Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/238

 RICHARD ROWLANDS

1565-1630? 775 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, 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.

Sing lullaby, my little boy, Sing lullaby, mine only joy'

I grieve that duty doth not work

And that my wishing would;

Because I would not be to thce

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,

Though all too little for thyself

Vouchsafing to be mine.

Sing lullaby, my little boy, Sing lullaby, mine only joy'

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