0 SONGS AND BALLADS MY SWETE SWETING Ан, my swete swetyng! My swetyng will I love wherever I go; Full stedfast, stabill and demure, As my swete swetyng. In all this world, as thynketh me, When I behold my swetyng swete, Above all other prayse must I, LORD VAUX THINKING WHEN all is done and said, A And, clear from worldly cares, The body subject is To fickle Fortune's power, Whenas the mind, which is divine, Companion none is like For many have been harmed by speech; Our wealth leaves us at death; The sweetest time of all my life THE FALLING OUT OF FAITHFUL FRIENDS RICHARD EDWARDES IN going to my naked bed as one that would have slept, I heard a wife sing to her child, that long before had wept ; She sighed sore, and sang full sweet, to bring the babe to rest, That would not cease, but crièd still, in sucking at her breast. She was full weary of her watch, and grievèd with her child; She rocked it and rated it, till that on her it smiled : Then did she say, Now have I found this proverb true to prove, The falling out of faithful friends, renewing is of love. Then took I paper, pen, and ink, this proverb for to write, In register for to remain, of such a worthy wight; And proved plain, there was no beast, nor creature bearing life, Could well be known to live in love, without discord and strife: Then kissèd she her little babe, and sware by God above, The falling out of faithful friends, renewing is of love. She said that neither king, nor prince, nor lord could live aright, Until their puissance they did prove, their manhood and their might; When manhood shall be matched so that fear can take no place, Then weary works make warriors each other to embrace, And leave their force that failed them, which did consume the rout, That might before have lived in peace their time and nature out: Then did she sing as one that thought no man could her reprove, The falling out of faithful friends, renewing is of love. |