Arden

Arden by: dnrock(dnrock@rock.com)

70: Of Poems and Poets

1320, 3rd month, 13th day:

The wrestling match took place on the 12th day. It was a good match and Heron won. Photois is about Heron's size, but weighs more. He is very strong in his upper body, mostly his shoulders. He was not in as good over all physical condition as Heron. I appointed the head Pale coach (TN: wrestling in Greek) as referee. He reminded everyone of the rules:

• No intentional hitting or kicking is permitted.

• No gouging the eyes or biting is permitted, since even the Pankration does not allow these

• Twisting the fingers with the intention of forcing the opponent to concede defeat is not permitted.

• Grasping the genitals is not permitted

• All other holds intended to persuade the opponent to concede defeat through pain or fear are permitted and are an integral part of the contest

• Infractions shall be punished by immediate whipping by the referee until the undesirable behavior is stopped

• Three points must be scored to win the match

• A point can be scored in any of three ways:

1. the opponent's back touching the ground at any time.

2. by the opponent tapping or in some other way making

clear that he concedes defeat through pain or fear.

1. by the opponent making contact with ground outside the

allocated wrestling-match ground with any part of his body,

or by being lifted and carried out.

• After scoring a point, the opponent must be given time to rise on his feet and a few moments more before the wrestling may continue.

• The match is both started and ended at the signal of the referee.

• The referee can at any time stop the match if he believes a point has been scored but the contestants have continued to wrestle, unaware of the point having been scored.

• The referee is in charge of the contest, his decision shall be final

• The wrestling-ground shall be a square, a PLETHRON: (TN: 100 Greek Feet; 28.5 by 28.5 Meters, the typical width of a running-track).

• The contestants shall begin the match at the center of the wrestling-ground outside of each other's touching-range, the precise distance being at the discretion of the referee.

They started in the standing position as is normal. Photois caught Heron off balance and sent him almost out of the wrestling-ground, so they needed start again. It was a bit slow at first, as each danced around looking for a weak point to attack. Several times they engaged, neither could find advantage. I could see Heron had the more powerful legs and was much quicker. Suddenly as they were engaged, arms on each other, Heron dropped and pressed his head into Photois' body, at the same time he grabbed his legs and drove with his own, upending Photois and placing him on his back. "One point Heron."

They writhed around each gaining temporary advantage. Heron was on top most of the time but could not gain full control. He succeeded in placing Photois in a submission hold by getting his arms under him and locking his fingers behind his neck. Photois tapped the mat with is finger. "One point Heron"

Photois managed to force Heron out of the match area but it was at great cost. "One point Photois." This time Heron faked for the leg lift and moving like lightning; he got behind Photois, placing him in that neck lock hold. He eventually forced Photois to the mat and he tapped in again. "One Point Heron, and match."

Both men were very tired and full of sweet. They sat on the mat looking at each other for a long while. Suddenly Heron began laughing and Photois too. All the on lookers were mystified as was I. It was a fair match and the men were not terribly out of balance. We were not quite sure what it was they were laughing at.

The referee motioned for me to come forward. I did. Just as I was about to claim my prize and call Panther forward, Heron shook his head no. I bent down to them, still sitting.

"Prince Arden, I think Photois has something to say publicly." We looked at him.

I gave him my hand and he rose. I then assisted Heron.

"Prince Arden, Heron, Argyros I need make a public apology for how I have acted. I did what a father should never do, I tried to force my son into the kind of man I thought he should be. I have always been one to let my mouth run ahead of my head. In doing what I did I dishonored myself. Instead of setting an example of how Argyros should become all he is capable of, I set an example of how he should not. I thought only of myself in this. I am prepared Prince."

It takes a man of character to publicly admit he has made errors. It takes character to accept without complaint the prescribed atonement. I hope you realize that which you took by force would have been freely given for the asking. I see no purpose in calming the prize as prescribed. Rather I would ask you lend your expertise and time to assist the coaches in preparing these fine boys, to be fine men; wrestling men, who relish in the spirit of sport, not to win so much as to have participated.

