by Jeremiah Taylor, Bishop (1613 - 1667)
Let the night perish (Job's Curse)
Language: English
Let the night perish; cursed be the morn Wherein 'twas said: there is a man-child born! Let not the Lord regard that day, but shroud Its fatal glory in some sullen cloud. May the dark shades of an eternal night Exclude the least kind beam of dawning light; Let unborn babes, as in the womb they lie, If it be mentioned, give a groan, and die. No sounds of joy therein shall charm the ear, No sun, no moon, no twilight stars appear But a thick veil of gloomy darkness wear. Why did I not, when first my mother's womb Discharg'd me thence, drop down into my tomb? Then had I been as quiet, and mine eyes Had slept, and seen no sorrow; there the wise And subtle counsellor, the potentate, Who for themselves built palaces of state, Lie hush'd in silence; there's no midnight cry Caus'd by oppression and the tyranny Of wicked rulers; there the weary cease From labour, there the pris'ner sleeps in peace; The rich, the poor, the monarch and the slave Rest undisturb'd and no distinction have Within the silent chambers of the grave.
Authorship:
- by Jeremiah Taylor, Bishop (1613 - 1667) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Henry Purcell (1658/9 - 1695), "Let the night perish (Job's Curse)", Z. 191 (1680-3). [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Athony Burton
This text was added to the website: 2011-03-30
Line count: 24
Word count: 189