If I close my eyes for ever...

Barry Windsor Smith: The Beguilling

Baby

I get so scared inside, and I don't really understand

Is it love that's on my mind, or is it fantasy

Heaven

Is in the palm of my hand, and it's waiting here for you

What am I supposed to do with a childhood tragedy

If I close my eyes forever

Will it all remain unchanged

If I close my eyes forever

Will it all remain the same...

Sometimes

It's hard to hold on

So hard to hold on to my dreams

It isn't always what is seems

When you're face to face with me

You're like a dagger

And stick me in the heart

And taste the blood from my blade

And when we sleep, would you shelter me

In your warm and darkened grave

If I close my eyes forever

Will it all remain unchanged

If I close my eyes forever

Will it all remain the same...

Will you ever take me

No, I just can't take the pain

But would you ever trust me

No, I'll never feel the same...Ohh...

I know I've been so hard to you

I know I've told you lies

If I could have just one more wish

I'd wipe the cobwebs from my eyes

If I close my eyes forever

Will it all remain unchanged

If I close my eyes forever

Will it all remain the same...

Close your eyes

Close your eyes

You gotta close you eyes for me

Tell her today....

J.W.Waterhouse: Flora and the Jephyrs (detail)

It's hard to say

you love some one

its hard to say you dont

its hard to learn

to trust someone

but its hard to be without. 

So if u think u love some one

try, try, try

because

that one maybe your *only* one 

So if you love her 

think only of her

take the time tell her today

And when Without her

everything is harder

take the time 

drop everything 

go tell her today

For every King 

you'll find a queen

that keeps his kingdom strong

oh if love is the food that feeds my heart

then baby

sweet baby

I'm hungry now

oh 

So if you think you love some one 

try, try, try

because that one may be your one.

So if you love her, 

think only of her, 

take the time tell her today.

And when with out her,

everything 's harder 

take the time

drop everything 

tell her today

J.W.Waterhouse: Flora and the Jephyrs (detail)

Fawlty Towers

(Sunday fun)

Drachentoeter Siegfried

Unknown artist: Siegfried dragonslayer

Call to arms

Ken Kelly: Iceman

When They See Us They Will Run For Their Lives

To The End They Will Pay For Their Lies

So Long Did We Wait Now We Are Home 

Here Once Again There's A Battle To Fight

Gathered Together For The Sound And The Might

So Long Did We Wait Now We Are Home 

Now We Will Fight For The Kingdom Fighting With Steel

Kill All Of Them Their Blood Is Our Seal

Fight Till The Last Of The Enemy Is Dead

Ride Through Their Blood That We Gladly Have Shed 

I Now Issue The Call Are You Ready To Fight

Fight All Together As One For The Right To Be Free Once Again

Tonight We Will Win 

I Can See By The Look That You Have In Your Eyes

You Came Here For Metal To Fight And To Die

Defenders Of Steel Now We Are Home 

Fight For The Kingdom Bound For Glory

Armed With A Heart Of Steel

I Swear By The Brothers Who Stand Before Me

To No Man Shall I Kneel

Their Blood Is Upon My Steel

Blood Is Upon My Steel 

Fight For The Kingdom Fighting With Steel

Kill All Of Them Their Blood Is Our Seal

Fight Till The Last Of The Enemy Is Dead

Ride Through Their Blood That We Gladly Have Shed 

I Now Issue The Call Are You Ready To Fight

Fight All Together As One For The Right To Be Free Once Again

Tonight We Will Win 

I Can See By The Look That You Have In Your Eyes

You Came Here For Metal To Fight And To Die

Defenders Of Steel Now We Are Home 

Fight For The Kingdom Bound For Glory

Armed With A Heart Of Steel

I Swear By The Brothers Who Stand Before Me

To No Man Shall I Kneel

Their Blood Is Upon My Steel 

P.S.1 The date is no coincidence

P.S.2 R.I.P. Scott

The apparition

Frederick J. Waugh - The Knight of the Holy Grail

When the stars are right and you're alone

Take a journey, lock the world tight

Out of your mind.

The hall beckons your presence, the doors

Open wide you're to decide to turn back.

