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Dulcina,1

[Page 178 of MS.]

THE first notice of this ballad that Mr. Chappell has found is "in the registers of the Stationers' Company, under the date of May 22, 1615, [where] there is an entry transferring the right of publication from one printer to another, and it is described as 'A Ballett of Dulcina, to the tune of Forgoe me nowe, come to me soone," the burden of the present ballad: ("Pop. Music," v. 2. p. 771). At v. 1. p. 143 the tune is given; it is to be played cheerfully." The earlier title of the tune seems to have soon disappeared; for, says Mr. Chappell, v. 1. p. 142, "this tune is referred to under the names of 'Dulcina,'' As at noon Dulcina rested,''From Oberon in Fairy-land,' and 'Robin Goodfellow.' . . The ballad of As at noon Dulcina rested' is said, upon the authority of Cayley and Ellis, to have been written by Sir Walter Raleigh. The milk-woman in Walton's 'Angler' says, 'What song was it, I pray you? Was it, Come shepherds, deck your heads,' or 'As at noon Dulcina rested?' &c." Mr. Chappell gives a list of eight ballads and songs directed to be sung to this tune, and the last of them is one that shows an earlier person than Rowland Hill (?) didn't see why the devil should have all the good tunes to himself: for "Dulcina is one of the tunes to the Psalms and Songs of Sion, turned into the language and set to the tunes of a strange land," 1642.

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As att noone Dulc[i]na rested

in her sweete & shadé2 bower,
there came a shepeard, & requested

in her lapp to sleepe and hower 3;

This song is printed in many collections of songs.-P.

2 shady.-P.

3

an hour.-P.

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32

But hee her wast still held as ffast

as shee was constant to her tune,

though neere soe fayre her speechers were,
"forgoe me &c."

He demands, "what time or3 pleasure
can there be more soone1 then now?"
shee sayes, "night giues loue that leysure
that 5 the day cannott allow."

"the said kind sight forgiues delight,"
quoth hee, "more easilye then the moone."
"In Venus playes be bold," shee sayes,
"fforgoe me &c."

1 to say.-P.

2 The e has a flourish at the end like another e.-F.

3 for, qu.-P.

No, he held her fast.

"What better time than now?"

"Be bold," she says.

4 apt, meet, or fit.-P. ?MS. seene.-F. 5 which.-P.

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Off a Puritane.

[Page 182 of MS.]

THERE are several other ballads of this kind extant, about Puritans and holy sisters. They were a favourite topic with the Cavaliers, more especially after the Puritans came into power.-W. C.

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Thé huft & puft with many heaues,

till that the both were tyred,

"alas!" quoth shee, "youle spoyle the leaues;

my peticoates all Myred!

She does.

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