Literature
Melpomene part XIII
Movement XIII– The Ferryman’s song
C minor, 4/4, Lento e pesante,
Tenor and male choir
(Tenor, Charon) lento (P)
load the dead, O heave ho,
Load my enshrouded cargo high
From a Silent mouth or a closed eye
With their Obols obtained I shall row
Down the soul shuddering Styx
Deliver who have had their final breath
Thy freedom from life, is my slavery in death
A final journey, O heave ho,
Ta panta rhei kai ouden menei (Everything flows and nothing remains)
Tò peprōménon phugeîn adúnaton. (it’s impossible to escape from what is destined)
Ta panta rhei kai ouden menei (Everything flows and nothing remains)
Down the soul shuddering Styx
Deliver who have had their final breath
A final journey, A final journey, O heave ho, O heave ho
(male Chorus) F
O Charon, ferry man of Hell shall row
Down the soul shuddering Styx
With we dead, O heave ho, O heave ho
Down the soul shuddering Styx
O Charon, ferry man of Hell shall row
Down the soul shuddering Styx
(Tutti) FF
Ta panta rhei kai
