If you would like to use our texts and translations, please click here for more information.
Text
Come, heavy Sleep
English source:
Anon.
Come, heavy Sleep, the image of true Death,
And close up these my weary weeping eyes,
Whose spring of tears doth stop my vital breath,
And tears my heart with Sorrow’s sigh-swoll’n cries.
Come and possess my tired thought, worn soul,
That living dies, till thou on me be stole.
Come, shadow of my end, and shape of rest,
Allied to Death, child to his black-faced Night;
Come thou and charm these rebels in my breast,
Whose waking fancies do my mind affright.
O come, sweet Sleep, come or I die for ever;
Come ere my last sleep comes, or come never.
And close up these my weary weeping eyes,
Whose spring of tears doth stop my vital breath,
And tears my heart with Sorrow’s sigh-swoll’n cries.
Come and possess my tired thought, worn soul,
That living dies, till thou on me be stole.
Come, shadow of my end, and shape of rest,
Allied to Death, child to his black-faced Night;
Come thou and charm these rebels in my breast,
Whose waking fancies do my mind affright.
O come, sweet Sleep, come or I die for ever;
Come ere my last sleep comes, or come never.
Composer
Poet
Performances
Previously performed at:
- 43ii: Iestyn Davies, Thomas Dunford: John Dowland 22 Oct 2022
- 43i: Iestyn Davies, Thomas Dunford: John Dowland 22 Oct 2022
- 36. Songs of the Stars: Lotte Betts-Dean & Sean Shibe 16 Oct 2020