#unto the bitter end

[icarus-suraki]

@/axian6777 on twt

[duncanor]

Million Knives is for the marginalized who felt like the whole world was against them and their only option for survival was to march on and bite back.

Which sound based until you realize you're biting everyone, including friends, family and yourself. It's not even survival anymore, it's a self-fulfilling prophecy of doom.

You're not even an ally to your own nor to yourself, just a sick and lonely creature.

[mx-mix-lurker]

I just need to get this out of my chest—

DS MARE IS THE TYPE OF BITCH WHO SMILES, LAUGHS AND CRY AS HE FUCKING DIES!!!!!!

That is all.

[transit-fag]

As they took him from the cross I, the centurion, took him in my arms- the tough lean body of a man no longer young, beardless, breathless, but well hung.

He was still warm. While they prepared the tomb I kept guard over him. His mother and the Magdalen had gone to fetch clean linen to shroud his nakedness.

I was alone with him. For the last time I kissed his mouth. My tongue found his, bitter with death. I licked his wound- the blood was harsh For the last time I laid my lips around the tip of that great cock, the instrument of our salvation, our eternal joy. The shaft, still throbbed, anointed with death's final ejaculation

I knew he'd had it off with other men- with Herod's guards, with Pontius Pilate, With John the Baptist, with Paul of Tarsus with foxy Judas, a great kisser, with the rest of the Twelve, together and apart. He loved all men, body, soul and spirit. - even me.

So now I took off my uniform, and, naked, lay together with him in his desolation, caressing every shadow of his cooling flesh, hugging him and trying to warm him back to life. Slowly the fire in his thighs went out, while I grew hotter with unearthly love.

It was the only way I knew to speak our love's proud name, to tell him of my long devotion, my desire, my dread- something we had never talked about. My spear, wet with blood, his dear, broken body all open wounds, and in each wound his side, his back, his mouth - I came and came and came

as if each coming was my last. And then the miracle possessed us. I felt him enter into me, and fiercely spend his spirit's finbal seed within my hole, my soul, pulse upon pulse, unto the ends of the earth- he crucified me with him into kingdom come.

-This is the passionate and blissful crucifixion same-sex lovers suffer, patiently and gladly. They inflict these loving injuries of joy and grace one upon the other, till they dies of lust and pain within the horny paradise of one another's limbs, with one voice cry to heaven in a last divine release.

Then lie long together, peacefully entwined, with hope of resurrection, as we did, on that green hill far away. But before we rose again, they came and took him from me. They knew not what we had done, but felt no shame or anger. Rather they were glad for us, and blessed us, as would he, who loved all men.

And after three long, lonely days, like years, in which I roamed the gardens of my grief seeking for him, my one friend who had gone from me, he rose from sleep, at dawn, and showed himself to me before all others. And took me to him with the love that now forever dares to speak its name.

Jesus Pornography in my tumblr inbox??

[desire4ella]

𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐝 𝐀 𝐓𝐰𝐢𝐧? 𝐏𝐭𝟐

𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆: Roomate!Jimmy x Reader x Twin!Jey

𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘: You always had a thing for twins…

𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓: 1,097

𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆: Daddy k*nk , Gagging , Cream Pie , Spitting

* 🎀 𝒫𝓇𝑒𝓈𝑒𝓃𝓉 𝒯𝒾𝓂𝑒 🎀 *

“ Bend ova fa me princess ” Jey said while plopping you down unto the bed.It was so funny at the fact that , he was not to long ago cussing you out , but now look at him….ready to stretch that pussy out until you can’t even spell your name out correctly . Being a good girl you listened to his instructions and bent over making sure you arched your back real good , so him and Jimmy can see your glistening folds nice and presented. It was pathetic really, you bent over , after not even 24hrs of meeting these men, pussy throbbing and clenching at the mere thought of there big , long and thick dicks sliding in and out of your hole and painting your insides white with sticky hot cum. But of course you would like that wouldn’t you? them claiming every inch of your delicate body , leaving hickies and bruises on your neck and thighs for everyone too see, and know that they’re there bcause of them . Naughty little slut you are.

Groaning at the sight , Jimmy came forward and glided one of his thick fingers through your puffy folds “ Shittttt mamas, look at you all excited and shi, you can’t wait can you ?”. Moaning at the sensations of him prodding your hole you grind your ass back up against him , dying to feel at least something to soothe the aching feeling of wanting to be stretched and full. Not liking the fact that you didn’t respond to him, he gave your pussy a quick slap. “ ah-h-hh yes daddyyyy, Ooooo I can’t wait , I want you to fill up my pussy with your throbbing dick pleaseeee” you remarked jolting from the bitter but sweet sting that erupted from your pussy. Laughing he gently grabbed your jaw with of his hands and set your face at angle so that you were staring into his eyes.” That’s what i thought princess,respond when daddy talks to you ” you nodded your head in agreement. “such a good girl you areee” Jey taunted in the background , clearly amused by your obedience.

“Stick out yo tongue pretty girl” Jimmy commanded , examining your face as if it was a sculpture from the museum. Doing as told you stick out your tongue, which was already coated with saliva so you tried so hard not to dribble on yourself. “ Good girl” Jimmy whispered and pursed his lips together ready to let his saliva drop into your mouth .Moaning at the taste of his spit you swallow and keep your mouth open . “Such a dirty slut you are…I wonder what else you could do with that mouth of yours?” Jey said and came from behind Jimmy to peer down at you. He pondered for a second and smirked, with the mischievous glint in his eyes you knew that , by the end of this, your throat would surely be sore.

“Turn yo sexy ass around sweetie” Turning around you focus your attention on Jet yet again, “ That’s it baby ” he muttered while hastily pulling down his grey sweats,quickly revealing his already leaking precum , 8-inch caramel dick . Your eyes widened at the sight “ Fuck” you thought , how and earth was that gonna fit in your mouth ?. Sensing your worry he patted your head reassuringly “ Don’t worry angel, you can handle it , you’re a big girl”. That being said, you took a deep breath and guided his glazed cock into your mouth. Groaning at the feeling of your mouth suction cupping his dick , he pulled your hair into a make shift ponytail and gently began to bob your head up and down. “ Fuc-ckkk yess , baby just like th-att” the pleasure you were giving him was all too much, with the way you were going , you would’ve thought this was you regular job or something .Spit seeped through the gaps of your lips and his dick and dribbled down to his balls, you slightly gagged due to his enormous size, but it was nothing you couldn’t handle .

