Lady Alienor Salton's Silver Crescent

I was approached to make a Silver Crescent scroll for Lady Alienor Salton, a woman who works in wrangling one of my favorite SCA demos: the Cloister's demo in NYC. She has done a huge range of incredible things, though I admit that the demo was what caused the inspiration for the scroll. Based on one of the unicorn tapestries in the Cloister's museum, I approached Lord Tristan to create a sonnet of words that would work well with the piece in particular.

Words by Tristan le Chanticler

"The unicorn seems placid, within her cloistered field,

By loyal chain yoked tamely unto the fruiting tree ~

A supine languid vision of fair captivity.

'Tis true the fenced fief blossoms, where fiery urges yield ~

A world of peace and plenty, where lawful bonds are sealed.

Thus the watchful warden, while penned by posts unfree,

Reaps harvests rich and timely, most demostratèdly.

The war beast tamed to service is wisdom well revealed.

But those who see her idle know nothing of her flame:

The bloodied horn and hound bays, beneath the crescent moon;

The months of muddied march, ever on through cruel campaigns.

She endured all tenacious where boastful men did swoon.

When battle presses stark and the stoutest hearts despair,

Look deep within your soul and pray you find her there.

For her outstanding service and achievements, We, Ivan Ivanov syn Dimitriov vynuk Tzardikov, Tsar, and Matilde de Cadenet, Tsaritsa, of the Laurel Kingdom of the East, call Lady Alienor Salton to Our Order of the Silver Crescent.  Done by Our hands at Our Arts and Sciences and Bardic Championships, in the Crown Province of Ostgardr, on the feast of the Venerable Palladius, this 10th day of February, Anno Societatus LII."

Scroll in gauche on navy art paper.