Edwin
21-01-2012, 03:34 PM
Saxton Pope, The Adventurous Bowmen
"If you can hear this call, down the avenues of time; if you can smell the dark forest incense and your hand itches to draw a cloth yard shaft across a sturdy bow, then you are one of the immortals. In you we have the heart of the true archer.
To you, I hereby bequeath all the yew trees of the good green earth, that bow staves may ever be yours. I bequeath all stiff wood for arrow shafts and keen steel heads to fit. Flax and feathers are yours by right of heritage and I leave you, so long as you draw a bowstring, all this world of forest and open fields for your delight, and all the wild life therein. And I leave you the sun by day and the moon by night, and the gentle breeze that blows the fragrance of flower and tree and dust to your nostrils.
The long delicious trails and mountain paths are yours. The ecstasy of cool running streams I give you freely when athirst, and last of all I leave to you the thrill of life and joy of youth that throbs a moment in a well-bent bow, then leaps forth in the flight of an arrow."
Maurice Thompson, The Witchery of Archery
http://www.archive.org/details/witcheryofarcher00thomuoft
"So long as the new moon returns in heaven a
bent, beautiful bow, so long will the fascination of
archery keep hold of the hearts of men. You
have but to mention an archer or archery to your
friend, and immediately his interest is aroused. He
may scoff at the bow and sneer at the arrow ; but
he will inquire and show curiosity. Hang a long
bow and a quiver of arrows conspicuously in your
hall or library, and you will soon discover that no
exquisite painting or bit of statuary will receive
from guests more attention than will be accorded
to these ancient weapons."
"If you can hear this call, down the avenues of time; if you can smell the dark forest incense and your hand itches to draw a cloth yard shaft across a sturdy bow, then you are one of the immortals. In you we have the heart of the true archer.
To you, I hereby bequeath all the yew trees of the good green earth, that bow staves may ever be yours. I bequeath all stiff wood for arrow shafts and keen steel heads to fit. Flax and feathers are yours by right of heritage and I leave you, so long as you draw a bowstring, all this world of forest and open fields for your delight, and all the wild life therein. And I leave you the sun by day and the moon by night, and the gentle breeze that blows the fragrance of flower and tree and dust to your nostrils.
The long delicious trails and mountain paths are yours. The ecstasy of cool running streams I give you freely when athirst, and last of all I leave to you the thrill of life and joy of youth that throbs a moment in a well-bent bow, then leaps forth in the flight of an arrow."
Maurice Thompson, The Witchery of Archery
http://www.archive.org/details/witcheryofarcher00thomuoft
"So long as the new moon returns in heaven a
bent, beautiful bow, so long will the fascination of
archery keep hold of the hearts of men. You
have but to mention an archer or archery to your
friend, and immediately his interest is aroused. He
may scoff at the bow and sneer at the arrow ; but
he will inquire and show curiosity. Hang a long
bow and a quiver of arrows conspicuously in your
hall or library, and you will soon discover that no
exquisite painting or bit of statuary will receive
from guests more attention than will be accorded
to these ancient weapons."