Who from below,
Hast made me rise,
Unwillingly and slow,
From beds of everlasting snow !
See'st thou not how stiff,
And wondrous old,
Far unfit to bear the bitter cold.
I can scarcely move,
Or draw my breath,
I can scarcely move,
Or draw my breath.
Let me, let me,
Let me, let me,
Freeze again...
Let me, let me,
Freeze again to death !
The Song of the Cold Genius,
King Arthur, Act III, semi-opera
Henri Purcell, 1691