O Death, O Death, Rock Me Asleep
O Death, O Death, Rock Me Asleep
Original Text
British Library Additional MS 17492, for which see Index to the additional manuscripts, with those of the Egerton collection, preserved in the British Museum, and acquired in the years 1783-1835 (London, 1849). Z 6621 B841 1835A Robarts Library General Reference
1 O Death, O Death, rock me asleep,
2Bring me to quiet rest;
3Let pass my weary guiltless ghost
4Out of my careful breast.
5 Toll on, thou passing bell;
6 Ring out my doleful knell;
7 Thy sound my death abroad will tell,
8 For I must die,
9 There is no remedy.
10 My pains, my pains, who can express?
11Alas, they are so strong!
12My dolours will not suffer strength
13My life for to prolong.
14 Toll on, thou passing bell;
15 Ring out my doleful knell;
16 Thy sound my death abroad will tell,
17 For I must die,
18 There is no remedy.
19 Alone, alone in prison strong
20I wail my destiny:
21Woe worth this cruel hap that I
22Must taste this misery!
23 Toll on, thou passing bell;
24 Ring out my doleful knell;
25 Thy sound my death abroad will tell,
26 For I must die,
27 There is no remedy.
28 Farewell, farewell, my pleasures past!
29Welcome, my present pain!
30I feel my torment so increase
31That life cannot remain.
32 Cease now, thou passing bell,
33 Ring out my doleful knoll,
34For thou my death dost tell:
35Lord, pity thou my soul!
36 Death doth draw nigh,
37 Sound dolefully:
38 For now I die,
39 I die, I die.
Publication Start Year
1776
RPO poem Editors
N. J. Endicott
RPO Edition
2RP.1.233; RPO 1996-2000.
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