Menaphon Sephesta's Song to her Child

-
Weep not, my wanton, smile upon my knee,
-
When thou art old there's grief enough for thee.
-
Mother's wag, pretty boy,
-
Father's sorrow, father's joy;
-
When thy father first did see
-
Such a boy by him and me,
-
He was glad, I was woe,
-
Fortune changed made him so,
-
When he left his pretty boy
-

Last his sorrow, first his joy.

-

Weep not, my wanton, smile upon my knee,
-

When thou art old there's grief enough for thee.
-

Streaming tears that never stint,
-

Like pearl-drops from a flint,
-

Fell by course from his eyes,
-

That one another's place supplies;
-

Thus he griev'd in every part,
-

Tears of blood fell from his heart,
-

When he left his pretty boy,
-

Father's sorrow, father's joy.

-

Weep not, my wanton, smile upon my knee,
-

When thou art old there's grief enough for thee.
-

The wanton smil'd, father wept,
-

Mother cried, baby leapt;
-

More he crow'd, more he cried,
-

Nature could not sorrow hide:
-

He must go, he must kiss
-

Child and mother, baby bless,
-

For he left his pretty boy,
-

Father's sorrow, father's joy.
-

Weep not, my wanton, smile upon my knee,
-

When thou art old there's grief enough for thee.

Rate this poem: 

Reviews

No reviews yet.