When silence speaks

All through the day he taught the ducal court

the proper way to bow, how tie a knot 

denoting station, the most proper lot

for those who know that duty is no sport 

and who are always ready to consort

with nobler men. It’s thus he paid his scot 

to be protected, and to be forgot

till it was needed to bear proper port.

Now he goes home, to eat his grain and rest 

with one more day of service now gone past,

and then he sees the housing of his horse 

turned into ash, yet he’s not depressed 

but asks to make sure not one boy had passed,

and did not ask about the steeds of course.