VII. When She was born; She came, with smiling eye

Robert Tofte (1561–1620)

WHEN She was born; She came, with smiling eye,

Laughing into the world, a sign of glee.

When I was born; to her quite contrary,

Wailing I came into the world to see.

Then mark this wonder strange! What nature gave;

From first to th’ last, this fashion kept we have.

She in my sad laments doth take great joy:

I, through her laughing, die; and languish must,

Unless that LOVE, to save me from this ’noy,

Do unto me, unworthy, shew so just

As for to change her laughter into pain;

And my complaints, into her joy again.