Eclipsed by Shadow – Page 25 – THE LEGEND OF THE GREAT HORSE trilogy

#17- The Mageste Beste

The Mageste Beste is kneughne moste certis by tide of birth
At Prime whanne the sonne ronne fro the earth,
Ich wight not ryde, save conssente by hir maister wille.
It muste be few wight beknowen the treuthe
Ichone Maistere is tolde by a furst. ~ excerpt from “Eclipsed by Shadow” revealing the rules of knowing a Great Horse

The Mageste Beste is kneughne moste certis by tide of birth
At Prime whanne the sonne ronne fro the earth,
Ich wight not ryde, save conssente by hir maister wille.
It muste be few wight beknowen the treuthe
Ichone Maistere is tolde by a furst.

Jennifer and Meagan puzzled over the words as Mrs. Bridgestone moved slowly to a couch and settled onto it. “The language is a little strange. Old English, you see.”

“What does it mean?” Meagan asked.

“Well, the first line reads, ‘The Magic Beast is known most certainly by time of birth.’”

Jennifer was reading carefully. “What is ‘Prime?’”

“The second service of the medieval church, just after sunrise. I interpret it to mean the Great Horse is born at dawn, ‘when the sun runs from the earth.’ That is a typical metaphor of the day.”

“And the next part?” Jennifer said, reading slowly. “’Ich wight not ryde?’”

“Wight means man. So the phrase says, ‘Each man shall not ride the Great Horse without the consent of its master.’” Mrs. Bridgestone closed her eyes and concentrated. “Few men know the truth, each new master is told by a first.”

Meagan shook her head. “I don’t understand it.”

“Well, we must be sure you do,” Mrs. Bridgestone said seriously.

Excerpted from pg. 58 of Eclipsed by Shadow, the award-winning 1st volume of “The Legend of the Great Horse” trilogy. (Hrdbk)

Book II: The Golden Spark will be available Fall 2010.

#16- Hail the fleet hawk of the earth…

Hail the fleet hawk of the earth,
thunder announces his approach.
He gives one man victory,
all men ecstasy.
In this One the gods have taken form. ~ Eclipsed by Shadow (excerpt)

In the strange library of Mrs. Bridgestone:

The old woman touched the glass above an engraved placard. “This is a famous ode in the style of the Greek poet Pindar. He was famous for his tributes to Olympic heroes, both men and horses. This verse is dedicated to a chariot horse that won a race in about 480 B.C.”

Meagan squinted at it and wrinkled her nose. “It doesn’t make sense. It is just weird scribbles.”

“It is Greek, dear.”

“Can you read it, Mrs. Bridgestone?”

“Oh, a bit, not much anymore. However, I know this poem quite well.” The woman leaned over the placard and held her glasses close:

Hail the fleet hawk of the earth,
thunder announces his approach.
He gives one man victory,
all men ecstasy.
In this One the gods have taken form.

“Of course, Pindar isn’t so flowery,” Mrs. Bridgestone explained. “It was not the Greek way.”

“I took Latin all last year.” Meagan said gravely, wanting to impress. “I made an A.”

“That is wonderful, dear! Latin is a much undervalued element of education. We should read for ourselves the lessons of history.”

Excerpted from pg. 56 of Eclipsed by Shadow, the award-winning 1st volume of “The Legend of the Great Horse” trilogy. (Hrdbk)

Book II: The Golden Spark will be available Fall 2010.

#15- But crazy seems more accurate…

Mrs. Bridgestone smoothed her dress nervously. “I know how it must sound, but all religions have a story of the Creator giving the horse to mankind. Paganism, Christianity, Islam—think of Pegasus! Is not the winged, white horse the very image of an angel?” ~ Eclipsed by Shadow (excerpt)

“What are you saying, Mrs. Bridgestone? That our foal is descended from the first horse? I suppose that could be true…”

“No, dear. Not just any horse, but one of the blessed incarnations of the Angel that so loved Mankind he forsook Paradise.” Mrs. Bridgestone smoothed her dress nervously. “I know how it must sound, but all religions have a story of the Creator giving the horse to mankind. Paganism, Christianity, Islam—think of Pegasus! Is not the winged, white horse the very image of an angel?”

“Well … yes,” Jennifer answered carefully. “I suppose. Is this a good thing?”

“Certainly a Great Horse is most often a blessing. Quiet service is a horse’s way.” The woman hesitated. “However, there is a certain prophecy concerning this incarnation. This Great Horse carries a somewhat … dark description, if we believe the sources.”

“Promise is a palomino,” Meagan said, disappointed. “Does a Great Horse have to be dark?”

The woman smiled. “You are very attentive, Meagan, and that is an excellent quality. The equestrian influence, no doubt. To answer your questions, perhaps we should see more of the Great Horses in history. Nelson?” After taking assistance to rise from the couch, Mrs. Bridgestone proceeded alone. Jennifer followed the woman to a glass case at one end of the room, holding Meagan’s hand tightly.

« “… a nicer word than crazy” || Fleet hawk of the earth »

The above excerpt is from “Home,” the 1st section of Eclipsed by Shadow, and is set in modern-day California. (p. 53 Hbk)

The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy is an adventure through history … each section is from a different time period.

Eclipsed by Shadow (Book #1 of the trilogy) won national awards including the Eric Hoffer Award for best Young Adult Fiction, and the Mom’s Choice Award for best family-friendly Young Adult Fantasy.

__________

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#14- Eccentric is a nicer word than crazy

“My sources indicate a Great Horse was to be born on the summer solstice of the new millennium. A female, born at dawn. The birth happened last year.” ~ Eclipsed by Shadow (excerpt)

“REALLY, MRS. BRIDGESTONE?” Meagan’s eyes shone with excitement. “My horse, Promise?”

“I am almost certain of it, dear. My sources indicate a Great Horse was to be born on the summer solstice of the new millennium. A female, born at dawn. The birth happened last year.”

Jennifer held her hand out to her daughter. “Come sit down, Meagan. I think we need to listen to Mrs. Bridgestone.”

“I did mean to visit again to tell you personally,” the woman said apologetically, “but I’ve been housebound and left it to others. To put it plainly, I am ashamed.”

Jennifer smiled broadly. “Oh well, Mrs. Bridgestone, I’m just glad you told us now. Meagan, come sit down this instant.”

“You see, Jennifer? I knew you would think me a crazy old woman.”

“No, no, I don’t think that at all. It’s just that … what are you saying, Mrs. Bridgestone? That our foal is descended from the first horse? I suppose that could be true…”

Copyright © 2008 John Royce

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