FINAL FANTASY III

FINAL FANTASY III

Not enough ratings
Scansion of Bards' Songs in Duster
By unvollstaendigkeitssatz
I scanned the bards' songs in Duster to read them rhythmically.
2
   
Award
Favorite
Favorited
Unfavorite
Warriors of Darkness
Long ago there were men who sought power,
but that light would the world soon devour.
When the strength overflowed
nothing could make it slow
so the mortals on earth could but cower.

But four heroes of darkness did come
to banish the light that has strung
the realm to its limit
now the light is diminished
and to darkness the world will succumb.

Lŏng ăgó / thĕre wĕre mén / whŏ sŏught pówer,
bŭt thăt líght / wŏuld thĕ wórld / sŏon dĕvóur.
Whĕn thĕ stréngth / ŏvĕrflówed
nŏthĭng cóuld / măke ĭt slów
sŏ thĕ mór- / tăls ŏn éarth / cŏuld bŭt cówer.

Bŭt fŏur hé- / rŏes ŏf dárk- / nĕss dĭd cóme
tŏ bán- / ĭsh thĕ líght / thăt hăs strúng
thĕ réalm / tŏ ĭts lím(ĭt)
nŏw thĕ líght / ĭs dĭmín(ĭshed)
ănd tŏ dárk- / nĕss thĕ wórld / wĭll sŭccúmb.

An anapestic trimeter with some short dimetric lines in it—looks like a limerick with double length, if there isn't a better name for this format.
Leviathan
Slumbering shadow beneath the lake,
bides his time for the day he awakes
and the chains of darkness he shall break.
Lord of the deep, Leviathan

Slŭmbĕríng / shădŏw bé- / nĕath thĕ láke,
bĭdes hĭs tíme / fŏr thĕ dáy / hĕ ăwákes
ănd thĕ cháins / ŏf dărknéss / hĕ shăll bréak.
Lŏrd óf / thĕ déep, / Lĕví- / ăthán

The accents shown above are what are expected from the feet, ignoring inversion or substitution. I scanned this as an anapestic trimeter, with the last line being an iambic tetrameter (difference in rhyme suggests difference in meter).
Odin
Odin, most righteous and chivalrous knight,
for fear of his awesome and terrible might,
sealed it away in a castle so tight,
lest his dark soul eclipse even the light.

Ódĭn, mŏst / ríghteŏus ănd / chívălrŏus / kníght,
(fŏr) féar ŏf hĭs / áwesŏme ănd / térrĭblĕ / míght,
séaled ĭt ă- / wáy ĭn ă / cástlĕ sŏ / tíght,
lést hĭs dărk / sóul ĕclĭpse / évĕn thĕ / líght.

A dactylic tetrameter.
Bahamut
Lord Bahamut, greatest dragon of all,
awaits a warrior great or small.
Should such a hero bring his fall,
his power would be at their beck and call.

(Lŏrd) Băhămút, / grĕatĕst drá- / gŏn ŏf áll,
ăwăits á / wărrĭór / grĕat ŏr smáll.
Shŏuld súch / ă hĕró / brĭng hĭs fáll,
hĭs pŏwer wóuld / bĕ ăt théir / bĕck ănd cáll.

An anapestic trimeter, I think (like in Leviathan, the accents shown are what are expected from the feet).
Item
Heeere is a song for an item or thiiing,
that into one's pocket fair fortune may briiing.

Hére ĭs ă / sóng fŏr ăn / ítĕm ŏr / thíng,
(thăt) íntŏ ŏne's / póckĕt făir / fórtŭne măy / bríng.

A dactylic tetrameter.
Chocobo
Choc, choco-choco-bo!
Choc-choc chocobo-bo-bo,
choc-chocobo choc-chocobooo!
Hey!

I tried to fit this in the chocobo theme, but I couldn't find an obvious way.
(Added) Two Songs in Castle Saronia
In the top of Castle Saronia, there are two bards who sing songs—both in anapestic trimeter.

Noah's Lute can resound within dreams,
But it now lies dormant, some would deem,
In the Temple of Time, or so it seems.

Nŏăh's Lúte / căn rĕsóund / wĭthĭn dréams,
Bŭt ĭt nów / lĭes dŏrmánt, / sŏme wŏuld déem,
Ĭn thĕ Tém- / plĕ ŏf Tíme, / (ŏr) sŏ ĭt séems.

Beneath the seas, under waves that mourn,
Lies a temple, abandoned and torn,
In South Saronia, between the horns.

Bĕnĕath thé / sĕas, ŭndér / wăves thăt móurn,
Lĭes ă tém- / plĕ, ăbán- / dŏned ănd tórn,
(Ĭn) Sŏuth Săró- / nĭă, bé- / twĕen thĕ hórns.

(substitution/inversion ignored, as before)
2 Comments
IvyCat Mar 13, 2022 @ 9:52pm 
This is awesome!:SocialPolicy:
Tythesly Dec 9, 2021 @ 8:35am 
What is duster?