Feeling a bit left out from the action Jimmy climbed unto the bed and hiked up your dress to position himself behind you . Being so cock drunk from pleasuring Jey , you didn’t even feel Jimmy slap his tip against your pussy until you felt him push the fat head inside .Moaning at the sudden penetration you push back against him,trying to feel full as much as possible. Slapping your ass he gripped unto your hips and started to slam his pelvis against your ass at a rough pace . “ Damn princess , ion know you was that tight...mmn-gn you finna ma-ke me bus-s quickk” he moaned and shut his eyes. It was like your body was on fire, it was all to much, from Jimmy complety obliterating your insides , too the point it felt like he was about to touch your liver too Jey who was face fucking you like there was no tomorrow.

Your body shuddered and your knees stared to buckle a little due to the overwhelming pleasure that was seeping through your body. Every moan or noise that threatened to escape , sent vibrations straight to Jey’s dick , further forcing him to his edge. “Shit,Shit,Shit!” Jey gritted out as he could feel his stomach tighten,signifying his release was about too come. You were on thin ice as well, one more thrust from Jimmy and it was over for you. Your blood pumped so fast around your body to the point you could hear it drumming in your ears, sweat dripped down your face and into your bouncing boobs. Jimmy was gripping unto you so tight , there’ll surely be bruises . “ I’m boutta cum princess, come with me ” he strained out, trying so hard to wait on you .

You couldn’t hold it anymore, your eyes rolled at the back of your head and the coil in your stomach finally snapped. Your pussy convulsed around Jimmy’s dick, completely milking him for what he’s got .Quickly pulling his dick out of your mouth he jerked of until his nut spilled all over your face ,almost like a finalised signature ,completing that you belong to him, Jey Uso. Pulling out of your sloppy hole, Jimmy groaned in defence from the loss of your warmth.

*BANG * *BANG* ( the front door )

“ Uh hello ? It’s your new roomate!”

𝐃𝐔𝐍 𝐃𝐔𝐍 𝐃𝐔𝐍𝐍𝐍….

I love ending on cliff hangers, it’s to funny. But anyways, how y’all like the new format ? ૮꒰ ˶• ༝ •˶꒱ა

[shiyorin]

#When you play dumb or your primarchs are just *ahem* horny :v

#I don't know what I wrote. I just do as requested :v

#Roll the dice and it said this time's menu is: Horus Lupercal and Roboute Guilliman.

#This is request from my dearest heretic anon.

#Primarchs x Reader, Reader is Imperial Agent. Malcador is proud of you (is he?)

#A little NSFW.

Horus Lupercal

You sighed listlessly as you wandered the ship, seeking diversion in your boredom. A familiar presence drew you eye, and you spied Horus upon a balcony overlooking the training cages below.

The training cages were alive with activity as Horus observed his Astartes sharpening their skills in mock combat. Though focused on their form, his thoughts drifted elsewhere, preparations for the coming Crusade weighed heavy. He gazed down from the viewing platform, assessing their progress, when soft footsteps alerted him to another's presence.

Horus appeared lost in thought, no doubt pondering weighty matters of strategy and conquest. You crept stealthily across the chamber, the feet making nary a sound upon the plush rugs. Coming up behind the Warmaster unnoticed was no mean feat, but your skills remained as sharp as the blade at your hip.

Finally within reach, you drew a deep breath and exhaled softly upon Horus's neck. A sudden warmth ghosted his ear, followed by a sultry whisper caressed his ear. "Boo..."

He whirled with a start to find your smiling face mere inches from his own, eyes dancing with mischief. Before you could retreat, Horus flashed into action, seizing your arm in an unbreakable grip.

With a grunt he hoisted your form against his chest, pinning your effortlessly as your legs kicked in vain. "Little one." he chuckled, though tension still lingered at the corners of his eyes. "One of these days you will be the death of mine, I fear."

Your eyes dancing with mirth. You laughed breathlessly. "You are no fun, my Warmaster."

"It seems you don't consider me worthy of respect, little one," he sighed, effortlessly maintaining your struggling form. "Sneaking up on your Warmaster, bold, but foolish."

You squirmed halfheartedly, delighting in the feel of his powerful physique caging you in. "And what would the great Warmaster do to earn it, I wonder?"

A gleam entered his eyes, dark promise in every contour of his sculpted features. "Oh, I can think of a few...persuasive methods."

Below, the Astartes fought on, oblivious to the true battle raging within their midst. Horus took his captive agent and you were limp and sated in his arms, marking you thoroughly as his. Only then did he release your, satisfied your pride had been tamed.

Horus smiled down at the dazed your in his arms. "Convinced, my dear?" He purred, nuzzling your satiated cheek. You could only sigh dreamily in reply. It seemed doubts of his prowess were well and truly laid to rest...

Roboute Guilliman

Guilliman reclined upon crisp sheets, body aching from battles past. His scowls only deepened your frown, but still you droned on, casualty reports, supply requisitions, missives from a thousand worlds.

"Do you hear me, my lord?" you pressed, quill scratching relentlessly. He sighed, weary unto his soul.

"Do you think I want to hear what you have to say, agent? I am wounded and wish only silence." His tone brooked no argument, yet still you persisted like the plague.

"You are the Primarch," you said, eyes aglow with righteous fervor. "You must overcome such things for the billions of people of the Imperium. Their hopes and dreams rest upon your shoulders."

Guilliman scrubbed a hand down his face. "I am Primarch, not invincible. Must I sacrifice even my healing for duty's never-ending demands?"

Your look softened, but still you would not yield. "That is not something you can decide, my lord. As were mine." 

The Primarch knew well you spoke truth, bitter though it was. With a grunt he waved your on, closing his eyes against the rising tide of reports.

Guilliman continued to sigh, weariness seeping into his bones. Your report droned on, an endless litany of numbers and names. His mind drifted as you spoke, seeking escape however brief. Your voice took on a new texture in his imagination, breathy sighs and wanton gasps replacing dour droning.

One hand tangled in your locks, tugging your mouth to his in a hungry, open-mouthed kiss. The other grasped that ass, fingers dimpling soft flesh as he thrust up to meet each bounce with abandon as reports fluttered forgotten to the floor. And you will chant his name like a prayer, a litany more rousing than any duty....

By the Throne, was he some green boy still in need of release? Shame warred with lingering heat, desire too long denied by duty's demands. He yearn for soft curves yielding beneath his palms, the taste of your skin, your cries of rapture as he took what was his by right.

You'd whimper and writhe, begging wordlessly for what they both craved. At the first penetration your walls would clutch him like a vice, pulling him deeper, deeper into scalding flesh made solely for his pleasure. He'd pound into your without mercy, relishing each gasp and moan, each slap of flesh on flesh. Only when he'd spent himself fully within your willing sheath would he grant surcease, collapsing in a sweat-soaked tangle of limbs.

