Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
Richard Rowlands. 15651630?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! |