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by John Milton (1608 - 1674)
Translation by John Dalton (1709 - 1763)

Now Phoebus sinketh in the west
Language: English  after the English 
The star that bids the shepherd fold,
Now the top of Heav'n doth hold,
And the gilded car of day,
His glowing axle doth allay
In the deep Atlantic stream,
And the slope sun his upward beam
Shoots against the dusky pole,
Pacing toward the other goal
Of his chamber in the east.

Meanwhile welcome joy, and feast,
Now Phoebus sinketh in the west,
Welcome song and welcome jest,
Midnight shout, and revelry,
Tipsy dance, and Jollity.

Braid your locks with rosy twine
Dropping odours, dropping wine.
Rigour now is gone to bed,
And advice with scrupulous head,
Strict age, and sour severity,
With their grave saws in slumber lie.

Text Authorship:

  • by John Dalton (1709 - 1763) [an adaptation] [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]

Based on:

  • a text in English by John Milton (1608 - 1674), no title, appears in Comus, first part
    • Go to the text page.

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

  • by Thomas Augustine Arne (1710 - 1778), "Now Phoebus sinketh in the west" [ sung text checked 1 time]

Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:

  • Also set in English, adapted by John Dalton (1709 - 1763) [an adaptation] ; composed by Thomas Augustine Arne.
      • Go to the text.

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 110

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