By the Throne, how he longed to make that vision reality...

Guilliman blinked, flushing at the path his mind had wandered. But you remained oblivious, quill scratching as reports spilled forth. Little did you know the effect you had, and the fantasies your voice inspired in your lord's lonely chamber...

[heartofbusan]

😭

What you’ve just written, that’s beautiful

Do you think Jimin seems slightly subdued in the scene where they mention Tokyo, and why they came back? JK’s touch more reassuring?

Seoul bros just said about their being emotionally charged moments in the next episodes and I can’t stop thinking about it.

@seoul-bros has a great read on them, can't wait to see how they interpret the final moments of their whirlwind trip.

What I see, and maybe this is what you meant with 'subdued', are the beginnings of the anxiety taking hold. The end was near by that point, assuming the promo was shot during the last day, and maybe it had started to dawn on Jimin that a door was about to close.

Now, to be fair, this is my very emotionally loaded interpretation of a short clip, yes, but this call and repeat of introspection in Jimin and of reassurance by JK was the same thing we saw during the KookJoonVMin live (why can I never get that quad name right lol) right after their second Japan trip had already ended. JK was so very touchy and a stable encouraging presence for Jimin who seemed to be very, yes, subdued. Like a man about to put his neck unto a lunette. Jimin was kinda all over the place emotionally 😔... I've observed Jimin being the kind of person who tends to smile or even laugh when he's sad or crying. It could be a way to deflect those uncomfortable feelings, laughing at this own misery. We saw it a lot during those final moments, this live, but also on enlistment day. I only saw his last live through a curtain of tears, on silent while at the office, and I've never taken the time to watch it properly. It's too painful and he was SO RAW in that live, I can not bare to see him like that.

So yeah.. I believe his feelings at that time were extremely nuanced. From fear to anticipation to anxiety to a sense of loss of the self, a loss of a tangible thing linked to an identity: his hair; a defining feature, his loss of freedom..all these things combined and that at the end of such a joyful time for them. Oh, what a rollercoaster it was. And who knows, anon, maybe it was a soup that started simmering right there on that final day of their second Japan trip.

I'm still not ready to watch Jimin’s last live. Have you? Is it really bad? I kinda don't want to see the end of Saporro being only bitter, I hope he was able to cling on to those final moments of peace and I think JK helped him with that beyond the sweet reassuring touches.

Thanks for reading 💜

[valacirya]

Indis appreciation post!

Disclaimer: All the canon info is taken from Morgoth's Ring and Peoples of Middle Earth. Also, this isn't a character analysis/meta. It's just a list of stuff I love (plus some headcanons) about one of my favorite characters in the legendarium.

1. She's athletic and outdoorsy. We're told that Indis is "exceedingly swift of foot" and that "she walked often alone in the fields and friths of the Valar, turning her thought to things that grow untended." When Finwe sees her, she's chilling on a mountainside. I love that she's associated with nature, specifically the wilderness. She parallels Feanor in her exploration of Aman and interest in the imperfect. Also, this is purely self-indulgent but ever since reading HoME for the first time, I've pictured Indis as tall and broad, and muscular beneath a layer of fat.

2. She doesn't let her unrequited love affect her life. "There was ever light and mirth about her." She's not the pining, languishing princess stereotype. She goes on. She doesn't let it make her bitter or depressed, and she is so restrained that only Mandos and possibly Ingwe are aware of her feelings.

3. Part of her attraction to Finwe is intellectual. In HoME we're told that his "mastery of words delighted her." Considering that Indis is also a poet/composer ("wove words into song") and that the Vanyar enjoy linguistics, it makes sense. It's also just really cute.

4. She's politically minded. Her reasoning for pronouncing 's' instead of 'th' is: "I have joined the Noldor, and I will speak as they do." This is the right thing to do to gain the respect of the Noldor and their acceptance of her authority. I also think she makes a statement with Fingolfin and Finarfin's mother-names. Arakano ("high chieftain") and Ingoldo ("the Noldo, eminent among the kindred") are not only powerful, prophetic names, they're also strikingly similar to Ingwe ("chief of chieftains") who is the High King not just of the Vanyar, but all Eldar. What a power move.

5. She's able to balance her own culture with the culture she marries into. Indis integrates into Noldorin society easily while remaining Vanyarin at her core, as is evidenced by Finwe saying that "above all her heart now yearns for the halls of Ingwe and the peace of the Vanyar." Her sons also respect and are proud of their mixed heritage; Finarfin "loved the Vanyar, his mother's people" and is said to be like them (as are Finrod and Galadriel), and Fingolfin's daughter-in-law is Vanyarin (plus the Nolofinweans have a special connection to Manwe).

6. She gets an awesome prophecy about her line. "But I say unto you that the children of Indis shall also be great, and the Tale of Arda more glorious because of their coming. And from them shall spring things so fair that no tears shall dim their beauty; in whose being the Valar, and the Kindreds both of Elves and of Men that are to come shall all have part, and in whose deeds they shall rejoice. So that, long hence when all that here is, and seemeth yet fair and impregnable, shall nonetheless have faded and passed away, the Light of Aman shall not wholly cease among the free peoples of Arda until the end." Fuck yeah.

7. Her name means "valiant woman." This is the only definition given in Morgoth's Ring, I believe. I highly prefer it over the "bride" meaning because it's a badass name and is similar to Artanis ("noble woman") and Astaldo ("the valiant"). A headcanon that I'm particularly attached to is that Indis's mother-name is Indome, meaning "will of Eru."

8. She's popular with most of the Noldor. We're told that "Finwe, King of the Noldor, wedded Indis, sister of Ingwe; and the Vanyar and Noldor for the most part rejoiced." The majority of the Noldor also follow Fingolfin and Finarfin instead of Feanor.

9. She's friends with Nerdanel. HoME states that Nerdanel went to "abide with Indis, whom she had ever esteemed."

10. She gets pissed off at Finwe when he sides with Feanor. So much so that he thinks she won't want to see him if he's re-embodied. I know this is from his perspective but I'm inclined to agree. [However, this is still very presumptive of him, and his comment that "Indis parted from me without death" is super shitty. Eugh.]

11. She's close to her kids. Finarfin takes after her, Fingolfin passes on the name she gave him, Findis lives with her, Lalwen goes by the name she gave her. Finwe also says that "she hath dear children to comfort her."