Deep the bowels of this black abyss.

Compelled I just can't resist it, take me

Take me away take me away

I wanna know what's deep within

Take me away

Drawing near someone passes through me,

A silent entity never looking back I won't dare

Evil eyes staring through he walls of stone

As I feared I travel not alone.

Laughter's echoes with the blatant wind

I have passed the threshold deep within me

A voice of thunder said turn back

Tabernacle is forbidden

No mortal dares to enter here

I want to know

Flame is burning center of a fountain yearning, waters

Spring eternal, spiritual water physical fire

Above center is sky, cold neverness

Just vastness filled with stars upon stars

In the four corners of life are the golden mirrors

Reflecting what you are and what you are to be

In the first is a young boy white dove in

His hand, in the second is a warrior in armor

In the third is the old man gold watch

In his hand fourth and last

No reflection at all

No reflection at all

No reflection at all

Waters rise toward physical fire, voice says

Tabernacle is forbidden never looking back I don't dare

If the water touches the flame

Forever in darkness yes I'll remain.

White dove flies from the young boys hand

Through the mirror of the old man, only way out

Belle, is the only word...

(... for Marisa Tomei - who has a pact with the Devil)

Q. Belle, is the only word I know that suits her well.

When she dances oh the stories she can tell.

A free bird trying out her wings to fly away.

And when I see her move I see hell to pay.

She dances naked in my soul and sleep won't come.

And it's no use to pray these prayers to Notre dame.

Tell, who'd be the first to raise his hand and throw a stone.

I'd hang him high and laugh to see him die alone.

Oh Lucifer please let me go beyond god's law.

And run my fingers through her hair, Esmeralda.

F. Belle, there's a demon inside her who came from hell.

And he turned my eyes from god and oh, I fell.

She put this heat inside me I'm ashamed to tell.

Without my god inside I'm just a burning shell.

The sin of eve she has in her I know so well.

For want of her I know I'd give my soul to sell.

Belle, this gypsy girl is there a soul beneath her skin.

And does she bear the cross of all our human sin.

Oh Notre dame please let me go beyond gods law.

Open the door of love inside, Esmeralda.

P. Belle, Even though her eyes seem to lead us to hell.

She may be more pure, more pure than words can tell.

But when she dances feelings come no man can quell.

Beneath her rainbow coloured dress there burns the well.

My promised one, please let me one time be untrue.

Before in front of god and man I marry you.

Who would be the man who'd turn from her to save his soul.

To be with her I'd let the devil take me whole.

Oh Fleur-de-lys I am a man who knows no law.

I go to open up the rose, Esmeralda

Q, G, &P. She dances naked in my soul and sleep won't come.

And it's no use to pray these prayers to Notre dame.

Tell, who'd be the first to raise his hand and throw a stone.

I'd hang him high and laugh to see him die alone.

Oh Lucifer please let me go beyond god's law.

And run my fingers through her hair, Esmeralda.

Esmeralda.

(The Wrestler)

(Before the devil knows you 're dead)

Nothing is real... (but the way that I feel)

Edward Burne Jones: Phyllis and Demophoon

(Blackmore: Self portrait)

Game Over

Luis Royo: Gothic Angel Holding Demon

Follow the links:
The meaning of Matrix and then Plato's allegory of the cave and The Matrix: Exiting the Cave of the Mind

What is reality?!
Is the one who returns to the Matrix really to be blamed?!

Black black heart

Boris Vallejo & Julie Bell: Tamars vision

Something ugly this way comes

Through my fingers sliding inside

All these blessings all these burns

I'm godless underneath your cover

Search for pleasure search for pain

In this world now I am undying

I unfurl my flag my nation helpless

Black black heart why would you offer more

Why would you make it easier on me to satisfy

I'm on fire I'm rotting to the core

I'm eating all your kings and queens

All your sex and your diamonds

As I begin to lose my grip

On these realities your sending

Taste your mind and taste your sex

I'm naked underneath your cover

Covers lie and we will bend and borrow

With the coming sign

The tide will take the sea will rise and time will rape

Black black heart why would you offer more

Why would you make it easier on me to satisfy

I'm on fire I'm rotting to the core

I'm eating all your kings and queens

All your sex and your diamonds

Black black heart why would you offer more

Why would you make it easier on me to satisfy

I'm on fire I'm rotting to the core

I'm eating all your kings and queens

All your sex and your diamonds

All your sex and your diamonds

All your sex and your diamonds

All your sex and your diamonds

All your sex and your diamonds 

Spot Martini

(Vacation memories: Portofino)

