CRADLE SONG

"Cradle song" deals the death of a child.
Cradle song
Faint sounds of moaning! The lamp now expiring casts but a dim flick'ring light. Rocking the cradle, the mother untiring Waits, watches, all through the night. Long before dawn someone comes knocking, Death the deliverer is here! Hark! Trembling, the mother desists from her rocking...

Mother:"Mercy, one instant, kind Death, Cease your strain!"
Death: "See, there he slumbers, my song stilled his pain: Hush-a-by, hush-a-by!"

Death:"These are good signs, see his agony ceases, Hush-a-bye, hush-a-by, sweet."
Mother:"Hence! Accursed Death! Look how your singing does blight my baby, my joy!"
Death: "Nay, peaceful dreams to your son I am bringing. Hush now, hush now, my boy!"

Mother:"Silence! my baby is suffering, crying, Grief rends this my heart!"
Death:"Soon he will sleep in my arms softly lying; Hush baby, hush baby mine!"
Mother:"Pale grow his cheeks, the fever increases, O sing no more, I entreat!"

Death:"Friend, calm your fear and despair! See, through the window peeps the pale morrow, Weeping and watching forlorn, Rest, poor woman, rest from your sorrow, Sleep, i will watch till the morn. Could you not hush your poor infant to slumber? My song is sweeter than yours."

The Death falls in love with the maiden. But in the end there is no escape for her. Death is merciless.

Magical, tender night, veiled in blue shadow, Breathing forth perfumes of spring. Yonder a sufferer leans from her window, Hear what the night whispers low. Sleep will not come to her eyes, bright with fever, Life seems to call her to joy, But under her window a figure is waiting: Death sings a strange serenade:

"Maiden, poor captive to sorrow and suffering, Wasted your beauty and youth: I will be your true knight, although you do not know me, I will come to your rescue now. Come, lady, look at yourself! See, your cheeks are like roses, your lips soft and red; Lovely your visage, your tresses are gold and silky, Your form is most fair.

Brightly gleam your eyes, so blue and so tender, Bright as the stars in the heavens; Ardent as midday suns, your breath that scorches...You have bewitched me, O love,You, too, must fall beneath the spell of my singing, Did not your sighs call me hear? I, your knight, bring the greatest gift to you: Now comes the hour of your bliss!

Fragile your form, and your kisses entrance me, O let me clasp you in breathless embrace; My love song shall bring you slumber...Be still... you are mine!"