Ancient Rites Rubicon 1. Crusade 2. Templar 3. Mithras 4. Thermopylae 5. Rubicon 6. Invictus 7. Ypres 8. Galilean 9. Cheruscan 10. Barbantia 1. Crusade [Instrumental] 2. Templar Clad in armour, strong of will Eye for an eye, kill for a kill "Allah Ahkbar", "God wills it" Cross and half moon in total war "Allah Ahkbar", "God wills it" No quarter given, life evened the score "Allah Ahkbar", "God wills it" Moving into the holy land "Allah Ahkbar", "God wills it" Empires clashing in desert sand Jerusalem a city lit Did God demand? Did God forbid? Pilgrims slaughtered by Saracen band Saracens slaughtered by Christian hand Templar Van Ruddervoorde in command Templars' grandmaster of the Flemish land Battling Saladin, knight of the moon At the siege of Acre meeting his doom Outnumbered he fell, in a far away land The templars' life took an end Azure eyed and golden haired Forth the knights templar fared While above troops devoted Heraldic banners floated 3. Mithras Mithras, God of the morning, our trumpets waken the wall! 'Rome is above nations, but thou art over all' Mithras, God of the morning, our trumpets waken the wall! 'Rome is above nations, but thou art over all' Now as the names are answered, and the guards are marched away, Mithras, also a soldier, give us strenght for the day! Mithras, God of the sunset, low on the western main, Thou descending immortal, immortal to rise again! Now when the watch is ended, now when the wine is drawn Mithras also a soldier, keep us pure till the dawn! Many roads thou has fashioned: all of them lead to the light, Mithras, the soul of a soldier, teach us to die aright. Mithras! Mithras! Mithras, god of midnight, here were the great bull dies, Look on thy childern in darkness, oh take our sacrifice! Mithras, God of the noontide, the heather swims in the heat, Our helmets scorch our foreheads; our sandals burn our feet, Now in the ungrit hour; now ere we blink and drowse, Mithras also a soldier, keep us true to our vows! Mithras, God of midnight, here where the great bull dies, Look on thy childern in darkness, oh take our sacrifice! Many roads thou has fashioned: all of them lead to the light, Mithras, also a soldier, teach us to die aright. Mithras! Mithras! Mithras! Mithras! 4. Thermopylae Sons of Laconia, under Lycurgian law 300 noblemen, ancient world in awe Facing Xerxes might, no hope for victory Still Persian blood coloured the Aegian Sea Go, tell the Spartans, stranger passing by, That here, obedient to their laws, we lie. Lacedaemon's mothers gave birth to men, Withstanding thousends again and again None will behold the Eurotas Valley no more This sacrifice needed to silence Persia's roar No matter how fierce the spirit or mind Blades striking, the kings' heart declined Round he spun, and down he fell No scream, no word, no cowardice yell Symbolic sacrifice, all for the Hellenic land Spartan codes of honour and inspiring guiding hand No Spartiate soul left alive to tell How bravely they fought, by treason they fell Not a stone on their turf, nor a bone in their graves They live on in history that immortally saves Go, tell the Spartans, stranger passing by, That here, obedient to their laws, we lie 5. Rubicon Sieh das Morgenrot im Osten! Die Welt ist ein Feuer! Sieh das Morgenrot im Osten! Befreit ihre Seele (Behold the red dawn in the east! The world is a fire! Behold the red dawn in the east! Liberate thy soul) If Caesar crossed the Rubicon, so can thee Rise like a Phoenix, conquer land and see By will, Alexander emperor before thirty three Set thy goals, let thy fierce spirit float free History written by wolves, not written by sheep No glory in hiding, no splendour in sleep Victory or Valhalla might be thy fate It does matter not, willpower one should rate History written by wolves, not written by sheep No glory in hiding, no splendour in sleep Rise and fall, but above all rise again Abolish past pains, thrown down thy chain Let each of thee amid the fires Search thy own willpower and desires Dwell this earth like a wolf with hunger Strengthen thy inner self and wander Follow a path that made Pilate's laurel Learn of a wolf packs much feared howl Might is right when legions gather here Cast out weakness, cast out fear 6. Invictus Out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. Invictus! Invictus! I have not winced nor cried aloud Invictus! My head is bloody, but unbowed Invictus! I am the master of my fate I am the captain of my soul In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. It matters not how strait the gate, I am the master of my fate Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds, and shall find, me unafraid. 