Poems for Fathers: 'Menaphon: Sephesta's Song to her Child' by Robert Greene (1589)

Poetry

Menaphon: Sephesta’s Song to her Child

Robert Greene (1589)

Weep not, my wanton, smile upon my knee, When thou art old there’s grief enough for thee. Mother’s wag, pretty boy, Father’s sorrow, father’s joy; When thy father first did see Such a boy by him and me, He was glad, I was woe, Fortune changed made him so, When he left his pretty boy Last his sorrow, first his joy. Weep not, my wanton, smile upon my knee, When thou art old there’s grief enough for thee. Streaming tears that never stint, Like pearl-drops from a flint, Fell by course from his eyes, That one another’s place supplies; Thus he griev’d in every part, Tears of blood fell from his heart, When he left his pretty boy, Father’s sorrow, father’s joy. Weep not, my wanton, smile upon my knee, When thou art old there’s grief enough for thee. The wanton smil’d, father wept, Mother cried, baby leapt; More he crow’d, more he cried, Nature could not sorrow hide: He must go, he must kiss Child and mother, baby bless, For he left his pretty boy, Father’s sorrow, father’s joy. Weep not, my wanton, smile upon my knee, When thou art old there’s grief enough for thee.


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