I wish my deadly foe no worse
Than want of friends, and empty purse.

(Nicholas Breton (c.1545-1626), British author, poet. repr. In Works in Verse and Prose of Nicholas Breton, vol. 1 (1879). "A Farewell to Town," (1577).)

Come, little boy, and rock asleep;
Sing lullaby and be thou still;
I, that can do naught else but weep,
Will sit by thee and wail my fill:
God bless my babe, and lullaby
From this thy father's quality.

(Nicholas Breton (1542-1626), British poet. Come, little babe, come, silly soul (l. 43-48). . . New Oxford Book of English Verse, The, 1250-1950. Helen Gardner, ed. (1972) Oxford University Press.)

Shall we go dance the hay, the hay?
Never pipe could ever play
Better shepherd's roundelay.

(Nicholas Breton (1542-1626), British poet. A Report Song (l. 1-3). . . New Oxford Book of English Verse, The, 1250-1950. Helen Gardner, ed. (1972) Oxford University Press.)

Shall we go learn to kiss, to kiss?
Never heart could ever miss
Comfort, where true meaning is.

(Nicholas Breton (1542-1626), British poet. A Report Song (l. 10-12). . . New Oxford Book of English Verse, The, 1250-1950. Helen Gardner, ed. (1972) Oxford University Press.)

Come little babe, come silly soul,
Thy father's shame, thy mother's grief,

(Nicholas Breton (1542-1626), British poet. Come, little babe, come, silly soul (l. 1-2). . . New Oxford Book of English Verse, The, 1250-1950. Helen Gardner, ed. (1972) Oxford University Press.)

dost thou smile? O, thy sweet face!
Would God Himself He might thee see!?
No doubt thou wouldst soon purchase grace,
I know right well, for thee and me:

(Nicholas Breton (1542-1626), British poet. Come, little babe, come, silly soul (l. 19-22). . . New Oxford Book of English Verse, The, 1250-1950. Helen Gardner, ed. (1972) Oxford University Press.)

Much ado there was, God wot,
He would love and she would not.
She said, never man was true;
He said, none was false to you.

(Nicholas Breton (1542-1626), British poet. The Honourable Entertainment Given to the Queen's Majesty in Progress at Elvetham, 1591. . . Attributed to Breton and others New Oxford Book of English Verse, The, 1250-1950. Helen Gardner, ed. (1972) Oxford University Press.)

Thus much for thy assurance know; a hollow friend is but a hellish foe.

(Nicholas Breton (c. 1545-1626), British author, poet. repr. In Works in Verse and Prose of Nicholas Breton, vol. 2 (1879). The Mother's Blessing (1602-1603).)

While he hears in every spring
How the birds do chirp and sing:
Or before the hounds in cry
See the hare go stealing by:
Or along the shallow brook,
Angling with a baited hook,
See the fishes leap and play
In a blessed sunny day:

(Nicholas Breton (1542-1626), British poet. The Passionate Shepherd (l. 43-48). . . Oxford Book of Sixteenth Century Verse, The. E. K. Chambers, comp. (1932) Oxford University Press.)

Who can live in heart so glad
As the merry country lad?

(Nicholas Breton (1542-1626), British poet. The Passionate Shepherd (l. 43-48). . . Oxford Book of Sixteenth Century Verse, The. E. K. Chambers, comp. (1932) Oxford University Press.)