Excerpts from A Book Of Old English Love Songs; The MacMillan Company; New York, 1897; pp. 1-3.
[1]
Lullaby of a Lover
Sing lullaby, as women do
With which 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 wanton babes have I
Which must be stilled with lullaby.
First, lullaby my youthful years;
It is now time to go to bed,
For crooked age and hoary hairs,
Have now the haven within my head.
[2]
With lullaby then Youth be still,
With lullaby content thy will;
Since courage quails, and come behind;
Go, sleep! And so beguile thy mind.
Next, lullaby my gazing Eyes,
Which wonted were to glance apace;
For every glass may now suffice
To show the furrows in my face.
With lullaby then wink awhile,
With lullaby your looks beguile;
Let no fair face, or beauty bright,
Entice you eft with vain delight.
And lullaby my wanton Will,
Let Reason’s rule now rein my thought,
Since all too late I find by skill
How dear I have thy fancies bought,
With lullaby now take thine ease,
With lullaby thy doubt appease;
For trust in this, — if thou be still,
My body shall obey thy will.
[3]
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 you leave,
With lullaby your dreams deceive;
And when you rise with waking eye,
Remember then this lullaby.
— George Gascoigne.
