Yet as I am, and as I may,
I must and will be thine,
Though all too little for thy self
Vouchsafing to be mine.

Sing lullaby, my little boy,

Sing lullaby, mine only joy!

From THOMAS CAMPION'S Fourth
Book of Airs (circ. 1617).

VEIL, Love, mine eyes! O hide from me

VEIL

The plagues that charge the curious mind!
If beauty private will not be,

Suffice it yet that she proves kind.
Who can usurp heaven's light alone?
Stars were not made to shine on one.

Griefs past recure fools try to heal,
That greater harms on less inflict:
The pure offend by too much zeal,
Affection should not be too strict:
He that a true embrace will find
To beauty's faults must still be blind.

From Christ Church MS. I. 4. 78.

VICTORIOUS Time, whose winged feet do fly

More swift than eagles in the azure sky,

Haste to thy prey, why art thou tardy now
When all things to thy powerful fate do bow?

O give an end to cares and killing fears,
Shake thy dull sand, unravel those few years
Are yet untold, since nought but discontents
Clouds all our earthly joy with sad laments,
That when thy nimble hours shall cease to be
We may be crown'd with blest eternity.

VIEW

From THOMAS CAMPION'S Two
Books of Airs (circ. 1613).

VIEW me, Lord, a work of Thine!
Shall I then lie drown'd in night?
Might Thy grace in me but shine,

I should seem made all of light.

But my soul still surfeits so

On the poison'd baits of sin,
That I strange and ugly grow;
All is dark and foul within.

Cleanse me, Lord, that I may kneel
At thine altar pure and white:
They that once Thy mercies feel,

Gaze no more on earth's delight.

Worldly joys like shadows fade

When the heavenly light appears :
But the covenants Thou hast made,
Endless, know nor days nor years.

In Thy Word, Lord, is my trust,

To Thy mercies fast I fly;
Though I am but clay and dust,
Yet Thy grace can lift me high.

From Add. MS. 17790.

VERE I made juror of that quest

WERE

Where Venus' son should be arraign'd,

Before his fault were scarce exprest

Or any party had complain'd,

I would cry" Guilty! the boy is guilty!"

And if by glancing of an eye

A thief should slily steal a heart,

It should be counted felony ;

But if it did increase much smart,

I would cry "Murther! a grievous murther!"

But if another were repaid

To satisfy for such a theft,

Though he had stol'n, it should be said

He had as good behind him left,

And then cry "Quit him! O sweet thief! quit him !”

From JOHN DANYEL'S Songs for the Lute, l'iol, and Voice, 1606.

HAT delight can they enjoy

WHAT

Whose hearts are not their own,

But are gone abroad astray

And to others' bosoms flown?

Silly comforts, silly joy,

Which fall and rise as others move Who seldom use to turn our way! And therefore Chloris will not love, For well I see

How false men be,

And let them pine that lovers prove.

From ROBERT JONES' First Book of
Airs, 1601.

HAT if I seek for love of thee?

WHA

Shall I find

Beauty kind,

To desert that still shall dwell in me?

Though thy looks have charmed mine eyes,
I can forbear to love;

But if ever sweet desire

Set my woeful heart on fire,

Then can I never remove.

Frown not on me unless thou hate;
For thy frown

Cast[s] me down

To despair of my most hapless state.
Smile not on me unless thou love;
For thy smile

Will beguile

My desires, if thou unsteadfast prove.
If thou needs wilt bend thy brows,
A-while refrain, my dear;

But if thou wilt smile on me,
Let it not delayed be:

Comfort is never too near.

From THOMAS CAMPION's Third
Book of Airs (circ. 1617). ·

'HAT is it all that men possess, among them

WHAT selves conversing?

Wealth or fame or some such boast, scarce worthy the

rehearsing.

Women only are men's good, with them in love conversing.

If weary, they prepare us rest; if sick, their hand attends us;

When with grief our hearts are prest, their comfort best befriends us;

Sweet or sour, they willing go to share what fortune

sends us.

K