J. POTTER BRISCOE, F.R.S.L.

Editor of "The Bibelots"

E. P. DUTTON AND CO. 31 W. 23RD STREET NEW YORK

[vii]

INTRODUCTION.

The spirit of reform which was developed during the early part of the sixteenth century brought about a desire on the part of young men of means to travel on the continent of Europe. This was for the purpose of making themselves acquainted with the politics, social life, literature, art, science, and commerce of the various nations of the same, especially of France, Spain, and Italy. These young Englishmen on their return introduced into the society in which they mixed not only the politenesses of these countries, but the wit of Italy, and the character of the poetry which was then in vogue in Southern Europe. Among these travellers during the reign of Henry the Eighth were Sir Thomas Wyatt and the Earl of Surrey. These courtiers possessed the poetical faculty, and therefore paid special attention to literary form. As a result they introduced the Sonnet of the Petrarchan type into England. The amorous verse of the inhabitants of these sunny climes took hold of the young Englishmen. Many men of rank and education, who did not regard

themselves as of the world of letters, penned pleasant verse, much of it being of an amatory character based upon that of the Italians. During the reign of "Good Queen Bess" England was full of song. Of the writers of love verses William Watson occupied a very high, probably the highest, position during the time of Elizabeth. A glance at the Table of Contents of this volume will show that some of the best poets who were born between the years 1503 and 1679 have handed down to us poetical [viii]contributions of this character.

Of the Elizabethan amatory verses only a small portion has been transmitted to us. That which possessed least literary merit did not long survive, and, no doubt, some of considerable merit has been lost too. The best has been preserved. Selections from these, arranged in chronological order, appear in this anthology. Richard Tottel printed his "Miscellany" in 1557. It is to this work, and to Richard Edwards' "Paradise of Dainty Devices," issued nineteen years later, that much of the best poetical literature of the sixteenth century has come down to us. The first-named passed through eight editions during thirty years: the last issue being dated 1587.

From the amatory verses produced by seventy-one writers during the reign of Henry the Eighth and down to those of the early Georges one hundred and thirteen appear in this love anthology. The limitation of space prevents further biographical particulars being given than the years of birth and death, which will be found in the Table of Contents. As writers do not always agree in this respect, "The Dictionary of National Biography" has been taken as the authority.

Whatever labour has been bestowed on the preparation of this anthology has not been in bulking it out to its present dimensions, but rather in keeping it within the prescribed limits; and, at the same time, furnishing these best examples of the love verses of the numerous authors who have been requisitioned for the purpose of this volume of "Tudor and Stuart Love Songs."

J. P. B.

[ix]

CONTENTS.

[1]

LOVE VERSES OF THE TUDOR & STUART PERIODS.

THE LOST HEART.

Sir Thomas Wyatt.

[2]

THE LOVER'S APPEAL.

Sir Thomas Wyatt.

[3]

A SONNET.

Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey.

[4]

A VOW TO LOVE FAITHFULLY HOWSOEVER HE BE REWARDED.

Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey.

[5]

MY SWEET SWEETING.

Anon., circa 1530.

[6]

THE LOVER TO HIS LADY.

George Turberville.

[7]

MASTER GEORGE: HIS SONNET OF THE PAINS OF LOVE.

George Turberville.

[8]

TURBERVILLE'S ANSWER AND DISTICH TO THE SAME.

George Turberville.

[9]

THE SHEPHERD'S COMMENDATION OF HIS NYMPH.

Edward Vere, Earl of Oxford.

[11]

A RENUNCIATION.

Edward Vere, Earl of Oxford.

[12]

THE COMPLAINT OF HARPALUS.

Barnaby Googe (?).

[14]

A STRANGE PASSION OF A LOVER.

George Gascoigne.

[16]

TO PHYLLIS, THE FAIR SHEPHERDESS.

Sir Edward Dyer.

[17]

THE ENAMOURED SHEPHERD.

George Peele.

[18]

HIS LOVE ADMITS NO RIVAL.

Sir Walter Raleigh.

[20]

THE SHEPHERD'S DESCRIPTION OF LOVE.

Sir Walter Raleigh.

[22]

THE SHEPHERDESS'S REPLY TO THE PASSIONATE SHEPHERD.

Sir Walter Raleigh.

[See "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love," page 50.]

[24]

LOVE FOR LOVE.

Fulke-Greville, Lord Brooke.

[26]

CUPID AND MY CAMPASPE: APELLES' SONG.

John Lyly.

[27]

A DITTY.

Sir Philip Sidney.

[28]

LOVE IS DEAD.

