Peter Hammill - "A chronic catalepsy" lyrics

MONTRESOR Stop, Madeline, look at me! My god, man, what is wrong with her? USHER Yes, it's right you should know, She is dying! I have not dared to speak of it. A chronic catalepsy had drained her of her youth. I have watched her waste away and could do nothing! A period of health is followed by sudden coma, d**h-like sleep. It can last a full day or more, no movement, no colour, no flame in the cheeks. MONTRESOR What, then of these dreaming visions? USHER The recovery, ah, this is even worse! She rises and moves about the house but her mind still sleeps... You see her now a mindless ghost: Beautiful, dead eyes stare in sleep, unrecognising. She speaks in dreams, sees only dreams, she haunts the house in hideous sleepwalking and may not be restrained, for like some automaton she tirelessly thrusts and tears herself against her fetters, heedless of injury. And so she walks and then she wakes, remembering nothing, so week that she can barely build up strength before she is struck down again. Month after month each attack worse than the last. d**h will not wait long. Her final days are flickering past. Dear God, helpless, helpless! MONTRESOR But what is the word from her doctors? Do they hold out no hope, nor offer any treatment? USHER MONTRESOR CHORUS They do not understand her case and cannot treat a case they do not understand He does not understand You're dealing with a case Who is her doctor, a specialist I trust? Yes indeed, one of the foremost rank You're dealing with a case Then he will help her, Montresor oh, yes, no more of this he surely must You do not understand now no more talk He does not of cures, please, understand Or of doctor. I bless you concern, but know that she will walk no more tonight. When she wakes soon she will need my care. I must be there, so, dear friend, goodnight.