When the God of merrie loue

T. Campion

When the God of merrie loue

As yet in his cradle lay,

Thus his wither'd nurse did say:

Thou a wanton boy wilt proue

To deceiue the powers aboue;

For by thy continuall smiling

I see thy power of beguiling.

Therewith she the babe did kisse;

When a sodaine fire out came

From those burning lips of his,

That did her with loue enflame,

But none would regard the same,

So that, to her daie of dying,

The old wretch liu'd euer crying.