Lo, lo, my little babe, be still, lament no more; From fury thou shalt step aside, help have we still in store: We heavenly warning have some other soil to seek; From death must fly the Lord of life, as lamb both mild and meek: Thus must my babe obey the king that would him kill; O woe and woful heavy day when wretches have their will! Lulla, etc.
But thou shalt live and reign, as sibyls hath foresaid, As all the prophets prophesy, whose mother, yet a maid And perfect virgin pure, with her breasts shall upbreed Both God and man that all hath made, the son of heavenly seed: Whom caitives none can 'tray, whom tyrants none can kill: O joy and joyful happy day when wretches want their will! Lulla, etc.
_Byrd's Psalmes, Sonets, etc., A.D. 1588._
This endris night[I] I saw a sight, A star as bright as day; And ever among A maiden sung, Lullay, by by, lullay.
This lovely lady sat and sang, and to her child she said,-- "My son, my brother, my father dear, why liest thou thus in hayd?[J] My sweet bird, Thus it is betide Though thou be king veray; But, nevertheless, I will not cease To sing, by by, lullay."
The child then spake; in his talking he to his mother said,-- "I bekid[K] am king, in crib though I be laid; For angels bright Down to me light, Thou knowest it is no nay, And of that sight Thou mayest be light To sing, by by, lullay."
"Now, sweet Son, since thou art king, why art thou laid in stall? Why not thou ordain thy bedding in some great kingès hall? Methinketh it is right That king or knight Should be in good array; And them among It were no wrong To sing, by by, lullay."
"Mary, mother, I am thy child, though I be laid in stall, Lords and dukes shall worship me and so shall kingès all. Ye shall well see That kingès three Shall come on the twelfth day; For this behest Give me thy breast And sing, by by, lullay."
"Now tell me, sweet Son, I thee pray, thou art my love and dear, How should I keep thee to thy pay[L] and make thee glad of cheer? For all thy will I would fulfil Thou weet'st full well in fay, And for all this I will thee kiss, And sing, by by, lullay."
"My dear mother, when time it be, take thou me up aloft, And set me upon thy knee and handle me full soft. And in thy arm Thou wilt me warm, And keep me night and day; If I weep And may not sleep Thou sing, by by, lullay."