University of Virginia Library

TO THE AUTHOR.

MORLEY! would any try whither MORe LYeth
In our ENGLISH, to merit
Or in th'ITALIAN spirit
Who in regard of his each wit defieth?
Lo the cleare proofe then if a man would make it
(O would some one but try it)
To choose his Song, and Gold enough lay by it,
And say to thee; heere, better this and take it.
I know (how ere thou lik'st them) thou could'st doe it
Wert thou but so put to it.
For if thou sing'st thus when nought doth incite thee
Aware when PRAYSE and GOLD did both inuite thee.

[I. Aprill is in my Mistris face]

Aprill is in my Mistris face

Aprill is in my Mistris face, my Mistris face. Aprill is in my Mistris face, And Iuly in hir eyes hath place, And Iuly in hir eyes, hir eyes hath place. With in hir bosome, with in hir bosome, is September, But in hir heart, But in hir heart hir heart, a could December. But in hir heart, But in hir heart, hir heart, a could December.

[II. Clorinda]

Clorinda false adieu thy loue tormēts mee

Clorinda false adieu thy loue tormēts mee, thy loue tormēts me; let Thirses Thirses haue thy hart since hee contents thee, Clorinda false adieu thy loue torments mee; thy loue tormēts mee; let Thirsis Thirsis haue thy hart since hee contents thee, O griefe & bitter anguish for thee I languish. Faine I alas would hide it O but who can abide it? I can I can not I abide it. Adieu adieu adieu thē, farewel, leaue my death now desiring; thou hast lo thy requiring. Thus

spake, Philistus on his hooke relying, thus spake hee on his hooke relying, and sweetly sweetly sweet fell a dyeing. Thus spake Philistus on his hooke relying, so spake he on his hooke relying, & sweetly sweetly sweet sel a dyeing.

[III. Why sit I heere complayning?]

Why sit I heere (alas) complaining?

Why sit I heere (alas) complaining? Why sit, why sit I heere (alas) complaining, sit I heere complaining! with sobs & gronings, my disdaining. O this cōtenteth, whome griefe tormēteth. Ah cease this weeping this weeping, foole alas she does but this to proue, to proue thee: away away away away away false comfort; no thou canst not moue mee: thou canst yu canst not moue mee, moue mee, thou canst yu canst not moue me, You ye saw to much, mine eies, shal deerly buy it, you ye saw to much to

much mine eies, shal deerly buy it, ye made my hart my hart beleue, I did espy it, Hence falce comfort in vaine thou doest ease mee, comfort in vaine thou seekst to ease mee, Away I say then, away I say thou canst not please mee, away I say then, O yu canst not thou canst not please, no thou canst not please mee, thou canst not please not please mee, thou canst not please mee, Away I say away I say thou canst not please mee.

[IIII. Since my teares and lamenting]

Since my teares and lamenting

Since my teares and lamenting, false loue bred thy contenting, still thus to weep for euer these fountaines shall perseuer shall perseuer. Till my hart griefe-brim filled, till my hart my hart, till my hart griefe-brim filled griefe-brim filled. (Out alas) alas be distilled. Out alas alas be distilled. Till my hart griefe-brim filled. til my hart my hart, til my hart griefe-brim filled griefe-brim filled. Out alas alas be distilled. Out alas alas be destilled.

[V. Help I fall]

Help I fall, I fall, Ladie

Help I fall, I fall, Ladie, my hope lo doth betray mee, my hope lo doth beetray mee; O help alas I fall, I fall, but you voutsafe to slay mee, Help I fall, I fal, I fall, my hope lo doth betray me, O help I fall Lady I fal but you voutsafe to slay mee. See a Nymph vnkind and cruell, and cruell, vnkind & cruell, vnkind vnkind & cruell, to scorn hir, onely Iuell. See a Nymph vnkind & cruell, and cruel, vnkind & cruel, vnkind, vnto scorn hir onely Iuel.

[VI. Lady Lady why grieue you still mee]

Lady Lady why grieue you still mee?

Lady Lady why grieue you still mee? Lady O no you loue mee, ô no you loue you loue mee, If this be loue to kill me. O strange tormēting, strāge tormēting break ah, break, alas, hart alas, ah, break, break hart alas hir hart contenting. And you that now doe disdain mee, And you that now disdaine mee, that now doe disdaine mee; Say then that griefe hath slaine mee, Say then that griefe hath slaine mee, And you that now doe disdaine mee, you that now, that now disdaine

mee, that now doe disdaine mee, (thē say that griefe hath slayne mee then say that griefe hath slayne mee.

[VII. In dewe of roses]

In dewe of roses

In dewe of roses, of roses steeping hir louely cheekes Lycoris thus satt weeping. In dewe of roses, In dewe of roses steeping, hir louely cheekes Lycoris Lycoris thus satt weeping. Ah Dorus falce ye hast my hart bereft mee, and now vnkind hast lest mee, heare alas heare ô heare mee, ay mee, ay mee, can not my bewty moue thee? Pitty thē, pitty mee because I loue thee: Ay mee, thou skorn'st the more I praye thee, and this thou doest to slaie mee. thou doest; to slaye mee. thou skorn'st the more I

praye thee, and all to slaie mee, yea this thou doest thou doest to slaie mee. Ah doe then, then doe kill mee and vaunt thee, kil mee: yet my ghost still shall haunt yet my ghost still shall haunt thee.