So there we have it! What little info we get about Indis is pretty awesome. And this is just a list; I could write a whole essay on her fortitude and unconventionality and my numerous headcanons about her.

[fanfoolishness]

Isatunoll Long-Remembered

Lyrium has always held memory and music. What does a lyrium dagger recall throughout the ages?

(Yes, this is lyrium dagger POV, a fairy-tale perspective on Titans, dwarves, the doings of the Evanuris, and the events of Veilguard. Spoilers for all of Dragon Age, ~1000 words. Thanks to @terioncalling for the encouragement!)

---

There was a time before there was time, when all was whole and sung within a thousand thousand throats. Blood carried the Song of the Stone through beat and breath, and there was harmony resounded, echoing through the firmament and the very bones of the world. Isatunoll.

Then came wounds, bitter and jagged, leeching the blood into soil and spirit. A Faded world of shimmering spirits sent invaders in their ignorance. There were battles that heaved the mountains down, that ruptured the very earth, that caused fire and flood and pain. The pain reverberated through the Song, sour and foul, a discord shivering through the blood.

The stolen blood had other uses than weaving an entire people’s dreams. Once spilled it could create new bodies — or end those that it had raised and nourished. A spirit once Wisdom, now Pride, folded blood upon itself in layers shimmering and bright, until a blade was forged that sang with dreadful purpose.

The blade could sever.

The blade could sunder.

And Pride’s cruelty echoed through the firmament and the very bones of the world.

-

The blade was not alive. But nor was it dead. It was something unto itself, a mirror of what had come before, a prism to refract the future. Or to create it.

Pride was not its only master. Tyranny bore it for a time, casting Retribution -- before Benevolence -- into splintered shadow. The blade sang anew, echoing with the scattered refrain of the spirit’s shards, until Pride reclaimed his own and drew forth the fragments in his sorrow.

The blade hung at Pride’s side as an anchor, the great sundering of the Titans, the ending of Retribution, remembered in a faint and voiceless song. It did not let him forget. The weight of it would have destroyed a lesser spirit.

But Pride was one of the old dreamers of the world beyond, and his will was mighty, enough to fill his ears and heart with a music of his own that drowned out the silent screaming of the Titans. Vengeance came upon him, and he devised a plan to bring it forth.

The dagger sang again, binding a new world where all was shadowed and the voices of the world beyond made faint. It sent Pride to his knees, the dagger clattering beside him. 

The screams of Pride’s own people carried not the ancient melody of the Song, but it was a chorus still remembered.

-

Darkness twisted what once was pure and singing, and the blade roiled with the poisoned music of the Blight. It gleamed red in the shadowed halls, a perversion of what had come before.

It sang to a Child of the Titans in the wending deep, its music choked with retribution, with sundered dreams, with the follies of the proud. The Child listened with his heart unguarded, and the voices wove within his mind a song that could not be denied.

-

A city cast in ruins, smoke heavy on the air, stone broken like a Titan’s mind. The blade whined and hummed in its corruption, rippling in a prison of pulsing red. 

It slumbered in this frozen form until mortal hands freed it once again, until it traveled under guard and spell. Great magic wove within it and without. At last the red corruption was destroyed and anew it breathed in purest blue.

It recognized the hand that held the now-cleansed blade. Pride was not so easily evaded.

-

Ah.

There, familiar, the Song! Carried still in Child’s blood, if faint and near-forgotten: the ancient music, oneness, isatunoll! 

The dagger drank deeply of its own lifeblood, but the Child of the Stone was only mortal, and he could not bear the blade.

No matter; an echo still would linger, as of Retribution, as of sleeping Titans. The blade hummed, waiting to discharge its gifts, to remind the Children who they long ago had been.

-

A filthy hand upon the blade, marred and soulless. Mercifully the carrying was brief. 

The next hand, small and strong and reaching —

ISATUNOLL!

The dwarven blood unleashed, the song resounding, unlocking, reweaving — remembering —

Another hand upon the blade, but the music slowly faded, a silent song once more.

-

Resonance. Like met like, the amplitude increasing, the effect doubling, trebling. Pride’s touch on his enemy was light and masterful, deft weaving of remembrance. It sang in harmony with the fragment in the blade, a Child wise in his own way, an admixture that seemed real as real to one that would behold it.

-

The assassin’s hand hid a tremor, a rupture nearly imperceptible. A note soured in the distilled music of the blade. The demon the assassin carried twisted, straining, in its bonds of flesh.

The blow did not strike true.

-

God-blood now twice-stolen, draining from the wielder of the flesh, flowing into ancient soil like the sweetest rain. What was stolen, now reclaimed, fragments of the Titan-stone anointed in her blood  —

The blade flashed beneath a shrouded sun. Pride and his games again!

-

The enemy of an enemy was not a friend, but perhaps an ally. The blade danced between them, gifted freely.

Until bright and blighted Tyranny fell from his lofty throne, and the Veil shivered, shredded, ached to open.

Strange words, a tuneless verse that yet held meaning, many voices in the fray, fragments of Retribution and Benevolence. Pride’s tears fell upon the blade, no magic in them but what made them fall. His blood on the blade’s edge tasted of regret upon regret, a chorus all its own.

Pride’s hands trembled, the weight too much at last. In his blood a hint of Wisdom stirred and struggled. 

His enemy’s hands were merely mortal, but they were strong and certain, cradling the blade.

Blood and blade and bound again, the Veil renewed, the sundered dreams a soft motif instead of crushing melody. Like this, the blade could find a peace.  Like this, the blade could slumber.

Until someday the Titan-song was sung again, until the blade was at last unmade, until it could rejoin the Song in blood and blue.

Isatunoll.

[fj0t0lf]

a pretty interesting take on seung hui cho's use of the number 88, from @.sscc on the columbine forumotion:

My assumption, given Cho's tendency to speak in biblical terms and his family's Christian beliefs, has always been that this was a biblical reference.

I looked at the bible and the only book that even has an 88th chapter, as far as I can tell, is Psalms. This seems like a possibility.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psalm_88 According to Martin Marty, a professor of church history at the University of Chicago, Psalm 88 is "a wintry landscape of unrelieved bleakness." ... Neale and Littledale find it "stands alone in all the Psalter for the unrelieved gloom, the hopeless sorrow of its tone. Even the very saddest of the others, and the Lamentations themselves, admit some variations of key, some strains of hopefulness; here only all is darkness to the close.—Neale and Littledale.

http://www.bible.ca/ef/expository-psalm-88.htm After much thought and study of Psalms 88, the typical commentary appraisal is it is entirely negative, totally given to the expression of grief and despair. True (if you haven't already, read it now), it seems to be a picture of un-alleviated misery, seldom found anywhere in the Scriptures. Often, in the book of Psalms, you will be able to find hope even in between statements of despair. In many of the Psalms there is lamentation and negative emotions honestly expressed, yet they are resolved by some statement of hope and trust. Not in Psalms 88, we may immediately conclude. In Psalms 88, from verse 1 to the end of the chapter expresses the emotions of one who is writing from the pit, deep in despair. Even after you grant the writer literary license to use exaggerated poetic language, this poem cannot be lifted to any level of joy it seems. It is a continuous, bitter expression of one living deep in despair, sometimes with language that may seem to border on reproach against God.

