Anonymous
¶Come little babe, come silly soul.Thy father's shame, thy mother's grief,Born as I doubt to all our dole,And to thyself unhappy chief:Sing lullaby, and lap it warm.Poor soul that thinks no creature harm.
¶Thou little think'st and less dost knowThe cause of this thy mother's moan;Thou want'st the wit to wail her woe.And I myself am all alone:Why dost thou weep? why dost thou wail?And know'st not yet what thou dost ail.
¶Come, little wretch—ah, silly heart!Mine only joy, what can I more?If there be any wrong thy smart.That may the destinies implore:'Twas I, I say, against my will,I wail the time, but be thou still.[198]And dost thou smile? Oh , thy sweet face!Would God Himself He might thee see!—No doubt thou wouldst soon purchase grace,I know right well, for thee and me:But come to mother, babe, and play,For father false is fled away.
¶Sweet boy, if it by fortune chanceThy father home again to send,If death do strike me with his lance,Yet mayst thou me to him commend:If any ask thy mother's name,Tell how by love she purchased blame.
¶Then will his gentle heart soon yield:I know him of a noble mind:Although a lion in the field,A lamb in town thou shalt him find:Ask blessing, babe, be not afraid,His sugar'd words hath me betray'd.
¶Then mayst thou joy and be right glad;Although in woe I seem to moan,Thy father is no rascal lad,A noble youth of blood and bone:His glancing looks, if he once smile,Right honest women may beguile.
¶Come , little boy, and rock asleep;Sing lullaby and be thou still;I, that can do naught else but weep,Will sit by thee and wail my fill:God bless my babe, and lullabyFrom this thy father's quality.
PreparationsFrom a Christ Church MS.
The Unfaithful Shepherdess
¶Friendly himself invite,And say T i l be your guest to-morrow night,'How should we stir ourselves, call and commandAll hands to work! 'Let no man idle stand!'
¶'Set me fine Spanish tables in the hall;See they are fitted all;Let there be room to eatAnd order taken that there want no meat.See every sconce and candlestick made bright,That without tapers they may give a light.
¶'Look to the presence: are the carpets spread,The dazie o'er the head,The cushions in the chairs,And all the candles lighted on the stairs?Perfume the chambers, and in any caseLet each man give attendance in his place!'Thus , if a king were coming, would we do;And 'twere good reason too;For 'tis a duteous thingTo show all honour to an earthly king ,And after all our travail and our cost,So he be pleased, to think no labour lost.
¶But at the coming of the King of HeavenAll's set at six and seven;We wallow in our sin,Christ cannot find a chamber in the inn.We entertain Him always like a stranger,And , as at first, still lodge Him in the manger.
The Unfaithful Shepherdess[From Byrd's Songs of Sundry Natures, /5S9]
¶WHICH that the sun with his beams hotScorched the fruits in vale and mountain,Philon the shepherd, late forgot,Sitting beside a crystal fountain,[200]In shadow of a green oak treeUpon his pipe this song play'd he:Adieu Love, adieu Love, untrue Love;Untrue Love, untrue Love, adieu Love;Your mind is light, soon lost for new love.
¶So long as I was in your sightI was your heart, your soul, and treasure;And evermore you sobb'd and sigh'dBurning in flames beyond all measure:— Three days endured your love to me,And it was lost in other three!Adieu Love, adieu Love , untrue Love,Untrue Love , untrue Love, adieu Love ;Your mind is light, soon lost for new love.
¶Another Shepherd you did seeTo whom your heart was soon enchained;Full soon your love was leapt from me,Full soon my place he had obtained.Soon came a third, your love to w in ,And we were out and he was in.Adieu Love, adieu Love , untrue Love,Untrue Love, untrue Love , adieu Love;Your mind is light, soon lost for new love.
¶Sure you have made me passing gladThat you your mind so soon removed,Before that I the leisure hadTo choose you for my best beloved:For all your love was past and doneTwo days before it was begun : —Adieu Love, adieu Love, untrue Love,Untrue Love , untrue Love , adieu Love ;Your mind is light, soon lost for new love.