What we have all learned here today is simply this: It is better our sons be men of good character, ones of courage, win or loose, than those who fail to give their all.

Thoren appeared and I yielded. "I need to tell you about one of our ancestors. The wrestler Milo of Kroton (Milvn) several times Olympic champion for around 26 years. He won the boys wrestling in the 60th Olympiad (540 BC), five-time wrestling champion from the 62nd to the 66th Olympiad, (532 to 516 BC). He won many other matches and games and is said to have displayed great strength. Milo was not only a wrestler but also a musician, a poet and a student of Pythagoras the mathematician, Philosopher and Olympic boxing champion. It is clear that being a fine athlete does not preclude one from being a scholar or anything else. It also tells us many kinds of strengths exist in all of us; the true champion is one who uses all he possesses. One who truly becomes all he is capable of."

Later I wrote a poem. I call it Standing At The Abyss (TN: Arden wrote this in blank verse. I hope I got it translated correctly. Poems are difficult to translate, meter aside. Poems are often filled with language specific shorthand, illusions, cultural and literary references. They have a mood or tone, also a voice. The translator often must substituted illusions that achieve this. He must often do this in prose too; in prose the meaning or intent is often much clearer. Sometimes I have no choice but to retain his Greek word as no English word quite relays the same overall meaning and the poem's economy allows no choice. I am never completely sure when translating Arden's or Odo's poems that I have captured the full intent. I often fear I am substituting me for them. Greek is said to have a word for everything. If that be true, English has several, neither apparently enough.)

Ledge above the rocky rapid Resolute gulp, descent Eyes affixed down Heart pounds franticly Will over mind, will over mind He leaps...

Piercing chilled waters Bulging muscles rip open a space The sun-bronzed kouros emerges Fierce eagle's cry Yielding in his eyes He weeps...

Naked he stands Silhouetted against the rising fire Young manhood reaffirmed A solemn bow of burning desire As the supreme spirit unveils his work He is one with its' force...

1320, 3rd month, 14th day:

Ikraam is now well settled into the university. He and Odo see each other frequently. Odo was so impressed with my poem that he brought Ikraam to the castle just to read it. "Prince Arden this is truly a masterful use of language. It follows no rules and conveys much meaning, thought and emotion." I thanked him, turning bright red at the same time.

Iason was also most impressed and he made it known to all just how much so. He made it known to me through his tender touch and ardent love making. Which culminated by Kastor and Poly fucking us while we fucked Dios and Nikias.

Tonight was a family dinner. Sophia and Eudoxia are both showing greatly. They should deliver in the sixth month. All the women seem greatly excited about this. I know Iason and Alex are as well, we men just do not demonstrate it. Father and Uncle gathered the grandchildren around them while the young princes formed another table by themselves, as did their female cousins another. Uncle and Lady Lucia joined us with Kastor and Poly. Melitta with the cousins.

I always enjoy these times. We laugh and joke and tease and as always are forbidden to speak of business. Mostly we trade our life experiences, our doubts and our fears. Umar and Akakios are still talking about their visit to Bejaia. Almost everyone has some musical ability and we often sing and play for each other. Lysandros has been composing his own songs for his clavichord. They are not overly complex but quite melodic. I noticed that Umar almost always caries a small booklet and charcoal. He seems to sketch and draw continually.

Our discussions, us older princes, centered tonight on what it is that motivates men to do what they do. I quoted Epictetus,

"In a word, neither death, nor exile, nor pain, nor anything of this kind is the real cause of our doing, or not doing any action, but our inward opinion and principles."

