Ballads, English -- Texts; English poetry -- Early modern, 1500-1700; Songs, English -- England -- Texts
Straight to heaven I raised
My restored sight,
And with loud voice I praised
The LORD of ever-during light.
And since I had strayed
From His ways so wide,
His grace I humbly prayed
Henceforth to be my guard and guide.
From JOHN MAYNARD's _Twelve Wonders of the World_, 1611.
THE COURTIER.
Long have I lived in Court,
Yet learned not all this while
To sell poor suiters smoke,
Nor where I hate to smile;
Superiors to adore,
Inferiors to despise,
To flie from such as fall,
To follow such as rise:
To cloak a poor desire
Under a rich array,
Nor to aspire by Vice,
Though 'twere the quicker way.
From ROBERT JONES' _Second Book of Songs and Airs_, 1601.
Love is a bable,
No man is able
To say 'tis this or 'tis that;
So full of passions
Of sundry fashions,
'Tis like I cannot tell what.
Love's fair in the cradle,
Foul in the fable,
'Tis either too cold or too hot;
An arrant liar,
Fed by desire,
It is and yet it is not.
Love is a fellow
Clad oft in yellow,[10]
The canker-worm of the mind,
A privy mischief,
And such a sly thief
No man knows which way to find.
Love is a wonder
That's here and yonder,
As common to one as to moe;
A monstrous cheater,
Every man's debtor;
Hang him and so let him go.
[10] The colour of jealousy.
From JOHN WILBYE's _Second Set of Madrigals_, 1609.
Love not me for comely grace,
For my pleasing eye or face,
Nor for any outward part:
No, nor for a constant heart!
For these may fail or turn to ill:
So thou and I shall sever.
Keep therefore a true woman's eye,
And love me still, but know not why!
So hast thou the same reason still
To doat upon me ever.
From ROBERT JONES' _Second Book of Songs and Airs_, 1601.
Love's god is a boy,
None but cowherds regard him,
His dart is a toy,
Great opinion hath marred him:
The fear of the wag
Hath made him so brag;
Chide him, he'll flie thee
And not come nigh thee.
Little boy, pretty knave, shoot not at random,
For if you hit me, slave, I'll tell your grandam.
Fond love is a child
And his compass is narrow,
Young fools are beguiled
With the fame of his arrow;
He dareth not strike
If his stroke do mislike:
Cupid, do you hear me?
Come not too near me.
Little boy, pretty knave, hence I beseech you,
For if you hit me, knave, in faith I'll breech you.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account