A Cradle Song

For detailed notes on this song, please visit Three Songs of Blake and Donne.

The audio recording provided is used with the permission of the composer and features soprano Mara Bonde with composer Allen Brings at the piano.

Date: 1958Composer: Allen BringsText: William BlakeSong Collection: Three Songs of Blake and Donne

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Text

by William Blake

Sleep, sleep, beauty bright,
Dreaming o’er the joys of night;
Sleep, sleep, in thy sleep
Little sorrows sit and weep.

Sweet babe, in thy face
Soft desires I can trace,
Secret joys and secret smiles,
Little pretty infant wiles.

As thy softest limbs I feel,
Smiles as of the morning steal
O’er thy cheek, and o’er thy breast
Where thy little heart does rest.

O! the cunning wiles that creep
In thy little heart asleep.
When thy little heart does wake
Then the dreadful lightnings break,

From thy cheek and from thy eye,
O’er the youthful harvests nigh.
Infant wiles and infant smiles
Heaven and Earth of peace beguiles.

Related Information

Audio

Track:

    Sheet Music

    "Three Songs of Blake and Donne"

    Composer(s): Allen Brings

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