GEORGE GASCOIGNE 'S POEM - LULLABY OF A LOVER

 

On the day 4 of the Blog chatter’s #WRITEAPAGEADAY, Here is a poem with love as the major theme.

 

Poet: George Gascoigne

Poem: Lullaby of a Lover

Sing lullaby, as women do,
Wherewith they bring their babes to rest;
And lullaby can I sing too,
As womanly as can the best.
With lullaby they still the child,
And if I be not much beguiled,
Full many wanton babes have I
Which must be stilled with lullaby.

First, lullaby my youthful years,
It is now time to go to bed;
For crooked age and hoary hairs
Have won the haven within my head.
With lullaby, then, youth, be still,
With lullaby content thy will,
Since courage quails and comes behind,
Go sleep, and so beguile thy mind.

Next, lullaby my gazing eyes
Which wanton were to glance apace.
For every glass may now suffice
To show the furrows in my face.
With lullaby, then, wink awhile,
With lullaby your looks beguile.
Let no fair face, nor beauty bright
Entice you eft with vain delight.

And lullaby, my wanton will:
Let reason's rule now reign thy thought,
Since all too late I find by skill
How dear I have thy fancies bought.
With lullaby now take thine ease,
With lullaby thy doubts appease
For trust to this, if thou be still,
My body shall obey thy will.

George Gascoigne (1525-1577) is an interesting figure of the time and has been held responsible for the first English prose comedy, - The Supposes; the first regular verse satire, - The Steel Glass; the first prose tale; the first translation from Greek tragedy, Jocasta; and the first critical essay, Notes of Instruction.  Whether this be correct or not, he was undoubtedly a man of considerable culture, was a well –known figure at court and in political circles, and was as befitted a man of breeding and education, a fairly extensive traveller. He is a tolerable metrist and has a nice turn for fantasy, as may be seen by his collection of verse, flowers, herbs and weeds. His Lullaby of a Lover is a pleasant specimen of his original power.