Close now thine eyes and rest secure;
Thy soul is safe enough, thy body sure;
He that loves thee, He that keeps
And guards thee, never slumbers, never sleeps.
The smiling conscience in a sleeping breast
Has only peace, has only rest;
The music and the mirth of kings
Are all but very discords, when she sings;
Then close thine eyes and rest secure;
No sleep so sweet as thine, no rest so sure.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
This poem has become part of the Male Voice Choir repertoire. Usually the misattribution to Charles 1st is quoted. The idea that 'conscience' is female and that if she fails to sing 'the mirth of kings' is 'out of tune' resonnates well with many mvc members!