Chapter XXIII

Sleep! king of gods and men!
Come to my call again,
Swift over field and fen,
Mountain and deep:

Come, bid the waves be still;
Sleep, streams on height and hill;
Beasts, birds and snakes, thy will
Conquereth, Sleep!

Come on thy golden wings,
Come ere the swallow sings,
Lulling all living things,
Fly they or creep!

Come with thy leaden wand,
Come with thy kindly hand,
Soothing on sea or land
Mortals that weep

Come from the cloudy west,
Soft over brain and breast,
Bidding the Dragon rest,
Come to me, Sleep!

_Andrew Lang_.