"A chancy course across the sea"

Today I painted some sails because the next turn in my Peninsular Campaign will include a naval engagement. That's the extent of today's update, but I will just add that the title of this post is taken from a poem by Ausiàs March (1400 – 1459), the best poet ever to grace the Catalan language. After the pic, I quote some more of his wonderful naval verses.

Sails and winds will work my will,

Setting a chancy course across the sea.

Ponente and Mistral rise to rebel.

Levante and Sirocco fight for me

Backed by their allies Midi and Gregal

Beseeching the North Mountain Wind to turn

Its storms aside in their support, so all

Five winds may blow the way of my return.

The sea will seethe like boiling casserole,

Change colors, taking on unnatural form,

Showing its ill will at full blast to all

That stray on it one second in that storm.

The fish will panic all throughout the sea

And seek out secret shelter in the deep,

Till from the sea that gave them life they flee

To death on dry land with a desperate leap.

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