George Gascoigne
¶The mean diet, no delicate fare;True wisdom join'd with simpleness;The night discharged of all care,Where wine the wit may not oppress.
¶The faithful wife, without debate;Such sleeps as may beguile the night:Contented with thine own estateN e wish for death, ne fear his might .
George GascoigneA Lover's Lullaby
¶SING lullaby, as women do,Wherewith they bring their babes to rest;And lullaby can I sing too,As womanly as can the best.With lullaby they still the child;And if I be not much beguiled,Full many a wanton babe have I,Which must be still'd with lullaby.
¶First lullaby my youthful years,It is now time to go to bed:For crooked age and hoary hairsHave won the haven within my head.With lullaby, then, youth be still;With lullaby content thy will;Since courage quails and comes behind,Go sleep, and so beguile thy mind!
¶Next lullaby my gazing eyes,Which wonted were to glance apace;For every glass may now sufficeTo show the furrows in thy face.[196]With lullaby then wink awhile;With lullaby your looks beguile;Let no fair face, nor beauty bright,Entice you eft with vain delight.
¶And lullaby my wanton will;Let reason's rule now reign thy thought;Since all too late I find by skillHow dear I have thy fancies bought;With lullaby now take thine ease,With lullaby thy doubts appease;For trust to this, if thou be still,My body shall obey thy will.
¶Thus lullaby my youth, mine eyes,My will, my ware, and all that was:I can no more delays devise;But welcome pain, let pleasure pass.With lullaby now take your leave;With lullaby your dreams deceive;And when you rise with waking eye,Remember then this lullaby.