live by the sword die by the sword a tyrants crown is gilded with angst and terror lackluster and dull in the shadow of the scythe riddled with racing disordered thoughts the path to power lies upon the edge of the blade scattered with corpses and gibbering apes innumerable foes concealed in the shadows scorpions spiders and snakes surround slither to deliver palsy in my sleep voices intoning bravado and strength falter and crack impulsively lash out barely concealing the all consuming fear of the possessor of absolute power he who would rule the coming age he who would take pleasure in terror thrive on unrelenting anxiety and dread may sleep soundly under the sword of damocles