I can see why someone like Cho might be drawn to it. The psalm is all about being abandoned by everyone to suffer, including god himself. KJV Psalm 88 wrote:

88 O lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee: 2 Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry; 3 For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave. 4 I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength: 5 Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand. 6 Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps. 7 Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah. 8 Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth. 9 Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: Lord, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee. 10 Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah. 11 Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction? 12 Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? 13 But unto thee have I cried, O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee. 14 Lord, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me? 15 I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted. 16 Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have cut me off. 17 They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together. 18 Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.

A more accessible version of the psalm. CEB Psalm 88 wrote:

88 Lord, God of my salvation,     by day I cry out,     even at night, before you— 2     let my prayer reach you! Turn your ear to my outcry 3     because my whole being is filled with distress;     my life is at the very brink of hell. 4 I am considered as one of those plummeting into the pit.     I am like those who are beyond help, 5     drifting among the dead,     lying in the grave, like dead bodies—     those you don’t remember anymore,     those who are cut off from your power. 6 You placed me down in the deepest pit,     in places dark and deep. 7 Your anger smothers me;     you subdue me with it, wave after wave. Selah 8 You’ve made my friends distant.     You’ve made me disgusting to them.     I can’t escape. I’m trapped! 9 My eyes are tired of looking at my suffering.     I’ve been calling out to you every day, Lord—     I’ve had my hands outstretched to you! 10 Do you work wonders for the dead?     Do ghosts rise up and give you thanks? Selah 11 Is your faithful love proclaimed in the grave,     your faithfulness in the underworld? 12 Are your wonders known in the land of darkness,     your righteousness in the land of oblivion? 13 But I cry out to you, Lord!     My prayer meets you first thing in the morning! 14 Why do you reject my very being, Lord?     Why do you hide your face from me? 15 Since I was young I’ve been afflicted, I’ve been dying.     I’ve endured your terrors. I’m lifeless. 16 Your fiery anger has overwhelmed me;     your terrors have destroyed me. 17 They surround me all day long like water;     they engulf me completely. 18 You’ve made my loved ones and companions distant.     My only friend is darkness.

It would be interesting to know if Cho felt some connection to this psalm. His manifesto was full of rage and expressions of righteousness but we know that he was very depressed and alone as well.Could it have been an expression of the deep despair that Cho felt throughout his life? Did he feel abandoned by god?

(Or, assuming that it was relevant to him, could he have been explaining the despair that he hoped to inflict on his victims and the community? Did he want them to wonder where their god was as he was carrying out his massacre? Did he want them to feel that they were abandoned by god?)

Some interpretations say that this psalm is the lament of sinners being punished with the absence of god's mercy. We know that Cho felt that he was attacking "Apostles of Sin." Did he think he was carrying out god's will in destroying them? He certainly seemed to think he was participating in a revolution of the "Weak, Innocent and Defenseless," so was it a holy war in his eyes? Was he acting on behalf of god or was he possibly acting on behalf of a god that had abandoned him and the others like him?

I found this photo of Cho's "88" in the manifesto.

The symbol is the "Number of the Anti-Terrorist." The drawing above it is, I assume based on Langman's transcript, "Seer of Veracity. Seal of the Anti-Terrorist." As you can see, the seal includes a cross, which again suggests religious themes.

If you look at the transcript on Langman's website, it seems that on the page before Cho adds these images, he speaks constantly of Jesus Christ and false Christianity, which he equates to terrorism. This is why Cho called himself a martyr and said he would die like Jesus Christ. He was an Anti-Terrorist, one of the innocents who had experienced brutality at the hands of false Christians (sinners, terrorists, descendants of Satan and spillers of blood), and he was sacrificing himself in the hope that the weak, defenseless and innocent would be inspired to inflict their own wrath on the terrorists who had brutalized them.

Considering Psalm 88 in this context, maybe the point would be that only those who have experienced total loss, total despair, without a shred of hope would know to follow in his footsteps of revolution as an Anti-Terrorist. Maybe they hadn't even been abandoned by god but in god's plan, their never-ending despair was intended to help them see the truth ("Seer of Veracity") and like him, become Anti-Terrorist martyrs who, through their own sacrifice, would rid the world of false Christians who torment the innocent. The hedonists were clearly blind to the injustice and abuse so maybe he felt that the despair was the key to seeing the truth. Being subjected to pain so deep would leave no other choice but to inflict the same level of pain on the tormentors in the name of Jesus Christ.

Potentially relevant quotes: Seung-Hui Cho wrote:

As the time approached, I wished for a last minute miracle and discard this mission you’ve given me. Heaven knows I wouldn’t hurt a single leaf of a flower. But when the time came, I did it. I had to. What other choices did you give me? All this time... You never know that a human being is capable of doing until you fuck him to the edge. When you’re raped of everything, you got nothing to lose

By destroying we create. We create the feelings in you of what it is like to be the victim, what it is like to be fucked and destroyed. Because of your annihilations, we create and raise new breeds of Children who will show you fuckers what you have done to us. Like Easter, it will be a day of rebirth. It will be a start of a revolution of the Children that you fucked. You have never felt a single ounce of pain your whole life, thus, by destroying you, by giving you pain, we attempt to show you responsibilities and meanings of other people’s lives.

Only if you could be the victim of your reprehensible and wicked crimes, you Christian Nazis, you would have brute-restrained your animal urges to fuck me. You could be at home right now eating your fucking caviar and your fucking cognac, had you not ravenously raped my soul. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Can you feel the pain that you fucked us in, you Descendants of Satan? Well, can you feel it? All the shit you’ve given me, right back at you with hollow points.

Anyway, that's my muddled theory (or theories or more accurately, my set of questions with no answers).

(And this is completely subjective but when I see the photo of "88" from the manifesto, it reminds me of an abstract drawing of two people embracing. This seems apt for someone who was as alone as Cho was but intending to inspire his "Brothers and Sisters" to follow his lead with this act of mass murder.)

