Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/139

 NICHOLAS BRETON

Such as silly shepherds use When they will not Love abuse, Love, which had been long deluded, Was with kisses sweet concluded; And Phillida, with garlands gay, Was made the Lady of the May.

��NICHOLAS BRETON?

83 A Cradle Song

The Arbor of Amorous


 * OME 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 thmk'st and less dost know The cause of this thy mother's moan , Thou want'st the wit to wail her woe, And I myself am all alone:

Why dobt 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.

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