English translations of Six Songs, opus 3

by Basil Harwood (1859 - 1949)

1. A cradle song  [sung text not yet checked]
by Basil Harwood (1859 - 1949), "A cradle song", op. 3 (Six Songs) no. 4, published 1885 [ high voice and piano ], London, Stanley Lucas, Weber & Co.
Language: English 
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.

Text Authorship:

  • by William Blake (1757 - 1827), "A cradle song", written c1793, appears in Notebook, possibly intended for Songs of Innocence

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by William Blake (1757 - 1827)
2. In a myrtle shade  [sung text not yet checked]
by Basil Harwood (1859 - 1949), "In a myrtle shade", op. 3 (Six Songs) no. 5, published 1885 [ high voice and piano ], London, Stanley Lucas, Weber & Co.
Language: English 
To a lovely myrtle bound,
Blossoms showering all around,
Oh, how weak and weary I
Underneath my myrtle lie!

Why should I be bound to thee,
O my lovely myrtle tree?
Love, free love cannot be bound
To any tree that grows on ground.

Text Authorship:

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Sometimes titled "To my Myrtle" with only lines 1-6

by William Blake (1757 - 1827)