AIN would I change that note 1

FAIN

To which fond love hath charmed me,

Long long to sing by rote,

Fancying that that harmed me :
Yet when this thought doth come,
"Love is the perfect sum
Of all delight,"

I have no other choice

Either for pen or voice
To sing or write.

O Love, they wrong thee much
That say thy sweet is bitter,
When thy rich fruit is such
As nothing can be sweeter.
Fair house of joy and bliss,
Where truest pleasure is,
I do adore thee;

I know thee what thou art,
I serve thee with my heart

And fall before thee.2

ANON.

S

WEET Love, my only treasure,3
For service long unfeigned

Wherein I nought have gained,
Vouchsafe this little pleasure,
To tell me in what part
My Lady keeps her heart.

1 From Captain Tobias Hume's The First Part of Airs, French, Polish, and others together (1605).

2 This exquisite lyric is printed in The Lyrics from Elizabethan Song Books, edited by Mr. A. H. Bullen, to whom the editor wishes to express his indebtedness.

3 From Robert Jones's Ultimum Vale, or, Third Book of Airs (1608).

If in her hair so slender,
Like golden nets entwined,
Which fire and art have 'fined,
Her thrall my heart I render
For ever to abide

With locks so dainty tied.

If in her eye she bind it,
Wherein that fire was framed
By which it is enflamed,
I dare not look to find it,
I only wish it sight
To see that pleasant light.

But if her breast have deigned
With kindness to receive it,
I am content to leave it

Though death thereby were gained.
Then Lady, take your own
That lives by you alone.

LOVE not me for comely grace,1

For my pleasing eye or face,

Nor for any outward part :

No, nor for a constant heart!

For these may fail or turn to ill :
So thou and I shall sever.

Keep therefore a true woman's eye,
And love me still, but know not why!
So hast thou the same reason still

To doat upon me ever.

ANON.

ANON.

1 From John Wilbye's Second Set of Madrigals (1609).

N a time the amorous Silvy 1

ΟΝ

Said to her shepherd, "Sweet, how do you? Kiss me this once, and then God be wi' you,

My sweetest dear !

Kiss me this once, and then God be wi' you,
For now the morning draweth near.'

With that, her fairest bosom showing,
Opening her lips, rich perfumes blowing,
She said, "Now kiss me and be going,

My sweetest dear!

Kiss me this once, and then be going,
For now the morning draweth near.

With that the shepherd waked from sleeping,
And spying where the day was peeping,
He said, "Now take my soul in keeping,

My sweetest dear !

Kiss me, and take my soul in keeping
Since I must go, now day is near.

ANON.

THOSE eyes that set my fancy on a fire,2

Those crisped hairs that hold my heart in chains, Those dainty hands which conquered my desire,

That wit which of my thoughts doth hold the reins : Then Love, be judge, what heart may therewith stand Such eyes, such head, such wit, and such a hand? Those eyes for clearness doth the stars surpass, Those hairs obscure the brightness of the sun, Those hands more white than ever ivory was,

1 From John Attye's First Book of Airs (1622). 2 From William Barley's New Book of Tabliture (1596).

That wit even to the skies hath glory won.
O eyes that pierce our hearts without remorse!
O hairs of right that wear a royal crown!

O hands that conquer more than Cæsar's force!
O wit that turns huge kingdoms upside down!

ANON.

HERE is a lady sweet and kind,1

THERE

Was never face so pleased 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.

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.

SONG

WEEP eyes, break heart!
My love and I must part.

ANON.

Cruel fates true love do soonest sever :
O, I shall see thee, never, never, never!
O, happy is the maid whose life takes end
Ere it knows parents' frown or loss of friend!
Weep eyes, break heart!

My love and I must part.

THOMAS MIDDLETON

1 From Forde's Music of Sundry Kinds. Three verses of six.

SE

FOR CHARIS 1

EE the chariot at hand here of Love,
Wherein my Lady rideth!

Each that draws is a swan or a dove,
And well the car Love guideth.
As she goes, all hearts do duty
Unto her beauty;

And enamour'd, do wish, so they might
But enjoy such a sight,

That they still were to run by her side,

Through swords, through seas, whither she would ride.

Do but look on her eyes, they do light
All that Love's world compriseth!
Do but look on her hair, it is bright
As Love's star when it riseth!

Do but mark, her forehead's smoother

Than words that soothe her: And from her arched brows, such a grace Sheds itself through the face,

As alone there triumphs to the life

All the gain, all the good of the elements' strife.

Have you seen but a bright lily grow

Before rude hands have touch'd it?
Have you mark'd but the fall of the snow
Before the soil hath smutch'd it?
Have you felt the wool of the beaver ?

Or swan's down ever?

1 The second and third stanzas, so exquisite in their beauty, are from "The Devil is an Ass" (1616). The whole song, however, appeared in Underwoods in 1640.