Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition

Anglo-Irish poems of the Middle Ages (Author: [unknown])

Poem 10

Lullay

1] Lullay, lullay, little child, why do you weep so bitterly? You must needs weep, it was arranged for you long ago to live in sorrow always, and sigh and mourn as a result, as your forbears did before this while they were alive. Lullay, lullay, little child, child lullay lullow, thus have you come into an unfamiliar world.
7] Those birds and beasts and the fish in the sea, and each living creature made of bone and blood, when they come into the world they themselves some good; all except the wretched brat who is of Adam's blood. Lullay, lullay, little child, you are destined to sorrow. You do not know that the wildness of this world is in store for you.
13] Child, if it happens that you shall thrive and prosper, remember you were fostered upon your mother's knee. Always remember in your heart those three things: whence you come, who you are and what shall become of you. Lullay, lullay, little child, child lullay, lullay. You came into this world with sorrow, with sorrow you must journey away.
19] Do not trust in this world, it is your great enemy. It makes the rich poor, the poor rich as well. It turns misery to joy and joy to misery too. Let no man trust in this world while it changes in this way. Lullay, Lullay, little child, your foot is in the wheel: you do not know whether it turns to joy or misery.
25] Child, you are a pilgrim born in wickedness, look before you as you wander in this false world. Death shall come with a blast out of a very dark corner to cast down Adam's race, as he himself did before. Lullay, lullay, little child, thus Adam made trouble for you through the wickedness of Satan in the land of Paradise.
31] Child, you are not a pilgrim but an ignorant visitor. Your days are numbered, your journeys preordained; whether you shall go north or east, death shall come to you with bitter pain in the heart. Lullay, lullay, little child, Adam caused this sorrow for you when he ate the apple and Eve offered it to him.