Award of the Elephants Heart

Awarded to Matthew of Cynnabar

By the Barony of Cynnabar on 2015-08-05

A strange thing was seen when an Elephant of Pompeii had fortune to be killed out of hand with one shot: the dart was so driven, that it entered under the eye. Those Elephants remaining being past all hope of escaping and going clear away, seemed to make moan unto the multitude, craving mercy and pity, with grievous plaints and lamentations, bewailing their hard state and woeful case: in such sort, that the people's hearts turned again at this piteous sight, and with tears in their eyes, for very compassion, rose up all at once from beholding this pageant, without regard for the Great General of Pompeii who ordered the beast slain, without respect of his magnificence and stately show, where he thought to have won great applause and honor at their hands; but in lieu thereof the people of Pompeii fell to cursing of him.

Matthew, as We welcome you to Us and count you among Our number, may you possess the sincere voice of the Elephant, who with his earnestness touches the hearts of those who hear him and creates change in the world. Herewith do We, Ermenrich, Baron of Cynnabar, and Kasha, Baroness of Cynnabar, bestow upon you this day Our Award of the Elephant's Heart.

Let none countermand Our words.
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Text adapted from Naturalis Historia by Pliny the Elder (c. 77-79), translated by Philemon Holland (1605).

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