Taillefer.

Once Norman Duke William spoke:

“Who is it sings so sweetly in the court and in the hall?
Who sings from early morn till late at night
So sweetly that he fills my heart with laughter and delight?”

“It's Taillefer,” they answered him, “who so joyously sings
Within the courtyard, as the wheel above the well he swings,
And when inside he stirs the fire to burn more bright,
And when he lays down at night or awakes in the morning.”

Then the Duke said, “I have a good servant –
This Taillefer that serves me, so loyal and so brave;
He turns the wheel and stirs the fire well,
And sings so brightly I can hear his courage.”

Then Taillefer spoke, “Ah, lord, if I were free,
Far better would I serve thee and sing then.
How on my horse would I serve the Duke in the field,
How I will sing and clash
with sword and shield!”

Not long after and Taillefer rode out a knight
Upon a tall horse, with sword and shield;
The Dukes sister looked down from the tower
onto the field, saying
“My god, there rides a handsome hero!”

When as he rode before the maiden's tower,
Now he sang like a breeze, now like a storm;
She cried, “That song is the greatest joy –
It shakes the tower and shakes my heart within.”

Duke William called his men and crossed the sea;
He went to England wth a mighty army.
And as he sprang out from the ship, he fell on the beach,
“Ha” he cried, “I sit and hold England in my grasp!”

And now the Norman host for fight prepare;
Before the Duke rides om horesback the valiant Taillefer:
“For many years I have sung and blown the fire,
For many years I made for others sword and spear,

“If I have sung and served thee well,
First as a lowly knave and then as a bold knight,
Today I will reward you well, Riding first into the field,
to strike the first blow against the foe!”

So Taillefer rode on before the Norman line
Upon his stately steed, with sword and speer;
Above the embattled Hastings plain his noble song sounded –
Of Roland’s deeds and many a devout hero.

And as the song of Roland thundered over the fields,
The banners waved and many hearts swelled
The knights were ablaze, men of great courage
Taillefer's song stoked up the battle-fire.

Then forward he dashed, to strike the first blow
And an English knight crashed to the ground;
Then he swung his sword and struck the first blow,
And on the ground an English knight lay.

The Norman host watched and without delay,
With shouts and clang of shields they charged in,
Ha! whizzing arrows sped, and swords clashed –
Until Harold fell, and his defiant army gave way.

The Duke placed his banner high upon the bloody plain,
And pitched his tent amid the heaps of slain;
Sitting at the feast, the golden cup in his hand,
On his head the Crown of England.

“Come here, my brave Taillefer, and drink a cup with me!
You have sung to me of love and sorrow;
But for the rest of my life I still shall hear in my ears
The sound of your song today on Hastings field".