Loreena McKennitt - Cymbeline

Fear no more the heat o' th' sun
Nor the furious winters' 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.

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 thee 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.

No exorciser harm thee!
Nor no witchcraft charm thee!
Ghost unlaid forbear thee!
Nothing ill come hear thee!
Quiet consummation have,
And renowned by thy grave!

Here are William Shakespeare's thoughts on this early visit. This song occurs towards the end of hie "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.
The part of the text given in italics is not sung by Loreena, but it is printed in the CD booklet, and the two sets of two lines are added by her to the original song of Shakespeare, which can be found in Cymbeline, Act IV, Sc. II (lines 258-281).

Music by Loreena McKennitt
Lyrics by William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
From: The visit (1991).

A live version appears on Live in Paris and Toronto (1999).

 
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last modified: 11 May 2002