Sir Philip Sidney.

[30]

HE THAT LOVES.

Sir Philip Sidney.

[31]

LOVE'S WANTONNESS.

Thomas Lodge.

[32]

ROSALINE.

Thomas Lodge.

[34]

THE MAY QUEEN.

Thomas Watson.

[35]

PHILLIDA AND CORYDON.

Richard Breton.

[37]

SHALL I COME, SWEET LOVE?

Thomas Campion.

[38]

CHERRY-RIPE.

Thomas Campion.

[39]

FAIR SAMELA.

Robert Greene.

[41]

KINDS OF LOVE.

Robert Greene.

[42]

LOVE AND BEAUTY.

Robert Greene.

[43]

LOVE'S SERVILE LOT.

Robert Southwell.

[45]

THE HEART OF STONE.

John Harrington.

[46]

A SHEPHERD'S SONG TO HIS LOVE.

Henry Constable.

[47]

LOVE NOW, FOR ROSES FADE.

Samuel Daniel.

[48]

EARLY LOVE.

Samuel Daniel.

[49]

LOVE IS A SICKNESS.

Samuel Daniel.

[50]

THE PASSIONATE SHEPHERD TO HIS LOVE.

[51]

Christopher Marlowe.

[See "The Shepherdess's Reply to The Passionate Pilgrim," page 22.]

[52]

LOVE'S OMNIPRESENCE.

J. Sylvester.

[53]

A PARTING; OR, LOVE'S LAST CHANCE.

Michael Drayton.

[54]

WHO IS SILVIA?

William Shakespeare.

[55]

SIGH NO MORE, LADIES.

William Shakespeare.

[56]

A MORNING SONG FOR IMOGEN.

William Shakespeare.

[57]

THE UNFAITHFUL SHEPHERDESS.

Anon., circa 1564.

[59]

TRUE LOVELINESS.

Anon.

[61]

A WOMAN'S REASON.

Anon.

[62]

LOVE WILL FIND OUT THE WAY.

Anon.

[64]

PHILLIDA FLOUTS ME.

Circa 1610.

[66]

IN PRAISE OF TWO.

Anon.

[67]

TO HIS FORSAKEN MISTRESS.

Sir Robert Aytoun.

[69]

ON WOMAN'S INCONSTANCY.

Sir Robert Aytoun.

[71]

THE THREE STATES OF WOMAN.

Thomas Middleton.

[72]

MY LOVE AND I MUST PART.

Thomas Middleton.

[73]

PERFECT BEAUTY.

Ben Jonson.

[74]

TO CELIA.

Ben Jonson.

[75]

A WOMAN'S CONSTANCY.

Dr. John Donne.

[76]

SWEETEST LOVE.

Dr. John Donne.

[77]

TO AURORA.

W. Alexander, Earl of Stirling.

[78]

PHILLIS.

William Drummond.

[79]

TAKE THOSE LIPS AWAY.

Beaumont and Fletcher.

[80]

TELL ME, WHAT IS LOVE?

Francis Beaumont.

[81]

PINING FOR LOVE.

Francis Beaumont.

[82]

FIE ON LOVE.

Francis Beaumont.

[83]

DAMŒTAS' PRAISE OF HIS DAPHNIS.

John Wootton.

[85]

SHALL I, WASTING IN DESPAIR?

George Wither.

[87]

TO ONE WHO, WHEN I PRAISED MY MISTRESS'S BEAUTY, SAID I WAS BLIND.

Thomas Carew.

[88]

HE THAT LOVES A ROSY CHEEK

Thomas Carew.

[89]

MATIN SONG.

Nathaniel Field.

[90]

JULIA.

Robert Herrick.

[91]

CHERRY RIPE.

Robert Herrick.

[92]

TO THE VIRGINS.

Robert Herrick.

[93]

TO ELECTRA.

Robert Herrick.

[94]

DRY THOSE EYES.

Dr. Henry King.

[95]

LOVE'S CONSTANCY.

John Dowland.

[96]

FAREWELL, MY JOY.

Thomas Weelkes.

[97]

THE LARK NOW LEAVES HIS WAT'RY NEST.

Sir William Davenant.

[98]

GO, LOVELY ROSE.

Edmund Waller.

[99]

HIS MISTRESS.

Thomas Randolph.

[100]

CHLORIS.

Henry Vaughan.

[101]

LOVE ME LITTLE, LOVE ME LONG.

Circa 1610.

[102]

FAIN WOULD I CHANGE THAT NOTE.

Captain Tobias Hume.

[103]

TO ROSES IN CASTARA'S BREAST.

