#Whispers from Carmillas Tomb

[versinalia]

"Whispers from Carmillas Tomb" by Greek band Lamentation, off their 1996 single Whispers from Carmillas Tomb

[yallemagne]

Lenore Posting

One of the most influential lines in vampire literature was in a poem that features no vampires: "Denn die Todten reiten schnell" from Lenore by Gottfried August Bürger.

For fun, I must first address that this phrase also appears in what is considered Bram Stoker's first draft of Dracula: Dracula's Guest.

Impelled by some sort of fascination, I approached the sepulchre to see what it was, and why such a thing stood alone in such a place. I walked around it, and read, over the Doric door, in German: COUNTESS DOLINGEN OF GRATZ IN STYRIA SOUGHT AND FOUND DEATH 1801 On the top of the tomb, seemingly driven through the solid marble—for the structure was composed of a few vast blocks of stone—was a great iron spike or stake. On going to the back I saw, graven in great Russian letters: “The dead travel fast.”

Why it is in Russian when the engraving on the tomb is in German and why proto-Jonathan is able to read both languages when his first draft self knew not even a lick of German, I cannot say. What I can say is that Styria is a reference to Carmilla, of course, and we know from the engraving: "sought and found death" that the Countess likely committed suicide, which is often deemed a sin in Christianity that can condemn one to vampirism. Eternal life as punishment for seeking death against God's will. You could take this paired with the quote as a reference to Bürger's Ballad of Lenore, in which a grieving woman curses God for the death of her beloved and is punished with death... but it doesn't fit as well as it should. That bitch Dolingen ain't travelling nowhere.

Okay, okay, right to the book:

The parallels to Bürger's ballad start before the line is spoken. The driver drives dangerously fast, urged on by his other passengers, much to Jonathan's chagrin. How was it that Lenore was led to her death? A man resembling her beloved, Wilhelm, appeared on a horse and bid her to join him to go to their marriage bed. On the way, he rides wildly, distressing her. He inquires:

“What ails my love? the moon shines bright: Bravely the dead men ride through the night. Is my love afraid of the quiet dead?” “Ah! no;—let them sleep in their dusty bed!”

(By the way, here, "Denn die Todten reiten schnell" is translated as "Bravely the dead men ride through the night")

"You are early to-night, my friend." The man stammered in reply:— "The English Herr was in a hurry," to which the stranger replied:— "That is why, I suppose, you wished him to go on to Bukovina. You cannot deceive me, my friend; I know too much, and my horses are swift." As he spoke he smiled, and the lamplight fell on a hard-looking mouth, with very red lips and sharp-looking teeth, as white as ivory. One of my companions whispered to another the line from Burger's "Lenore":— "Denn die Todten reiten schnell" — ("For the dead travel fast.")

Here, the reference is a better fit. Jonathan's fellow passenger makes the comment in reference to the stranger, who we know is the Count, being one of the dead, or rather, Un-Dead. He's travelling. Rather fast. As the dead do.

As the ballad goes on, "Wilhelm" invites a passing funeral procession to drop their mourning and sing him and his bride cheery marriage songs, which they do.

The driver and passengers (who could, in a way, be described as Jonathan's funeral procession), do not follow the Count, instead leaving for Bukovina, lamenting their failure to outpace the dead. But no matter, they are replaced by the wolves, whose singing is praised by the Count:

"Listen to them—the children of the night. What music they make!"

Now, Dracula isn't putting on the familiar face of Jonathan's dear Wilhelmina, but he does still come in disguise. And even when he introduces himself properly as Count Dracula, his hospitality is a façade to trap Jonathan and lead him to his doom.

[kennethabuse]

Lamentation - Whispers from Carmilla's Tomb

[kounto-valentino]

Yes, 'twas a Castlevania kinda night.

In the shadows cast by the moon's gentle light, I emerge, a creature of the eternal night. Carmilla, they call me, a vampiric guise, A seductive enchantress, with ageless eyes.

From ancient coffins, I rise with the dusk, A predator prowling, relentless and brisk. With crimson lips and a pale, haunting face, I seek my prey, veiled in elegance and grace.

A mistress of darkness, I weave my charm, A mesmerizing dance, a bewitching harm. Through whispers and sighs, I ensnare their souls, As I drink their lifeblood, my hunger unfolds.

A tempest of desires, I cannot deny, Yet yearning for love, I often wonder why. For in my heart, an ache, a void profound, A longing for warmth in this world I've found.

I am cursed with immortality's embrace, A life that lingers, devoid of God's grace. Though eternity stretches, vast and long, I am but a lost soul, forever among.

Behind these eyes, a sorrowful lament, A longing for connection, yet discontent. For all I touch, their life force drains away, Leaving me haunted, craving the light of day.

In dreams of innocence, I find respite, A glimpse of salvation within the night. But my nature betrays me, a monstrous thirst, Leaving shattered hearts in my path, accursed.

Oh, to feel the sun upon my pallid skin, To taste the sweetness of life without sin. Alas, I am condemned to this eternal plight, A creature of shadows, condemned to the night.

So I wander, immortal, forever alone, Through centuries past, my secrets unknown. Carmilla, the name whispered in fearful dread, A haunting specter, forever unfed.

In the depths of my darkness, I still yearn, For a love unattainable, destined to burn. But in the echoes of eternity's gloom, I find solace, for this is my cursed tomb.

