SEPHESTIA'S LULLABY

by: Robert Greene

EEP 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 changèd 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 grieved 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 smiled, father wept,

Mother cried, baby leapt;

More he crow'd, more we cried,

Nature could not sorrow hide:

He must go, he must kiss

Child and mother, baby bliss,

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.

• Greene's Jealousy of Shakespeare - As early as 1592, Shakespeare's dramatic work had excited the envy and indignation of his contemporaries, including the accomplished scholar and dramatist, Robert Greene.
• Robert Greene - A biographical sketch of the English dramatist.
• Robert Greene (c.1558-1592) - A biography of English dramatist, plus links to purchase all of his works currently in print.
• Robert Greene: Bibliography - A bibliography of the works of Robert Greene; includes a list of critical resources.
• Purchase books by Robert Greene