Dreams And Pyres - Falconer

It’s the darkened years

Superstition’s flying high

There is pain, there is fear

In the poverty’s sigh

Preachers on a frightening spree

Of demons and hell’s fire

Warnings of the devil’s decree

In all sinful desires

A boy have just arrived

An orphan he’s become

From adultery and incest and witchery

To the seething alleys

Of quarrels and discord

A storm cloud has finally gathered

Discussions long into the night

About the dark one’s diabolical scheme

Children they listen and they dream

Well-fed nightmares of a similar theme

Imaginations out of control

For each morning they tell more and more

— Summon the new boy for a watch

He have seen the signs of evil before

— There is the devil’s bride

Rode on the goat astride

God save us from Satan’s firm hand!

There is the torture witch

Poked us with glowing sticks

God save us from Satan’s allies!

— In the name of our Lord I’m harmless

— Confess your sins to our Christ!

— I can’t confess to what children dream

Prejudiced tongues has twisted

Their minds before your eyes

— Silence, you whore of the dark one

Save your soul and repent what you’ve done!

Accuse the poor

And get a tap on the head

— You truly are a blessed child

She will burn in iron upon the stake

Accuse the countess

And get a slap into the face

— You aught to know a noble’s rang

She’s too venerable for you poor fool

— Speed up the pace

Chanting the praise

Ever higher

Hysteric ball:

— Sentence them all

To the fire!

One day the boy confessed his lies

— I know nothing about

The witches ways

One after one they all came forth

— Rather informers than burn

At the end of the day

— There is the wicked tongue

From indolence it sprung

God save us from sinister minds!

There is the fiendish flock

All limbs are chained and locked

God save us from sinister minds!

There is the serpent’s fang

From where the evil sprang

God save him from the dark of hell!

There is a boy aflame

Ending his fancied game

God save him from Satan’s demons!