#are you kneeling to your king? or to your jailor?

[p0cketstitched]

do you know who you kneel to?

[bills-bible-basics]

PERSECUTION OF THE FIRST CENTURY CHURCH -- KJV (King James Version) Bible Verse List Visit https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/ to see more. "But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. And it shall turn to you for a testimony. Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls." Luke 21:12-19, KJV "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me." John 15:18-21, KJV "Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison." Acts 5:17-18, KJV "When they [the Jews] heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him [Stephen] with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison." Acts 7:54-8:1-3, KJV "Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people." Acts 12:1-4, KJV "And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks." Acts 16:19-24, KJV "For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:" Acts 24:5, KJV "I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities." Acts 26:9-11, KJV "For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day." 1 Corinthians 4:9-13, KJV "But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;" 2 Corinthians 6:4-5, KJV "Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness." 2 Corinthians 11:23-27, KJV "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." 2 Timothy 3:12, KJV "I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth." Revelation 2:13, KJV "And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled." Revelation 6:9-11, KJV "And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth." Revelation 18:24, KJV "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years." Revelation 20:4, KJV If you would like more info regarding the origin of these KJV Bible verse lists, go to https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/. Thank-you! https://www.billkochman.com/Blog/index.php/persecution-of-the-first-century-church-kjv-king-james-version-bible-verse-list/?feed_id=172107&PERSECUTION%20OF%20THE%20FIRST%20CENTURY%20CHURCH%20--%20KJV%20%28King%20James%20Version%29%20Bible%20Verse%20List

[talesofnovembria]

😨 [from the dream/nightmare meme!]

send me 😨 to see how your muse appears in my muse’s NIGHTMARES

A dark sky hung overhead, snow floating down from its maw.

Metal and ice jutted towards the heavens, one singular platform holding up where she stood. White began to collect at her feet, hiding the sheen of metal she stood on. A path lined with twisted ice and bone led to a frozen throne, broken chains hanging to the two pillars residing at the side of the structure. A figure sat on that throne…

As one should. There must always be one.

She knew where she stood. It was the Citadel, the highest point of the entire structure. Very few were ever allowed here, to stand before this throne. The only ones bold enough to defiantly stand here were the wielder of the legendary Ashbringer and the heroes responsible for the first king’s downfall. Any other was a servant.

Another had taken the first’s place, an orange glow to replace the cold blue. Under his rule, they became the jailor of the rogue undead. But that begged the question of what brought her here now. His voice was ever present in her mind, a way to call to all those influenced by his rule, but he’d never called her since he’d taken his throne.

Ears turned to movement from the peak, the shadowed figure pushing itself from its seat. Fear raced through her form, even though the reason for this feeling didn’t entirely make sense. She’d never feared him. Even when the first was dethroned, she followed the new order because she had no choice. Emotions were meaningless, especially the one that kept one from freezing up on the battlefield.

There was no place for fear among the undead.

She couldn’t move, nor tear her gaze away from it. The closer it drew, the more its features began to take shape. Her heart dropped.

She expected a blackened body.

She expected a harsh gaze.

But she didn’t expect to see him.

His usual black robes hung from his body, flowing in the chilling wind. His hair floated in every direction, just as it usually did, but those were the only features that remained the same. The golden locks were replaced by an icy blue. His usual soft eyes were harsh, narrowed upon her. A crown sat upon his head, an all too familiar one. She felt so small under his gaze, her eyes following him as he began to circle her. He spoke, fingers brushing along her shoulder, “Have you forgotten your place soldier? Kneel in the presence of your king.”

Her body lowered without a second thought, kneeling into the building snow. She dared a glance, only to hear his voice again, “Head down.” Command followed, gaze focusing on the white. She expected to feel her heart hammering in her chest, but there was nothing. Nothing but numb. Armor covered her fur, hints of glow in the corners of her eyes, no tail.

No… NO!

He moved around her again, a rumbling echoing around her. One hand reached down, fingers curling around her chin, forcing her gaze up on him. She could feel his grip tightening, as if he saw something that offended him, “Not going soft are you soldier? Shall I send you back to your superiors?”

“No sir.” Her tone sounded so dry… so emotionless…

He said nothing, dropping his hand. His back turned to her, gaze peering to her from over his shoulder, “I will not tolerate failure from anyone. You’ll follow any and every order given to you. Am I understood soldier?” The rumbling grew louder, sounds ringing out around her. The crackle of bone scraping against each other, moans of the undead circling around her, claws curling around her as they drew in. A warning.

“Yes sir.”

Sir… His eyes narrowed more than they already had, “What was that soldier? You seem to have forgotten something. Yes what?”

“Yes… my king.”

A cruel grin crossed over his face, one that should never be upon such a person. He wasn’t cruel. He wasn’t heartless. He was a kind king, but he wasn’t her king. She didn’t have a king anymore. She didn’t serve anyone. He extended his arm, finger pointing behind her, “Go then soldier. Serve your king. Bring his will to light.”

“Yes my king.”

