"Sleep, oh, sleep! The Shepherd loveth His sheep. He that guardeth His flock the best Hath folded them to His loving breast; So sleep ye now, and take your rest,-- Sleep, oh, sleep!"
From angel and from flower the years have learned that soothing song, And with its heavenly music speed the days and nights along; So through all time, whose flight the Shepherd's vigils glorify, God's Acre slumbereth in the grace of that sweet lullaby,--
"Sleep, oh, sleep! The Shepherd loveth His sheep. Fast speedeth the night away, Soon cometh the glorious day; Sleep, weary ones, while ye may,-- Sleep, oh, sleep!"
When the world is fast asleep, Along the midnight skies-- As though it were a wandering cloud-- The ghostly dream-ship flies.
An angel stands at the dream-ship's helm, An angel stands at the prow, And an angel stands at the dream-ship's side With a rue-wreath on her brow.
The other angels, silver-crowned, Pilot and helmsman are, And the angel with the wreath of rue Tosseth the dreams afar.
The dreams they fall on rich and poor; They fall on young and old; And some are dreams of poverty, And some are dreams of gold.
And some are dreams that thrill with joy, And some that melt to tears; Some are dreams of the dawn of love, And some of the old dead years.
On rich and poor alike they fall, Alike on young and old, Bringing to slumbering earth their joys And sorrows manifold.
The friendless youth in them shall do The deeds of mighty men, And drooping age shall feel the grace Of buoyant youth again.
The king shall be a beggarman-- The pauper be a king-- In that revenge or recompense The dream-ship dreams do bring.
So ever downward float the dreams That are for all and me, And there is never mortal man Can solve that mystery.
But ever onward in its course Along the haunted skies-- As though it were a cloud astray-- The ghostly dream-ship flies.
Two angels with their silver crowns Pilot and helmsman are, And an angel with a wreath of rue Tosseth the dreams afar.
Cinna, the great Venusian told In songs that will not die How in Augustan days of old Your love did glorify His life and all his being seemed Thrilled by that rare incense Till, grudging him the dreams he dreamed, The gods did call you hence.