[jeonscatalyst]

I have no idea what the cult are saying but a wild guess, choose your fighter

1. Gotta keep the fan service going while enlisted☝️

2. Weverse now is all jk shading jm while he’s wishing he was free to be with his real bf😔😔😔

3. jm still staid jk is his little brother

4. 🫣 *collage of every time tkk ever interacted on weverse and irl

5. Silence

You were almost right anon lol. Apparently they are writing essays expressing their anger and disgust towards Jimin. Mind you, an interaction takes two people, we literally had Jungkook replying to Jimin’s post within a minute but this is what they have to say💀

Imagine writing a whole essay because Jimin mentioned someone he is literally enlisted with, nevermind the fact that not so long ago we had Jungkookie reminding us how many more days he had with his Jiminie hyung ( they still blamed Jimin for that BTW) and also clearly loves interacting with Jimin on Weverse.

These are some of the comments under that post

But I guess we all know what they are really mad about. It’s not because Jimin mentioned Jungkook for the first time in over 10 months but because Jungkook himself does the mentioning and actually initiates interactions with Jimin.

This anger of theirs reminds me of the tantrums they threw after AYS. Mind you BOTH Jimin and Jungkook didn’t tell Tae about their trip to Jeju and he only had to find out from the group chat. Mind you BOTH Jimin and Jungkook called Tae a guest and even when Jimin made that last guest joke in the Behind the scenes, Jungkook literally laughed at the joke clapping his hands but guess who they came at? You got it, Jimin! They all were so bitter at Jimin for not inviting Tae but I wonder why none of them were mad at Jungkook for not inviting him either, I mean if Jk is Tae’s boyfriend as they claim, shouldn’t they have greater expectations of him than Jimin who is just a friend? Jungkook called Tae a guest too and even laughed clapping his hands when Jimin made a joke about it, a joke which Tae clearly wasn’t really upset about btw but let’s just play devils advocate and say he was truly upset about being called a guest, what kind of boyfriend does that make Jungkook if he laughed at a joke he knew hurt his boyfriend and didn’t even end there but laughed so hard that he started clapping his hands? Notice how no one was mad at him but they poured all that anger on Jimin?

This is exactly the same thing they are doing with those Weverse interactions. They can’t openly express their anger at Jungkook who takes part in this “fanservice” interactions and even sometimes initiates them because that wouldn’t look good for their ship so they pour all that anger unto the one they can actually hate in public then go ahead to complain about Jungkook in their GCs.

Bunch of idiots.

[coprolite-moment]

so how did your striker looks when he was but a young strapping lad?

the exact same as you'd think!

idunno- I guess I never really thought abt it given there's the entire chance the show will do that for me. my striker is meant to BE canon striker up unto the end of oops. like a timeline split if you will.

oddly enough, in my head, striker always sees his younger better self as how he was in harvest moon festival. up on stage, suave and adored, not yet touched by whatever steady mental decline took place after that day-

cause to be fair I never specified how much time has passed since oops :)c you don't know how long I made that man live bitter and alone to his own devices (before I threw a 🐟 at him)

[eldintower]

my honest take on the matter is that a divine gate at its most abstract & symbolic is bodies & bodies & bodies and so the divine gate of malenia & the age of rot, which is arguably spreading as the tarnished seeks the shards (the scarlet rot creeps into limgrave beyond the outermost smoldering wall #Yesss) was caelid & the batte of aeonia, the birthplace of a god. caelid is the gate of divinity as marika knew it, not the petrified husk which miquella sought. to me, this is a huge part of malenia's tragedy, that in becoming miquella's blade and grasping onto that part of herself until it is the only thing left, she secured her own godhood. part of me wonders if she even had some presentiment, but still saw it all through to the bitter end. one of my favorite details to go back to are the oracles of the haligtree & the implication that they're heralding malenia, especially in the wake of miquella's ten minutes of godhood. did they foresee that malenia would ascend- did they foresee that miquella would be stopped?

the twins together represent the beginning & end of marika's age- shaman village & caelid (i do think it's important how no miquella crosses are to be found in the Hinterlands, and yet one is in the specimen storehouse; to me, that does reflect the path marika took)- as well as their twinned trajectory in the minor erdtree & golden braid- kindness of gold unto a point of no return. there is a throughline here which i like very much: i think the original name of the shaman village has been lost to time in being sealed away with the rest of marika's past and in marika's own secrecy; can anyone say for certain what caelid used to look like? can anyone remember?

[wild-flowerhoney]

multi-fandom masterlist

fandoms and ships:

the rings of power: elrond/galadriel, elrond/halbrand

marauders: gen, regulus/lily, regulus/remus

pjo hoo toa: percy/nico

the rings of power

- AO3 pseud: as-summer -

• COMPLETED WORKS

bitter wine - one shot, rated mature, galadriel has always known elrond will make a fine husband some day, it's just hard to accept that his wife won't be her, hard to accept the idea of losing him to another, pre-series, not canon compliant, implied sexual content, hopeful ending.

the missing pieces series - a bunch of short stories taking place in canon and expanding/exploring various scenes.

1. glimpsing light - one shot, rated gen, elrondriel week 2024, day four: outsider pov, elendil discovers something new about galadriel and his ancestor's brother in 1x03, fluff, missing scene.

2. out of sight - one shot, rated gen, takes place in 1x08/2x01, sauron takes elrond's form to trick galadriel, pining, possibly unrequited love, manipulation.

3. scorched earth - one shot, rated gen, beginning of s2, after that meeting in círdan's workshop galadriel tries once more to get through to elrond, pining, emotional hurt, possibly unrequited love, friendship.

4. gaps of sunlight - one shot, rated gen, companion to glints of moonlight, 2x07 kiss scene romantic rewrite from galadriel's pov, the golden light in lindon is very different from the lifeless shine in adar's refuge but elrond's presence makes it just as beautiful, pining, possibly unrequited love, love and friendship mixing into each other.

5. glints of moonlight - one shot, rated gen, companion to gaps of sunlight, 2x07 kiss scene romantic rewrite from elrond's pov, the dim light in adar's refuge cannot compare to the moonlight in lindon but not even the shadows can ever hide galadriel's light from him, mutual pining, requited love, love and friendship and the ways they're one and the same.

6. of the heart - one shot, rated gen, post 2x08 galadriel and elrond meet in the woods to talk, disapproving dad gil-galad, pining, possibly unrequited love, unresolved romantic tension.

pulvis et umbra - one shot, rated teen, a discussion with a mortal man makes galadriel think of her feelings for elrond and what they mean in regards to her and her marriage to celeborn, post 2x07, pining, unresolved romantic tension, love and friendship.

canto v series - elrond and galadriel, giving in to something that shouldn't be. and all that comes after. somewhat inspired by the retelling of Paolo and Francesca's affair.