----

Salena shot up in bed, huffs escaping her maw. Her eyes shot around her surroundings, an unfamiliar room laid before her. It took a moment for her to realize she was still in the Divine’s kingdom, him insistent she at least stay since it was getting late. Something about her needing to get some rest, even though she rarely got a break from nights like this. But it seemed to put him at ease when she agreed.

Speaking of…

A knock came at the door, eyes peering in the darkness. A sinking feeling welled inside her. The Divine stepped through, his soft tone filling the space. She couldn’t really hear what he was saying… a sudden static filling her brain. She dared a glance up to the golden man. No gold… blue… ice… her king!

She threw the covers off herself, throwing open a gate without care for the consequences. Somewhere else in the kingdom, it didn’t matter where. Away from him! Away from the king!

There was always a king on that throne, but he wasn’t her king anymore! She served no one! She couldn’t again!

She tumbled out, clutching her chest in pain as she lay stretched out on the ground. The gate shut behind her before the Divine could follow her through. Just stay away from him. He doesn’t control her anymore. Never again...

[mocharoll]

Dragon Age: Inquisition character alignments

Cassandra Pentaghast: Neutral Good

-I do nothing that is not worth doing with all my heart.

-One day, they may write about me as a traitor, a madwoman, a fool. And they may be right. 

-The Circle of Magi has its place, but needs reform. Let the mages govern themselves, with our help. Let the templars stand not as the jailors of mages, but as protectors of the innocent. We must be vigilant, but we must also be compassionate to all peoples of Thedas, human or no. (...) If we are to spread the Maker's word across the world, we must do so with open hearts and open hands.(...)That is what I would change.

Varric Tethras: True Neutral (barely missing Neutral Good)

-To be honest with you, she’s just a better spymaster. The truly great ones can keep their distance. They don’t get attached to their people. Me, I always wind up babysitting my informants and worrying about their families. We’re in better hands with her.

-(If it was that bad, why did you stay? Cassandra said you were free to go.) I like to think I’m as selfish and irresponsible as the next guy, but this… Thousands of people died on that mountain. I was almost one of them. And now there’s a hole in the sky. Even I can’t walk away and just leave that to sort itself out.

-Heroes are everywhere. I've seen that. But a hole in the sky? That's beyond heroes. We're going to need a miracle.

-(You knew where Hawke was all along!) You’re damned right I did!

-You know what I think? If Hawke had been at the temple, s/he'd be dead too. You people have done enough to her/him.

Vivienne de Fer: Lawful Evil

- The Divine must set the example for all Thedas. She must seem to be the embodiment of the Maker to the faithful. She needs the authority of the Maker and the charisma of Andraste.

-I never worry, darling. A leash can be pulled from either end.

-Your failing-- among many-- is that you presume I desire approval. Power does not require that I be "liked.”

-Act first and teach them to fear us.

The Iron Bull: Lawful Neutral (Slides towards True Neutral if Tal-Vashoth)

-Dragons are the embodiment of raw power. But it's all uncontrolled, savage... So they need to be destroyed. Taming the wild. Order out of chaos.

-It's like being a block of stone with a sculptor working on you. One day, the last of the crap gets knocked off, and you can see your real shape, what you're supposed to be.

-My people don't pick leaders from the strongest, or the smartest, or even the most talented. We pick the ones willing to make the hard decisions... and live with the consequences.

Sera: Chaotic Good

-Someone little always hates someone big. And unless you don't eat, sleep, or piss, you're never far from someone little.

-Bad things should happen to bad people. We find someone not so bad, maybe he’ll end up not so dead. 

-Watch out, yeah? The hole in the sky didn't start their war. Stupid people did that.

-Blah, blah, blah! Obey me! Arrow in my face!

Dorian Pavus: True Neutral 

-In the south you have alienages, slums both human and elven. The desperate have no way out. Back home, a poor man can sell himself. As a slave he can have a position of respect, comfort, and could even support a family. Some slaves are treated poorly it's true, but do you honestly think inescapable poverty is better?

-If I truly believed my homeland was beyond all hope, I wouldn't miss it so much.

-Living a lie... it festers inside you, like poison. You have to fight for what's in your heart.

-I'm here to set things right. Also? To look dashing. That part's less difficult.

Solas: True Neutral

-Sometimes to achieve the world one desires, one must take regrettable measures.

-War breeds fear. Fear breeds a desire for simplicity. Good and evil. Right or wrong. Chains of command.

-One moment, I see heroic Grey Wardens lighting the fire and a power-mad villain sneering as he lets King Cailan fall. The next, I see an army overwhelmed and a veteran commander refusing to let more soldiers die in a lost cause.

Blackwall: Neutral Good (During Inquisition)

-“You are who you choose to follow.” Someone told me that once. Took me years to understand what he meant.

-At the heart of it, all a Warden is, is a promise. To protect others... even at the cost of your own life. 

-(What can one Grey Warden do?) "Save the fucking world if pressed.

Cole: Neutral Good

-It is dangerous when too many men in the same armor think they're right. 

-It doesn't matter that they won't remember me. What matters is I helped. 

-(What of Magister Erimond? Do you sense a secret pain in him?) No. Erimond is an asshole.  

