Elizabeth Barrett Browning - Void in Law lyrics
[Elizabeth Barrett Browning - Void in Law lyrics]
Sleep, little babe, on my knee
Sleep, for the midnight is chill
And the moon has died out in the tree
And the great human world goeth ill
Sleep, for the wicked agree:
Sleep, let them do as they will
Sleep
Sleep, thou hast drawn from my breast
The last drop of milk that was good
And now, in a dream, suck the rest
Lest the real should trouble thy blood
Suck, little lips dispossessed
As we kiss in the air whom we would
Sleep
O lips of thy father! the same
So like! Very deeply they swore
When he gave me his ring and his name
To take back, I imagined, no more!
And now is all changed like a game
Though the old cards are
Used as of yore? Sleep
"Void in law
" said the Courts something wrong
In the forms? Yet, "Till
Death part us two
I, James, take thee, Jessie, " was strong
And One witness competent true
Such a marriage was worth an old song
Heard in Heaven though
As plain as the New Sleep
Sleep, little child, his and mine!
Her throat has the antelope curve
And her cheek just the colour and line
Which fade not before him nor swerve:
Yet she has no child! the divine
Seal of right upon loves that deserve
Sleep
My child! though the world take her part
Saying "She was the woman to choose
He had eyes, was a man in his heart, "
We twain the decision refuse:
We weak as I am, as thou art
Cling on to him, never to loose
Sleep
He thinks that, when done with this place
All’s ended? he’ll new-stamp the ore?
Yes, Cæsar’s but not in our case
Let him learn we are waiting before
The grave’s mouth, the heaven’s gate
God’s face
With implacable love evermore
Sleep
He’s ours, though he kissed her but now
He’s ours, though she kissed in reply:
He’s ours, though himself disavow
And God’s universe favour the lie
Ours to claim, ours to clasp, ours below
Ours above, if we live, if we die
Sleep
Ah baby, my baby, too rough
Is my lullaby? What have I said?
Sleep! When I’ve wept long enough
I shall learn to weep softly instead
And piece with some alien stuff
My heart to lie smooth for thy head
Sleep
Two souls met upon thee, my sweet
Two loves led thee out to the sun:
Alas, pretty hands, pretty feet
If the one who remains (only one)
Set her grief at thee, turned in a heat
To thine enemy, were it well done?
Sleep
May He of the manger stand near
And love thee! An infant He came
To His own who rejected Him here
But the Magi brought gifts all the same
I hurry the cross on my Dear!
My gifts are the griefs I declaim!
Sleep
Sleep, for the midnight is chill
And the moon has died out in the tree
And the great human world goeth ill
Sleep, for the wicked agree:
Sleep, let them do as they will
Sleep
Sleep, thou hast drawn from my breast
The last drop of milk that was good
And now, in a dream, suck the rest
Lest the real should trouble thy blood
Suck, little lips dispossessed
As we kiss in the air whom we would
Sleep
O lips of thy father! the same
So like! Very deeply they swore
When he gave me his ring and his name
To take back, I imagined, no more!
And now is all changed like a game
Though the old cards are
Used as of yore? Sleep
"Void in law
" said the Courts something wrong
In the forms? Yet, "Till
Death part us two
I, James, take thee, Jessie, " was strong
And One witness competent true
Such a marriage was worth an old song
Heard in Heaven though
As plain as the New Sleep
Sleep, little child, his and mine!
Her throat has the antelope curve
And her cheek just the colour and line
Which fade not before him nor swerve:
Yet she has no child! the divine
Seal of right upon loves that deserve
Sleep
My child! though the world take her part
Saying "She was the woman to choose
He had eyes, was a man in his heart, "
We twain the decision refuse:
We weak as I am, as thou art
Cling on to him, never to loose
Sleep
He thinks that, when done with this place
All’s ended? he’ll new-stamp the ore?
Yes, Cæsar’s but not in our case
Let him learn we are waiting before
The grave’s mouth, the heaven’s gate
God’s face
With implacable love evermore
Sleep
He’s ours, though he kissed her but now
He’s ours, though she kissed in reply:
He’s ours, though himself disavow
And God’s universe favour the lie
Ours to claim, ours to clasp, ours below
Ours above, if we live, if we die
Sleep
Ah baby, my baby, too rough
Is my lullaby? What have I said?
Sleep! When I’ve wept long enough
I shall learn to weep softly instead
And piece with some alien stuff
My heart to lie smooth for thy head
Sleep
Two souls met upon thee, my sweet
Two loves led thee out to the sun:
Alas, pretty hands, pretty feet
If the one who remains (only one)
Set her grief at thee, turned in a heat
To thine enemy, were it well done?
Sleep
May He of the manger stand near
And love thee! An infant He came
To His own who rejected Him here
But the Magi brought gifts all the same
I hurry the cross on my Dear!
My gifts are the griefs I declaim!
Sleep