What use is the offer of loyalty constant
Of friendship, resources, of my knightly sword
When the friend to whom all that is offered
Lives on the other side of the world

At least she'd be wise, circumspect
Not waste her retainers' lives lightly
Respect the silly, if well-meant pledges
Of her faintly Quixotic partisans

And so we live, unbidden, uncalled
Beholden to none but for promise to her
She may yet call us to honor that pledge
And time won't dull our duty's edge