| |
| BALOW, my babe, lie still and sleep! | |
| It grieves me sore to see thee weep, | |
| Wouldst thou be quiet I’se be glad, | |
| Thy mourning makes my sorrow sad: | |
| Balow my boy, thy mother’s joy, | 5 |
| Thy father breeds me great annoy— | |
| Balow, la-low! | |
| |
| When he began to court my love, | |
| And with his sugred words me move, | |
| His faynings false and flattering cheer | 10 |
| To me that time did not appear: | |
| But now I see most cruellye. | |
| He cares ne for my babe nor me— | |
| Balow, la-low! | |
| |
| Lie still, my darling, sleep awhile, | 15 |
| And when thou wak’st thou’le sweetly smile: | |
| But smile not as thy father did, | |
| To cozen maids: nay, God forbid! | |
| But yet I fear thou wilt go near | |
| Thy father’s heart and face to bear— | 20 |
| Balow, la-low! | |
| |
| I cannot choose but ever will | |
| Be loving to thy father still; | |
| Where’er he go, where’er he ride, | |
| My love with him doth still abide; | 25 |
| In weal or woe, where’er he go, | |
| My heart shall ne’er depart him fro— | |
| Balow, la-low! | |
| |
| But do not, do not, pretty mine, | |
| To faynings false thy heart incline! | 30 |
| Be loyal to thy lover true, | |
| And never change her for a new: | |
| If good or fair, of her have care | |
| For women’s banning’s wondrous sare- | |
| Balow, la-low! | 35 |
| |
| Bairn, by thy face I will beware; | |
| Like Sirens’ words, I’ll come not near; | |
| My babe and I together will live; | |
| He’ll comfort me when cares do grieve. | |
| My babe and I right soft will lie, | 40 |
| And ne’er respect man’s crueltye— | |
| Balow, la-low! | |
| |
| Farewell, farewell, the falsest youth | |
| That ever kist a woman’s mouth! | |
| I wish all maids be warn’d by me | 45 |
| Never to trust man’s curtesye; | |
| For if we do but chance to bow, | |
| They’ll use us then they care not how— | |
| Balow, la-low! | |
| |
