Gurney Halleck — Warmaster for House Atreides. Like an ancient troubadour, he’s as renowned for his poems and songs as much as for his battlefield achievements. War is chaos, and all memory of spoken word can be snuffed out in a moment, so I now move among the Atreides soldiers to preserve the most accurate version’s of Halleck’s work in written form. This one is sung among the soldiers quite often.

GURNEY’S SONG

Orchards and vineyards,
And full breasted houris,
And a cup overflowing before me.
Why do I babble of battles,
And mountains reduced to dust?
Why do I feel these tears?

Heavens stand open
And scatter their riches;
My hands need but gather their wealth.
Why do I think of an ambush,
And poison in molten cup?
Why do I feel my years?

Love's arms beckon
With their naked delights,
And Eden's promise of ecstasies.
Why do I remember the scars,
Dream of old transgressions…
And why do I sleep with fears?