Bambino in his cradle slept; br And by his side his grandam grim br Bent down and smiled upon the child, br And sung this lullaby to him,-- br This 'ninna and anninia': br br 'When thou art older, thou shalt mind br To traverse countries far and wide, br And thou shalt go where roses blow br And balmy waters singing glide-- br So ninna and anninia! br br 'And thou shalt wear, trimmed up in points, br A famous jacket edged in red, br And, more than that, a peakèd hat, br All decked in gold, upon thy head-- br Ah! ninna and anninia! br br 'Then shalt thou carry gun and knife, br Nor shall the soldiers bully thee; br Perchance, beset by wrong or debt, br A mighty bandit thou shalt be-- br So ninna and anninia! br br 'No woman yet of our proud race br Lived to her fourteenth year unwed; br The brazen churl that eyed a girl br Bought her the ring or paid his head-- br So ninna and anninia! br br 'But once came spies (I know the thieves!) br And brought disaster to our race; br God heard us when our fifteen men br Were hanged within the market-place-- br But ninna and anninia! br br 'Good men they were, my babe, and true,-- br Right worthy fellows all, and strong; br Live thou and be for them and me br Avenger of that deadly wrong-- br So ninna and anninia!'br br Eugene Fieldbr br