Award of the Tower's Foundation

Awarded to Tristán Bartolo de la Vega (modernly known as Ben Jackson)

By the Barony of Cynnabar on 2015-03-07

What a peaceful living:
fleeing noises, shallow and hollow,
of a world that’s unforgiving,
the hidden path to follow
along which honest scholars all go.

He seeks the dream unbroken,
pure and happy, where freedom blazes,
to never be awoken
by worthless, unthinking praises
for his bloodline or money in flattering phrases.

With his hand, with self-made power
he planted an orchard. It’s greenly growing
and even now is in flower;
with every blossom blowing,
the hope of real fruit is showing.

While others are embracing
a miserable mind and thirstily clinging
to the dangerous falsehoods they’re chasing,
he to the orchard goes singing
and lies in the shade of the fruit trees, singing.

For the service he has rendered unto Our populace with his clear mind, openness, and ready information, We, Ermenrich and Kasha, Barón y Baronesa de Cynnabar, commend Tristán Bartolo de la Vega and bestow upon him the Award of the Tower’s Foundation.

Let none countermand Our words.

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Text adapted from “La Vida Retirada” by Luis Ponce de León (Spanish; written between 1559-1584).

Pronunciation Guide:
Barón y Baronesa de -- /ba.'ɾon i ba.ɾo'.ne.sa de/

For updates and corrections, please e-mail precedence@cynnabar.org. Include your SCA name, modern name, awards to add, and date received.