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THE CHRISTIAN FEAST
With this lullaby may be compared a singularly lovely and quite untranslatable Latin cradle-song of unknown origin :—
"Dormi, fili, dormi J mater
Cantat unigenito : Dormi, puer, dormi ! pater,
Nato clamat parvulo : Millies tibi laudes canimus
Mille, mille, millies.
Lectum stravi tibi soli,
Dormi, nate bellule ! Stravi lectum foeno molli :
Dormi, mi animule. Millies tibi laudes canimus
Mille, mille, millies.
• • • • •
Ne quid desit, sternam rosis,
Sternam foenum violis, Pavimentum hyacinthis
Et praesepe liliis. Millies tibi laudes canimus
Mille, mille, millies. |
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Sleep, my Child, in sleep recline ; Lullaby, mine Infant fair,
Heaven's King,
All glittering, Full of grace as lilies rare.
Close thine eyelids, O my treasure,
Loved past measure, Of my soul, the Lord, the pleasure ; Lullaby, O regal Child,
On the hay
My joy I lay ; Love celestial, meek and mild.
Why dost weep, my Babe ? alas !
Cold winds that pass Vex, or is't the little ass ? Lullaby, O Paradise j
Of my heart
Thou Saviour art ; On thy face I press a kiss." 20
(Translation by Countess Martinengo-Cesaresco.)
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