A banqvet of daintie conceits :: :: University of Virginia Library

A banqvet of daintie conceits

Furnished with verie delicate and choyse inuentions, to delight their mindes, who take pleasure in Musique, and there-withall to sing sweete Ditties, either to the Lute, Bandora, Virginalles, or anie other Instrument. Published at the desire of both Honorable and Worshipfull personages, who haue had copies of diuers of the Ditties heerein contained. Written by A. M. [i.e. Anthony Munday]

Munday, Anthony (1553-1633)

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A Dyttie expressing a familiar controuersie between Wit and Will: wherein Wit mildlie rebuketh the follies of VVill, and sheweth him (as in a Glasse) the fall of wilfull heads.

A Dittie declaring the vncertaintie of our earthly honor, the certaine account that we must all make of death: and therefore that we should make our selues ready at all times, because we are ignoraunt of our latter howre.

In this Dittie is expressed, the sundry and daily mishaps that chaunce in Loue: deciphered by him that felt them, to his paine.

A Dittie, which sheweth by example of diuers worthy personages past in auncient time, that neither strength, wit, beautie, riches, or any transitory things (wherein worldlings put any confidence) can saue them from the stroke of Death.

A Dittie, deliuering a freendlye admonition to VVomen, to haue care of theyr own estates, to shunne such vaine occasions, as oftentimes call theyr good names in question: and after the example of Sara, to order themselues in all their actions.

A Dittie, wherein may be seene by many and sundry examples, that no man ought to giue ouer-much credite to this fraile and transitorie life: but as all other things soone vade and decay, so the life of man hath no greater assuraunce.

A Dittie, wherein is contained a very proper discourse, of a certaine welthy Merchaunt, who forgetting his profite, gaue his mind to pleasure.

In this Dittie, is set downe the morrall iudgment of the great and learned Philosopher Sendebar, on the storie before passed: which will be found, both worth the reading and regarding.

A Dittie, wherein is contained diuers good and necessary documents, which beeing embraced and followed earnestly, may cause a man to shunne manie euilles and mischaunces, that may otherwise fall vpon him, ere he can beware.

A pleasant Dittie, wherein is described, what falsehood oftentimes is found in felowship, verified by a couetous minded man, who laboured to deceiue his deere freende, but yet deceiued himselfe in the ende.

A Dittie, wherein the breuitie of mans life is described, how soone his pompe vanisheth away, and he brought to his latest home.

A Dittie, discoursing the communication betweene Christ and the woman of Samaria, that came to drawe water at Iacobs well, according as it is sette downe in the 4. chapter of Saint Iohn.

Of the three wise sentences, which three yong men of the Guarde of King Darius presented to him. The first said: VVine is strongest. The second said: The King is strongest. The third said: VVomen are strongest, but Truth ouercommeth all things. The first that spake of the strength of VVine, began to prooue his argument first as foloweth, according as it is written in the third and fourth Chap. of Esdras.

Wyne is strongest.

The second man, who spake of the strength of the King, after his fellow had ended, beganne to declare his minde.

Then the third, whose sentence was: that, women were strongest, but Trueth ouercommeth all things, and whose name was Zerobabell, began to speake as followeth.

A Glasse for all men to behold themselues in, especially such proude and prodigall minded men, and such delicate and daintie women who building on the pride of their beautie, and amiable complexion, thinke scorne to become aged, and that their sweete faces should be wrinckled, or their youthfulnes brought into subiection by age.

A Ditty, wherin is expressed a notable example of a slothfull man, who wilfully suffered himselfe to be robbed and dyspoyled of his goods by slothfulnes, which otherwise he might very well haue saued.

A Dittie, wherein may be discerned the troublesome daungers, & vneasie passages in this world: exampled by a very proper discourse of a Trauailer in his iourney, howe many and sundry mischaunces happened vnto him.

In this Dittie, is reuealed the morrall iudgment of this notable and excellent History, sette downe by the famous and learned Philosopher Tyabonus: wherein may be seene the very full course and wretched race of man in this transitory life.

A Dittie, wherein is liuely and amply described, the Mansion or Castel of vaine exercises & delights, which being maintained by Pride, Prodigalitie, Lust, Ambition, Comtempt of Vertue, and such other, is the ouerthrow of many that resorte thither, rather then to vertuous studies and exercises.

A Dittie, wherein the Author giueth his farewell to Fancie, hauing learned the auncient Prouerbe: that it is good to take warning by other mens mis-fortunes.

A pleasant Dittie, of a familiar communication, that passed betweene certaine Ladies, as they walked abroade into the fields for their recreation: wherein is prooued, that Beautie is nothing worth, except it be coupled with vertue.

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A Dittie, wherein is contained a very proper discourse, of a certaine welthy Merchaunt, who forgetting his profite, gaue his mind to pleasure.

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This Dittie may be sung after a pleasant newe note, called Prima visto.

A Merchaunt of great riches dwelt,
in Surria (as I reade:)
Whose yeerely traffique to the Cair,
full well suffisde his neede.

For bringing precious Stones from thence,
the profit rose so much:
By his account, vnto himselfe,
as very fewe had such.

This Merchaunt to giue greater grace,
to Iewels of such price:
Compounded with a skilfull man,
both excellent and wise.
To sette these stones in finest Golde,
agreeing by the daie:
Because he should not slack his worke,
a certaine summe to pay.

This cunning workman euerie daie,
applied his busines well:
And euery night receiu'de his wadge.
At last it so befell,
Unto the Merchants house was brought,
a goodly Instrument:
Which for the Beauty and the sound,
did highly him content.

The workeman (as his custome was)
vnto his businesse came:
When as the Merchaunt tooke the Harpe,
and shewed him the same.
His skill in Musicke beeing great,
did take the Instrument:
Demaunding if that he should play,
the Merchaunt was content.

So sweetly did he play thereon,
and with such rare delight:

That thus he wasted foorth the day,
vntill it was darke night.
Then for his duetie he dooth call,
and as much dooth require:
As if he had applyed his worke,
seruing for dailye hire.

The Merchaunt saies, he had not wrought
but played all the day:
The workman saies, you did commaund,
then I must needes obay.
Your bargaine is for daily wadge,
all day I haue beene heere:
And doone what you commaunded me,
my wadges then is cleere.

In breefe, they fell so much at square,
and so farre did proceede:
That by the Iudges of the Towne,
sentence must be decreed.
Which went against the Merchant flatte,
and so much he must pay:
The workeman as if he had wrought,
and laboured all the day.

The Merchaunt scant digested this,
that he so much must pay:
And might haue gotten twise so much,
if he had wrought all day.
His folly nowe he dooth repent,
and biddes such gaudes farewell:
He finds more sweetnesse in the Nutte,
then in the outward shell.

FINIS.