He is often the most quotable of Stoics, much better than Zeno. I find many of his ideas most interesting. His instance that one must strive for arete (TN: Arete is usually translated as virtue when in the context of moral philosophy unless it is direct reference to its' true meaning, which is excellence. I think Arden's ideas are more in line with excellence than the Latin virtus from which we get virtue.) fits well with my own thinking. None disagreed with me in principal but several thought more along the lines of Plato as expressed in the Euthydemus and Meno dialogues. I was most surprised at how much attention the younger ones were paying to our discussion. I was most heartened by it, as this is not the kind of learning that takes place in school or the type of literature they would wish to read.

Euthalia was most amours last night when we returned from the social evening. The twins were already asleep and I put Umar and Akakios to bed they were tired and quickly fell asleep. Euthalia was on me before I even had a chance to shed my tunic.

1320, 3rd month, 16th day:

Today was most exciting for us. Our Ambassador to Byzantium came with the merchant Agoustus and an oriental visitor. His name is Wan Yuan he was introduced as a navel architect. He is not very tall and quite thin. His face is round and his hair is black and straight. He has a wide smile and is very soft spoken. Agoustus had met him in Constantinople as he arrived accompanying the silk trader he buys from. Learning that Wan was a designer of ships he took him to the Imperial court, however they were not the least bit interested in hiring him. Wan had been working for silk traders but those skills were not all that in demand in the city either.

Agoustus introduced him to The Ambassador who had the presence of mind to inquire into his knowledge of ships and ship building. When he learned that Chinese ships use sails as ours do and the size of these ships, even larger than our Prince Class, he insisted he come to Parga. Odo does not speak Chinese, none of our translators do. We were fortunate that Wan speaks some Greek and good Arabic.

Father and Uncle were most gracious and after a brief conversation with them invited us to join. Wan described the kinds of ships built in China.

"The Chinese vessels are of three kinds; large ships called chunks (TN: junks), middle sized ones called zaws (TN: dhows) and the small ones kakams. The large ships have anything from twelve to three sails, which are made of bamboo rods plaited into mats. They are never lowered, but turned according to the direction of the wind; at anchor they are left floating in the wind. Some of the larger ships also use cloth sails which can be lowered.

A large war ship carries a complement of a thousand men, six hundred of whom are sailors and four hundred men-at-arms, including archers, men with shields spires, who throw naphtha. Three smaller ones, the "half", the "third" and the "quarter", accompany each large vessel. These vessels are built in the towns of Zaytun (TN: a.k.a Zaitun; today's Quanzhou; 刺桐) and Sin-Kalan. The vessel has four decks and contains rooms, cabins, and saloons for merchants; a cabin has chambers and a lavatory, and can be locked by its occupants.

This is the manner after which they are made: two (parallel) walls of very thick wooden (TN: planking) are raised and across the space between them are placed very thick planks (TN: the bulkheads) secured longitudinally and transversely by means of large nails, each three ells in length. When these walls have thus been built the lower deck is fitted in and the ship is launched before the upper works are finished," he told us.

We talked about construction methods, wood thickness and so on. He expressed his surprise that the ships he had seen so far were both small, by comparison, and the Galleys rowed.

I rather like him and inquired about his education. He had studied mathematics, history and Confusion and Buddhist philosophy and worked for several years as an apprentice for a shipwright in Zaytun. Iason asked why he left for the west?

"I fell in love with the youngest daughter of the shipwright, my master. He had promised his daughter to another. The daughter was so upset that she killed herself. Her father was furious and so was her bothered, who attacked me. I was able to defend myself and killed him with his own sword. Then I fled as quickly as I could. Everyone thought I had gone to sea or on a river boat; I traveled overland, mostly walking. I apprenticed my self to a silk trader. He made arrangements with a Persian in Baghdad and here I am. It only took two years to get here.

All I want to do is design and build ships. That is all I ever wanted to do, since I was a boy."

We took him with us to our mid day meal, the four terrors and several others joined us. Later that afternoon the Prince Polydeukus came into port. Poly summoned us to the terrace pointing out his named ship. Wan was most impressed and when Joulous handed him the far see, even more so and not only by the ship.