7. Ypres On this site of reflection, you came to me as a ghost Near this monument of the fallen, where one hears the sad last post Celebration in the city of Ypres, again a new year was born Not on this place of eternal silence, where quietly souls mourn For time did not matter on this site, of the graveless dead Near the leafless trees, we somehow met On this site of reflection, you came to me as a ghost Near this monument of the fallen, where one hears the sad last post Born in different times, we never knew each other, Born in different times, we never even met But on this night when the world celebrates, believe met: But on this night when the world celebrates, I regret your dead On this site of reflection, you came to me as a ghost Near this monument of the fallen, where one hears the sad last post Thousands of names engraved, poor souls fate did not spare The night was cold, the wind unkind, still wondering what brought me there Born in different times, we never even met But on this night when the world celebrates believe me: I regret your dead Tragic appearance, your uniform torn, your skin full of dirt We did not speak, nor laugh or cry, did not utter a single word We kept an honourable distance, borders of time cannot be crossed As ther is between the living, who hold on to live at any cost And the dead, whose lifes and dreams along with their bodies lost Here you appear, probably a trick of the mind that I might have lost 8. Galilean A saviour that failed to save, preaching lack of will A cave for a grave, midst convicts on Golgotha's Hill The coming of a messenger, promises of a holy land Dating back to Pagan days, another son heaven send Crucified Nazarene thou did not bring the light Poisened Mohammed where is your garden of delight? Prophets of Christians and Muselmen, prophets of Hebrews Turn man into lamb, an obeying flock to use Crucified Nazarene thou did not bring the light Poisened Mohammed where is your garden of delight? Holy books cleverly written but by the hand of men Beware of Gods' messengers and their enslaving pen Guiding lines indeed required or else civilization fails Yet pilate the one condemned in mythical religious tales The worlds most known legends, but no historical facts Devoted mass hysteria, although still evidence lacks Each character in the books of faith an own epic part to play But without Judas no martyr Jesus and did Mohammed not slay? Hail to the lions, hail to the Romans, representing reality Jehovah's or Allah's' chosen ones do not appeal to me Galilean! 9. Cheruscan Chill the air, although only september Silent the woods as in deep slumber Here in Germania, slain by Cheruscan hand The glory of Rome has come to an end Gaul on its knees, under Jupiters reign This side of the Rhine, still Wodon's domain For noble Arminius is Germanic again Romes' mighty eagle received with disdain Altars erected where three legions stood None escaped oblivion, silent the Teutoburg wood Scattered bodies all over, captured standards as a sign Heads nailed to the trees, symbols of decline Germania! Midst the battle the governor fell Fell by his very own hand Romans took their last desperate stand "Future emperor Tiberius, do not cross the Rhine On this natural border Rome should draw its line" Symbol of preservation, of Germania's freedom Saved the untamed land of the Northern Heathen Emperor Augustus by his loss driven to despair: "Give me back my legions! Oh Varus, I do declare!" 10. Barbantia Bravery displayed by each side None seeked shelter, none did hide Their faces directed towards foe Causing wounds with every blow Neither then or before Was heard of such a man The duke of Brabant brave in war Chivalry still treasured then Een standaard van goud en zwart Schitterend in de namiddagzon Men streed met leeuwenhart Bij Woeringen waar de hertog won A bannar of black and gold Rising above the battlefield For friend and foe to behold At Woeringen their fate was sealed "All of thee stay at my side, Don't withdraw, cover my flanks Frontal assaults I will fight But kill me if I break our ranks" Noch doen, noch eer en wert vernomen Riddere en geen, noch oec gesien, Soe condichlike ten wige wert tien, Alse die hertoge, alse die hertoge