The Child In The Story Goes To Bed

I prythee, Nurse, come smooth my hair,
    And prythee, Nurse, unloose my shoe,
And trimly turn my silken sheet
    Upon my quilt of gentle blue.

My pillow sweet of lavender
    Smooth with an amiable hand,
And may the dark pass peacefully by
    As in the hour-glass droops the sand.

Prepare my cornered manchet sweet,
    And in my little crystal cup
Pour out the blithe and flowering mead
    That forthwith I may sup.

Withdraw my curtains from the night,
    And let the crispèd crescent shine
Upon my eyelids while I sleep,
    And soothe me with her beams benign.

From far-away there streams the singing
    Of the mellifluent nightingale, -
Surely if goblins hear her lay,
    They shall not o'er my peace prevail.

Now quench my silver lamp, prythee,
    And bid the harpers harp that tune
Fairies which haunt the meadowlands
    Sing clearly to the stars of June.

And bid them play, though I in dreams
    No longer heed their pining strains,
For I would not to silence wake
    When slumber o'er my senses wanes.

You Angels bright who me defend,
    Enshadow me with curvèd wing,
And keep me in the darksome night
    Till dawn another day do bring.