Cradle of Filth
Adest Rosa Secreta Eros
My number is 11, as all their numbers who are of us
My colour is black to the blind, but the blue & gold are seen of the seeing
Also I have a secret glory for them that love me
But to love me is better than all things:
If under the night stars in the desert thou presently burnest mine incense before me
Invoking me with a pure heart, and the Serpent flame therein
Thou shalt come a little to lie in my bosom
For one kiss wilt thou then be willing to give all;
But whoso gives one particle of dust shall lose all in that hour
Ye shall wear rich jewels; ye shall exceed the nations of the earth in spendour & pride;
But always in the love of me, and so ye shall come to my joy
I love you! I yearn to you! Pale or purple, veiled or voluptuous
I who am all pleasure and purple, and drunkenness of the innermost sense, desire you
Put on the wings, and arouse the coiled splendour within you: come unto me!
I am the Snake that giveth Knowledge & Delight and bright glory, and stir the hearts of men with drunkenness
To worship me take wine and strange drugs whereof I will tell my prophet, & be drunk thereof! They shall not harm ye at all. It is a lie, this folly against self
The exposure of innocence is a lie
Be strong, o man! lust, enjoy all things of sense and rapture: fear not that any God shall deny thee for this
Let the Scarlet Woman beware! If pity and compassion and tenderness visit her heart;
If she leave my work to toy with old sweetnesses; then shall my vengeance be known
I will slay me her child: I will alienate her heart: I will cast her out from men: as a shrinking and despised harlot shall she crawl through dusk wet streets, and die cold and an-hungered
But let her raise herself in pride! Let her follow me in my way! Let her work the work of wickedness! Let her kill her heart! Let her be loud and adulterous! Let her be covered with jewels, and rich garments, and let her be shameless before all men!
Then will I lift her to pinnacles of power: then will I breed from her a child mightier than all the kings of the earth