The eyes of the world

Bob Larkin - Conan the liberator

I see the innocent victims
Fighting to get to his door
No chain of events
Can shackle him down
He's not there anymore
Evil moves, evil ways
with his back to the wall
evil mind looking down
Without seeing at all

You ain't got a lot to say
Judging by the things you do
If only you could see the tears of pain
In the eyes of the world

Dust to dust by the million
Broken dreams in the ground
Aching hearts with the half dreams of hope
When their spirits are down
Evil takes, evil kills
With no shame or concern
Killing me, killing you
Watch the end of the burn

Maybe you don't understand
We don't need you anymore
If only you could see the tears of pain
In the eyes of the world

And in the name of religion
For the hate in our soul
For the blind
and the sick in the heart
War has taken it's toll
Evil moves, evil ways
With his back to the wall
Evil mind, looking down
Without seeing at all

Eyes of the world
Don't wanna, don't wanna cry no more
Eyes of the world
In the eyes
Eyes of the world
You ain't got a lot to say
Eyes of the world
Why's it have to be this way
Eyes of the world
Oh
Eyes of the world
We don't need you anymore
Eyes of the world
If only you could feel the tears of pain
In the eyes of the world

Ritchie: “I said: ‘Graham – your hair’s too short. The people who follow us like long hair.’ Graham replied: ‘I used to have long hair.’ I said: ‘Okay, but you don’t have long hair any more – it’s very short and you look like a cabaret singer. Can you please grow your hair?’

Ritchie continued: “By the time we were in Newcastle we actually had a minder on Graham’s hotel door to make sure he didn’t go out and get his hair cut. It was actually getting down to the back of his collar, and it was just beginning to be acceptable. Otherwise we’d have been crucified because we’d gone out on stage with our new singer who had short hair.

“But do you know what Graham did? He jumped out of the window, ran off and had a haircut! So it came to show time, we went on stage and I’m looking at the back of his head – he’d had like a military-style haircut. I was so close to taking my guitar off and going ‘whack’ across the back of his head. I was so angry! I was being pushed there… I was really being pushed.”

The Giant

(Vacation memories - Monterosso)

A 1910 sculpture, 14 meters high, in armed cement and iron, work of Arrigo Minerbi of Ferrara and the engineer Levacher, built in Monterosso. The statue represents Neptune and decorated the splendid Villa Pastine with a great terrace with shell shape.

(Ozzy: Killer of Giants)

Watch out for the bat!

Boris Vallejo - Vampire Bat

Watch out for the Bat now

or that'll be that now

the price you will pay is dear

don't be ashamed to fear

that is what makes you care

makes you beware.

Don't worry about it

you'll find you're without it

the Bat's going to take your life

he's going to take your wife

the Bat's going to make you plead

make you bleed.

So make no mistake there

you'll end up as steak (rare)

so always be on your guard

for this life is hard

death is a breath away

every day.

Boris Vallejo: Wings of the night

Lost reflection

J.W. Waterhouse: Marianna in the south

Locked in this attic

Been here so many years

Shanna won't set me free

She says I'm evil But then she doesn't know

I'm not pretending, no, not me

Full moon's reflecting

A face in the mirror

Twisted and bleeding

No, you can't be real, no you're All in my mind

Shades of insanity, you're not me

You're not me

Life in the attic

I like my rocking chair

Staring in shadows

Crouched in the corner

Waiting for something

Laughing at nothing

No one there

And on and on I wonder is there more

What is life beyond the attic door The full

moon in my eyes Is all that's real

The mirror's lost reflection is in me

Life in the attic

Life in the attic

Life in the attic

Life in the attic

Cobwebs and dusty dreams

Sharp knives and hollow screams

Wide eyes of terror 

Clawing the attic door Can't take it anymore

You better go away!