Leliana: Neutral Good (if unhardened), True Neutral (if hardened)

The Chantry has committed many injustices. If we're going to change it, why not change the whole thing?

I've known mages. Some of them were better people than me. And yet I'm free and they're not. It's not right.

No one is without worth. Whoever you are, whatever your mistakes, you are loved. Unconditionally.

Josephine: Neutral Good

- We face a dark time, Your Grace. Divine Justinia would not want her passing to divide us. She would, in fact, trust us to forge new alliances to the benefit of all, no matter how strange they might seem.

-(I can only imagine the bloodshed if it escalates further.) I’m afraid history holds many examples of what will happen if it does.

-But it was such a waste, Inquisitor! When I took of his mask I knew him. We’d attended parties together. If I’d stopped to reason, if I’d used my voice instead of scuffling like a common thug...

Cullen Rutherford: Neutral Good (even more so if kept off of Lyrium. Lawful Good if he takes Lyrium)

-The templars should have restored order, but red lyrium had driven Knight-Commander Meredith mad. She threatened to kill Kirkwall’s Champion, turned on her own men. I’m not sure how far she would have gone. Too far.

-(Why did you join the Order?) I could think of no better calling than to protect those in need.

-(I doubt the Commander believes there’s anything worthy left in me.) You’re not wrong. But you served something greater than yourself once. Perhaps you can be made to remember that.

-Shouldn’t they be arguing over who’s going to become Divine?

Morrigan: True Neutral

-No son of mine would be raised in a marsh, bereft of contact with the outside world. His future will be difficult enough without my adding to his burden.

-The magic of old must be preserved. No matter how feared.

-What I fear, what all should fear, is not that Corypheus believes he can succeed; ‘tis that he actually may.

-Mankind blunders through the world, crushing what it does not understand; elves, dragons, magic...the list is endless. We must stem the tide, or be left with nothing more than the mundane. This I know to be true.

Corypheus: Neutral Evil 

Know me. Know what you have pretended to be. Exalt the Elder One. The will that is Corypheus. You will kneel.

-I have gathered the will to return under no name but my own, to champion withered Tevinter and correct this Blighted world. Beg that I succeed, for I have seen the throne of the gods, and it was empty.

The Nightmare: Chaotic Evil

The Divine: It is the Nightmare you forget upon waking. It feeds off memories of fear and darkness, growing fat upon the terror.

-Are you afraid, Cole? I can help you forget. Just like you help other people. We're so very much alike, you and I. 

Cole: No.

-You think that pain will make you stronger? What fool filled your mind with such drivel? The only one who grows stronger from your fear is me.

[aikipoet-blog]

Geoffrey Chaucer, The Knight’s Tale, Part I (Numbered) (Forrest Hainline's Minimalist Translation)

Geoffrey Chaucer, The Knight’s Tale, Part I (Numbered) (Forrest Hainline's Minimalist Translation)

