A King in Krothering

Corinius sat in Krothering Hall with a gold and topaz crown.
He drained his goblet to the dregs and dashed the crystal down.
"I have won, and crushed beneath my heel, the whole of Demonland,
But defies me yet the maidenhead of the Lady Mevrian."

Chorus (after each verse):
     Grind, mill, grind.
     Corinius grinds us all.

His soldiers and his officers, the which were all his court,
About him in the banquet hall made cruel and merry sport
As Mevrian's own maidens they compelled to dance and sing
For him who since the yester eve had styled himself their king.

The while did Lady Mevrian within her tower pray:
"Great Artemis, watch over me, as thou hast done alway.
The wolf who walks my brother's lands would force me to his will.
Great Huntress, save and keep me now, who am thy maiden still!"

Unto that lady's bedchamber two sons of Corund came.
"Our lord is wont to take by force what words will not obtain.
We'd fain prevent such vile offence to one so fair as thee,
So with haste and care and stratagem thou may'st this night win free."

The elder said, "My brother here and thou are of one height.
If thou wilt put his armor on I'll guide thee into the night.
Thy rooms are closely watched about to keep thee pent within,
But the guards will only mark his trappings and thy beardless chin."

"How came you by the plot?" she asked, "Is this your own design?"
He said, "Lord Gro bespoke me low 'mid the feasting and the wine.
He holds thee high in honor, as my brother does, and I,
But Corinius so fears his guile he keeps him 'neath his eye."

When Mevrian was well arrayed in Cargo's helm and mail
She leaned on brother Heming's arm as one far gone in ale.
The sentries passed the two along with a greeting and a wink
For Heming's voice and Cargo's mail and Krothering's store of drink.

As they came through the corridor by the Chamber of the Moon
The banqueters with torch and pipe came reveling from the room.
Lord Gro upheld Corinius, with lust and drink aflame,
To Mevrian's bedchamber bent, intent upon her shame.

They kept them to the shadows, lest the king should them espy,
But he, in reeling to and fro, to them by name did cry:
"Ho, Heming! and young Cargo, there! You're drunk, in sober truth!
With all these maids I've got for you, 'tis waste of lusty youth!"

Then Heming could but say, "My lord, we're sober, he and I."
The king just laughed, "When drunkards swear they're sober, they do lie!"
Then softly to Lord Gro, and gripping tighter yet his arm,
"Whilst I can see thy fangs, old snake, they cannot do me harm."

Unchallenged to the stables then, to horse, and clean away,
Was Mevrian from Krothering before the rise of day.
So may the high gods send us all opponents such as these,
Who, if they cannot be our friends, are noble enemies!