You're lyin'

Hurry

Ah, ah, ah, ah

Who's there?

No one there

You're not me!

I Believe!

Boris Vallejo: Deep love

Is it too late, to go in peace, I wonder how

how these things did start, anyway

Maybe too late to find a way, when the

trail of grief is marked with memories

Now when you're gone, the warmth

of the sun seems so faraway

I believe - in everything I see, every

second is a miracle for me

I believe - after sunshine comes the

rain, and when it's pouring down

the only thing I feel is pain

I walk alone, through shapeless dreams

my only home is the wasteland that I cross

I close the door and turn the key

those days of joy are barely memories

Now when you're gone, your star will

shine on, wont you shine for me

I believe- in everything I see, every

second is a miracle for me

I believe- after sunshine comes the

rain, and when it's pouring down

the only thing I feel is pain

I believe- in everything I see, every

second is a miracle for me

I believe- after sunshine comes the

rain, and when it's pouring down

the only thing I feel is pain

(Hammerfall - I Believe)

To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time

J.W. Waterhouse: Gather ye rosebuds

(by Robert Herrick)

(to remind that beauty and youth is fleeting...)

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,

Old Time is still a-flying:

And this same flower that smiles to-day

To-morrow will be dying.

The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,

The higher he's a-getting,

The sooner will his race be run,

And nearer he's to setting.

That age is best which is the first,

When youth and blood are warmer;

But being spent, the worse, and worst

Times still succeed the former.

Then be not coy, but use your time,

And while ye may, go marry:

For having lost but once your prime,

You may for ever tarry. 

(Caro Emerald: A night like this)

A pebble in the lake

(parts)




Full Movie:

Rene Goscinny: He is no good... (He is only the best)

(Sunday fun)

The ostrich

The mermaid

Spanish Archer

Walter Howell Deverell: Twelfth Night

(Ian Gillan: "I hate this song. It's a continuous Blackmore guitar solo...." )

Well there must have been a reason for the

Smile that you had upon your face last night

Are you the cat that got the cream did you

Lick your lips did you close your eyes

Can you imagine how it feels it’s so hard to reveal

Oh I can’t get through and I’m falling

I’m getting out I’m losing ground

The spanish archer’s gonna bring you down

Is there someone somewhere waiting in the wings to take my place

Let’s not drag it out like a cagney death scene

In this season of change it’s not hard to explain

Like the leaves on the trees I’m falling

And as you turn don’t look away

The spanish archer’s gonna make you pay

Do you remember when the sky was blue we used to talk for miles

And now we drive along in this thundering silence

It’s such an obvious lie with that easy smile of yours

I’m letting go and I’m falling

I’m getting out losing ground

The spanish archer’s gonna bring you down

Well is there something I can say as

We stumble to the edge have we gone too far

Why don’t we call it a day before we call it a nightmare darlin’

If we made a mistake then all that it takes to be free

Is the wave of a hand and you’re falling

And as you turn don’t look away

The spanish archer’s gonna make you pay

Tell the girls I am back in town...

Ciruelo Cabral: Lovers Quarrel

I've been on the road 

I've been on vacation 

I've been travelling light to reach my final destination 

Now I'm coming home 

So tell the girls that I am back in town 

You'd better tell them to beware 

Well they may go or they might try to hide 

I follow on and I'll be there 

So tell the girls that I am back in town 

And if it's true I do not know 

That every girl around has missed me since 

I decided to go 

I could be your friend 

I could be your stranger 

I could be the one your mother said would be a danger 

Now it's up to you 

The silence

When you're drowning,

when you're freezin',

when you're feeling cold

There's a light in the darkness

as the elder always told.

When the winter's coming closer

and the autumn's passing by,

Then the world will sink in slience

and I think we all should try.

Oh, I wanna live my life in a fairy tale

Where the end is always good and never sad.

Show me the way to another world

Where the sun is always shining in the and

And we fight back the tears, and we lose our fears,

Let the world remain in silence for a while

Sun in our minds in a world full of ice,

Let silence remain for a little while.

