FROM FORDE'S MUSIC OF SUNDRY KINDS

THER

LOVE TILL DEATH

HERE IS a Lady, sweet and kind,—
Was never face so pleased my mind!
I did but see her passing by,

And yet I love her till I die.

Her gesture, motion, and her smiles,
Her wit, her voice, my heart beguiles :
Beguiles my heart, I know not why:
And yet I love her till I die.

Her free behaviour, winning looks,
Will make a lawyer burn his books:
I touch'd her not,- alas! not I:

And yet I love her till I die.

Had I her fast betwixt my arms,

Judge, you that think such sports were harms !
Were 't any harm? No, no! fie, fie!

For I will love her till I die.

Should I remain confinèd there

So long as Phoebus in his sphere,

I to request, she to deny,

Yet would I love her till I die.

Cupid is winged, and doth range

Her country,

so my Love doth change :

But change the earth or change the sky,

Yet will I love her till I die.

A MISTRESS DESCRIBED

HOW shall I then describe my Love?

When all men's skilful art

Is far inferior to her worth,

To praise the unworthiest part.

She's chaste in looks, mild in her speech, In actions all discreet,

Of nature loving, pleasing most,

In virtue all complete.

And for her voice a Philomel,
Her lips may all lips scorn;
No sun more clear than is her eye,
In brightest summer morn.

A mind wherein all virtues rest
And take delight to be,

And where all virtues graft themselves
In that most fruitful tree:

A tree that India doth not yield,

Nor ever yet was seen,
Where buds of virtue always spring,
And all the year grow green.

That country's blest wherein she grows,
And happy is that rock

From whence she springs: but happiest he
That grafts in such a stock.

SINCE FIRST I SAW YOUR FACE

INCE FIRST I saw your face I resolved

SING

To honour and renown you:

If now I be disdain'd, I wish

My heart had never known you.
What, I that loved and you that liked,
Shall we begin to wrangle?
No, no, no! my heart is fast,
And can not disentangle.

If I admire or praise you too much,
That fault you may forgive me ;
Or if my hands had stray'd to touch,
Then justly might you leave me.
I ask'd your leave, you bade me love :
Is 't now a time to chide me?

No, no, no! I'll love you still,

What fortune e'er betide me.

The sun, whose beams most glorious are,
Rejecteth no beholder;

And your sweet beauty, past compare,
Makes my poor eyes the bolder.
Where beauty moves, and wit delights,

And signs of kindness bind me,
There, O there, where'er I go,

I leave my heart behind me.

If I have wrong'd you, tell me wherein,
And I will soon amend it;

In recompense of such a sin,

Here is my heart;- I'll send it.
If that will not your mercy move,
Then for my life I care not.
Then, O then, torment me still,

And take my life, and spare not !

FROM CAMPION'S AIRS

THE RIGHT OF BEAUTY

IVE BEAUTY all her right,

She's not to one form tied;
Each shape yields fair delight

Where her perfections bide :
Helen, I grant, might pleasing be;
And Rosamund was as sweet as she.

Some the quick eye commends,
Some swelling lips and red;
Pale looks have many friends,

Through sacred sweetness bred:

Meadows have flowers that pleasure move,
Though roses are the flowers of Love.

Free Beauty is not bound

To one unmovèd clime;
She visits every ground,

And favours every time :

Let the old loves with mine compare,
My Sovereign is as sweet and fair.

FROM DEUTEROMELIA

THREE POOR MARINERS

WE be three Poor Mariners,

Newly come from the seas:

We spend our lives in jeopardy

While others live at ease:

Shall we go dance the round, the round, the round? Shall we go dance the round, the round, the round? And he that is a bully boy

Come pledge me on this ground, aground, aground!

We care not for those martial men

That do our states disdain ;

But we care for the merchant men,

Who do our states maintain :

To them we dance this round, around, around,-
To them we dance this round, around, around,-
And he that is a bully boy

Come pledge me on this ground, aground, aground!

FROM MELISMATA

THE THREE RAVENS

HERE were three Ravens sat on a tree,

THE

Down-a-down, hey down, hey down!

There were three Ravens sat on a tree,-
With a down!

There were three Ravens sat on a tree,--
They were as black as they might be :
With a down, derry derry derry down down!