Lays and Legends (Second Series)

LULLABY

Sleep, my darling; mother will sing
Soft low songs to her little king,
Nobody else must listen or hear
The pretty secrets I tell my dear.

Sleep, my darling, sleep while you may —
Sorrow dawns with the dawning day,
Sleep, my baby, sleep, my dear,
Soon enough will the day be here.

Lie here quiet on mother's arm,
Safe from harm;
Nestled closely to mother's breast,
Sleep and rest!

Mother feels your breath's soft stir
Close to her;
Mother holds you, clasps you tight,
All the night.

When the little Jesus lay
On the manger's hay,
He was a Baby, if tales tell true,
Just like you.

And He had no crown to wear
But His bright hair;
And such kisses as I give you
He had too.

Mary never loved her Son
More than I love my little one;
And her Baby never smiled
More divinely than my little child.

Sleep, my darling, sleep while you may —
Sorrow dawns with the dawning day;
Sleep, my little one, sleep, my dear,
All too soon will the day be here.