Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE MADONNA AND CHILD, by ANONYMOUS First Line: This endris night Last Line: "and I shall sing / 'lullay, by, by, lullay'" Subject(s): Christmas; "nativity, The; | ||||||||
This endris night 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 in hayd? 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 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 kinges 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 kinges all. Ye shall well see That kinges 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, Hows should I keep Thee to Thy pay 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 mother dear, 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; And if I weep And may not sleep Thou sing, by-by, lullay." "Now, sweet Son, since it is so, all things are at Thy will, I pray Thee grant to me a boon if it be right and skill. That child or man, That will or can, Be merry upon my day; To bliss them bring, And I shall sing, Lullay, by-by, lullay." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SITTING BULL IN SERBIA by WILLIAM JAY SMITH TO THE EXCELLENT ORINDA by PHILO PHILIPPA EPIGRAM OCCASIONED BY CIBBER'S VERSES IN PRAISE OF NASH: 1 by ALEXANDER POPE THE GIFT OF THE GODS by JOHN GODFREY SAXE TO CHRISTOPHER NORTH by ALFRED TENNYSON BEAU NASH by CHARLES TENNYSON TURNER BEAU NASH AND THE ROMAN, OR THE TWO ERAS by CHARLES TENNYSON TURNER TIS A LITTLE JOURNEY by ANONYMOUS |
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