Theatre of Tragedy - Fair and 'Guiling Copesmate Death

Velvet Darkness They Fear (1996) track 2

"Gaunt and gnarl'd
Reflecteth the silver shield this welkin aghast,
And with haste translateth to gild'd black post and fast."

"Anon - anon, say I! - the lid aside,
Crawl without this velvet-clad coffin blest,

"Sensing this pine is as deep as the deepest chasm,
Hither! - cede and fulfil my phantasm!
Cherish me and sonorously do me laud -
For dread! - thine eyes will behold a guise faugh'd."

The bottom sand of the hourglass is at tide,
'Tis and hath e'er been merry blood to pest -
To be adust for time longer can I not bide,
Hence the heart hale out thro' the chest!
Misery thee?! - Rather misery me! -
For in Time's durance am I naught but wee."

"This tender and loving pest I to thee bequeath,
Thence switly wilt thou errant to 'Neath."

"And to me should'st thou be the humblemost knave,
Lest fear! - spit I on thy cist and grave! -
Lest leer I at thee and do bewitch,
And the tharms fluttering claw'd and eldritch."

"To conquer thee and thy blood for glore
Art thou my afeard and reluctant whore;
Irksomely coy, save wiliéd by alarum,
Bear this torture and maim with decorum."

"If e'er always was I this blissful and blithe
Would I resign to but its wee tithe."

"Purvey my ache and quench my profoundest urge,
And to thee will I sing the lull-dull dirge;
Deliver thy blood like the rill filleth the ghyll."

"Burrow to the trothplight with Night and Devil! -
Bid Him to league with me - forsooth, merry to 'come 'twill."

"Whilom wast thou vestal, yet now flit to thy tryst,
Elsewise will I coerce thine consonantry to turn whist;
Grasp I the snath and cut off thine breath,
So that thou canst in darkness and inferno vester,
For do I solely what He to me liefly saith."

"Death - oh! fair and 'guiling copesmate Death,
Be not a malais'd beggar; claim this bloody jester!"