1958
A Cradle Song
Composed by 
Allen Brings
Allen Brings Text by 
William Blake
William Blake Three Songs of Blake and Donne Song Collection
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.
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
Capstone Records
capstonerecords.org/CPS-8731.htmlAudio
“A Cradle Song” (from “Three Songs of Blake and Donne”)
Mara Bonde (soprano) & Allen Brings (piano)2:13
Sheet Music