Sunday 31 July 2011

Swords and Roses (The dreaming city)

Robert Gould: Elric of Melnibone


"It is the color of a bleached skull, his flesh; and the long hair which flows below his shoulders is milk-white. From the tapering, beautiful head stare two slanting eyes, crimson and moody, and from the loose sleeves of his yellow gown emerge two slender hands, also the color of bone. "
— Michael Moorcock (Elric of Melniboné - The Chronicle of the Black Sword)

"Legends are best left as legends and attempts to make them real are rarely successful"
— Michael Moorcock (Elric of Melniboné)

"Elric knew that everything that existed had its opposite. In danger he might find peace. And yet, of course, in peace there was danger. Being an imperfect creature in an imperfect world he would always know paradox. And that was why in paradox there was always a kind of truth. That was why philosophers and soothsayers flourished. In a perfect world there would be no place for them. In an imperfect world the mysteries were always without solution and that was why there was always a great choice of solutions."
— Michael Moorcock (The Elric Saga Part I)

"We must be bound to one another then," Elric murmured despairingly. "Bound by hell-forged chains and fate-haunted circumstance. Well, then--let it be thus so--and men will have cause to tremble and flee when they hear the names of Elric of Melinbone and Stormbringer, his sword. We are two of a kind--produced by an age which has deserted us. Let us give this age cause to hate us!"
— Michael Moorcock (Elric: The Stealer of Souls)



M.W. Kaluta: Elric of Melnibone



My name is Elric
And I bear the Black Sword

This is the Tale of Elric
Before he was called Womanslayer
Before the final collapse of Melnibone
This is the tale of the doomed
Black Sword

Mighty Elric, Mightier Sword
Sorcerer and Swordsman
Slayer of kin
Lord of a dying race, King of ruins
Dragon Master,
Champion of Doom

Ymmrir, The Dreaming City
Yrkoon, the hated usurper
Cymoril, the beloved,
All had fallen
To the fury and unholy power
Of the albino prince
And his terrible Sword

(Chorus)
Stormbringer, Black Runesword
Battle - thirsty prince,
Blood - hungry sword
Stormbringer, sing a song of victory
And as I hold you in my hands
You drink the souls
Of all my enemies
My enemies, oh drink the souls
Of all my enemies