We learned much about him and his experience. Also about how the Chinese ships work and navigate. I assured him when he sailed on the Prince Class ships he would not only see how we do things and also how similar our two navies were but also how his ideas and experience could assist in making our ships better and faster. I don't think he believed me when I described how our ships navigate. I could see he was very excited by the prospect.

Lyuben came in leading Agoustus, the Ambassador, Father and Uncle. He was greatly excited and burst into his news for us. All this lack of formality was most mystifying to Wan who knew none of the history or much of our way. Agoustus had just told him he had freed his mother and she would be arriving in Parga in about three weeks. Dios, sharp as ever, suggested his father should employ her as housekeeper. He looked at Iason with his large brown eyes and Iason melted. He has been his beloved boy long enough to get most anything his heart desires from the Crown Prince or any of us for that matter. Iason declared it a perfect solution.

To much laughter, Uncle said, "Since when is it the preview of the Crown Prince or any other prince, to decide the household staff of any citizen, let alone our Rear Admiral?"

"I, uh, I would ask him of course."

Uncle smiled. "The Ambassador has told me the situation in Byzantium is less stable then we thought. Michael the 9th is not in good health and it would appear that a power struggle may ensue if he were to suddenly die. He is now in Thessalonica grieving for his youngest son Manuel; who was accidentally murdered by retainers of Andronikos 2nd, his co-emperor and also his oldest son Andronikos 3rd. It is all very complicated but not unusual for those people."

Poor Wan was mystified and almost terrified when Father spoke to him.

"Tell me Wan have you decided if you want to stay in Parga?"

I could see he was headed for Father's feet and stopped him. I held him up gently.

"Yes Sire very much so." I was thinking he in fact had no place else to go. "Good, I am sure both you and Parga will benefit."

Over dinner it was decided Lyuben, Odo and Iason would see to Wan's orientation, housing and so on. For his part Wan was most surprised at how young we all were. I thought he was to faint when Umar and Akakios were introduced as my sons. I did need smile at it, explaining they were foster children and my own children are babies yet. When I said babies, tears rose up in his eyes. I take it his lover took not only her own life but another at the same time. He is not all that old a fellow I would guess only two or three years older then us.

"Thank you, Prince." It is nothing, I responded, if you wish to confide in me or any of us you will find us good listeners. The easiest of any to talk to is a young knight named Miltiades. He is the one on the end of that long table, I pointed.

Lyuben spoke next, "It will take you some time to learn our ways and the customs here. We are much different then anything you have probably ever encountered before. Odo and I will do our best. You must tell us of your adventures in getting here. I think it best that we get our story tellers to listen." He jumped up.

Odo told him, "We are all one big family here."

"I have seen aids to many. I was one myself, to the merchant. I have never encountered aids or knights that just do things without seeking permission of their prince or employer," Wan said.

"That is exactly why Lyuben is our aid. If I must do his thinking for him I may as well do things myself," Iason added.

Thoren and Stephnos appeared and were introduced. Wan began telling his stories with Odo translating, soon everyone had moved closer to hear about life in a caravan on the silk road. It was fascinating and I am sure he will captivate us on many more evenings.

The young boys were the most excited and crowded around sitting on the floor and our laps to hear. After a short while Umar helped Odo with the translating. I think he was surprised to see Umar speaking Arabic.

I was most heartened to learn that others were doing things much as we were. I know that in such things as ship building or the use of wind over oars, were arrived at independently. I am sure other innovations like paper, printing type, rockets and gun powder did move east to west. I hope some of our ideas move west to east. I am sure Wan will be most surprised to see what we have done with some of these things.

