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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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.

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This Ditty may be sung to the Quadrant Galliard.

O what a thing of strength is wine?
of how great power and might?
For it deceiueth euery one,
that takes therein delight.
The minde of King and fatherlesse:
It maketh equall in likenesse.

The bond-man and the free-man bothe,
Wine maketh in equality:
The poore-man and the welthy wretch,
Wine knitteth in affinity.
The Lordly peere and homely hind:
In Wine but slender difference finde.

Wine turneth euerie pensiue thought,
to ioy and gladnesse presentlie:
So that all they which drinke thereof,
doo cleane cast out of memorie.
All sorrow, greefe, debt or distresse:
Wine sets them in such pleasantnes.

Wine maketh euery hart so ritch,
that they forgette immediatly:
Their King, their Gouernour, and all,
and pleade their owne authoritie.
And all their words weigh verie deepe:
Till wine haue brought them fast a sleepe.

When men are entred in their drink,
they haue no minde at all:
Of loue to Brethren, freends or kin,
but some to weapons fall.
But when they are from Wine at last:
They not remember what hath past.

Is not Wine strongest now thinke you,
that carrieth with it such a might:
As forceth men to doo these things,
without regard of wrong or right?
This said, he paused for a space:
And to the second man gaue place.

FINIS.

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

The King is strongest.

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This Ditty may be sung to the Maskers Allemaigne, commonly called the olde Allemaigne.

If Wine be strong, what strength haue men,
which rule by land and Sea?
And ouer all things in them too,
they needes must strongest be.
But yet the King farre stronger is,
for he dooth rule all men:
And all things that he dooth commaunde,
they doo fulfill it then.

If he bidde warre amongst themselues,
they graunt to doo it presently:
Or els against their enemies,
they goe, and that couragiously.
They breake downe Mountaines, walles, and Towres,
they kill and killed be:
And looke what spoyles they winne in fight,
they bring the King to see.

And they that deale not in these broyles,
but till the earth at home:
They sowe, they reape, and to the King,
they bring it as his owne.

They one another force to pay,
theyr tribute to the King:
And looke what he commaundeth them,
they doo it euerie thing.

And yet the King is but one man,
but if he bidde them kill:
They kill: And if he bid them spare,
they spare with right good will.
If he bid smite, then doo they smite,
if he bid desolate:
They doo it: and if he bid build,
they doo obey it strait.

If he say, cut off, they cut off,
if he say: plant, they plant:
And all things els that he commaunds,
in them shall be no want.
Thus all his people and his Realme,
one onely man obey:
Meane while, he sitteth, eates and sleepes,
and if he list may play.

For these doo keepe him round about,
their toyles they set apart:
And doo what he commaundeth them,
they reuerence him in hart.
Is not the King strongest of all,
beeing honored in this sort?
Thus brake he off, and then the third,
his sentence did report.

FINIS.

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.

Women are strongest: but Trueth ouercommeth all things.

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This Dittie may be sung after the note of the Queenes Maiesties new Hunt is vp.

It neither is the mightie King,
nor any men beside:
Nor wine that may be strongest namde,
alas you are too wide.

Who is it that dooth gouerne these,
and ruleth ore them all:
Women they are, and Womens strength,
may not be counted small.

The King himselfe of Woman came,
and they that rule the earth:
Men of what state so euer they be,
of Women had their birth.

Yea, they that tooke the paines to plant,
the Uines that beare the Wine:
They came of Women at the first,
and vnto them encline.

They make mens garments, and beside,
they make them honorable:
No man without a Woman can,
long time to liue be able.

They that haue Siluer and Gold at will,
or ought that they may deeme:
When they faire Women doo behold,
more deere they them esteeme.

For all those things they doo forsake,
to gaze on beauties face:
Not weighing any precious thing,
faire beautie to embrace.

A man forsakes his Father deere,
that kept him all his life:
Yea, Kinne and Countrey dooth forgoe,
and cleaueth to his wife.

For her he ieoperdeth his life,
and dooth great hazards find:
He recks not Countrey, Dad nor Dame,
so he may please her minde.

By this you plainlie may perceiue,
Women ouer you doo sway:
At night you bring them home your hyre,
for labouring all the daie,

Manie sticks not to kill and steale,
and saile vpon the Seas:
To bring home booties for their Loues,
and glad their mindes to please.

Manie for Women haue runne mad,
and so haue seru'de in thrall:
Yea, some haue sinned and perished,
and thus (for Women) all.

I graunt the King is great in power,
all stand of him in awe:
Yet Apame the Kings Concubine,
not long sithence I sawe:

Her sit on the right hand of the King,
and verie pleasantlie:
She tooke the Crowne from off his heade,
which he endur'de familliarlie.

And on her head she put his Crowne,
and lifting vp her hande:
Therewith she gaue the King a stroke,
all this I stood and scande.

And in meane season what did he,
but on her gaze and looke?
And when she laughed, then he laught,
so well he could her brooke.

But if that she did frowne on him,
then would he flatter her:
That she might into good conceit,
the King againe prefer.

How thinke ye now of Women kinde:
are they not strong indeede:
The King and Princes lookt apace,
as though they were agreed.

But then againe he did beginne,
great is the earth (quoth hee)
The Heauen hie, the Sunne in course,
doth passe full speedilie.

For in one daie he compasseth,
the Heauen round about:
And turnes againe vnto his place,
where he first issued out,

Is not he great that made these things,
so wonderfull to see?
Then say that Trueth is strongest of all,
for very Trueth is hee.

All the whole earth dooth call for Trueth,
and Heauen blesseth it:
All things doo shake and tremble thereat,
it is not false one whit.

The Wine, the King, yea Women too,
and Men are wicked all:
Theyr works are naught, no Trueth in them,
they perrish and they fall.

But Trueth dooth constantlie abide,
and strongest is for euer:
She liues and raignes, and euer shall,
can be confounded neuer.

With her no choyse of person is,
she dooth the things are iust:
From wicked works she dooth abstaine,
men ought in her to trust.

Her iudgments euermore are sound,
her Maiestie ensueth:
Ouer all ages by her power,
Blest be the God of Trueth.

Thus brake he off, and then began,
the people all to cry:
Trueth greatest is, and strongest of all,
and Trueth shall neuer die.

FINIS.