1. unto one death - one shot, rated explicit, galadriel gives in to her feelings for elrond who was once her ward, infidelity, mutual pining, forest sex.

2. who reason subjugate - one shot, rated explicit, elrond pov after their sort of marriage, thoughts and feelings about being peredhel, infidelity, secret relationship, smut.

the rising of the tide - two chapters, rated gen, 2x07 rewrite, the negotiation with adar ends with elrond in chain besides galadriel, mutual pining, not canon compliant, friendship and love.

at the end of all things series - my works for elrondriel week 2024, all about their doomed relationship and them making the best of their time together.

1. an interlude - one shot, rated gen, day one: secret relationship, elrond and galadriel meet before her trip to the north in 1x01, pre-canon, established relationship

2. glimpsing light - one shot, rated gen, day four: outsider pov, elendil discovers something new about galadriel and his ancestor's brother in 1x03, fluff, missing scene.

3. breathing space - one shot, rated gen, day three: nenya, elrond and galadriel in the middle of their fight during the trip to eregion in 2x04, established relationship, fluff and light angst.

4. by candlelight - one shot, rated gen, day two: prophecy/future, elrond and galadriel have one last night before their relationship must come to an end, post 2x08, break up, bittersweet ending.

• WIPS

wings of a butterfly - two chapters, rated teen, elrond is such a delight that the dark lord himself can't help but give up on his plans for him, eventual romance, pining, crack treated seriously.

as a binary star - three chapters, rated teen, stardust au, galadriel is pushed out of the sky and elrond takes the chance to finally explore the magical world beyond the wall, eventual romance, tenderness, strangers to friends to lovers.

marauders era

- AO3 pseud: rab-stars -

• COMPLETED WORKS

that which is holy - one shot, regulily, rated explicit, lily goes to meet regulus in the middle of the first war just before her marriage, infidelity, running away, mentioned horcrux hunt.

they'll think of me kindly (when they come for my things) - one shot, regulily, rated gen, regulus and lily and the future they'd wanted for themselves the night before lily leaves hogwarts, canon-compliant, secret relationship, break up.

what we do in the shadows - one shot, rated teen, wwdits/documentary death eaters au, regulus, evan, barty, snape and pettigrew living in grimmauld, crack treated seriously.

• WIPS

i'll stop the world (and melt with you) - two chapters, moonwater, rated gen, regulus runs away with sirius but it's remus and the lupin family that he truly feels he belongs with, eventual domestic fluff, idiots in love, light angst.

we ain't angry at you love (you're the greatest thing we've lost - five chapters, rated gen, rated teen, regulus runs away at his initiation and lives on the streets of muggle london, black family centric, heavy angst.

• COMING SOON

the sun will go out - sirius introspection after regulus' death, heavy angst, hurt no comfort.

pjo hoo toa

- AO3 pseud: cabin13 -

• COMPLETED WORKS

unreal unearth series - stand alone works whose themes/titles/ideas were inspired by hozier's unreal unearth album:

1. the first time that you kissed me (i drank dry the river lethe) - three chapters, rated gen, son of neptune au where percy develops feelings for nico in camp jupiter, angst with a happy ending.

2. heaven is not fit to house a love (like you and i) - three chapters, rated gen, post-canon, au where nico left after gaea and ends up at percy's after six years, angst, domestic fluff, happy ending.

3. carving through the dark (hold me like a knife) - three chapters, rated mature, for the 'unreal unearth' series, infidelity/cheating (not on each other), a percy and nico that can't seem to stop chasing after one another, deeply flawed characters all around.

only the sun - two chapters, rated gen, post-canon where nico reveals that he saw them question his loyalty from the jar, emotional hurt/comfort with hopeful ending.

when the sea rises to meet us (nothing left for you and i to do) - two chapters, rated gen, soulmates au where nico shouldn't be percy's soulmate but definitely is, angst, hopeful ending (possible series/more chapters in the future).

what love means series - five one-shots for the 12 days of percico/nicercy christmas. all fluff and very slight angst:

1. to put in the work - gen, aphrodite and percy discuss his blossoming relationship with nico.

2. to have a home - gen, percy and nico talking about their plans for christmas.

3. to be there for someone - gen, their relationship during the years in four phone calls.

4. to make the best of it - gen, a christmas gift mishap.

5. to give yourself to someone - teen, wedding day fluff.

i'd be home with you - one-shot, rated teen, attempt at humor, fluffy proposal fic.

on the mend - seven chapters, rated teen, follows married percico as they go through a rough spot, angst with a happy ending.

all that glitters is gold - two chapters, rated teen, the greatest fairy tale never told AKA shrek au. half-human/half sea monster percy embarks in a quest to rescue a prince from a tower with his satyr companion grover so that the lord of the land will give him his home back free of magical creatures.

growing into us series - all my fics for percy/nico fest week 2024, all about growing and healing and building relationships.

1. the soil and the sea - four chapters, rated gen, nico and percy getting together years after hoo, mutual pining, light angst, unrequited solangelo (from will), moving in together, domestic fluff.

2. gather the pieces - two chapters, raten gen, nico and percy fell in tartarus together au, dealing with the aftermath of akhlys and tartarus as a whole, not actually unrequited crush, healing and getting together.

3. taste divinity on your lips - one-shot, rated mature, nico becomes a god after his death, mourning and grief, worship, getting together, happy ending.

a thousand old graves - one-shot, rated gen, middle earth setting, percy coming to terms with what his boyfriend's immortality means, elf nico/human percy, established relationship, bittersweet ending.

• WIPS

the relinquishment of logic - three chapters, rated explicit, the haunting of hill house au, horror, mystery, major/minor character death, grief, cousin incest, eventual happy ending.

colored in love - three chapters, rated teen, buddy daddies au, assassins/hitmen percico accidentally adopt a child, found family, humor, angst/fluff, happy ending.

devotee - eight chapters, rated explicit, post-canon percy and nico as friends with benefits, pining, slight angst, past emotional cheating (light and not on each other).

inherent vice - four chapters, rated explicit, hunger games au, angst, minor character death, hunger games canon violence, grief, murder, slow burn, enemies to friends to lovers, district one nico and district twelve percy.

to the ends of the earth (would you follow me?) - three chapters, rated gen, percy and nico meet in the lotus casino, mix of show and book, slow burn, eventual romance, friends to lovers, inspired by @g0thnico's post.

what was holding up the ground (it was you all the way down) - one chapter, raten teen, percy struggling with his sexuality after years of being exposed to heteronormativity.

in the dark of sleep - four chapters, rated explicit, russian doll au, time loops, temporary character death, post-canon percy and nico keep dying and reliving percy's 21st birthday.