Here beginneth the Knight’s Tale

859      Once, as old stories tell us;

860      There was a duke called Theseus;

861      Of Athens he was lord and governor,

862      And in his time such a conqueror

863      That greater was there none under the sun.

864      Full many a rich country had he won;

865      What with his wisdom and his chivalry,

866      He conquered all the reign of Feminie,

867      That once was called Scythia,

868      And wedded the queen Hippolyta,

869      And brought her home with him in his country

870      With much glory and great ceremony,

871      And too her young sister Emily.

872      And thus with victory and with melody

873      Let I this noble duke to Athens ride,

874      And all his host in arms him beside.

875      And certain, if it weren’t too long to hear,

876      I would have told you fully the manner

877      How won was the reign of Feminie

878      By Theseus and by his chivalry;

879      And of the great battle for the nonce,

880      Between Athens and Amazons;

881      And how assieged was Hippolyta,

882      The fair, hardy queen of Scythia;

883      And the feast that was at her wedding,

884      And of the tempest at her home-coming;

885      But all that thing I must as now forbear.

886      I have, God knows, a large field to air,

887      And weak be the oxen in my plough.

888      The remnant of the tale is long enough.

889      I will not delay eek none of this route;

890      Let every fellow tell his tale about,

891      And let’s see now who shall the supper win;

892      And where I left, I will again begin.

  893      This duke, of whom I make mention,

894      When he was come almost unto the town,

895      In all his wealth and in his most pride,

896      He was ware, as he cast his eye aside,

897      Where that there kneeled in the highway

898      A company of ladies, tway and tway,

899      Each after the other clad in clothes black;

900      But such a cry and such a woe they make

901      That in this world no creature living

902      That heard such another lamenting;

903      And of this cry they would never cease

904      Til they the reins of his bridle seized.

  905      “What folk be you, that at my homecoming

906      Perturb so my feast with crying?”

907      Said Theseus.  “Have you so great envy

908      Of my honor, that thus complain and cry?

909      Or who have you misbeden or offended?

910      And tell me if it may be amended,

911      And why that you be clothed thus in black.”

  912      The eldest lady of them all spak,

913      When she had swooned with a deadly cheer,

914      That it was ruth for to see and hear;

915      She said, “Lord, to whom Fortune has given

916      Victory, and as a conqueror to live,

917      Not grieves us your glory and your honor,

918      But we beseech mercy and succor.

919      Have mercy on our woe and our distress!

920      Some drop of pity, through thy gentleness,

921      Upon us wretched women let thou fall,

922      For, certain, lord, there is none of us all

923      That she hasn’t been a duchess or a queen.

924      Now be we captives, as it is well seen,

925      Thanks be Fortune and his false wheel,

926      That no one’s estate’s assured to be well.

927      And certain, lord, to abide in your presence,

928      Here in this temple of the goddess Clemence

929      We have been waiting all this fortnight.

930      Now help us, Lord, since it is in thy might.

  931      I, wretch, which that weep and wail thus,

932      Was once wife to King Cappaneus,

933      That died at Thebes – cursed be that day! –

934      And all we that be in this array

935      And make all this lamentation,

936      We lost all our husbands at that town,

937      While that the siege thereabout lay.

938      And yet now the old Creon – wail-away! –

939      That lord is now of Thebes the city,

940      Fulfilled of ire and of iniquity,

941      He, for despite and for his tyranny,

942      To do the dead bodies villainy

943      Of all our lords which that had been slain,

944      Had all the bodies on a heap lain,

945      And will not suffer them, by no assent,

946      Neither to be buried nor burnt,

947      But make hounds eat them in despite.”

  948      And with that word, without more respite,

949      They fell grufe and cried piteously,

950      “Have on us wretched women some mercy,

951      And let our sorrow sink in thine heart.”

  952      This gentle duke down from his courser start

953      With heart piteous, when he heard them speak.

954      He thought that his heart would break,

955      When he saw them so pitiful and so mat,

956      That once were of so great estate;

957      And in his arms he them all up hent,

958      And them comforted in full good intent,

959      And swore his oath, as he was true knight,

960      He would do so far-forthly his might

961      Upon the tyrant Creon him to wreak

962      That all the people of Greece should speak

963      How Creon was of Theseus served

964      As he that had his death full well deserved.

965      And right anon, without more abode,

966      His banner he displayed, and forth he rode

967      To Thebes-ward, and all his host beside.

968      No near Athens would he go nor ride,

969      Nor take his ease fully half a day,

970      But onward on his way that night he lay,

971      And sent anon Hippolyta the queen,

972      And Emily, her young sister sheen,

973      Unto the town of Athens to dwell,

974      And forth he rode, there is no more to tell.

975      The red statute of Mars, with his spear and targe,

976      So shines in his white banner large

977      That all the fields glitter up and down

978      And by his banner born is his pennon

979      Of gold full rich, in which there was beat

980      The Minotaur, which that he won in Crete.

981      Thus rides this duke, thus rides this conqueror,

982      And in his host of chivalry the flower,

983      Til that he came to Thebes and alight

984      Fair in a field, there as he thought to fight.

985      But shortly for to speak of this thing,

986      With Creon, which that was of Thebes king,

987      He fought, and slew him manly as a knight

988      In plain battle, and put the folk to flight;

989      And by assault he won the city after,

990      And rent down both wall and spar and rafter;

991      And to the ladies he restored again

992      The bones of their friends that were slain,

993      To do obsequies, as was then the guise,

994      But it were all too long for to devise

995      The great clamor and the lamenting

996      That the ladies made at the burning

997      Of the bodies, and the great honor

998      That Theseus, the noble conqueror,

999      Does to the ladies, when they from him went;

1000    But shortly for to tell is my intent.

  1001    When that this worthy duke, this Theseus,

1002    Has Creon slain and won Thebes thus,

1003    Still in that field he took all night his rest,

1004    And did with all the country as he lest.

