Words: Violet's OSC

Brunissende did the calligraphy and illumination. I'm unsure of Violet's persona, but I think it's 16th-century lowland Scots. I based these words on 16th-century English poet Edmund Spenser's An Hymn In Honour Of Beauty. The rhyme scheme is ABABBCC.

The first verse of the award text is directly based on the below verse from Spenser.

AWARD TEXT Violet Coleson OSC To serve is that which giveth pleasant grace To all things fair, that kindleth lively fire, Light of Our lamp, which, shining in the face, Thence to the soul goes all that would inspire The goodly deeds in Barony and Shire; Therewith is Violet Coleson to be seen, Supporting works for Shire, and king and queen. Long hath she labour’d, in a quiet way, For gates and kitchens while the hours spend Their perfect minutes on the manner’d play That good and gentle company attend, Until Our feast meeteth content’d end; She stayeth then, mayhap into the night, In setting litter’d land and house aright. The bees that make the honey, make the hive; We Edward, and Our fair queen Marguerite, This blessed day of Anno XLV, As Our crown’d heirs come to the royal seat, Induct Our Violet Coleson, as is meet, Into Our Silver Crescent Order’s line, And to her person privileges assign.

SOURCE TEXT An Hymn In Honour Of Beauty by Edmund Spenser (1552-1599) 57 That is the thing which giveth pleasant grace 58 To all things fair, that kindleth lively fire, 59 Light of thy lamp, which, shining in the face, 60 Thence to the soul darts amorous desire, 61 And robs the hearts of those which it admire; 62 Therewith thou pointest thy son's poison'd arrow, 63 That wounds the life, and wastes the inmost marrow.