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 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.

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This Dittie is sung after a very prettie set note, which is called Primero.

What state so sure, but time subuarts?
what pleasure that is voide of paine:
What cheerefull change of former smarts,
but turnes strait waie to greefe againe?
What credite may a man repose,
vppon so fraile a clod of clay:
Which as to daie in sollace goes,
to morrowe is brought to earthly bay?
Thinke O man,
How thy glasse is daily sette to runne:
And how thy life shall passe, when it is doone,
Thy graue hath then thy glory wun,
and all thy pompe in cinders laide full lowe:

Take example
By the fragrant flower in the feeld,
Which as to daie in brauery is beheld,
The parching Sun hath ouer-queld,
O wretched man, euen thou thy selfe art so.
Howe then?
How canst thou bragge, or canst thou boast,
How that thou maiest,
Or that thou shalt
Enioy thy life vntill to morrow day:
Thou seest,
That death subdues the strength of Kings,
Of high and lowe,
Of rich and poore,
And all as one he dooth call awaie.
Tantara, tantara, tantara,
Thus dooth the Trompet sounde:
The Bell bids prepare a, prepare a, prepare a,
Your bodies to the ground.
Euen so,
While we are sporting, sporting, sporting,
Amidst our earnest play:
Death commeth stealing, stealing, stealing,
And takes our liues awaie,
To goe,
Put on your black aray, for needes you must away,
Unto your house of clay,
Prepare your conscience gay, against the dreadfull day,
That you may be.
Christes chosen flocke and sheepe,
Whom he will safely keepe,
Whether you doo wake or sleepe,
Then shall the hellish foe,
Away in terror goe,
This ioy to see.

Remember this, amidst your blisse,
that Christ hath redeemed vs by his blood:
Then let vs kill, our affections so ill,
to be elected his Seruants good.
Then shall we be sure, for aye to endure:
On Gods right hand among the pure.
When as the ill, against their will:
the endlesse paine shall passe vntill.
God graunt vs feruent constancie,
to auoide so great extremitie:
That by his grace continuallie,
we may purchase heauens felicitie.

FINIS.