A fourteenth-century poem in Middle English from the manuscript British Library, Harley 913 - sometimes called an 'adult lullaby'.nnnLollai,...
A fourteenth-century poem in Middle English from the manuscript British Library, Harley 913 - sometimes called an 'adult lullaby'.nnnLollai, lollai, litil child, whi wepistou so sore?nNedis mostou wepe, hit was iyarkid the yorenEuer to lib in sorow, and sich and mourne euere,nAs thin eldren did er this while hi aliues wore.nLollai, lollai, litil child, child, lolai, lullow,nInto uncuth world icommen so ertow.nn[Lullay, lullay, little child, why do you weep so sadly? By necessity must you weep: it was prepared for you long ago, that you should ever live in sorrow, and sigh and mourn ever, as your elders did before now, while they were alive. Lullay, lullay, little child, child lullay, lullow; you have come into an alien world.]nnBestis and thos foules, the fisses in the flode,nAnd euch schef aliues imakid of bone and blode,nWhan hi commith to the world hi doth hamsilf sum gode,nAl bot the wrech brol that is of Adamis blode.nLollai, lollai, litil child, to kar ertou bemette;nThou nost noght this worldis wild before the is isette.nn[Animals and birds, fishes in the water, and every living creature made of bone and blood - when they come into the world, they do themselves some good, all except the poor wretch who is of Adam's blood. Lullay, lullay, little child, you are destined to sorrow: you do not know that the world's wilds lie before you!]nnChild, if betidith that thou shalt thriue and the,nThench thou were ifostred up thi moder kne.nEuer hab mund in thi hert of thos thinges thre:nWhan thou commist, what thou art and what ssal com of the.nLollai, lollai, litil child, child, lollai, lollai,nWith sorow thou com into this world, with sorow shalt wend awai.nn[Child, if it should happen that you should grow and thrive, remember that you were brought up at your mother's knee. Always recall in your heart these three things: whence you came, what you are, and what shall become of you. Lullay, lullay, little child, child, lullay, lullow; with sorrow you came into the world, with sorrow you shall leave it.]nnNe tristou to this world, hit is thi ful vo.nThe rich he makith pouer, the pore rich also;nHit turneth wo to wel and ek wel to wo.nNe trist no man to this world, whil hit turnith so.nLollai, lollai, litil child, thi fote is in the whele:nThou nost whoder turne to wo other wele.nn[Do not trust to this world, it is entirely your enemy. It makes the rich poor, and the poor rich also; it turns woe to joy and also joy to woe. Let no man trust to this world, while it turns so! Lullay, lullay, little child, your foot is in the wheel; you do not know where it will turn, to woe or joy.]nnChild, thou ert a pilgrim in wikidnis ibor,nThou wandrest in this fals world, thou loke the bifor.nDeth shal com with a blast ute of a well dim horrenAdamis kin dun to cast, himsilf hath ido befor.nLollai, lollai, litil child, so wo the worth AdamnIn the lond of Paradis, throgh wikidnes of Satan.nn[Child, you are a pilgrim born in wickedness, and you wander in this false world; look before you! Death will come suddenly with a blast 'out of a well dim horre', to cast down Adam's kin, as he has often done before. Lullay, lullay, little child, Adam made this woe for you, in the land of Paradise, through the wickedness of Satan.]nnChild, thou nert a pilgrim bot an uncuthe gist,nThi dawes beth itold, thi iurneis beth icast;nWhoder thou salt wend north or est,nDeth the sal betide with bitter bale in brest.nLollai, lollai, litil child, this wo Adam the wroght,nWhan he of the appil ete and Eue hit him betacht.nn[Child, you are not a pilgrim but an alien guest: your days are counted, your journeys are cast. Wherever you may go, to the north or east, death will come to you with bitter sorrow at your heart. Lullay, lullay, little child, Adam wrought this woe for you, when he ate the apple and Eve gave it to him.] Less
