“we’re all excited / but we don’t know why / maybe it’s ’cause / we’re all gonna die”

[larryhammer]

For Poetry Monday:

“Fear no more the heat o’ the sun,” William Shakespeare

Fear no more the heat o’ the sun,
Nor the furious winter’s rages;
Thou thy worldly task hast done,
Home art gone, and ta’en thy wages:
Golden lads and girls all must,
As chimney-sweepers, come to dust.

Fear no more the frown o’ the great;
Thou art past the tyrant’s stroke;
Care no more to clothe and eat;
To thee the reed is as the oak:
The scepter, learning, physic, must
All follow this, and come to dust.

Fear no more the lightning flash,
Nor the 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.

    No exorciser harm thee!
    Nor no witchcraft charm thee!
    Ghost unlaid forbear thee!
    Nothing ill come near thee!
    Quiet consummation have;
    And renownèd be thy grave!


From Cymbeline, act IV, scene 2, sung as a funeral dirge for Imogen.

---L.

Subject quote from Let’s Go Crazy, Prince and The Revolution.

Comments

[gwynnega]

I just watched the 1980s BBC production of this play, and the musical setting of the dirge made me cry.

[larryhammer]

I vaguely remember it -- I should track it down.

[cmcmck]

https://youtu.be/y5Nk_7OFDaQ?si=Mjn18KOIvvjiQ1VE

[larryhammer]

Another good setting.