Alas, alas! I do hear tell The king hath kill’d my son: If it be so, woe worth the deed, That ever it was done. It is even so, my lord, I see, How by him he doth weep: What meant I, that from hands of him This child I did not keep? Alas! husband and lord, what did you mean To fetch this child away? PRAXASPES. O lady wife, I little thought For to have seen this day. MOTHER. O blissful babe, O joy of womb, Heart’s comfort and delight, For counsel given unto the king, Is this thy just requite? O heavy day and doleful time, These mourning tunes to make! With blubb’red eyes into my arms From earth I will thee take, And wrap thee in mine apron white: But O my heavy heart? The spiteful pangs that it sustains Would make it in two to part: The death of this my son to see, O heavy mother now, That from thy sweet and sug’red joy To sorrow so shouldst bow. What grief in womb did I retain, Before I did thee see? Yet at the last, when smart was gone, What joy wert thou to me? How tender was I of thy food For to preserve thy state? How stilled I thy tender heart At times early and late? With velvet paps I gave thee suck, With issue from my breast, And danced thee upon my knee To bring thee unto rest. Is this the joy of thee I reap? O king of tiger’s brood! O tiger’s whelp, hadst thou the heart, To see this child’s heart-blood? Nature enforceth me, alas! In this wise to deplore; To wring my hands, O wel-away, That I should see this hour! Thy mother yet will kiss thy lips, Silk-soft and pleasant white; With wringing hands lamenting for To see thee in this plight. My lording dear, let us go home, Our mourning to augment. PRAXASPES. My lady dear, with heavy heart To it I do consent: Between us both the child to bear Unto our lordly place. [_Exeunt._ _Enter_ AMBIDEXTER. AMBIDEXTER.