Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
Robert Greene. 156092105. Sephestia’s Lullaby
WEEP not, my wanton, smile upon my knee; | |
When thou art old there ‘s grief enough for thee. | |
Mother’s wag, pretty boy, | |
Father’s sorrow, father’s joy; | |
When thy father first did see | 5 |
Such a boy by him and me, | |
He was glad, I was woe; | |
Fortune changèd made him so, | |
When he left his pretty boy, | |
Last his sorrow, first his joy. | 10 |
Weep not, my wanton, smile upon my knee; | |
When thou art old there ‘s grief enough for thee. | |
Streaming tears that never stint, | |
Like pearl-drops from a flint, | |
Fell by course from his eyes, | 15 |
That one another’s place supplies; | |
Thus he grieved in every part, | |
Tears of blood fell from his heart, | |
When he left his pretty boy, | |
Father’s sorrow, father’s joy. | 20 |
Weep not, my wanton, smile upon my knee; | |
When thou art old there ‘s grief enough for thee. | |
The wanton smiled, father wept, | |
Mother cried, baby leapt; | |
More he crow’d, more we cried, | 25 |
Nature could not sorrow hide: | |
He must go, he must kiss | |
Child and mother, baby bliss, | |
For he left his pretty boy, | |
Father’s sorrow, father’s joy. | 30 |
Weep not, my wanton, smile upon my knee, | |
When thou art old there ‘s grief enough for thee. |