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Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  165. Lullaby

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

Richard Rowlands. 1565–1630?

165. Lullaby

UPON my lap my sovereign sits 
And sucks upon my breast; 
Meantime his love maintains my life 
And gives my sense her rest. 
    Sing lullaby, my little boy,         5
    Sing lullaby, mine only joy! 
 
When thou hast taken thy repast, 
Repose, my babe, on me; 
So may thy mother and thy nurse 
Thy cradle also be.  10
    Sing lullaby, my little boy, 
    Sing lullaby, mine only joy! 
 
I grieve that duty doth not work 
All that my wishing would; 
Because I would not be to thee  15
But in the best I should. 
    Sing lullaby, my little boy, 
    Sing lullaby, mine only joy! 
 
Yet as I am, and as I may, 
I must and will be thine,  20
Though all too little for thyself 
Vouchsafing to be mine. 
    Sing lullaby, my little boy, 
    Sing lullaby, mine only joy!