[VIII. In euery place]

In euery place, falce Loue alas assailes mee

In euery place, falce Loue alas assailes mee, & grief doth so tormēt so torment mee, that how can Ioy content mee? when hope and faith and all no whit auailes mee? O gentle Loue, O gentle gentle Loue, O gentle Loue, ô graunt mee lesse to grieue mee, or grieue mee more, or grieue mee more, and griefe will soone relieue mee.

[IX. Now is the gentle season]

Now is the gentle season freshly flowring

Now is the gentle season freshly flowring, to sing and play and daunce while May endureth, while May endureth, while May endureth, to sing & play & daūce while May endureth, while May endureth; and wooe & wed (toe) & wooe & wed (toe) and wooe & wed, & wooe and wed (toe) and wooe and wed, that sweet delight procureth.

[X. The fields a broad]

The fields abroad with spāgled flowres are guilded

The fields abroad with spāgled flowres are guilded. The fields abroad with spāgled flowres are guilded. with spangled flowres are guilded. The meades (are) mantled. the meades (are) mantled, the meades (are) mantled and closes, in May each bush arayed, & sweet & sweet wilde roses, and sweet wilde roses, the Nightingale hir boure hath gayly builded, the Nightingale hir bowre hath gayly hath gayly builded, and full of kindely lust, and Loues inspiring; I loue I loue, I loue I loue (she)

sings hark hir mate desiring; and full of kindely lust, & Loues inspiring: I loue I loue I loue I loue (she) sings hark hir mate desiring.

[XI. Come Louers follow me]

Come Louers follow me & leaue this weeping

Come Louers follow me & leaue this weeping follow mee, see where the Louely little God, where the Louely God Sweetly lies a sleeping where the Louely little God, where the louely God lies sleeping. Soft then: softly for feare wee wake him softly for feare wee wake him, and to his bowe he take him his bowe he take him. O thē if he but spie vs if he but spie vs, whether shall wee thē flye vs; shall wee flie vs? And if he come, and if he come vpon

vs, Out well away out well away then are wee woe beegon vs. Hence then away follow mee, away begon follow mee, dispatch vs, hence then away follow mee away beegon dispatch vs; and that a pace, that a pace, for feare hee catch vs, & that a pace least hee catch vs and that a pace, ere hee wake, for feare hee catch vs.

[XII. No, no, shee doth but flout mee]

No no no no no no thou doest but flout mee

No no no no no no thou doest but flout mee, thou doest flout, thou doest flout mee, thou doest flout thou doest flout mee thou doest but flout mee: fie a way fie a way fie a way I say, nay, thou canst liue canst liue with out mee, yea thou canst liue well with out mee, yea thou canst liue with out mee. Since for mee then you care not, you care not spite mee and spare not. O heauie parting; turne ô turne, turne ô turne & cure this smarting. Come then ô come with

comfort, ô come with comfort, come then, ô come with Comfort ô come with comfort comfort pitie my crying. ô helpe alas, ô help alas ô help alas for now I lye a dyeing. come then ô come with comfort, come then ô come with comfort comefort, pitie my crying, ô help alas, ô help alas, ô help alas help alas for now I lye a dyeing.

[XIII. I will no more come to thee]

I will no more no more come to thee

I will no more no more come to thee come to thee I wil no more come to thee, ye flowtst mee when I woe thee. I will no more, no more come to thee, I wil no more come to thee, that flowt'st mee when I woe thee. Still ty hy hy hy hy thou cryest still ty hy hy hy hy still ty hy hy hy hy yu cryest still ty hy hy hy hy thou cryest; & all my louely louely louely rings & my pinnes and my gloues denyest. O say alas, ô say what moues thee what moues thee, to grieue him so, to grieue him

so that loues thee? Leaue alas, ah leaue alas, leaue tormenting, ah leaue ah leaue leaue alas tormenting, and giue my burning my burning, yet yet some small relenting. Leaue alas, ah leaue tormenting, ah leue alas alas a while, alas leue a while leue alas tormenting, and giue my burning yet some small relenting.

[XIIII. Beesides a foūtaine]

Beesides a foūtaine, of sweete brier and roses

Beesides a foūtaine, of sweete brier and roses; heard I two Louers talk in sweet & wanton gloses. Besides a fountaine, of sweet brier & roses; heard I two Louers (loueing) talk these sweet and wāton gloses, Say dainty deere, quoth hee, to whom, tel me, daintie deer quoth hee, to whome is thy liking tyed? To whome but thee my bonny loue; to whom but thee my bonny bonny bonny loue my loue ye gentle Nimphe replied. I die I die I die quoth hee quoth hee; & I & I & I said

shee, Ah giue me then, ah giue me, giue me then quoth hee but he durst not say giue mee some token, and with his hands the rest hee would haue spoken; fie away nay fie away, cryed the Nimph then, fie away, nay fie away then cry'd the Nimphe (alas) you well doe know it: Ah quoth hee sweetly come kisse mee then sweetly come kisse mee then, sweetly kisse mee and shew it.

