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Origin of a phrase

Posted by Bob on January 05, 2003

In Reply to: Origin of a phrase posted by TheFallen on January 05, 2003

: : Could anyone help me with this one. I remember it but have not been able to find where the original phrase comes from. I often say it to myself as 'I hit the pillow'.

: : "Come sweet slumber, enshroud me in thine purple cloak"

: : Any help would be appreciated as net searches have proved largely fruitless,

: : Kind Regards,

: : Pat Jackman.

: The phrase is featured in the lyrics of "Paranoimia", a track from 80's techno-pop trio The Art Of Noise. It's included on on their 1987 "The Best Of..." compilation, with Max Headroom (that 80's virtual talking head with the stutter) "guesting" on vocals. See link below to the full lyrics.

: However, it may well be that the phrase in the song is a quotation from another earlier source, but I can find no other reference to it.

Not that exact wording, but in Book X of the Iliad, the Butler translation we get "Sweet slumber did not enfold this shepherd of his people ... he buckled on a purple cloak ..."
Maybe a different translation is the source?

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