This song likely comes from "The Man of Law's Tale" by Chaucer. There are two primary passages, I'm including the "translated" version as the middle English is difficult to read:
Here is the paragraph that includes the word "malkin:"
""Well can Seneca and many philosophers bewail time lost more than gold lost from a treasure chest, for, as he said, "loss of goods may be recovered, but loss of time ruins us.". Surely, it will not come back any more than Malkyn's maidenhead," - Chaucer (Translated) http://machias.edu/faculty/necastro/chaucer/translation/ct/06mlt.html
And, here is a scene where a Knight tries to frame a murder on a Christian woman, the heroine of the story, Constance:
"Satan, who always watches in order to beguile us, saw all Constance's perfection and plotted how he might pay her back. He caused a young knight of that town to love her with such foul lust, that he truly thought he should perish unless he could have his will. He wooed her, but it did not matter: she would commit no sin. Then, for cruel hate, he composed a plan to make her die a shameful death. He watched for a time when the constable was away and one night crept secretly into Hermengild's chamber. Weary with vigils and prayers, Constance and Hermengild were sleeping. Tempted by Satan, this knight went very softly to the bed, cut Hermengild's throat in two, laid the bloody knife beside Lady Constance; and then went his way. May God give ill-fortune to him!" - Chaucer (Translated)
The song is a parody of the arbitrary nature of justice in my view. As is the whole album. And, it is also a challenge to the legal establishment on whether the basis of Western Culture is Christ's blood or not (In Absentia). The entire album centers around the nature of "law" and, therefore, it is not surprising to find that he has rewritten a part of the Man of Law's Tale.
The song is a parody of the arbitrary nature of justice in my view. As is the whole album. And, it is also a challenge to the legal establishment on whether the basis of Western Culture is Christ's blood or not (In Absentia). The entire album centers around the nature of "law" and, therefore, it is not surprising to find that he has rewritten a part of the Man of Law's Tale.
This song likely comes from "The Man of Law's Tale" by Chaucer. There are two primary passages, I'm including the "translated" version as the middle English is difficult to read:
Here is the paragraph that includes the word "malkin:"
""Well can Seneca and many philosophers bewail time lost more than gold lost from a treasure chest, for, as he said, "loss of goods may be recovered, but loss of time ruins us.". Surely, it will not come back any more than Malkyn's maidenhead," - Chaucer (Translated) http://machias.edu/faculty/necastro/chaucer/translation/ct/06mlt.html
And, here is a scene where a Knight tries to frame a murder on a Christian woman, the heroine of the story, Constance:
"Satan, who always watches in order to beguile us, saw all Constance's perfection and plotted how he might pay her back. He caused a young knight of that town to love her with such foul lust, that he truly thought he should perish unless he could have his will. He wooed her, but it did not matter: she would commit no sin. Then, for cruel hate, he composed a plan to make her die a shameful death. He watched for a time when the constable was away and one night crept secretly into Hermengild's chamber. Weary with vigils and prayers, Constance and Hermengild were sleeping. Tempted by Satan, this knight went very softly to the bed, cut Hermengild's throat in two, laid the bloody knife beside Lady Constance; and then went his way. May God give ill-fortune to him!" - Chaucer (Translated)
The song is a parody of the arbitrary nature of justice in my view. As is the whole album. And, it is also a challenge to the legal establishment on whether the basis of Western Culture is Christ's blood or not (In Absentia). The entire album centers around the nature of "law" and, therefore, it is not surprising to find that he has rewritten a part of the Man of Law's Tale.
The song is a parody of the arbitrary nature of justice in my view. As is the whole album. And, it is also a challenge to the legal establishment on whether the basis of Western Culture is Christ's blood or not (In Absentia). The entire album centers around the nature of "law" and, therefore, it is not surprising to find that he has rewritten a part of the Man of Law's Tale.