The Tale of Lady Greensleeves and Lord Death
I
Oh! Has heaven laid
eyes on such a sight
so lovely.
Look! See how fragile
and gentle a creature
she is.
If I were alive, my
heart would beat
with love and
sing with life.
For she is the
epitome of
happiness.
II
Nightingale, oh! Nightingale
Speak to me in words so kind.
Tell me my friend, who is
that soul behind that
tree?
Has he come for
me oh Nightingale!
He stares at me with
such a life, I wonder
if he has life at all.
III
If I can be that bird
in her hands, I'd
sing to her a melody.
No longer has beauty
stole from my soul
but it has given me
light. For I shall take a bride
tonight.
She waits for me,
her her eyes have
swayed my soul.
I must find out
her name, so
I can sing it to the
highest peak of
Heaven for Hell
has frozen over
today!
IIII
Oh, Nightingale! He
knows of my curiosity.
He comes for me!
He comes for me!
Oh, I am frightened
of his presence.
His soul is quite
dark but his eyes
are loving.
Oh, Nightingale!
Sing to me a
sign from my father
in Heaven!
Who is this man
that comes towards
me.
V
It is I, my love.
The one to take
you to your
rightful place.
Where a throne
of gold will
illuminate your
grace. I will
care for you
if you promise
to remain by
my side and
be my beautiful
wonderful, bride!
VI
You speak
so kindly to me,
oh dark Lord.
But the light
has drifted from
my eyes. You
are so dark, oh
mysterious Lord.
And yet so kind,
why so kind?
You love me,
oh mysterious
Lord. You
love me.
VII
I love you,
and if my
heart were to
beat, I'd take
you to me,
and express
to you my sincerity.
But you must trust me,
my love. You must love
me. Oh! How I see
it in your eyes, the
fear you can not disguise.
Oh flower child, with green
sleeves, tell me your
name, oh please!
VIII
Persephone!
Persephone, the
name of the wind
and the trees.
Oh, please
do not hurt me!
IX
That name can
move a mountain
with it's glory. Oh
it can bring a God
to his knees.
My love, Persephone,
how I wish to say your
name a million times.
Until you're mind.
Oh! Tell me oh
ghostly spell,
the maiden from
my darkest hell,
what can I say
to make you see
that I love thee.
X
I hear my mother
calling for me!
Oh Lord, she is
coming. She is
coming. I am
sorry, but we
have never met
and I must go.
I must forget.
My father in
Heaven
has answered my
prayer. You shall
not be mine I fear.
XI
Your father in Heaven,
is Zeus! My almighty
brother, how I spit
on that name.
It makes the very
blood in veins
boil and char in
flames.
Come with me,
Persephone!
Now I see
what I must
do take you be mine.
Zeus, father in Heaven!
King of all the land,
please help me!
Help me!
Your brother is taking
our daughter away!
Persephone I will
save your soul,
but please refuse
to eat from his bowl
Spit out his wine
and most importantly,
don't fall in love!
XII
I can't believe,
I wondered about
such an evil soul.
How absent-minded
a fool am I, to believe
such love can come
from someone so
dark and heartless
too! I hate you, dark
Lord. I hate you!
XIII
But I love you,
my sweet dew
drop of Heaven!
Oh how my brother
is writhing in pain!
He will never
come for you.
You are mine now!
Now, fair child, come
drink some water!
Have an apricot.
You can have anything
your heart desires.
Fear me not!
XIV
I shall rot,
for I will not
eat from your
hateful hand.
I will die in
Hell before
I live in Heaven.
This place will never
be my home.
Now go, my Lord.
Leave me alone!
XV
She hates me,
she detests my
very soul. Oh!
How much like
her father she is.
So stubborn but
yet I love her!
And yet she's
slipping away!
Soon the Underworld
will have his way.
This play will kill
my bride if she is
to stay. But I will
not release her!
She is my forever.
And Zeus, my brother,
can continue to strike
the land with lightning
and roar with thunder!
But he will not get
back what belongs to
me. My beautiful
beautiful, Persephone!
XVI
Oh! Nightingale how I
wish you were here,
to wipe away this tear!
How it lingers in my
eyes and refuses to
fall. Oh! Nightingale,
I am growing tired
and Death is on my
horizon. I am dying!
I am dying!
XV
What is this?
My brother has
sent me a messenger.
Ah, Hermes!
What brings you
to my humble abode!
Please, rest your wings,
have a drink!
A friend of Zeus,
oh how I spit on that
name, deserves
to be treated
like a King.
Ah, what's this!
Your words are
filled with urgency!
Oh, your master
wants me to release
Persephone!
Well, the girl
is a pain and
she won't love
me. So take
the wretch!
Do with her
what you may.
I will send her
out later today.
Begone! Hermes!
Begone!
XVI
Oh, is it true
what he is said.
Hades is releasing
me from dread!
Bless him, oh
bless him!
I will see my beloved
mother before
the day is out!
XVII
Persephone!
Persephone!
Come at once,
Persephone!
I know you
can only hate
me but my love
for thee, though
wilted like a
flower without
water, still blossoms
and hopes that
your heart, so filled
with life and beauty
will change.
But please, do this
one last thing
for your master,
eat and then I promise
you'll be free.
XVIII
My mother told
me to resist
your food and your
wine but that
pomegranate looks
so divine. I have
passed through
this land without
any food or sustenance.
And I can not resist
this forbidden fruit.
Give it to me, my Lord,
only one bite will do
XIX
Yes, my love, eat
at fill yourself
with the sweet taste
of the fruit from my
hand. Eat the seeds
and drain the blood
for it is the greatest
thing you have ever
tasted, is it not, my
love?
XX
It is my Lord, but
why do I feel
the way I feel.
I've never felt such
death before. It's
beautiful and yet
so frightening.
Please tell me Hades,
am I dying?
XXI
No, my love,
you are just
leaving all that
you have known.
This is your
rightful place.
There is your throne
of gold. It will
illuminate your
grace. And I will
care for you
if you promise
to remain by
my side and
be my beautiful
wonderful, bride!
XXII
It is now that I
shall take my
leave, for you
have promised
me. You have
promised me!
I am free, no
longer am I
your love,
your sweet,
your Persephone.
Leave me be,
my Lord.
Take me back
to my home.
I do not care
for your throne.
I am free!
I am free!
XXIII
Oh how her
spirit glows
as she embraces
her mother.
Oh I feel such
sorrow for making
her feel pain
but what I about me?
Don't I deserve happiness?
Yes, I do for I have
lived in a Hell alone for
too long. And has she not
ate from my hand a
pomegranate from my
land! She will be mine
soon again and again
and again!
What is this rhyme
that he speaks,
Persephone?
Did you eat from
him, Persephone?
Tell me now, Persephone?
XXIV
Yes I have, but why is it
that you're crying.
This is supposed to be
a joyous day. I am with
you to stay but you deny
this truth that I am speaking.
Why mother? Why?
What are you saying?
Yes, I have ate from his hand
but what does it mean?
XXV
It means, my love, you shall
be my queen and only
our time apart shall
intervene the love we'll share.
You have consumed the fruit
that has sealed your fate.
Now it is too late.
For four months you shall
be mine and then it is then
that you shall see your mother.
But you will always be mine and
that is a promise that I plan to keep.
THE END
