Death came to me as Maiden Death came to me as Beast Venus smiled at us that eerie Autumn Night Candlelight Banquet in Victorian Halls enflamed my Love for Her Even Poet's passionate Verses were unable to evoke A true Description of such tremendous Fierceness Though appearing as sweet Woman Such a Beauty could not be human "Art Thou my Destiny?" Whilst we embraced Moonlight touched Thy soft Lips Such pale Skin, as white as purest Snow Wind curled Thy ebony Hair like Vipers on Medusa's Head Less the Horror than the Grace turned me almost into Stone Infected with such idolatrous Shape my deepest Dreams came true These red magic Eyes, like bleeding Flowers Made me Slave to Her Erotic Kisses under whispering Trees Were my Foretaste of Eden Melancholia's Fire burnt in highest Flames When She told me to leave "Will Thou be mine again, most sinful of all Demons?" "Encrimsoned Fullmoon is the Sign When my Spirit shall cover Thine At the eldest Oak of the Midnight Forest I'll teach Thee Secrets buried in Stone And by a Force to Man unknown I shall never be alone!" With blind Thirst for that doomy Hour I wandered through my Days like (in) Trances Tears of Blood stole from Moon's Eyes and were Omen to me Bats haunted deep nightly Woods Whilst we kissed again in fierce Nocturnal Embrace Love-drunken Slumber led me away from Mortal's sighing World "Awake now to face my real Countenance!" Thus to me spake Azrael in the Robe of godlike Beauty "Hades sent His loveliest Angel To grant Thee Expiration divine!" Death came in Desire's Masquerade