If thou'lt be silent, I'll be glad,
Thy mourning makes my heart full sad.
Balow, my boy, thy mother's joy,5
Thy father bred me great annoy.
Balow, my boy, ly still and sleep,
It grieves me sore to hear thee weep.
Balow, my darling, sleep a while,
And when thou wak'st, then sweetly smile;10
But smile not as thy father did,
To cozen maids, nay, God forbid;
For in thine eye his look I see,
The tempting look that ruin'd me,
Balow, my boy, &c.15
When he began to court my love,
And with his sugar'd words to move,
His tempting face, and flatt'ring chear
In time to me did not appear;
But now I see that cruel he20
Cares neither for his babe nor me.
Balow, my boy, &c.
Fareweel, fareweel, thou falsest youth
That ever kist a woman's mouth;
Let never any after me25
Submit unto thy courtesy!
For, if they do, O! cruel thou
Wilt her abuse, and care not how.
Balow, my boy, &c.
I was too cred'lous at the first,30
To yield thee all a maiden durst;
Thou swore for ever true to prove,
Thy faith unchang'd, unchang'd thy love;
But quick as thought the change is wrought,
Thy love's no mair, thy promise nought.35
Balow, my boy, &c.
I wish I were a maid again!
From young men's flatt'ry I'd refrain;
For now unto my grief I find
They all are perjur'd and unkind;40
Bewitching charms bred all my harms;—
Witness my babe lies in my arms.
Balow, my boy, &c.
I take my fate from bad to worse,
That I must needs be now a nurse,45
And lull my young son on my lap:
From me, sweet orphan, take the pap.
Balow, my child, thy mother mild
Shall wail as from all bliss exil'd.
Balow, my boy, &c.50
Balow, my boy, weep not for me,
Whose greatest grief's for wronging thee;
Nor pity her deserved smart,
Who can blame none but her fond heart;
For, too soon trusting latest finds55
With fairest tongues are falsest minds.
Balow, my boy, &c.