Hush! The Virgin’s Song Is Ringing

Hush! the vir­gin’s song is ring­ing

Through the low­ly man­ger’s shed

Joseph’s voice the chor­us sing­ing

O’er their glo­ri­ous In­fant’s bed.

Sleep! my child

for in the man­ger

Softest hay be­neath Thee lies;

Loveliest In­fant

here no dan­ger

Can Thy pre­cious life sur­prise.

Sleep! my child

my crown

my beau­ty

Lulled with nec­tar from my breast;

Sleep! whilst sweet ma­ter­nal du­ty

Watches o’er Thy bal­my rest.

Sleep! my child

so full of sweet­ness

Sweeter than the hon­ey comb;

Sleep! my joy

my life’s com­plete­ness

Offspring of my vir­gin womb.

Sleep! my child

and I will ren­der

To Thy wish­es full sup­ply;

Thy dear mo­ther’s plea­sure

ten­der

As the ap­ple of her eye.

Sleep! my Child

my heart’s sole trea­sure

Giving joy which fears not death;

Angels seem to whis­per plea­sure

When I hear Thy sleep­ing breath.

Sleep! my child; Thy mo­ther sing­ing

Lulls Thee now to calm re­pose;

Joseph’s voice re­spons­ive ring­ing

Softly as the chor­us flows.

Sleep! my child

for I am pour­ing

Rose and vio­let on Thy bed:

Hyacinths be­strew Thy floor­ing;

Lilies lie around Thy head.

Sleep! my child; were min­strels need­ed

I would send for Beth­le­hem’s swains;

Never are their songs un­heed­ed

None can wak­en ho­li­er strains.