William Shakespeare (ca. 1564-1616)
Fear No More the Heat o' the Sun
1GUIDERIUS. Feare no more the heate o' th' Sun,
2 Nor the furious Winters rages,
3Thou thy worldly task hast don,
4 Home art gon, and tane thy wages.
5 Golden Lads, and Girles all must,
6 As Chimney-Sweepers come to dust.
7ARVIRAGUS. Feare no more the frowne o' th' Great,
8 Thou art past the Tirants stroake,
9Care no more to cloath and eate,
10 To thee the Reede is as the Oake:
11 The Scepter, Learning, Physicke must,
12 All follow this and come to dust.
13GUIDERIUS. Feare no more the Lightning flash.
14 ARVIRAGUS. Nor th' all-dreaded Thunderstone.
15GUIDERIUS. Feare not Slander, Censure rash.
16 ARVIRAGUS. Thou hast finish'd Ioy and mone.
17 BOTH. All Louers young all Louers must,
18 Consigne to thee and come to dust.
19GUIDERIUS. No Exorcisor harme thee,
20 ARVIRAGUS. Nor no witch-craft charme thee.
21GUIDERIUS. Ghost vnlaid forbeare thee.
22 ARVIRAGUS. Nothing ill come neere thee.
23 BOTH. Quiet consumation haue,
24 And renowned be thy graue.
Notes
1] A dirge for Fidele (Imogen in disguise, supposedly dead).
4] tane: taken.
14] thunderstone: thunderbolt.
18] Consigne: properly, set one's seal to, hence, make a bargain with.
Online text copyright © 2012, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.
Original text: William Shakespeare, "Cymbeline," Mr. William Shakespeares comedies, tragedies, & tragedies (London: Isaac Jaggard and Ed. Blount, 1623): 389 (Act V, scene 2). STC 22273. Facs. edn.: Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1902. F-10 356 Fisher Rare Book Library (Toronto). New York: Norton, 1968. PR 2751 A15 1968 Robarts Library
First publication date:
1623
RPO poem editor: N. J. Endicott
RP edition: 2RP.1.232; re-edited RPO 1996-2000.
Recent editing: 2:2002/3/28
Composition date:
1609
-
1610
Rhyme: ababcc
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