• COMING SOON

when the earth is trembling on some new beginning - sequel to "when the sea rises to meet us (nothing left for you and i to do)", shouldn't be soulmates but definitely are percico dealing with the fallout of their new relationship.

[llondonfog]

I've been obsessively OBSESSIVELY thinking about it all day and I need to say it to you as well, it is so desperate. Meleanor and the Knight of Dawn as soulmates... Not in the sense that there could ever be love between them, but bonded at the soul to inevitably clash and kill one another. Just imagining a world where marks of a soulmate are celebrated as beautiful signs of love, and the death mark is a wretched omen. Both have them covered up from birth, hiding the secret from even their closest loved ones. There are rumors, however, of stolen glimpses. Of a speared dragons wing and a shattered sword...... god, imagine if Lilia has no idea about it, but Meleanor does. He's begging her with everything he has not to sacrifice herself, but she already knows, has already known for so long, since before she can remember, that there was no other way this could end!!

Thinking about Lilia with only one mark, a strange bejeweled crown that perches like an omen over his heart— it's a death mark, there's not a bone in his body that believes otherwise. the crown bears no resemblance to the ornate diadems of the briar valley royalty, and he spares himself one bitter, twisted smile at the foolish whims of a heart that he thought had stopped dreaming a long time ago.

He makes his peace with it, the cold truth a strange comfort in the face of a life marked by hardship and an aching loneliness. To die on the battlefield in the name of his princess and her consort, even if it is at the hands of their enemy, will serve as the culmination of a love that he could not realize— he can't think of more fitting an end for an unwanted and lowly creature such as he.

So when Meleanor dashes all of his morbid plans with a knowing smile that turns his blood to ice floes and fills him with a gut-wrenching despair, when she orders him far away from the battlefield to play nursemaid to an egg that can only hatch by the will of her love, he refuses to even consider the reason why.

The concept of her death is as foreign as the moon tumbling out of the sky, as unlawful to the natural order of things as water to wine. She is a dragon, a Draconia, a great and terrible force of nature unto her own who calls the lightning to heel and the mountains to tremble from her rage and might. Her death, should it ever come, shall creep to her meekly, cowed and apologetic that it might ever think to claim a being as magnificent as her. She cannot do this, for what is the point of Lilia's meager existence if not to serve her even in the act of his death?

(He does not understand, but for this she cannot blame him. Her brave and steadfast General, her most loyal and trusted friend— there was no other way for her story to end, as much as she wishes to reassure him that she will not meet her death whimpering. If she is to die, then it shall be as magnificent a battle as any could have ever imagined. She is a dragon, and she will show those foolish humans just what that means.)

[aedislumen]

"The Fifth of May"

The Fifth of May is a poem written by the Italian poet and novelist Alessandro Manzoni in 1821, in honour of Napoléon's death.

It's one of the most famous poems as far as Italian literature is concerned: it usually gets studied and analyzed at least once during compulsory education! Since it doesn't seem that many people outside of Italy know of it, I will share below an English translation made by Lorna de Lucchi (source + original in Italian here)

" He is no more. As reft of breath The heedless body lay at last On whom such boundless hopes were cast, Immobile in the calm of death. So, by the tidings, in amaze The earth is held, and with her gaze The parting hour doth mutely scan Of this great spirit ; if again Upon the dust of her wide plain, All blood-besprinkled, ever can The footfall of a mortal show Like unto his, she doth not know.

My muse, seeing him most gloriously Ensconced upon a royal throne, Was still, nor in the clam'rous tone Of myriad voices joined as he Fell, then triumphantly did soar To fall again and rise no more : Free from all taint of servile praise And cowardly insult, let me rise, Now this bright star falls from the skies, As one who piteous homage pays ; A garland on his urn, let lie This song which haply will not die !

From Alp to hoary Pyramid, From Manzanare to the Rhine, From Scylla to the Don, sure sign His vivid lightnings were that did Foreshow the tempest that would be, His winged bolt from sea to sea.

Is his true fame ? Posterity The arduous verdict will declare ; We can but bow in reverence where The Eternal Craftsman mightily Conceived this soul that it might stand To show the marvels of His hand.

The tremulous, impassioned joy Of schemes conveyed with master-art, The strife of a subjected heart Which dreamed a sceptre for a toy, Nor was denied the godly prize Before a world's incredulous eyes ;

All these he knew ; untold renown More glorious for the peril passed, Flight, then the victory at last, The pains of exile doffed the crown ; Twice humbled to the very dust, Twice gifted with an empire's trust.

He spoke : and lo, two centuries, Ranged face to face upon the field, Submissive to his voice did yield, As if to destiny's decrees : He called for silence, and then grave Judgment between them both he gave.

He vanished : idly passed the days Imprisoned in a narrow round, By bitter envy and profound Compassion, by the constant gaze Of hate unconquerable pursued, With love indomitable endued.

A wave o'er shipwrecked mortal's head Closeth, then heavily down doth bear, The very wave that in despair He scanned before, straining ahead After some merciful trace of ground In a vain hope before he drowned :

Even so this soul was crushed below The burden that is memory ! How often to posterity On deathless page he sought to show Himself revealed, how often then From his tired fingers dropped the pen !

How often, drawing to the end Of a day spent in listless wise, Arms crossed on breast and downcast eyes Aflame, he stood while thought did tend Towards the past, in yearning vain For that which could not be again,

Calling to mind the mobile tents, The glint of passing infantry The flood-wave of the cavalry, The storming of the battlements, The sharply framed, imperious word, The swift consent of those who heard !

Maybe in such deep misery His spirit might have known despair, Had not a hand divine been there To raise him up in charity And carry him to mansions where Breathes a more consecrated air ;

To lead him by hope's flowery ways To everlasting pastures sweet, Where perfect happiness doth meet And soar above poor mortal praise, Where in hushed twilight doth abide The earthly glory that hath died.

Immortal Faith, O gentle maid, Full many a triumph hast thou seen ! Write this thing down in joy serene ; Never on Golgotha was laid Sublimer fame as low as this, Never proud spirit bowed like his.

O Faith, from his sad ashes move All words of bitterness away ! The God who doth create and slay, Who doth chastise then heal in love, Will surely come to him and keep Vigil beside his lonely sleep. "