Robert Greene

Here you will find the Poem Menaphon: Sephesta's Song to her Child of poet Robert Greene

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.