But here, where smoke
Of dragons chokes
The dwellers in the waste,
Are ladies three
Whose chastity
Has never been abased.

Is this absurd?
Do you doubt my word?
"It isn't true," you cry.
How can I know
Such a thing is so?
I asked—and virgins cannot lie.

These damosels
Had locked themselves
Within a castle keep.
Close watch they kept--
They never slept,
Lest wicked men should creep
Within their walls
And merry halls
To woo them in their sleep.

They sang and danced
And necromanced
And had a merry time,
While all around
Foul things abound,
Like monsters, muck, and slime.

But after days
Of Roundelays,
Parties started to pall.
Cried the ladies three,
"We must be free
Of monsters, muck, and all!"

Cried Rhonwen the Proud
In voice quite loud,
"This madness has to end!
Where is the knight
Of mickle might
Who will our home defend?"

Then Jerilyn
Of sublte pen
Said, "Sisters, let's be wise.
To find our trusty
Knight so lusty,
Let us advertise!"

Fair Ferelith
Said, "Yes, but with
This single reservation--
The man who'll save
Can't be a knave--
We'll have a competition!"

So word went out
All round about
Attracting quite a passel
Of men who claimed
To deserve the name,
"Defender of Hastle Castle."

"Against the Prince
There's no defense,"
Cried out the weak of heart.
Then spoke a dwarf,
"Begone! Be orf!
All cowards should depart!"

Oh the kind who reigns
And the queen did deign
To visit in the shire;
And others came
Whose noble name
True valor did inspire.

On a dismal day
All came to play
At swords and blood and battle.
No man was weak;
No man did break;
No knees were heard to rattle;
But one man bested
All the rest,
And slaughtered them like cattle.

Oh miny a highborn
Knight did try
To win the ladies' prize.
But only one,
When all was done,
Had favor in their eyes.

Who filled the Quest?
Or have you guessed
Who saved their chastity?
No surly knave,
But Dwarf most brave.
Behold him: This is He!

And now my friends,
This epic ends,
But in a little while
I'll sing to you
The story true
Of the man who did defile
The ladies four
We all battled for;
They were conquered by guile.
For while a blade
Left them undismayed,
They fell before a smile.