[XV Sport wee my louely treasure]

The first part.

Sport wee, Sport wee my louely treasure

Sport wee, Sport wee my louely treasure Sport wee my louely treasure my louely treasure. For why, long loue long seruing Asketh equall deseruing deseruing, Asketh equall deseruing, deseruing deseruing, Asketh equal equal deseruing, Let bee our sportfull pleasure, Let bee our sportfull pleasure pleasure, Let bee our sportfull pleasure, our sportfull pleasure. To kisse, to kisse. To kisse to kisse to kisse the while wee

may now, To kisse the while wee may now, And that you wot well what Loues other token. Ioy more then can bee spoken, Ioy more then can bee spoken. Ioy more then can bee spoken bee spoken.

[XVI. O sweet alas]

The second part.

O swet alas, O sweet alas what say you?

O swet alas, O sweet alas what say you? O sweet alas O sweet alas what say you? O sweet alas, O sweet alas what say you? ay mee, ay mee, that face ay mee that face that face discloses, The Scarlet blush, of sweet vermillian roses, and yet alas, and yet alas I know not, If such a crimsen, staining, be for loue, be for loue or disdaining But if of loue it grow not, but if of loue it grow not, bee it disdain cōceiued, to see vs of loues

fruits so long so long be-reued. But if of loue it grow not, But if of loue it grow not, but if of loue, but if of loue it grow not, bee it disdaine conceiued, to see vs of loues fruits so long bereued so long beereued.

[XVII. Hark iolly shepheards]

Hark iolly shepheards hark

Hark iolly shepheards hark: hark you yon lusty ringing! hark (alas) hark how cheerefully the bells daunce hark how cheerefully the bells, how cheerfully the bells daunce, the whilst the ladds are springing. Gow then, why sit wee heere delaying? sit wee heere thus delaying, why sit wee delaying, why then sit wee delaying? and all yon merry merry merry wanton lasses playing, & all yon merry merry laddes, and merry merry wanton lasses wanton lasses playing, and all yon merry merry lads merry lads, lads and

lasses playing. How gayly Flora leads it, & sweetly treads it? The woods & groues they ring, they ring lowdly resoūding, with Eccho sweet reboūding. The woods and groues they ring they ring lowdly resounding, with Eccho sweet rebounding.

[XVIII. Hoe who comes heere]

Hoe who comes here all alone with bagpiping

Hoe who comes here all alone with bagpiping & drūming with bagpiping & drūming? O the Morris tis I see; tis the Morris daunce a cōming. Hoe who comes heere all alone with bagpiping & drūming, O the Morris tis I see, tis the Morris, daūce a comming. Come Ladies come come quickly, come away come I say, ô come, come quickly, & see about how trim, how trim they daūce & trickly. and see about how trim they daūce & trickly. Hey ther again hey ho ther again,

hey ho how ye bells they shake it! now for our town hey ho, now for our town ther & take it: now for our town hey ho, now for our town & take it. Soft a while not a way so fast, they melt them: Piper, Piper, Piper! be hāgd a while knaue, looke, ye dauncers swelt thē, ye daūcers swelt thē. Out ther, out a while stand out you come to far, to far you come I say in, ther giue the hobby horse more rome for to play in, ther giue the hobby horse more rome to play in, more rome to play in.

[XIX. Dye now my hart]

Dye now my heart from thy delight exiled

Dye now my heart from thy delight exiled, dye now my hart from thy delight exiled, thy loue is dead and all our hope beeguiled. O Death ô Death vnkind and cruell, vnkind & cruell, to rob the world so, of that hir fayrest iewell, hir fairest iewell. Now shoot at mee now shoot & spare not, Now shoot at mee now shoot & spare not, now shoot at mee and spare not, kill mee I care not. Thinck not ô Death alas thy dart shall paine mee; why shouldst why shouldst thou

heere against my will retaine mee, retaine mee? O heare a dolfull, a dolfull wretches crying, or I dye for want of dyeing, or I dye for wāt of dyeing, or I dye I dye for want of dyeing.

[XX. Say gentle Nymphes]

Say gentle Nymphes ye tread these mountains

Say gentle Nymphes ye tread these mountains saye gentle Nymphes that tread these mountaines these mountaines, whilst sweetly you sit playing, sit playing, sweetly sit playing. whilst sweetly you sit playing. Saw you my Daphne my (Sweet) Daphne straying along your Cristall foūtains. If so you chaunce to meet hir, kisse hir and kindly greet hir, then these sweet garlands take hir, and say from mee, and say from mee I neuer wil forsake hir. If so you chaunce to meet

hir, kise hir and kindly greet hir, then these sweet garlands take hir, and say from mee, and say from mee I neuer will forsake hir.