From some of his comments I am lead to believe the philosophy, religion and cultural approach to governance has both fostered and hindered innovation in both of our societies. I will be most interesting to investigate these differences and the motivations behind them. I think this examination will provide me with some wisdom and perhaps inspirations. Some of these differences are already known to me. Our ancestors believed thinking more important than doing. I suspect Wan's ancestors were more willing to experiment. I also suspect that innovations by most anyone, results from two main sources; one is necessity and the other chance. I would guess the religious, custom and governance differences tell more about how those necessities were addressed or the chances taken advantage of, then anything else.

1320, 3rd month, 21st day:

Today is the mid point between the solstices, it is the spring equinox the first day of spring. We have already celebrated that but several of the religious groups consider it a sacred day.

Nikias, Joulous and Justus will receive their seals of office in the council meeting this afternoon. They will also be resigning as pages on the first day of the fourth month. Akakios will become a page soon.

Young Spiros has been unofficially adopted by Dios and Agapios. Hilarus has been appointed by Kastor to oversee the training of the new pages. I am sure Kastor will appoint him Page Captain when the current one becomes 16, later this summer. I am still concerned that young Alfred has not shown his talent or his desire. Volos assures me he will in his own time and I need be patient. Every one of us is different and we do not all develop at some absolute predetermined pace. In general most will have shown some talent by has age but some are quicker and others slower. He is correct and I know it. I for one was early in almost everything except my height. Iason as quick in sex but not as quick in responsibility.

Ikaros and Dysme came to me with a minor crisis. They have run out of nardus in all its forms. (TN: Lavender) Our baths and bedding will just not smell so pleasant. To them however, this was unthinkable. Poly asked Janus to have a rider fetch some from the Argoanuts at the southern estate.

Un daunted by this Odo organized one of his sex games for the family. In this game he erected a long rail about three feet from the floor. The top of the rail was padded. Along it's length he arranged, he did not but he had the chamber boy, blankets on the floor. He lay himself down first turning on his side and lifting his left leg to hook his heal on the rail. This exposed his anus, Kalkrates lay next to him doing the same pressing his penis into Odo's anus. In turn, one after another followed, I pressed my penis into Hy and Nikias into me, Joulous into him and so on. Once in position we all fucked starting with the far end as if a wave or series of waves passed through us.

I am not sure what position I like the best for these things. I have been on either end and in the middle. The middle does have the advantage of allowing you to fuck and be fucked at he same time. Given enough of us we could form a complete circle.

I think this a fitting way to celebrate our brothers being given their seals of office and first day of spring. Not that this group needs any help with its fertility. Every available female is either expecting or nursing. We now have so many young children that Poly and Kass are helping me in being father models for them.

1320, 3rd month, 23rd day:

Yesterday morning I rode to Koalhurst. I did not ride alone. Volos, Pyrros, Pamphilos, Nikias' guardian, Nikias, Hygonis, Euthalia and the twins, Edward, Umar and Akakios all accompanied me. I had sent Abernath money and he saw that our parents had a fine new house that was able to sleep many grand children. We all rode horses. The twins were carried in back slings by Hyginos and Nikias.

My mother was just a little disappointed that we had no new grandchildren for her to spoil. That is just her way of telling me how proud and pleased she is with her youngest son. I was pleased with the new house, it is large and has a number of bedrooms and a very large eating area. The whole family can gather at once and we are now quite large with fifteen grand children and more to come I am sure. I took Edward, Abrith, Abernath and Nikias to see where my new country retreat was to be located. They were most impressed. The architects tell me construction should start next month.

Both mother and father were most impressed with Akakios' singing and Umar's playing. So to were all that could hear them. Everyone was also most impressed with Hyginos. This was their first time in meeting him and his in Koalhurst. Once away from the women Abernath asked Hy what he did as my personal aid except keep the bed warm. Hy immediately became bright red and stumbled to try and answer.

Edward quickly came to his rescue, "Uncle Abernath just wants to know if you are available to share his."

