The mischief has only begun to clamber on the three
To bring to light the vicious fight, that should not blandish thee
For although they are in the dark of the forces at bay
They should sound the vigil of peril and march a retreat by day.
The colonel's son has taken a horse, a broad stallion is he
And hides in ambush for the sign, below a fluttering tree
At dusk he shall hurry to the fort, to meet the lovely spy
And the hounds will follow afoot, to catch them by the eye.
To keep the ugly sound of swords, and yet protect thy name
To clear the charges sprung against his noble blood and dame
To answer the call of duty that runs like fire in his clan
And to prove to everybody what it takes to be a man.
He would risk every jaw and bone, every sinew and nerve
To bend them to follow him silently on his reclining curve
Where they shall meet the warrior in his turquoise-sheathed rein
The maiden shall fleet, the best retreat, that the saddler could tame.
And beneath the fluttering trees in the distance beyond the hides
The battalion will follow steeply in ranks to make up the rides
Though no blood shall be ever shed in such a gentlemanly affair
They could settle scores in a few fists, some thumps and stares.
And they shall follow because that would keep the army away
For a knightly and orderly duel, a very meagre price to pay
But the stallion shall chase the hounds as blown dust-devils go
The maiden would rather switch sides when the hounds flee like doe.
And by the time the pale moon should hide in shame at dawn
And the bright sun should return to welcome the victorious champion
Before the colonel's son should prepare for the most exuberant feast
He shall have captured his greatest enemy, His ego killed with beast.
To bring to light the vicious fight, that should not blandish thee
For although they are in the dark of the forces at bay
They should sound the vigil of peril and march a retreat by day.
The colonel's son has taken a horse, a broad stallion is he
And hides in ambush for the sign, below a fluttering tree
At dusk he shall hurry to the fort, to meet the lovely spy
And the hounds will follow afoot, to catch them by the eye.
To keep the ugly sound of swords, and yet protect thy name
To clear the charges sprung against his noble blood and dame
To answer the call of duty that runs like fire in his clan
And to prove to everybody what it takes to be a man.
He would risk every jaw and bone, every sinew and nerve
To bend them to follow him silently on his reclining curve
Where they shall meet the warrior in his turquoise-sheathed rein
The maiden shall fleet, the best retreat, that the saddler could tame.
And beneath the fluttering trees in the distance beyond the hides
The battalion will follow steeply in ranks to make up the rides
Though no blood shall be ever shed in such a gentlemanly affair
They could settle scores in a few fists, some thumps and stares.
And they shall follow because that would keep the army away
For a knightly and orderly duel, a very meagre price to pay
But the stallion shall chase the hounds as blown dust-devils go
The maiden would rather switch sides when the hounds flee like doe.
And by the time the pale moon should hide in shame at dawn
And the bright sun should return to welcome the victorious champion
Before the colonel's son should prepare for the most exuberant feast
He shall have captured his greatest enemy, His ego killed with beast.