Sleep, My Babe, O Sleep!

For Christmas Day

Words: Gerald Moultrie

Music: Not Stated

Source: William Chatterton Dix, ed., Hymns and Carols for Children (London: W. Knott, 1869),  #16, pp. 13-14.

Song of the Blessed Mother To Her Son Lying In The Manger

1. Sleep, my babe, O sleep! the Mother
    Singeth to the Only Son ;
Sleep, sweet Boy, O sleep! the father
    Chanteth to the little One:
Ten thousand praises sing Thy lullaby
        Thousand thousand thousand-fold

2. I have fenced Thy bed from danger,
    Sleep, my little Baby-Boy!
With soft hay I lay Thy manger,
    Sleep, my Child, my life, my joy!
Ten thousand praises sing Thy lullaby
        Thousand thousand thousand-fold.

3. What Thou wilt my hands shall give Thee,
    Sleep, my little darling, sleep!
Sleep, my Child; I will not leave Thee,
    Watch about Thy Head I keep:
Ten thousand praises sing Thy lullaby
        Thousand thousand thousand-fold.

4. Sleep, my Soul, — my heart’s own treasure,
    Heart and soul o’er Thee rejoice,
Word abundant without measure
    Present in that still small voice:
Ten thousand praises sing Thy lullaby
        Thousand thousand thousand-fold.

5. Sleep, my darling Son! Thy Mother
    Sings her soothing melody,
Sleep, my little Child! another
    Shall Thy father sing to Thee:
Ten thousand praises sing Thy lullaby
        Thousand thousand thousand-fold.

6. I will strew red roses n’er Thee,
    Violets shall deck Thy hay,
Hyacinths I cast before Thee,
    Lilies in Thy stall I lay:
Ten thousand praises sing Thy lullaby
        Thousand thousand thousand-fold.

7. Wilt Thou hear soft music ! — Meetly
    Shepherds to Thy cot I bring:
None than they can pipe more sweetly,
    None than they more sweetly sing:
Ten thousand praises sing Thy lullaby
        Thousand thousand thousand-fold.

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