed I will sing you this lay. Long, long ago it was, on the lands of Saura — Rich colour and texture, a vivid aura.
Yes — that's what a famous artist once said: He was there, painting pictures from nature instead. Many his canvases were — but one alone Stayed in my memory: there, the moon shone.
Where it lit up a fortress so mighty and grand, There the knight's own castle I paint, brush in hand. High walls stand around it on every side — How thickly, how closely the circle is tied.
There a blood-red sun blazes over the land, Slashing fields and forests with light like a brand. Now a sinister landscape lies under its glare — Evil has broken through — no mirage, beware!
The seal now is broken — the abyss breaks out, It spawned all the chaos. — Leaves whirl about, Torn down in the forest, the crimson leaves fall — A carpet of scarlet, they cover it all.
Here comes our knight riding — Tori;l's his name! The last of the K;rens — no villain, no shame! For ages they kept here the peace and the order — Now he must save the whole world from disorder.
From horror, from darkness where Death rules as king, It crawls from the abyss — its shadow it brings, And doom on its wings falls on all living things: On rivers and seas and the flood-meadow springs.
He knows that salvation awaits him somewhere — By the memory of ancestors, he'll find the witch there. She will tell him all things, she knows the true way: How to drive chaos and darkness to the abyss's maw one day.
The seeress is blind — but of all things she knows! What befell the wide world! How the evil arose! The way to the seal she has shown me, and so: "Four precious items you must bring me — now go!"
"Find the dragon! The last one! — Just like you! And get his blood — whatever it takes! — Or die! Yes, you may take his life away — that much is true! But better to ask him politely — and try!"
"No, he will not refuse you. Hunted by all, His strength is running out — and behind him, at all Hours, Death follows closely, on his heels, day and night — He cannot escape her, no hiding in flight."
"To the garden of elves! — The trees lose their leaves, He withers and droops — by evil aggrieved. The silver elf is the keeper of the tear Of the magical bird that the scorching heat seared."
"That tear, too, you'll bring me — you'll bring it to me! No, the elf won't give in — so battle must be! But what if you cannot defeat him in fight? I don't know how one could ask him politely."
"Then take the road to the cavern below, Where the ancient dwarves lived — do they live? — I don't know! No one has seen them for a thousand moons — Take the magic hammer! Don't forget — soon!"
The great city, remember? It gleamed on the hill, A-beckoning, shining to wanderers still. The crown of the Tsar-Grad we also need — You'll get it! — Means all of the items indeed!
"When all has been gathered, return here to me — I'll show you the way where the springs of evil be, Where once, long ago, the seal was closed tight By your own forefathers, to shield all from night."
Oh, how long and how near did Tori;l ride! We shall find out, friends, when this door opens wide! Look — an ancient folio, wondrously grand! Open it! All is right! The diamond — Adam;nt!
Adorned with the emblem of an ancestry old! Open it — the folk's prophetic memory, retold! The legend — the whole tale — of the power of good! Of knightly glory — the memory we keep as we should.
Read! I shall not disturb you! Read the whole! I have told you everything! I was there too, my soul! With my wing I was sheltering through storm and through rain! Now I wave my great wing — and I'm off once again!

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