  1005    To ransack in the tass of bodies dead,

1006    Them for to strip of harness and of wede,

1007    The pillagers did business and cure

1008    After the battle and discomfiture.

1009    And so befell that in the tass they found,

1010    Through-girt with many a grievous bloody wound,

1011    Two young knights lying by and by,

1012    Both in one arms, wrought full richly,

1013    Of which two, Arcite hight that one,

1014    And that other knight hight Palamon.

1015    Not fully quick, nor fully dead they were,

1016    But by their coat of arms and by their gear

1017    The heralds knew them best in special

1018    As they that were of the blood royal

1019    Of Thebes, and of sisters two born.

1020    Out of the tass the pillagers had them torn,

1021    And had them carried soft into the tent

1022    Of Theseus; and he full soon them sent

1023    To Athens, to dwell in prison

1024    Perpetually – not held for ransom.

  1025    And when this worthy duke has thus done,

1026    He took his host, and home he rode anon

1027    With laurel crowned as a conqueror;

1028    And there he lives in joy and in honor

1029    Term of his life, what needs words more?

1030    And in a tower, in anguish and in woe,

1031    This Palamon and his fellow Arcite

1032    For evermore; there may no gold them quit.

  1033    This passed year by year and day by day,

1034    Til it fell once, on a morn of May,

1035    That Emily, that fairer was to seen

1036    Than is the lily upon his stalk green,

1037    And fresher than the May with flowers new –

1038    For with the rose color strove her hue,

1039    I know not which was the finer of them two –

1040    Ere it were day, as was her want to do,

1041    She was arisen and all ready dight,

1042    For May will have no sluggardy at night.

1043    The season pricks every gentle heart,

1044    And makes it out of his sleep to start,

1045    And says, “Arise, and do thy observance.”

1046    This made Emily have remembrance

1047    To do honor to May, and for to rise.

1048    Clothed was she fresh, for to devise:

1049    Her yellow hair was braided in a tress

1050    Behind her back, a yard long, I guess.

1051    And in the garden, at the sunrise,

1052    She walked up and down, and as she pleased

1053    She gathered flowers, parti white and red,

1054    To make a subtle garland for her head;

1055    And as an angel heavenly she sang.

1056    The great tower, that was so thick and strong,

1057    Which of the castle was the chief dungeon

1058    (There as the knights were in prison

1059    Of which I told you and tell I shall),

1060    Was even joined to the garden wall

1061    There as this Emily had her playing.

1062    Bright was the sun and clear that morning,

1063    And Palamon, this woeful prisoner,

1064    As was his want, by leave of his jailor,

1065    Was risen and roamed in a chamber on high,

1066    In which he all the noble city saw,

1067    And too the garden, full of branches green,

1068    There as this fresh Emily the sheen

1069    Was in her walk, and roamed up and down.

1070    This sorrowful prisoner, this Palamon,

1071    Goes in the chamber roaming to and fro

1072    And to himself complaining of his woe.

1073    That he was born, oft he said, “alas!”

1074    And so befell, by adventure or chance,

1075    That through a window, thick of many a bar

1076    Of iron great and square as any spar,

1077    He cast his eye upon Emily,

1078    And therewithal he blanched and cried, “Ah!”

1079    As though he stung were unto the heart.

1080    And with that cry Arcite anon up start

1081    And said, “Cousin mine, what ails thee,

1082    That art so pale and deadly on to see?

1083    Why criest thou?  Who has thee done offense?

1084    For God’s love, take all in patience

1085    Our prison, for it may none other be.

1086    Fortune has given us this adversity.

1087    Some wicked aspect or disposition

1088    Of Saturn, by some constellation,

1089    Has given us this, although we had it sworn;

1090    So stood the heaven when that we were born.

1091    We must endure it; this is the short and plain.”

  1092    This Palamon answered and said again,

1093    “Cousin, for truth, of this opinion

1094    Thou hast a vain imagination.

1095    This prison caused me not for to cry,

1096    But I was hurt right now through my eye

1097    Into my heart, that will my bane be.

1098    The fairness of that lady that I see

1099    Yond in the garden roaming to and fro

1100    Is cause of all my crying and my woe.

1101    I know not whether she be woman or goddess,

1102    But Venus is it truly, as I guess.”

1103    And therewithal on knees down he fell,

1104    And said, “Venus, if it be thy will

1105    You in this garden thus to transfigure

1106    Before me, sorrowful, wretched creature,

1107    Out of this prison help that we may escape.

1108    And if so be my destiny be shaped

1109    By eternal word to die in prison,

1110    Of our lineage have some compassion,

1111    That is so low brought by tyranny.”

1112    And with that word Arcite gan to spy

1113    Whereas this lady roamed to and fro,

1114    And with that sight her beauty hurt him so,

1115    That, if that Palamon was wounded sore,

1116    Arcite is hurt as much as he, or more.

1117    And with a sigh he said piteously,

1118    “The fresh beauty slays me suddenly

1119    Of her that roams in the yonder place;

1120    And but I have her mercy and her grace,

1121    That I may see her at least a way,

1122    I am but dead; there is no more to say.”

  1123    This Palamon, when he those words heard

1124    Despiteously he looked and answered,

1125    “Whether sayeth thou this in earnest or in play?”

  1126    “Nay,” said Arcite, “in earnest, by my faith!

1127    God help me so, that would be full evil play.”

  1128    This Palamon then knit his brows tway.

1129    “It were,” said he, “to thee no great honor

1130    For to be false, nor to be traitor

1131    To me, that am thy cousin and thy brother

1132    Sworn full deep, and each of us til other,

1133    That never, for to die in the pain,

1134    Til that the death depart shall us twain,

1135    Neither of us in love to hinder the other,

1136    Nor in no other case, my dear brother,

1137    But that thou should truly further me

1138    In every case, as I shall further thee –

1139    This was thine oath, and mine also, certain;

1140    I know right well, thou dare it not withstand.

1141    Thus art thou of my counsel, out of doubt,

1142    And now thou would falsely be about

1143    To love my lady, whom I love and serve,

1144    And ever shall til that my heart starve.

1145    Nay, certes, false Arcite, thou shall not so.

1146    I loved her first, and told thee my woe

1147    As to my counsel and my brother sworn

1148    To further me, as I have told before.

1149    For which thou are bound as a knight

1150    To help me, if it lay in thy might,

1151    Or else art thou false, I dare well say.”

  1152    This Arcite full proudly spoke again:

1153    “Thou shalt,” said he, “be rather false than I;

