Music by Loreena McKennitt
Lyrics by William Shakespeare (c. 1609)
Fear no more the heat o' th' sun
Nor the furious winters rages;
Thou thy wordly task hast done,
Home art gone, and ta'en thy wages.
Golden lads and girls all must,
As chimney-sweepers, come to dust.
The sceptre, learning, physic, must
All follow this and come to dust.
Fear no more the frown o' th' great;
Thou art past the tyrant's stroke.
Care no more to clothe and eat;
To three the reed is as the oak.
The sceptre, learning, physic, must
All follow this and come to dust.
All lovers young, all lovers must
Consign to thee and come to dust.
Fear no more the lightning flash,
Nor th' all-dreaded thunder-stone;
Fear not slander, censure rash;
Thou hast finished joy and moan.
All lovers young, all lovers must
Consign to thee and come to dust.
Here are William Shakespeare's thoughts
on this earthly visit. this song occurs
towards the end of his romance play
CYMBELINE, which was written near the
end of the author's life. The play is set
in ancient Britain when the Romans were
invading the last remaining outpost of
the old Celtic order. - L.M.
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