| Edward Farr, ed. Select Poetry of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth. 1845. | | | | Christmas Carol | | CXVIII. Anonymous |
| | | MY 1 sweet little babie, what meanest thou to cry? | |
| Be still, my blessed babe, though cause thou hast to mourne, | |
| Whose blood most innocent the cruell king hath sworne; | |
| And lo! alas! behold! what slaughter he doth make, | |
| Shedding the blood of infants all, sweet Sauiour, for thy sake. | 5 |
| A King is born, they say, which King this king would kill: | |
| Oh! woe, and woefull heauy day, when wretches haue their will! | |
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| Three kings this King of kings to see are come from farre, | |
| To each unknowen, with offerings great, by guiding of a starre; | |
| As shepherds heard the song, which angels bright did sing, | 10 |
| Giving all glory unto God for coming of this King, | |
| Which must be made away—king Herod would him kill; | |
| Oh! woe, and woefull heauy day, when wretches haue their will! | |
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| Loe! my little babe, be still, lament no more: | |
| From furie thou shalt step aside, helpe haue we still in store: | 15 |
| We heauenly warning haue some other soyle to seeke; | |
| From death must fly the Lord of life, as lamb both milde and meeke: | |
| Thus must my babe obey the king that would him kill: | |
| Oh! woe, and woefull heauy day, when wretches haue their will! | |
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| But thou shalt liue and reigne, as Dauid hath forsay’d, | 20 |
| And prophets prophesied * * * * * * * * * | |
| Whom caytiues none can ’traye, whom tyrants none can kill: | |
| Oh! joy and joyfull happy day, when wretches want their will! | |
| | | Note 1. CXVIII. Anonymous.—A Contributor to Byrd’s Collection, which appeared in 1587. [back] | | |
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