Classic Poem

B ALOW my babe, lye still & sleepe!
itt greeues me sore to see thee weepe.
balowe my boy, thy mothers ioy,
thy ffather breeds me great anoy.
balow, la-low, la-la-la, ra-row, fa-la, la-la,
la-la, la-la-la, la-low!

When he began to court my loue,
& w i th his sugred words me moue,
his ffaynings false & fflattering cheere
to me tha t time did not appeare;
but now I see most cruellye
he cares neither for my babe nor mee.
Balow &c.

Lye still my darling, sleepe awhile,
& when thou wakest thoule sweetly smile
but smile not as thy father did,
to cozen maids: nay, god forbid!
but yett I ffeare thou wilt goe neere,
thy fathers hart & fface to beare.
Ballow &c.

I cannott chuse, but euer will
be louing to thy father still;
where-ere he goes, where-ere he ryds,
my loue w i th him doth still abyde;
in weale or woe, where-ere he goe,
my hart shall neere depart him ffroe.
Ballow &c.

But doe not, doe not, pretty mine,
to ffaynings false thy hart incline.
be loyall to thy louer true,
& neuer change her ffor a new.
if good or faire, of her haue care,
ffor womens baninge is wonderous sare.
Ballow &c.

Bearne, by thy face I will be ware;
like Sirens words Ile not come neere;
my babe & I together will liue;
heele comfort me when cares doe greeue;
my babe & I right soft will lye,
& neere respect mans crueltye.
Ballow &c.

ffarwell, ffarwell, the falsest youth
tha t euer kist a womans mouth!
I wish all maids be warned by mee,
neere to trust mans curtesye;
for if wee doe but chance to bowe,
theyle vse vs then, they care not how.
Ballow &c.