From THOMAS FORD'S Music of
Sundry Kinds, 1607.

HERE is a Lady sweet and kind,

my mind;

I did but see her passing by,

And yet I love her till I die.

Her gesture, motion and her smiles
Her wit, her voice my heart beguiles,
Beguiles my heart, I know not why,
And yet I love her till I die.

Her free behaviour, winning looks
Will make a Lawyer burn his books;
I touched her not, alas! not I,

And yet I love her till I die.

Had I her fast betwixt mine arms,

Judge you that think such sports were harms;

Were't any harm? no, no, fie, fie,

For I will love her till I die.

Should I remain confinèd there
So long as Phoebus in his sphere,
I to request, she to deny,
Yet would I love her till I die.

Cupid is winged and doth range,

Her country so my love doth change :
But change she earth, or change she sky,
Yet will I love her till I die.

From Melismata, 1611.

HERE were three Ravens sat on a tree,

ΤΗ
THERE were wn,

Down-a-down, hey down, hey down!

There were three Ravens sat on a tree,

With a down!

There were three Ravens sat on a tree,

They were as black as they might be :

With a down, derry derry derry down down!

The one of them said to his make 1-
Where shall we our breakfast take?

Down in yonder greenè field

There lies a knight slain under his shield.

His hounds they lie down at his feet:
So well they their master keep.

His hawks they fly so eagerly,
There's no fowl dare him come nigh.

Down there comes a fallow doe,
Great with young as she might go.

She lift up his bloody head,

And kist his wounds that were so red.

She gat him upon her back

And carried him to earthen lake.

1 Old ed. "mate"; but "make," which is required for the

rhyme, was a recognised form of "mate."

She buried him before the prime;

She was dead ere even-time.

God send every gentleman

Such hounds, such hawks, and such a leman!

With a down, derry.

From ROBERT JONES' Ultimum Vale or Third Book of Airs (1608).

THINK'ST to

HINK'ST thou, Kate, to put me down

a

Since Love holds my heart in bands

I must do as Love commands.

Love commands the hands to dare
When the tongue of speech is spare,
Chiefest lesson in Love's school,-
Put it in adventure, fool!

Fools are they that fainting flinch
For a squeak. a scratch, a pinch :
Women's words have double sense :
'Stand away!'-a simple fence.

If thy mistress swear she'll cry,
Fear her not, she'll swear and lie:
Such sweet oaths no sorrow bring
Till the prick of conscience sting.

K

From THOMAS CAMPION'S Fourth
Book of Airs (circ. 1613).

HINK'ST thou to seduce me then with words

Tthat have no meaning?

Parrots so can learn to prate, our speech by pieces

gleaning:

Nurses teach their children so about the time of

weanng.

Learn to speak first, then to woo, to wooing much pertaineth :

He that courts us, wanting art, soon falters when he

feigneth,

Looks asquint on his discourse and smiles when he complaineth.

Skilful anglers hide their hooks, fit baits for every

season;

But with crooked pins fish thou, as babes do that

want reason:

Gudgeons only can be caught with such poor tricks of treason.

Ruth forgive me (if I erred) from human heart's com

passion,

When I laughed sometimes too much to see thy foolish fashion:

But, alas, who less could do that found so good occasion!

From JOHN WILBYE'S Madrigals, 1598.

Tand love's delight thou weigh'st not:

HOU art but young, thou say'st,

O, take time while thou may'st,

Lest when thou would'st thou may'st not.

If love shall then assail thee,

A double anguish will torment thee;

And thou wilt wish (but wishes all will fail thee,) "O me! that I were young again!" and so repent thee.

From CAMPION and ROSSETER'S Book of Airs, 1601. (Ascribed to Dr. Donne.)

HOU art not fair, for all thy red and white,

For all those rosy ornaments in thee;

Thou art not sweet, tho' made of mere delight,
Nor fair, nor sweet-unless thou pity me.
I will not soothe thy fancies, thou shalt prove
That beauty is no beauty without love.

Yet love not me, nor seek not to allure
My thoughts with beauty were it more divine;
Thy smiles and kisses I cannot endure,

I'll not be wrapped up in those arms of thine :
Now show it, if thou be a woman right,-

Embrace and kiss and love me in despite.