Her face was full of woe; But such a woe (believe me) as wins more hearts Than Mirth can do with her enticing parts.
Sorrow was there made fair, And Pa.s.sion wise; Tears a delightful thing; Silence beyond all speech, a wisdom rare: She made her sighs to sing, And all things with so sweet a sadness move As made my heart at once both grieve and love.
O fairer than aught else The world can show, leave off in time to grieve!
Enough, enough: your joyful look excels: Tears kill the heart, believe.
O strive not to be excellent in woe, Which only breeds your beauty"s overthrow.
Numbers from Elizabethan Miscellanies & Song-books by Unnamed or Uncertain Authors. 1604
67. Sister, Awake!
Thomas Bateson"s First Set of English Madrigals
SISTER, awake! close not your eyes!
The day her light discloses, And the bright morning doth arise Out of her bed of roses.
See the clear sun, the world"s bright eye, In at our window peeping: Lo, how he blusheth to espy Us idle wenches sleeping!
Therefore awake! make haste, I say, And let us, without staying, All in our gowns of green so gay Into the Park a-maying!
Numbers from Elizabethan Miscellanies & Song-books by Unnamed or Uncertain Authors. 1605
68. Devotion Captain Tobias Hume"s The First Part of Airs, &c.
FAIN would I change that note To which fond Love hath charm"d me Long, long to sing by rote, Fancying that that harm"d 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.
Numbers from Elizabethan Miscellanies & Song-books by Unnamed or Uncertain Authors. 1607
69. Since First I saw your Face Thomas Ford"s Music of Sundry Kinds
SINCE first I saw your face I resolved to honour and renown ye; If now I be disdained I wish my heart had never known ye.
What? I that loved and you that liked, shall we begin to wrangle?
No, no, no, my heart is fast, and cannot disentangle.
If I admire or praise you too much, that fault you may forgive me; Or if my hands had stray"d but a touch, then justly might you leave me.
I ask"d you leave, you bade me love; is "t now a time to chide me?
No, no, no, I"ll love you still what fortune e"er betide me.
The Sun, whose beams most glorious are, rejecteth no beholder, And your sweet beauty past compare made my poor eyes the bolder: Where beauty moves and wit delights and signs of kindness bind me, There, O there! where"er I go I"ll leave my heart behind me!
Numbers from Elizabethan Miscellanies & Song-books by Unnamed or Uncertain Authors. 1607
70. There is a Lady sweet and kind Thomas Ford"s Music of Sundry Kinds
THERE is a Lady sweet and kind, Was never face so pleased my mind; I did but see her pa.s.sing 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.
Numbers from Elizabethan Miscellanies & Song-books by Unnamed or Uncertain Authors. 1609
71. Love not me for comely grace John Wilbye"s Second Set of Madrigals
LOVE not me for comely grace, 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!
Numbers from Elizabethan Miscellanies & Song-books by Unnamed or Uncertain Authors. 1622
72. The Wakening John Attye"s First Book of Airs
ON a time the amorous Silvy Said to her shepherd, "Sweet, how do ye?
Kiss me this once and then G.o.d be with ye, My sweetest dear!
Kiss me this once and then G.o.d be with ye, For now the morning draweth near."
With that, her fairest bosom showing, Op"ning 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."
Nicholas Breton. 1542-1626
73. Phillida and Coridon
IN the merry month of May, In a morn by break of day, Forth I walk"d by the wood-side When as May was in his pride: There I spied all alone Phillida and Coridon.
Much ado there was, G.o.d wot!
He would love and she would not.
She said, Never man was true; He said, None was false to you.
He said, He had loved her long; She said, Love should have no wrong.
Coridon would kiss her then; She said, Maids must kiss no men Till they did for good and all; Then she made the shepherd call All the heavens to witness truth Never loved a truer youth.
Thus with many a pretty oath, Yea and nay, and faith and troth, Such as silly shepherds use When they will not Love abuse, Love, which had been long deluded, Was with kisses sweet concluded; And Phillida, with garlands gay, Was made the Lady of the May.
Nicholas Breton (?). 1542-1626
74. A Cradle Song The Arbor of Amorous Devices, 1593-4
COME little babe, come silly soul, Thy father"s shame, thy mother"s grief, Born as I doubt to all our dole, And to thyself unhappy chief: Sing lullaby, and lap it warm, Poor soul that thinks no creature harm.