Thomas Humphry Ward, ed. The English Poets. 1880–1918.rnVol. I. Early Poetry: Chaucer to Donne

John Skelton (1460?–1529)

A Lullabye

WITH Lullay, lullay, lyke a chylde

Thou slepyst to long, thou art begylde.

My darlyng dere, my daysy floure,

Let me, quod he, ly in your lap.

Ly styll, quod she, my paramoure,

Ly styll hardely, and take a nap.

Hys hed was hevy, such was his hap,

All drowsy, dremyng, dround in slepe,

That of hys love he toke no kepe.
With Hey, lullay, &c.

With ba, ba, ba, and bas, bas, bas,

She cheryshed hym both cheke and chyn,

That he wyst neuer where he was:

He had forgotten all dedely syn.

He wantyd wyt her love to wyn,

He trusted her payment, and lost all hys pray:

She left hym slepyng, and stale away,
Wyth Hey, lullay, &c.

The ryvers rowth, the waters wan;

She sparyd not to wete her fete;

She wadyd over she found a man

That halsyd her hartely, and kyst her swete.

Thus after her cold she cought a hete.

My lafe, she sayd, rowtyth in hys bed:

I wys he hath a hevy hed,
Wyth Hey, lullay, &c.

What dremyst thou, drunchard, drowsy pate!

Thy lust and lykyng is from thé gone:

Thou blynkerd blowboll, thou wakyst to late;

Behold thou lyeste, luggard, alone!

Well may thou sygh, well may thou grone,

To dele wyth her so cowardly:

I wys, powle hachet, she bleryd thyne I.