1154    And thou art false, I tell thee utterly,

1155    For paramour I loved her first er thou.

1156    What will thou say? Thou knows not yet now

1157    Whether she be a woman or goddess!

1158    Thine is affection of holiness,

1159    And mine is love as to a creature;

1160    For which I told thee my adventure

1161    As to my cousin and my brother sworn.

1162    I pose that thou loved her before;

1163    Know thee not well the old clerk’s saw,

1164    That ‘who shall give a lover any law?’

1165    Love is a greater law, by my pan,

1166    Than may be give to any earthly man;

1167    And therefore positive law and such decree

1168    Is broken all day for love in each degree.

1169    A man must need love, maugre his head;

1170    He may not flee it, though he should be dead,

1171    And be she maid, or widow, or else wife.

1172    And too it is not likely all thy life

1173    To stand in her grace; no more shall I;

1174    For well thou know thyself, verily,

1175    That thou and I be damned to prison

1176    Perpetually; us gain no ransom.

1177    We strive as did the hounds for the bone;

1178    They fought all day, and yet their part was none;

1179    There came a kite, while that they were so wroth,

1180    And bore away the bone between them both.

1181    And therefore, at the king’s court, my brother,

1182    Each man for himself, there is no other.

1183    Love, if thee list, for I love and ay shall;

1184    And truly, dear brother, this is all.

1185    Here in this prison must we endure,

1186    And each of us take his adventure.”

  1187    Great was the strife and long between those two,

1188    If that I had leisure to say;

1189    But to the effect; it happened on a day,

1190    To tell it you as shortly as I may,

1191    A worthy duke that hight Perotheus,

1192    That fellow was unto Duke Theseus

1193    Since thilk day that they were children lit

1194    Was come to Athens his fellow to visit,

1195    And for to play as he was want to do;

1196    For in this world he loved no man so,

1197    And he loved him as tenderly again.

1198    So well they loved, as old books say,

1199    That when that one was dead, truly to tell

1200    His fellow went and sought him down in hell –

1201    But of that story list me not to write.

1202    Duke Perotheus loved well Arcite,

1203    And had him known at Thebes year by year,

1204    And finally at request and prayer

1205    Of Perotheus, without any ransom,

1206    Duke Theseus him let out of prison

1207    Freely to go where that he list over all,

1208    In such a guise as I you tell shall.

  1209    This was the forward, plainly for to endite,

1210    Between Theseus and him Arcite:

1211    That if so were that Arcite were found

1212    Ever in his life, by day or night, or stound

1213    In any country of this Theseus,

1214    And he were caught, it was accorded thus,

1215    That with a sword he should lose his head.

1216    There was no other remedy nor rede;

1217    But taking his leave, and homeward he him sped.

1218    Let him beware!  His neck lies to wedde.

  1219    How great a sorrow suffers now Arcite!

1220    The death he feels through his heart smite;

1221    He weeps, wails, cries piteously;

1222    To slay himself he waits privily.

1223    He said, “Alas that day that I was born!

1224    Now is my prison worse than before;

1225    Now is me shape eternally to dwell

1226    Not in purgatory, but in hell.

1227    Alas, that ever knew I Perotheus!

1228    For else had I dwelled with Theseus,

1229    Fettered in his prison evermore.

1230    Then had I been in bliss and not in woe.

1231    Only the sight of her whom that I serve,

1232    Though that I never her grace may deserve,

1233    Would have sufficed right enough for me.

1234    Oh dear cousin Palamon,” said he,

1235    “Thine is the victory of this adventure.

