from the Fifth Villancico 

By Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz

In alternating voices, written for the Feast of the Nativity in Puebla,1689.

Because my Lord was born to suffer,
let Him stay awake.

 Because for me He is awake,
 let Him fall asleep.

Let Him stay awake there
is no pain for one who loves
as painlessness would be.

 Let Him sleep—
 For one who sleeps, in dreaming,
 prepares himself to die.

Silence, now He sleeps!
 Careful, He's awake!
Do not disturb Him, no!
 Yes, He must be waked!
Let Him wake and wake!
 Let Him have his sleep!

Copyright Credit: Translation by Alan S. Trueblood from Women in Praise of the Sacred edited by Jane Hirshfield. Copyright (c) 1994 by Jane Hirshfield. Used by permission of HarperCollins Publishers.
Source: Women in Praise of the Sacred (HarperCollins Publishers Inc., 1994)