Menaphon: Sephesta's Song to her Child

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     Weep not, my wanton, smile upon my knee,
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    When thou art old there's grief enough for thee.
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       Mother's wag, pretty boy,
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       Father's sorrow, father's joy;
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       When thy father first did see
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       Such a boy by him and me,
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       He was glad, I was woe,
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       Fortune changed made him so,
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       When he left his pretty boy
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      Last his sorrow, first his joy.

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    Weep not, my wanton, smile upon my knee,
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   When thou art old there's grief enough for thee.
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      Streaming tears that never stint,
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      Like pearl-drops from a flint,
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      Fell by course from his eyes,
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      That one another's place supplies;
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      Thus he griev'd in every part,
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      Tears of blood fell from his heart,
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      When he left his pretty boy,
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      Father's sorrow, father's joy.

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    Weep not, my wanton, smile upon my knee,
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   When thou art old there's grief enough for thee.
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      The wanton smil'd, father wept,
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      Mother cried, baby leapt;
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      More he crow'd, more he cried,
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      Nature could not sorrow hide:
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      He must go, he must kiss
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      Child and mother, baby bless,
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      For he left his pretty boy,
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      Father's sorrow, father's joy.
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   Weep not, my wanton, smile upon my knee,
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   When thou art old there's grief enough for thee.