I. A LOVE SONG. BY MASTER WITHER. -Is given from a small miscellany in 12mo. intitled, "A description of love: with certaine epigrams, elegies, and sonnets. And also Johnsons answere to master Withers. The second edition, with the crie of Ludgate, and the song of the Begger." Lond. 1620*.-The third verse is quoted by Hearne in his notes and spicilege on William of Newborough, (p. 756.) and by him attributed to the above writer. In some editions of that humourous trifle, "The Companion to the Guide," one of the juvenile productions of the present laureat, may be found a similar song, which the ingenious author ascribes to Taylor the Water-Poet, and supposes to be older than this of Withers, being printed in 1618; a circumstance by no means conclusive; and whoever examines and compares the two pieces can scarcely hesitate a moment in deciding in favour of the following ballad, both as to antiquity and merit. To cut the matter short, however, we shall attempt to ascertain the very year in which it was written. The author was admitted of Magdalen College, Oxford, in 1604, and having pursued his studies for three years, left the University for the Inns of Chancery. Now it will be evident that this song was written at college, as well from its being clearly a youthful composition, as from the mention he makes in it of his summer excursions to Medley, 66 a large house between Godstow and Oxford, very pleasantly situated just by the river, and a famous place for recreation in summer timet." See also V. 60. If therefore we allow the first year for his falling in love, the second for the favourable return he experienced, and the third for the loss of his mistress, this song must have been written in 1606, when the author was 18 years of age. John Taylor was on all occasions the professed * The 8th edition of this popular little book appeared in 1636, and the ninth in 1638. + Hearne ubi supra. p. 755, 756.. antagonist of Wither, and there cannot be a doubt that the song printed by Mr. Warton is a direct parody of the following. George Wither was born in 1588, and died in 1667. The reader will find some account of him in Percys Reliques, Vol. III. p. 190. and a very long one in Woods Athena Oxonienses, Vol. II. p. 391. I LOV'D a lasse, a faire one, As faire as 'e'er' was seene; I thought she lov'd me too; Her haire, like gold, did glister, Which past all others farre : She'd, o she'd kisse me too! In summer-time, to Medley My love and I to rowe; 10 20 Many a merry meeting My love and I have had; She made my heart full glad: Like to the morning-dew; But, now, alasse! sh'as left me, And, as abroad we walked, As lovers fashion is, Oft, as we sweetly talked, The sun would steale a kisse, The winde upon her lips Likewise most sweetly blew; Falero, lero, loo. 30 40 Her cheekes were like the cherrie, Her skin as white as snow; When she was blyth and merrie, She angel-like did show: Her wast exceeding small, The fives did fit her shoo*: But, now, alasse! sh'as left me, * This is understood to mean, that her shoes were made upon the last No. 5, being one of the smallest size. In summer-time or winter, No cares we ever knew; As we walk'd home together, At midnight, through the towne, To keepe away the weather, O're her I'd cast my gowne; 50 60 No colde my love should feele, 'Whate'er' the heavens could doe, But, now, alasse! sh'as left me, Like doves we would be billing, Since that they prov'd untrue, To maidens vowes and swearing 70 They are as false as faire, Unconstant, fraile, untrue; For mine, alasse! hath left me, "Twas I that paid for all things, 'Twas 'others' dranke the wine; I cannot now recall things, 80 |