1236    Full blissfully in prison may thou dure –

1237    In prison?  Certes not, but in paradise!

1238    Well has Fortune turned thee the dice,

1239    That has the sight of her, and I the absence.

1240    For possible is, since thou have her presence,

1241    And art a knight, a worthy and an able,

1242    That by some case, since Fortune is changeable,

1243    Thou may to thy desire sometime attain.

  1244    But I, that am exiled and barren

1245    Of all grace, and in so great despair

1246    That there’s not earth, water, fire, nor air,

1247    Nor creature that of them made is,

1248    That may me help or do comfort in this,

1249    Well ought I starve in wanhope and distress.

1250    Farewell my life, my lust, and my gladness!

  1251    "Alas, why complain folk so in commune

1252    On providence of God, or of Fortune,

1253    That gives them full oft in many a guise

1254    Well better than they can themselves devise?

1255    Some men desire for to have riches,

1256    That cause is of his murder or great sickness;

1257    And one man would out of his prison feign,

1258    That in his house is of his money slain.

1259    Infinite harms be in this matter.

1260    We know not what things we pray here.

1261    We fare as he that drunk is as a mouse.

1262    A drunk man knows well he has a house,

1263    But he knows not which the right way is thither

1264    And to a drunk man the way is slipper.

1265    And certes, in this world, so fare we;

1266    We seek fast after felicity,

1267    But we go wrong full often, truly.

1268    Thus may we say all, and namely I,

1269    That wend and had a great opinion

1270    That if I might escape from prison,

1271    Then had I been in joy and perfect heal,

1272    There now I am exiled from my weel.

1273    Since that I may not see you, Emily,

1274    I’m but dead; there’s no remedy.

  1275    Upon that other side Palamon,

1276    When that he knew Arcite was gone,

1277    Such sorrow he makes that the great tower

1278    Resounds of his yelling and clamor.

1279    The pure fetters on his shins great

1280    Were of his bitter, salt tears wet.

1281    “Alas,” said he, “Arcite, cousin mine,

1282    Of all our strife, God knows, the fruit is thine.

1283    Thou walks now in Thebes at thy large,

1284    And of my woe thou gives little charge.

1285    Thou may, since thou hast wisdom and manhood,

1286    Assemble all the folk of our kindred,

1287    And make a war so sharp on this city

1288    That by some adventure or some treaty

1289    Thou may have her to lady and to wife

1290    For whom that I must needs lose my life.

1291    For, as by way of possibility,

1292    Since thou art at thy large, of prison free,

1293    And art a great lord, great is thy advantage

1294    More than is mine, who starves here in a cage.

1295    For I must weep and wail, while I live,

1296    With all the woe that prison may give,

1297    And too with pain that love me gives also,

1298    That doubles all my torment and my woe.”

1299    Therewith the fire of jealousy up start

1300    Within his breast, and hent him by the heart

1301    So madly that he like was to behold

1302    The boxtree or the ashes dead and cold.

  1303    Then said he, “O cruel gods that govern

1304    This world with binding of your word eternal

1305    And written on the table of adamant

1306    Your parliament and your eternal grant

1307    What is mankind more unto you hold

1308    Than is the sheep that rucks in the fold?

1309    For slain is man right as another beast,

1310    And dwells too in prison and arrest,

1311    And has sickness and great adversity,

1312    And oft times guiltless, pardee.

  1313    “What governance is in this prescience,

1314    That guiltless torments innocence?

1315    And yet increases this all my penance,

1316    That man is bound to his observance,

1317    For God’s sake, to lessen of his will,

1318    There as a beast may all his lust fulfill.

1319    And when a beast is dead he has no pain;

1320    But man after his death must weep and plain,

1321    Though in this world he have care and woe.

1322    Without doubt it may stand so.

1323    The answer to this let I to devise,

1324    But well I know that in this world great pain is.

1325    Alas, I see a serpent or a thief,

1326    That many a true man has done mischief,

1327    Gone at his large, and where he likes may turn.

1328    But I must be in prison through Saturn,

1329    And too through Juno, jealous and too wood,

1330    That has destroyed well nye all the blood

1331    Of Thebes with his waste walls wide;

1332    And Venus slays me on that other side

1333    For jealousy and fear of him Arcite.”

  1334    Now will I stint of Palamon a lite,

1335    And let him in his prison still dwell,

1336    And of Arcite forth I will you tell.

  1337    The summer passes, and the nights long

1338    Increasing double wise the pains strong

1339    Both of the lover and the prisoner.

1340    I know not which has the woefuller master.

1341    For, shortly for to say, this Palamon

1342    Perpetually is damned to prison,

1343    In chains and fetters to be dead;

1344    And Arcite is exiled upon his head

134e    For evermore, as out of that country,

1346    Nor never more shall his lady see.

  1347    You lovers ask I now this question:

1348    Who has the worst, Arcite or Palamon?

1349    That one may see his lady day by day,

1350    But in prison he must dwell alway;

1351    That other where he likes may ride or go,

1352    But see his lady shall he never more.

1353    Now deem as you like, you that can,

1354    For I will tell forth as I began.

  Explicit prima pars

[daily-invites]

02.04.19 ~ Solution-Minded

The renewed mind understands that the King’s dominion must be realized in all levels of society for an effective witness to take place. Someone with a Kingdom mindset looks to the overwhelming needs of the world and says, “God has a solution for this problem And I have legal access to His realm of mystery. Therefore I will seek Him for the answer!” 

With a Kingdom perspective, we become the answer in much the same way Joseph and Daniel were to the kings of their day.

VERSE

Genesis 39:1-6, 21-23 (VOICE)

Now Joseph had been taken to Egypt. Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard, himself an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him there to sell along with their goods and wares. The Eternal One was with Joseph, however, and he became successful in his own right as a slave within the house of his Egyptian master. Potiphar could not help but notice that the Eternal One was with Joseph and caused everything Joseph did to prosper. Joseph became the favorite of the household and rose in the ranks to become Potiphar’s personal attendant. In time, Potiphar made Joseph overseer of the entire household and put him in charge of everything he owned. From that moment, the Eternal One blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake, a blessing which seemed to cover everything Potiphar possessed from house to field. Potiphar entrusted everything to the care of Joseph. With him in charge, Potiphar had no concern about anything except for his private affairs, such as the food he chose to eat! 

[Joseph was eventually dismissed from Potiphar’s house, and put in jail because Potiphar’s wife falsely claimed Joseph tried to seduce her. (vs.7 to 20)] 

But the Eternal One remained with Joseph and showed him His loyal love and granted him favored status with the chief jailor. The jailor put Joseph in charge of all of the prisoners who were confined there. Whatever needed to be done, Joseph was the one to do it. The chief jailor, like Potiphar, didn’t need to worry about anything that was in Joseph’s care because the Eternal One was with him. And whatever Joseph did worked out well because the Eternal made it so.

