StoryTitle("caps", "A Cradle Song") ?>
From The Arbor of Amorous Devices (1593-4)
PoemStart() ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Come little babe, come silly soul,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Thy father's shame, thy mother's grief,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Born as I doubt to all our dole,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And to thyself unhappy chief:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Sing lullaby, and lap it warm,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Poor soul that thinks no creature harm.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Thou little think'st and less dost know", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The cause of this thy mother's moan;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Thou want'st the wit to wail her woe,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And I myself am all alone:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Why dost thou weep? why dost thou wail?", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And know'st not yet what thou dost ail.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Come, little wretch—ah, silly heart!", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Mine only joy, what can I more?", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "If there be any wrong thy smart,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "That may the destinies implore:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2SQ", "", "'Twas I, I say, against my will,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "I wail the time, but be thou still.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And dost thou smile? O, thy sweet face!", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Would God Himself He might thee see!—", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "No doubt thou wouldst soon purchase grace,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "I know right well, for thee and me:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "But come to mother, babe, and play,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "For father false is fled away.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Sweet boy, if it by fortune chance", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Thy father home again to send,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "If death do strike me with his lance,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Yet mayst thou me to him commend:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "If any ask thy mother's name,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Tell how by love she purchased blame.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Then will his gentle heart soon yield:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "I know him of a noble mind:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Although a lion in the field,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "A lamb in town thou shalt him find:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Ask blessing, babe, be not afraid,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "His sugar'd words hath me betray'd.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Then mayst thou joy and be right glad;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Although in woe I seem to moan,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Thy father is no rascal lad,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "A noble youth of blood and bone:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "His glancing looks, if he once smile,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Right honest women may beguile.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Come, little boy, and rock asleep;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Sing lullaby and be thou still;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "I, that can do naught else but weep,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Will sit by thee and wail my fill:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "God bless my babe, and lullaby", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "From this thy father's quality.", "") ?>
Poet("Nicholas Breton (?)", "1542-1626") ?>
PoemEnd() ?>