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Imported from Archive of Our Own. Original work id: 35941396.



Song: How Death Comes by the Mediæval Bæbes (Middle English lyrics).

This is sung in a round; the subtitles are timed to the first singer. Modern English translation is available in the subtitles or below. Thanks to toft for assistance with translation.

When my eyes mist
And my hearing buzzes
And my nose goes cold
And my tongue shrivels
And my cheeks slacken
And my lips blacken
And my mouth grins
And my saliva drools
And my hair stands on end
And my heart quails
And my hands shake
And my feet stiffen

All too late
All too late

When my eyes mist
And my hearing buzzes
And my nose goes cold
And my tongue shrivels
And my cheeks slacken
And my lips blacken
And my mouth grins
And my saliva drools
And my hair stands on end
And my heart quails
And my hands shake
And my feet stiffen

All too late
All too late
When the coffin is at the gate

Then I shall drift
From bed to floor
From floor to winding sheet
From winding sheet to coffin
From coffin to pit
And the pit destroys you

All too late
All too late

Then put my house up my nose
I don't give a pea for all this world

Download: how death comes on mediafire (199 mb)
Subtitles: original Middle English and modern English