FIRE AND FROST

(Tune: original, would you believe)


Hail the gods of fire and frost!
Once again their paths have crossed,
Leave the town, forsake the byre,
To fight for frost or fire. 


"I serve fire," the soldier said,	"I serve none," the Trickster laughed,
"Fire will take me when I'm dead,	"No god binds the wise in craft,
Till that day I wield my sword	Masterless I shall remain
And fire shall be my lord."	When frost and fire lie slain."

Hail the powers of frost and fire!	Hail the clash of fire and frost!
Strong to grant your heart's desire,	See the charge, the dread riposte!
If you dare to pay the cost	Woe to them who first retire,
Of serving fire or frost.	Betraying frost or fire!

"I serve frost," the wise man cried.	One or other, both or none,
"Frost shall rule when fire has died.	All's the same when all is done,
I shall die my life to save	Blackness lies on all the lands
And frost shall guard my grave."	And fire and frost join hands.

Hail the war of fire and frost!	Hail the peace of frost and fire!
See the world all tempest-tossed,	O'er the world stalks slaughter dire,
Victim of the deadly ire	Offspring of the holocaust
That drives both frost and fire!	Let fall by fire and frost.

"I serve both," the mystic screamed,	Come a thousand years or so,
"And this war I lately dreamed:	Man shall rise again, and know--
Worlds shall end and time shall cease	Just in time to fall once more
Ere fire and frost make peace."	When frost and fire make war.

Hail the lords of frost and fire!	Hail the gods of fire and frost!
Turning earth to mirk and mire,	Once again their paths have crossed,
Quags in which we wander lost	Leave the town, forsake the byre,
To die for fire or frost.	To fight for frost or fire. 

 	And die for frost or fire.