O sisters too, how may we do, For to preserve this day, This pore youngling, for whom we do singe Herod the king, in his raging, Chargid he hath this day; His men of might, in his owne sight, All yonge children to slay. That wo is me pore childe for thee, For thi parting, nether say nor sing LVIII. LULLABY SONG. [From a rare collection of songs printed in 1530, and reprinted by Mr. Douce.] By by lullaby Rockyd 1 my child, In a dre late as I lay Me thought I hard a maydyn say And spak thes wordys mylde Rockid I my child by by. Then merveld I ryght sore of this A mayde to have a chyld' I wys, Thus rockyd she her child By by lullaby, rockyd I my child. LIX. LULLABY SONG. [From "The Pleasant Comodie of Patient Grissill." 1603.] GOLDEN slumbers kisse your eyes, Smiles awake you when you rise: Care is heavy, therefore sleepe you, You are care, and care must keep you: Sleepe, pretty wantons, doe not cry, And I will sing a lullabie, Rocke them, rocke them, lullabie. COME, ye young men, come along, Then to the May-pole come away, It is the choice time of the year, Now the rose receives its birth, And pretty primrose decks the earth. Then to the May-pole come away, Here each bachelor may choose Then to the May-pole come away, And when you well reckoned have, What kisses you your sweethearts gave, Take them all again and more, It will never make them poor. Then to the May-pole come away, When you thus have spent the time, To your beds repair at night, And dream there of your days delight. Then to the May-pole come away, For it is now a holyday. LXI. MAY-DAY SONG. [From Mr. Todd's MSS. mentioned at p. 107 of this volume.] JONE, to the May-pole away let us on, See how the wenches hye to the greene, These wante no loves to attend them; Hodge, Dick, Tom, Nick, Brave dauncers, whoe can amend them ? Jone, shall we have now a hay or a rounde, Lately I was at a masque in the courte, Where I saw of every sorte Many a dance, made in France, Many a braule, and many a measure, Gay coates, sweet notes, Brave wenches, O 'twas a treasure! But now, me thinkes these courtlye toyes |