Genesis 41:25-45 

[Joseph interprets the Pharaoh’s dreams and is now giving advice to help with the coming 7-year famine.]

Joseph (to Pharaoh): My advice is that Pharaoh should select someone who is wise and discerning and put him in charge of the land of Egypt during this time. Pharaoh should appoint officers over the land and direct them to take one-fifth of all that the land of Egypt produces during the seven abundant years, gather it together, store it up, and guard it under Pharaoh’s authority. That way each city will have a supply of food. The food would then be held in reserve for the people during the seven years of famine that are sure to come to Egypt. In this way, the people of Egypt will not starve to death during the famine.

Pharaoh and all his advisors liked Joseph’s suggestion.

Pharaoh (to his advisors): Is there anyone else you know like Joseph who has the Spirit of God within him?

Pharaoh (to Joseph): Since God has shown all of this to you, I can’t imagine anyone wiser and more discerning than you. Therefore you will be in charge of my household. All of my people will report to you and do as you say. Only I, because I sit on the throne, will be greater than you. I hereby appoint you head over all of the land of Egypt.

As a symbol of his power, Pharaoh removed the signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s. Then he dressed him in fine linens and put a gold chain around his neck. He had Joseph ride in the chariot reserved for his second-in-command, and servants ordered everyone, “Kneel!” as he rode by. So this was how Pharaoh appointed Joseph head over all of the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh had one more declaration.

Pharaoh (to Joseph): I am Pharaoh, and I decree that no one may do anything in the land of Egypt without your consent.

Then Pharaoh gave Joseph an Egyptian name, Zaphenath-paneah, and arranged for him to marry an Egyptian woman, Asenath (daughter of Potiphera, priest of On). So this was how Joseph gained authority over all the land of Egypt.

Daniel 1:8-21 (VOICE)

Although the king ate only the finest Babylonian fare, Daniel was determined not to violate God’s law and defile himself by eating the food and drinking the wine that came from the king’s table; so he asked the chief of the royal eunuchs for permission not to eat the food.

Now God had given Daniel special favor and fondness in the eyes of the king’s chief eunuch. Still the eunuch was concerned. ... When Ashpenaz refused, Daniel reasoned with the guard whom the chief of the royal eunuchs assigned to watch over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

Daniel (to the guard): Please, do us a favor. Put us, your servants, to the test for the next 10 days. Give us a vegetarian diet and water. When the time is up, you can see for yourself our condition and compare it to the condition of the other young men who are eating from the king’s table. Then, after you have seen what has happened, do whatever you think is best with us, your servants.

So the guard agreed to do as Daniel requested. He tested them on a diet of only vegetables, grains, and water for 10 days. When the 10 days were up, he looked them over and noticed that Daniel and his friends were better off than all the young men eating from the king’s best foods. They looked healthy and well nourished, so the guard continued to hold back their royal rations and replaced them with a strictly vegetarian diet. Through all of this, God conferred upon these 4 young men superior abilities in literature, language, and wisdom. God had given Daniel an additional gift, too: the ability to interpret visions and dreams. When the 3-year period of training and conditioning, as set by the king, was over, the king sent for the candidates; the chief of the royal eunuchs himself escorted them to Nebuchadnezzar. The king interviewed all of them and found that none of the candidates were any better than Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; so they were each assigned an important place in the king’s court. When the king inquired further into their grasp of wisdom and understanding, he discovered that they were better prepared than all the magicians and enchanters in his empire, even 10 times better. This is how Daniel came to serve the royal court, a position he safely held until the first year of King Cyrus when his Persian army conquered Babylonia.

Daniel 2:46-49 (VOICE)

When Daniel had finished [telling both what the king had dreamed and its interpretation], King Nebuchadnezzar did something remarkable. He fell on his face before Daniel, worshiped him, and ordered his officials to offer grain offerings and burn incense to him as they would to a god.

Nebuchadnezzar: I am now certain that your God is the God of all gods, the Lord of all kings, and the Revealer of mysteries, for unlike the other wise men in my service, you were able to reveal to me this mystery. You told me not only what I dreamed but what it all means.

The king bestowed high honors and many gifts on Daniel. He promoted him to new positions in his court and made him governor over the whole province of Babylon and head over all the wise men in his realm. Daniel approached the king and requested that he put his friends—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego—in charge of affairs in the province of Babylon while Daniel remained in the royal court.

Questions: ~ What was unique about how Joseph was able to answer the Pharaoh’s need? What was unique about how Daniel kept close to God while in exile? What is God telling me about these stories - and how to apply them to my life? ~ How do I provide unique answers to problems brought to me, because I have access to God’s manifold wisdom? Am I actively asking and listening for these unique, Kingdom answers?  ~ Have I asked God for supernatural wisdom and favor among men? Why have I not sought these gifts? alternatively: Why have I not sought these gifts more fervently than I have?

Prayer: 

Father -  Bless me in the purpose You have placed before me. Enable me to walk in integrity, grow in wisdom, and lead with conviction and charity. Show me how to be a Daniel, Joseph, Esther, and Nehemiah in this time.