Somebody came and slammed the door,

took the feelin' away from our hearts.

And the horror took hold of a place

in our hearts filled with love.

What is left behind the ice,

behind the make up and the lies

Tell me what goes on inside our minds,

There is a hole in our sky,

getting bigger, growing wide

No more answer, but we hold the line

See and hear what we have done to us all,

we wanna be free more than anything,

Do you hear what I say to you?

We will make it through, the sun shall shine.

Hear the words we say and see the light of day

We never will be free until the sun is shining for us all

Carry on, carry on and make our dreams come true

And for a little while we stay together

Carry on, carry on, may all our lovin' stay

And for a little while we stay together, forever

Together, forever.

(Gamma Ray: The Silence)

The shadow of your smile...

The shadow of your smile

When you are gone

Will color all my dreams

And light the dawn

Look into my eyes my love and see

All the lovely things you are to me

Our wistful little star was far too high

A teardrop kissed your lips

And so did I

Now when I remember spring

All the joy that love can bring

I will be remembering

The shadow of your smile

Now when I remember spring

All the joy that love can bring

I will be remembering

The shadow of your smile

Hmm hmm...

The Quest for the Holy Grail!

The Chalice

(Ayreon: Ayreon's fate)

Wild is the wind...

J.W.Waterhouse: Boreas

Love me, love me, love me, love me, say you do
Let me fly away with you
For my love is like the wind, and wild is the wind
Wild is the wind
Give me more than one caress, satisfy this hungriness
Let the wind blow through your heart
For wild is the wind, wild is the wind

You touch me, I hear the sound of mandolins
You kiss me
With your kiss my life begins
You’re spring to me, all things to me
Don’t you know, you’re life itself!

Like the leaf clings to the tree,
Oh, my darling, cling to me
For we’re like creatures of the wind, wild is the wind
Wild is the wind

You touch me, I hear the sound of mandolins
You kiss me
With your kiss my life begins
You’re spring to me, all things to me
Don’t you know, you’re life itself!

Like the leaf clings to the tree,
Oh, my darling, cling to me
For we’re like creatures in the wind, and wild is the wind

Wild is the wind
Wild is the wind
Wild is the wind
Wild is the wind

World gone mad!

Hieronmous Bosch: Garden of eartly delights - Hell (detail)

(CJSS: Living in exile)

I have a dream...

On life worth living...

Albrecht Dürer: Knight, Death, and the Devil

When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: "If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right." It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.

Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

About a year ago I was diagnosed with cancer.
{.....}
I had the surgery and I'm fine now.

This was the closest I've been to facing death, and I hope it's the closest I get for a few more decades. Having lived through it, I can now say this to you with a bit more certainty than when death was a useful but purely intellectual concept:

No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.
{...}

Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.
Thank you all very much.

Steve Jobs (R.I.P.)

(After Ronnie James Dio and Steve Jobs I get more and more the feeling that my youth is slowly fading away together with its "icons")

The sluggard

Frederic Lord Leighton: The Sluggard

Bay Parkway wonder

You're such a success

Your pretty secretary, ha

She say you are the best

Your face always smiling

say you sure paid your dues

But I know inside

You've got the Bensonhurst blues

Those custom-made ciggies

that you offer to me pretend

and pretend to care about my family

And those pictures on your desk

All them lies that you abuse

Do they know you suffer

from the Bensonhurst blues

Your grandmother's accent

still embarrasses you

You're even ashamed

of the French you once knew

You're part of the chance now

They break you making the news

But I know inside

you've got the Bensonhurst blues

But thanks for the lesson

Cause the life that I choose

won't make me feel like living

with the Bensonhurst blues

And don't, don't try to write me

And don't bother to call

Cause I'll be in conference

Merry Christmas you all

Frederic Lord Leighton: The Sluggard

No way out!

