Alas (the Knight) Lyrics - Emilie Autumn

Alas, my love, if I could make you live 

And from the page step forth and sit beside me 

Or better still, bestride the steed I gave you 

Wrapped close within the cloak I lent to hide thee 

Perhaps I'd venture forth to ask thy name 

Since while thou liest underneath my pen 

That honour given which the poorest claim 

Unjustly was withheld. But if again 

I held thee captive as I did ere now 

Stalling to pass my fingers through the last 

Of midnight tendrils, or peruse thy brow 

In fear of sending off what heaven cast 

Too early for my insufficient mind 

To grasp the fullest detail and retain 

The presence that your image left behind 

That thou in all thy glory should remain 

I fear my oversight I would not mend 

For now upon reflection I confess 

That secretly I never did intend 

With title long or surname rich to bless 

But rather let in my imagination 

Run wild the thoughts of who perhaps you were 

Before your soul demanded your creation 

And deigned my mind and willing heart to stir 

For such a noble and impassioned face 

Could well be but newborn unto this sphere 

But sure among a distant beauteous race 

Thou hast known more than all who dwelleth here 

And could tell much of places thou hast seen 

And battles fought for honours won and lost 

And how each service done a faerie Queen 

Becomes a brighter jewel than it cost 

The ladies of your world, you may impart 

Desire to be neither over-graced 

Nor underrepresented in the art 

Of living, where their lips were meant to taste 

A sort of feline stealth they wear about them 

And while a flame of innocence they hold 

In forests dark you fear to be without them 

For knights of maler kinds are ne'er so bold 

Yes, in thy orb a maid may be a knight 

(Thou knew'st a friend would make upon this news) 

Without a whisper loud or censure slight 

For lords are not afeared their stock to lose 

Where no stock may be taken or be kept 

No property be granted, nor no bride 

No maiden may be stolen while she slept 

Nor robbed of her freedom to decide 

What suits her best. No county's law is needed 

To cut the weed of violence from the stem 

No danger for the law to go unheeded 

For acts as these do not occur to them 

The gentlemen you raise are rarer still 

For in their eyes, as in the depths of thine 

Such soft and thrilling mysteries fulfill 

The darkest corners of their heart's design 

Their arrows, much like those I gave to thee 

Could not but graze the flank of yonder cow 

Without making him laugh. 'Tis much to see 

Them tickling their prey. I know not how 

They ever do encapture what they eat 

Save that perhaps their bright unfettered brains 

Have learned that what grows underneath their feet 

And in the trees above better sustains 

A life intent on living well tomorrow 

But how, I ask thee, most endearing fiend 

Do lords and ladies love where is no sorrow 

No strife to overcome, no soul uncleaned 

Of crushing ardor long worn out its stay, 

Betrothal to a mortal less divine 

Than that who stole thy blushing breath away 

No hot forbidden kisses for to pine 

No heart affixed to age where heart is young 

No ill intentioned suitors to evade? 

"Still madam! Would'st thou kindly hold thy tongue!" 

Thou sayest. "Your mistake has rash been made 

In living long in combat with your kind 

Thou see'st no other obstacle but these 

Thy hands are careworn that have yet to find 

The hands that first should hold them. Yet to please 

The hierarchy which you serve unwitting 

Thou dost believe that love in fighting grows 

That happiness in love is not befitting 

But in thy sadness thou mak'st light of woes 

For even were there ne'er a cloudy day 

No tempest to divide what love had bound 

The galley which the moon holds in her sway 

Could not but stir the peace it finally found 

The wound is deeper than the sea about thee 

The stars upon my doublet you have drawn 

May light my homeward path, but how, without me 

Wilt thou escape the fate thou tremblest on?" 

And in this way and more my paper spoke 

O, fierce, savage, gentle beauty bright 

Thou who I've given breath my soul has broke 

You had authority but not the right 

Could I but see the lips that dare not breathe 

They are so beautiful and pressing sweet 

Could I but touch the wings that underneath 

Are made so soft thy heart forgets to beat 

Perhaps I should have more for which to strive 

You came to my domain and brought despair 

For though I be the chastest heart alive 

The realm you speak of will not take me there 

Have you no pity? Can'st thou not perceive 

That I, a blinded beast, had but the eyes 

To see where I would love? Dost thou believe 

That ere you came I was but vain disguise? 

I know the murmur of music reveals 

The things no human heart could comprehend 

I render'st thou for all that torment feels 

And longed to be thy lordship's faithful friend 

Yea, quiet as a mushroom did I wait 

I willed to thee my form to overtake 

I shivered at each passing horse's gait 

And so I slept to suddenly awake 

Alas, my love, wilt thou kiss me goodbye? 

The lingering night will aid thee on thy travels 

I'll craft but one thing more, a crow to fly 

Before to tell me how thy tale unravels 

I say, thou art complete and free to go 

What holds thee here save one who lives no longer? 

For I have given thee the life you know 

The weaker I become, thou art the stronger 

And in your antique words your clear intent 

Was that once thou art gone I should dismay 

Quothe thee, "Your thought mistook me, for I meant 

To leave thee not but offerest to stay. 

For true, I never did in my own realm 

Partake of that pure love of which I told thee 

But be my guide and with me at the helm 

And I shall, in the cloak you wrought, enfold thee 

And journey to the ends of all the earth 

For thou hast proved more generous and wise 

Than all we faeries, moons and stars are worth 

For live we not but living in your eyes." 

Dear nameless knight, if thou would'st be mine own 

And leave thy dragons for a while thou may'st 

Find in these arms within which thou hast grown 

A better reason than the which thou say'st 

But with your hand you pointeth; swear I so 

And 'tis not plain to me, though I did draw it 

Which way thou dost intend for us to go 

Sure in the mind it is of she who saw it 

Yet still perhaps I made thee to discover 

What one would do if one were asked to choose 

'Tween back and forwards. Be thee friend or lover 

Perhaps you were to be my favorite muse 

Thou feel'st thy armor; fight but when you must 

Thou see'st the blade of truth below thy knee 

Use arrows against all whom you mistrust 

But when thou ride'st my way, aim one at me 

Your world is yours as ere it was before 

Your time beneath my busy hand well spent 

I've made a thing I love; I ask no more 

And never shall redeem the heart I lent 

Me in my world and thyself in thine 

Two petals on the same and silent flower 

And evermore I'll welcome thee in mine 

Your dear creation was my finest hour