[alterundying]

Here are all the Quotes enjoy

""Listen to them—the children of the night. What music they make!” Seeing, I suppose, some expression in my face strange to him, he added:— “Ah, sir, you dwellers in the city cannot enter into the feelings of the hunter.” Then he rose and said:— “But you must be tired. Your bedroom is all ready, and to-morrow you shall sleep as late as you will. I have to be away till the afternoon; so sleep well and dream well!” With a courteous bow, he opened for me himself the door to the octagonal room, and I entered my bedroom…. I am all in a sea of wonders. I doubt; I fear; I think strange things, which I dare not confess to my own soul. God keep me, if only for the sake of those dear to me!" - Dracula by Bram Stoker

"I had a dream that night that was the beginning of a very strange agony. I cannot call it a nightmare, for I was quite conscious of being asleep." - Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu

"I hovered in place and, with a sudden surge of inner strength, resumed the shape of a man again. There was no light of any sort here, either, but I hardly needed it. The clustered bodies of the bats shed enough warm illumination for me to pick my way around the crypts and piles of guano. A few of the creatures knew me, perhaps recognizing one of their own in some way. They flapped down and lighted on my shoulders and arms, greeting me with joyful chirps and twitters." - I, Strahd: The Memoirs of a Vampire by P.N. Elrod

"'Let me in,’ the voice whispered, and Mark was not sure if the words had crossed dark air or were only in his mind." - Salem's Lot by Stephen King

"How do we seem to you? Do you find us beautiful and magical? Our white skin, our fierce eyes? 'Drink,' you ask me. Do you have any idea of the things you will become." - Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

"You want a love that consumes you, you want passion and adventure and even a little danger" - Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith

"I am the Dragon of blood, a relentless prince of pain" - Dracula by Iced Earth

"But first, on earth as vampire sent. Thy corpse shall from its tomb be rent. Then ghastly haunt thy native place and suck the blood of all thy race. There from thy daughter, sister, wife. At midnight drain the stream of life. Yet loathe the banquet which perforce must feed thy livid living corpse." - Lord Byron

"They say no two persons are alike. Never is that more true than when it comes to our desires. Some cherish what others abhor. One man's precious cargo, is another man's poison. Some prize what others revile. Prize what you will, prize what you can, but always remember, even he who dies with the most prizes…still dies." - Forever Knight

"I am the ancient, I am the land." - Strahd von Zarovich

"Tonight is the night of the vampire" - Night of the Vampire by Roky Erickson

"’d never seen anything like it. First a trial, then a few murders, then dancing. Life goes on. Or, in this case, death continues." - True Blood Charlaine Harris

"Trains aren't a problem." "You turn into mist?" "No, I step out of the way." - Tanya Huff

"When the last vampire is extinct, who will mourn our passing? Will she? Will anyone? Can anyone understand this pain, this loneliness?" - Vampire Hunter D: Blood Lust

"there was something in her, something that was…pure horror. Everything you were supposed to watch out for. Heights, fire, shards of glass, snakes, Everything that his mom tried so hard to keep him safe from." - Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist

"Mortal terror reigned, Sickness now then horrible death, Only Lucy knew the truth, And at her window, Nosferatu." - Nosferatu Blue Öyster Cult

"The Vampire Masquerade, Mask of jewels across a pale face, Disguise the evil that makes no mistakes, Drops of red blood on delicate white lace The body lies still and only time awaits." - The Vampire Masquerade by S.L. Ross

"Whoa. Fangs. She had fangs." - Dark Lover by J.R. Ward

"Full circle. A new terror born in death, a new superstition entering the unassailable fortress of forever. I am legend." I am Legend by Richard Matheson

"The blood is the life!" Dracula by Bramstoker

"Sometimes I think … the humanity of him is all hollow, a mask … he is only an old animal, so ancient it has lost even the taste for food, but it hunts on nonetheless, because that is all it remembers, that is all it is, the beast." - Fevre Dream by George R.R. Martin

"Eternal love or eternal damnation Tears of Crimson" - Michelle Hughes

"I am neither good, nor bad, neither angel nor devil, I am a man, I am a vampire" - I Vampire: The Confessions of a Vampire by Michael Romkey

"“Believe this," he whispered, and kissed her with the sharp, sleek kiss, the silver kiss, so swift and true, and razor sharp, and her warmth was flowing into him." - The Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause

"You are mine, you shall be mine, you and I are one forever." - Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu

"In tombs of gold and lapis lazuli, Bodies of holy men and women exude, Miraculous oil, odour of violet. But under heavy loads of trampled clay, Lie bodies of the vampires full of blood;, Their shrouds are bloody and their lips are wet" - Oil and Blood by W.B. Yeats

"Vampire, Share your secret. Turn into a black bat. Quench your thirst before the day dawns. Drink blood." - Being Bold: Quotes, Poetry, & Motivations for Every Day of the Year by Richelle E. Goodrich

"I have seen an evil thing this night,' he said; I have seen how the dead drink the blood of the living. And the blood is the life" - For the Blood is the Life and Other Stories by F. Marion Crawford

"You can run from the grave, but you can't hide." - One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

So I wanted something Unique and Goth for my wall, I made this and then decided I would share it with everyone. If you want to print it out for yourself feel free. All the pictures are public domain but some of the fonts are not. Please do not claim this is your own but feel free to share etc. If you want the original with all the layers let me know and I will see about sending it to you.

Tomorrow I will repost this with all the quotes listed so you can see where they all come from.