Nahum Tate

Cover of The History of Tate's version of King Lear

Nahum Tate (1652 – 30 July 1715) was an Irish poet, hymnist and lyricist, who became Poet Laureate in 1692. Tate is best known for The History of King Lear, his 1681 adaptation of Shakespeare's King Lear.

See also Tate and Brady.

Quotes

• While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
  All seated on the ground,
  The angel of the Lord came down,
  And glory shone around.
  • Hymn While shepherds watched their flocks by night

Dido and Aeneas (opera; music by Henry Purcell)

• For sorrow is our joy,
  And joy our greatest sorrow.
  Elissa dies tonight,
  And Carthage flames tomorrow.

• And silence their mourning
  With vows of returning
  But never intending to visit them more.
  No never, no never, intending to visit them more.
  

• When I am laid, am laid in earth,
  May my wrongs create
  No trouble, no trouble in thy breast;
  Remember me, remember me, but ah! forget my fate.
  Remember me, but ah! forget my fate.