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