THIS song is to be found in the Roxburghe Collection of Black-letter Ballads, I. 454, with the title "A well-wishing to a place of pleasure. To an excellent new tune," and with six more lines in each stanza. We quote it here for contrast sake. A WELL-WISHING TO A PLACE OF PLEASURE. See the building To an excellent new Tune. Where whilst my mistris lived in Was pleasures essence, See how it droopeth And how nakedly it looketh Without her presence: 2 Every creature That appertaines to nature 'bout this house living, Doth resemble, If not dissemble, due praises giving.2 And seem to murmur for her long absence: Flora springing Is ever bringing Dame Venus ease.2 Oh see the Arbour where that she with joy did ravish me. The pretty nightingale Haile to those groves Let the flowers be springing, 2 Many Cupids measures And cause for true Loves pleasures, Let all contentment For mirth's presentment this day be found 2: And may the grass grow ever green than beauties lovely Queen Jew's Tragedy, act 4, 4to, 1662.-N. B. The marginal corrections are made from this Parody:"-P. 2-2 Not in the Percy Folio copy.-F. Mr. W. Chappell says that the "excellent new tune of this song was adopted for other songs." SEE the building which whilest1 my Mistress liued in was pleasures asseince 2 ! see how it droopeth, & how Nakedly it looketh with-out her presence! heearke how the hollow winds doe blowe, & how thé 3 Murmer in every corner for her being absent, from whence they cheefly grow! see the places where I enioyed those graces oft in this arbour, whiles that shee with melting kisses disstilling blisses Haile to those groves where wee inioyed our loues May the trees be springing, & the pretty burds be theire Roundelayes! Oh! may the grasse be euer greene wheron wee, lying, haue oft beene tryinge More seuerall wayes of pleasure then loues queene, I where once.--P. seene. lling 2 With pleasure's essence.-P. [half a page missing.] Walking in a Meadow gren. [Page 93 of MS.] PERHAPS the following may have been suggested by the ballad of "The Two Leicestershire Lovers; to the tune of And yet methinks I love thee," a copy of which is in the Roxburghe Collection, I. 412. The subject of each is two lovers; both poems are in nearly the same metre, and begin with the same line. The difference is in the after-treatment. The "Two Leicester shire Lovers" begins thus:- Walking in a meadow green For recreation's sake, To drive away some sad thoughts I spied two lovely lovers, Did hear each other's woe, This was printed by John Trundle, at the sign of "The Nobody," in Barbican—the ballad-publisher immortalized by Ben Jonson in his "Every Man in his Humour." ("Well, if he read this with patience, I'll go and troll ballads for Master John Trundle yonder, the rest of my mortality.") The printed copy is therefore as old as the manuscript.-W. C. 4 WALKING in a meadowe greene, where p[r]imrose rankes did stand on bankes Walking out, They lay soe close together, they made me much to wonder; I knew not which was wether, vntill I saw her vnder. then off he came, & blusht for shame His lookes were dull & verry sadd, ffeare not, but freely spend it, & play about at in & out ; once more, & none can mend it." And then he thought to venter her, thinking the ffitt was on him; but when he came to enter her, the poynt turnd1 backe vpon him. Yet shee said, "stay! goe not away although the point be bended! but toot againe, & hit the vaine ! once more, & none can Mend it.” Then in her Armes shee did him fold, There is a tag to the d like an s.-F. 40 44 48 once more, & none can mend it!" Adew, adew, sweet hart," quoth hee, nay, then you doe me wronge," quoth shee, "to leaue me thus alone." Away he went when all was spent, wherat shee was offended; Like a troian true she made a vow and cried still" Once more." He declined and went away. She declared she'd get some one else. ffins. Qui n'en a qu'un, n'en a point: Prov. (Meant of Cocks, Bulls, &c., and sometimes alledged by lascivious women,) as good have none as have no more but one. Cotgrave.-F. |