Welcome to my poetry reading of 'Sephestia's Lullaby' by Robert Greene. Do you have a favourite poem or poet?
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'Sephestia's Lullaby' by Robert Greene
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]1 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.
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.
(Source: https://www.oxfordlieder.co.uk/song/1553)
(Book featured in the video: The New Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1950, Chosen and Edited by Helen Gardner, Oxford Univeristy Press, First published 1972, 22nd impression 1999)