Edward Caswall: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Hymn to the Infant Jesus asleep in the arms of Mary

Edward Caswall

“Hymn to the Infant Jesus asleep in the arms of Mary” as printed in A First Series of Hymns and Songs (1853).

Edward Caswall: Collected Lyrics Text 7 1853 · historical text
Public domainHymnSacred song
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from A First Series of Hymns and Songs, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

Sleep, Jesus, sleep,

Upon thy Mother's breast;

Great Lord of earth and sea and sky,

How sweet it is to see thee lie

In such a place of rest!

Verse 2

Sleep, Jesus, sleep;

While I with Mary gaze

In joy upon that face awhile,

Upon the loving infant smile

Which there divinely plays.

Verse 3

Sleep, Jesus, sleep;

Oh, take thy brief repose;

Too quickly will thy slumbers break,

And thou to lengthen'd pains awake,

Which death alone shall close.

Verse 4

Then must those hands

Which now so small I see,

Those little pearly feet of thine,

So soft, so delicately fine,

Be pierced and rent for me?

Verse 5

Then must that brow

Its thorny crown receive;

That cheek, more lovely than the rose,

Be drench'd with blood and marr'd with blows,

That I thereby may live?

Verse 6

O Mary blest,

Sweet Virgin, hear my cry;

Forgive the wrong that I have done

To thee, in causing thy dear Son

Upon the cross to die.

Credits

Written by Edward Caswall

Words by Edward Caswall. Historical text published in A First Series of Hymns and Songs (1853); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

A First Series of Hymns and Songs (1853), “Hymn to the Infant Jesus asleep in the arms of Mary”

Every text in this 1853 collection is by Henry Formby (1816-1884), who died more than 140 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide; the edition carries a Wikisource PD-old determination.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-26. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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