1320, 3rd month, 28th day:

I had no opportunity to record anything for the past few days. I must admit I completely enjoyed myself not needing to think about anything except my friends and family. We sang and danced, swam and ran, rode our animals and just enjoyed ourselves.

Edward inspected his experimental garden plot. He and I did manage to prepare detailed instructions for Abernath and his tenders.

Just about everyone came to pay their respects and chat with me. We often found ourselves sitting in the shade by the post office. I have managed to keep on good terms with all of those I knew as a child. Many tell me how proud they are of my accomplishments. I know Karyakos has kept in contact with many of his childhood friends and his birth family but I do not think he spends much if any time in his home village, not since I came to live with him.

The mayor was delighted that I was building a summer home near the village. He feels that I am somehow responsible for the benefits that have come to Koalhurst in recent years. The improvements in the roads and the expansion of the koal mines have brought much to the village. None of this was my doing but he insists it is.

My mother was most impressed with Umar's artistic abilities. She was most proud of a sketch depicting her preparing food in the kitchen. I think he is developing a style that will be all his own. In this sketch he has spent much time getting great detail in her face but the remainder is only suggested or crudely outlined at best. In effect it is a portrait in context. That context is only suggested and the viewer's eye must focus on the detail of the face. It not only provides information about the subject but just enough is added to say something about how that person relates to the world.

My parents, the boys' grand parents were delighted with their description of the journey and happenings in Bejaia. I could see the light in Abrith's eyes as they described the old sultan's reactions. I could see he was most proud of me, not for having taken them, for having taught them well. I must admit, at least to myself, it is not so much my teaching skills but the philosophy that was taught to me by both my fathers and mothers, that was most pleasing to him.

This story telling by the boys has stimulated much thinking in my own mind. Not about the what, when or why of the story, the narrative, but about the role of narrative in our very existence. The stories we tell are more than an edited list of happenings. They may be that but must include by the very act of editing and telling much about the author or authors. They cary a perception and by the process, layers of messages.

Unlike a geometric figure, for example an equal sided triangle, stories are not complete descriptions of anything. If ten men describe that triangle, all following the same mathematical convention, all ten descriptions, if complete will describe exactly the same thing; ten competent students, each reading one of the descriptions will construct from each identical figures. If ten competent writers, each describe exactly the same time, place, actions and so on the result will be ten similar but different stories.

It is like the child's pass the message game. A short message is read by the first person and whispered to the second who wishers it to a third and so on. The tenth child is then asked to repeat the message. That repeat is compared to the initial written message. We all know the results as the difference is always a great source of mirth.

I have often noticed in my court how different, witness' accounts can often be, of the same event. That is one reason witnesses are not allowed to listen to the descriptions of others. At times I am left to wonder if these people were in fact at the same place, at the same time and watched the same event. None are being willfully untruthful. The detail they remember is just different. The detail they paid attention to is different. Their interpretations and assumptions are different. Sometimes they even imagine they saw what they did not or failed to take notice of that they did.

As pages we learned to hold messages or lists in our heads with great accuracy. This is a memory trick used by poets and others. Their are several methods, the location or position method, popularized by Simonides is one good one. While it works for many things, the list or text is actively memorized or perhaps just easily remembered from force of habit. It is only accurately remembered by taking notice.

If you ask me, any page or our poets to describe something they had not taken specific notice of their memories are no better or more accurate than others.

If for example you ask a soldier to describe a battle, he will give you great and accurate detail about his opponents and their weapons but if you ask him about anything else, even if he was in a good position to observe, his accuracy drops off and is no better then anyone else's.

That does not mean he will not be able to tell a compelling and powerful story about that battle. Much of it will be the result of his imagination, experience and speculation woven into his actual observations. What then the function?

The use and purpose of stories is to teach and to inform. They are how we men make sense of ourselves and the world. They are how we share experience or ideas with others. I think a good story is just that, a good story. I think good stories have another property. They are meaningful to all that hear them.