The Cripples’ Shield-Wall
[Verse 1]
Consider the plight of the one-legged knight
As he braces his crutch with his shield;
He’ll stand still and wait till you come for the bait
Then you’ll find that the bastard won’t yield!
Do you knock his one leg down, there’s still no relief
He’ll crawl down the field with his sword in his teeth;
And the reach of his sword-arm defies all belief
Where he fights in the Cripples’ Shield-Wall
[Verse 2]
Beware the old dame who’s arthritic and lame
So knee-sprung she barеly can stand;
But her hands and her eyе are still steady and spry –
She’s the best crossbow-shot in the land!
With a repeating crossbow and war-arrow blade
She can pierce any armor that’s ever been made –
Be glad she’s not drawn to the highwayman’s trade!
She just fights in the Cripples’ Shield-Wall!
[Verse 3]
No profit you’ll find from the knight who is blind
He can hear you twelve paces away:
He’ll listen off-hand till he’s sure where you stand
Then his bill-hook reaps far more than hay!
He can fight in the forest, the river, the plain
With his hearing unhampered by dark, fog, or rain –
He must know his ground, but he’ll sure bring you pain
Where he fights in the Cripples’ Shield-Wall!
[Verse 4]
Pray do not go near the knight who can’t hear:
Though he can’t tell command-calls at all
He reads signs from his friends, and his post he defends
With a lightning-fast seven-foot maul!
They say when it’s whirling it raises a breeze
And the head on its chain has been known to break trees –
So when he starts swinging, the prudent man flees
Where he fights in the Cripples’ Shield-Wall!
[Verse 5]
Watch out in the fight for the cripple-armed knight
Whose hand can’t swing up – only down
For he’ll watch through the dance till he spies a good chance
Then his downstroke will cost you your crown!
His shield-arm will raise up his sword-arm, and then
He’ll watch for a chance with his downstroke again –
You know that he’ll strike, but you never know when
And he fights in the Cripples’ Shield-Wall!
[Verse 6]
Beware, I implore, all ye masters of war
Who prefer to draft healthy young boys;
For the blind, halt, and lame can be good at this game
When well-placed, defending the toys
They’ve learned their art well, and they strike hard and true –
If they’ve something to prove, then they’ll prove it on you!
The last line on Earth that you’d want to drive through
You can swear, is the Cripples’ Shield-Wall!
Beware of the Cripples’ Shield-Wall!
Consider the plight of the one-legged knight
As he braces his crutch with his shield;
He’ll stand still and wait till you come for the bait
Then you’ll find that the bastard won’t yield!
Do you knock his one leg down, there’s still no relief
He’ll crawl down the field with his sword in his teeth;
And the reach of his sword-arm defies all belief
Where he fights in the Cripples’ Shield-Wall
[Verse 2]
Beware the old dame who’s arthritic and lame
So knee-sprung she barеly can stand;
But her hands and her eyе are still steady and spry –
She’s the best crossbow-shot in the land!
With a repeating crossbow and war-arrow blade
She can pierce any armor that’s ever been made –
Be glad she’s not drawn to the highwayman’s trade!
She just fights in the Cripples’ Shield-Wall!
[Verse 3]
No profit you’ll find from the knight who is blind
He can hear you twelve paces away:
He’ll listen off-hand till he’s sure where you stand
Then his bill-hook reaps far more than hay!
He can fight in the forest, the river, the plain
With his hearing unhampered by dark, fog, or rain –
He must know his ground, but he’ll sure bring you pain
Where he fights in the Cripples’ Shield-Wall!
[Verse 4]
Pray do not go near the knight who can’t hear:
Though he can’t tell command-calls at all
He reads signs from his friends, and his post he defends
With a lightning-fast seven-foot maul!
They say when it’s whirling it raises a breeze
And the head on its chain has been known to break trees –
So when he starts swinging, the prudent man flees
Where he fights in the Cripples’ Shield-Wall!
[Verse 5]
Watch out in the fight for the cripple-armed knight
Whose hand can’t swing up – only down
For he’ll watch through the dance till he spies a good chance
Then his downstroke will cost you your crown!
His shield-arm will raise up his sword-arm, and then
He’ll watch for a chance with his downstroke again –
You know that he’ll strike, but you never know when
And he fights in the Cripples’ Shield-Wall!
[Verse 6]
Beware, I implore, all ye masters of war
Who prefer to draft healthy young boys;
For the blind, halt, and lame can be good at this game
When well-placed, defending the toys
They’ve learned their art well, and they strike hard and true –
If they’ve something to prove, then they’ll prove it on you!
The last line on Earth that you’d want to drive through
You can swear, is the Cripples’ Shield-Wall!
Beware of the Cripples’ Shield-Wall!