Benjamin Britten — Libera me

[Chorus] Libera me, Domine, de morte aeterna In die illa tremenda: Quando coeli movendi sunt et terra: Dum veneris judicare saeculum per ignem [SOPRANO AND Chorus] Tremens factus sum ego, et timeo Dum discussio venerit, atque ventura ira Libera me, Domine, de morte aeterna Quando coeli movendi sunt i terra Dies illa, dies irae, calamitatis Et miseriae, dies magna et amara valde Libera me, Domine [TENOR] It seems that out of battle I escaped Down some profound dull tunnel, long since scooped Through granites which titanic wars had groined Yet also there encumbered sleepers groaned Too fast in thought or death to be bestirred Then, as I probed them, one sprang up, and stared With piteous recognition in fixed eyes Lifting distressful hands as if to bless And no guns thumped, or down the flues made moan "Strange friend," I said, "here is no cause to mourn." [BARITONE] "None", said the other, "save the undone years The hopelessness. Whatever hope is yours Was my life also; I went hunting wild After the wildest beauty in the world For by my glee might many men have laughed And of my weeping something had been left Which must die now. I mean the truth untold The pity of war, the pity war distilled Now men will go content with what we spoiled Or, discontent, boil boldly, and be spilled They will be swift with swiftness of the tigress None will break ranks, though nations trek from progress Miss we the march of this retreating world Into vain citadels that are not walled Then, when much blood had clogged their chariot-wheels I would go up and wash them from sweet wells Even from wells we sunk too deep for war Even from the sweetest wells that ever were I am the enemy you killed, my friend I knew you in this dark; for so you frowned Yesterday through me as you jabbed and killed I parried; but my hands were loath and cold Let us sleep now" {BOYS AND CHORUS AND SOPRANO] In paridisum deducant te Angeli; In tuo adventu suscipiant te Martyres Et perducant te in civitatem sanctam Jerusalem. Chorus Angelorum te suscipiat Et cum Lazaro quondam paupere aeternam Habeas requiem [BOYS] Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine: Et lux perpetua luceat eis [Chorus] In paridisum deducant te Angeli; In tuo adventu suscipiant te Martyres Et perducant te in civitatem sanctam Jerusalem. Chorus Angelorum te suscipiat Et cum Lazaro quondam paupere aeternam Habeas requiem {TENOR AND BARITONE] Let us sleep now {CHORUS] Requiescat in pace. Amen