William Dyce : Highland Ferryman

You want affection, numbing my brain
Intoxicating lust in vein
An easy market, a cheap liquor store
I can’t stop the blood on the floor

It’s too late, the damage is done
Out of luck, with nowhere to run
Holding out to shine in the heat
Just a victim, a killer on the street

You can run, but you can’t hide
Cause now you’ve seen the other side

There’s no way out (no way out)
No way out of here, no way
No way out at all

Running scared, learned my lesson
Out of luck, without a question
Make a move, push too hard
Full deck with a losing card

Just a story no one hears
Mama knows, let the tears
Wasted life screaming inside
Hunted down, and waiting to die

You can run, but you can’t hide
’Cause now you’re on the other side
There’s no way out

(Solo)

No way (repeat)
No way out of here
There’s no way out
No way

(Chorus)

Famous blue raincoat

Jeffrey Jones: Shy

It's four in the morning, the end of December

I'm writing you now just to see if you're better

New York is cold, but I like where I'm living

There's music on Clinton Street all through the evening.

I hear that you're building your little house deep in the desert

You're living for nothing now, I hope you're keeping some kind of record.

Yes, and Jane came by with a lock of your hair

She said that you gave it to her

That night that you planned to go clear

Did you ever go clear?

Ah, the last time we saw you you looked so much older

Your famous blue raincoat was torn at the shoulder

You'd been to the station to meet every train

And you came home without Lili Marlene

And you treated my woman to a flake of your life

And when she came back she was nobody's wife.

Well I see you there with the rose in your teeth

One more thin gypsy thief

Well I see Jane's awake --

She sends her regards.

And what can I tell you my brother, my killer

What can I possibly say?

I guess that I miss you, I guess I forgive you

I'm glad you stood in my way.

If you ever come by here, for Jane or for me

Your enemy is sleeping, and his woman is free.

Yes, and thanks, for the trouble you took from her eyes

I thought it was there for good so I never tried.

And Jane came by with a lock of your hair

She said that you gave it to her

That night that you planned to go clear

Midnight Summer Dream

Frederic Lord Leighton: Flaming June

Woke up on a good day

And the world was wonderful

A midnight summer dream had me in its spell

I dreamt about an old man

Sat and watched the rain all night

He couldn't sleep a wink as all the drops fell

He told me of the beauty

Hidden in our foreheads

He told me of the ugliness

We show instead

And when we put a foot wrong do we learn

From all the pain

A midnight summer dream as he watched the rain

Then at midnight he poured another drink

And bent my ear

After midnight we sat up half the night

Or maybe more

And he began to tell me what it was all for

I woke up in an armchair

He had gone I don't know where

Left me there to sit and look at the rain

Don't remember much at all

But his words were echoing

A midnight summer dream and then wake again

Maybe I'll never find him

Maybe he's gone forever

Maybe I'll have to sit here

Watching the weather

One thing's pretty certain helped me

Make it in the night

Showed me somewhere else between wrong and right

And at midnight if you can't sleep

Then I can bend your ear

After midnight we'll sit up half the night

Or maybe more

And I'll begin to tell you what it is all for

Wake up on a good day

And the world feels wonderful

Midnight summer dream has me in its spell. 

Put on the costume...

Jean Antoine Watteau: Italian comedians

Recitar! Mentre preso dal delirio, non so più quel che dico, e quel che faccio! Eppur è d'uopo, sforzati! Bah! Sei tu forse un uom? Tu se' Pagliaccio! Vesti la giubba, e la faccia infarina. La gente paga, e rider vuole qua. E se Arlecchin t'invola Colombina, ridi, Pagliaccio, e ognun applaudirà! Tramuta in lazzi lo spasmo ed il pianto in una smorfia il singhiozzo e 'l dolor, Ah! Ridi, Pagliaccio, sul tuo amore infranto! Ridi del duol, che t'avvelena il cor!

Act! While in delirium, I no longer know what I say, or what I do! And yet it's necessary... make an effort! Bah! Are you not a man? You are a clown! Put on your costume, powder your face. The people pay to be here, and they want to laugh. And if Harlequin shall steal your Columbina, laugh, clown, so the crowd will cheer! Turn your distress and tears into jest, your pain and sobbing into a funny face – Ah! Laugh, clown, at your broken love! Laugh at the grief that poisons your heart!