William Habington.

[104]

THOU PRETTY BIRD.

John Danyel.

[105]

ONCE I LOV'D A MAIDEN FAIR.

Temp. Jas. I. (condensed by T. Oxenford).

[106]

I PR'YTHEE SEND ME BACK MY HEART.

Sir John Suckling.

[107]

ORSAMES' SONG.

Sir John Suckling.

[108]

SINCE FIRST I SAW YOUR FACE.

Circa 1617.

[110]

THE GIVEN HEART.

Abraham Cowley.

[111]

ICE AND FIRE.

Sir Edmund Sherburne.

[112]

AMARANTHA.

Richard Lovelace.

[113]

TO ALTHEA, FROM PRISON.

Richard Lovelace.

[114]

A MOCK SONG.

Alexander Brome.

[115]

SPEAKING AND KISSING.

Thomas Stanley.

[116]

LADIES' CONQUERING EYES.

George Etherege.

[117]

DORINDA.

Charles Sackville.

[118]

CELIA AND SYLVIA.

Robert Gould.

[119]

TRUE LOVE.

Sir Charles Sedley.

[120]

TOO LATE!

John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester.

[121]

MY MISTRESS' HEART.

John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester.

[122]

CONSTANCY.

John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester.

[123]

MAN AND WOMAN.

Peter Antony Motteux.

[124]

ACCEPT MY HEART.

Matthew Prior.

[125]

AN ANGELIC WOMAN.

Sir John Vanbrugh.

[126]

I SMILE AT LOVE.

Sir John Vanbrugh.

[127]

ADIEU L'AMOUR.

George Granville.

[128]

SABINA WAKES.

William Congreve.

[129]

FALSE! OR INCONSTANCY.

William Congreve.

[130]

LOVE AND HATE.

Ambrose Philips.

[131]

I LATELY VOWED.

John Oldmixon.

[132]

FEW HAPPY MATCHES.

Dr. Isaac Watts.

[133]

DORINDA'S CONQUEST.

John Hughes.

[134]

LOVERS IN DISGUISE.

George Farquhar.

[135]

WHEN THY BEAUTY APPEARS.

Thomas Parnell.

[136]

[137]

INDEX OF FIRST LINES.

Accept, my love, as true a heart. 124. Ah! I remember well (and how can I. 48. Ah! my sweet sweeting! 5. Amarantha, sweet and fair. 112. Amid my bale I bathe in bliss. 14. Amyntas, go! Thou art undone. 100. And wilt thou leave me thus? 2. Away with these self-loving lads. 24. Celia is cruel. Sylvia, thou. 118. Cherry ripe, ripe, ripe, I cry. 91. Come live with me, and be my love. 50. Cupid and my Campaspe played. 26. Dear, if you change, I'll never choose again. 95. Diaphenia, like the daffa-down-dilly. 46. Dorinda's sparkling wit and eyes. 117. Drink to me only with thine eyes. 74. Dry those fair, those crystal eyes. 94. Fain would I change that note. 102. False though she be to me and love. 129. Fame of Dorinda's conquest brought. 133. Farewell! my joy. 96. Faustina hath the fairest face. 66. Foolish love is only folly. 41. Gather ye rosebuds while ye may. 92. Go, lovely Rose. 98. Hark! hark! the lark at heaven's gate sings. 56. He that loves a rosy cheek. 88. He that loves and fears to try. 30. Help me to seek! For I lost it there. 1.

[138]Here end my chains, and thraldom cease, 127. How bless'd are lovers in disguise! 134. How long shall I pine for love? 81. I cannot change, as others do. 122. I dare not ask a kiss. 93. I do confess thou'rt smooth and fair. 67. I have a mistress, for perfections rare. 99. I lately vow'd, but 'twas in haste. 131. I lov'd thee once, I'll love no more. 69. I pr'ythee send me back my heart. 106. I smile at Love, and all its arts. 126. I wonder what those lovers mean, who say. 110. If all the world and Love were young. 22. If women could be fair, and yet not fond. 11. In a maiden-time profess'd. 71. In petticoat of green. 78. In the merry month of May. 35. It is not Beauty I demand. 59. It was a beauty that I saw. 73. Ladies, though to your conquering eyes. 116. Like to Diana in her summer weed. 39. Like to the clear in highest sphere. 32. Look, Delia, how we esteem the half-blown rose. 47. Love guards the roses of thy lips. 31. Love is a sickness full of woes. 49. Love me little, love me long. 101. Love me not for comely grace. 61. Love mistress is of many minds. 43.

Love, that liveth and reigneth in my thought. 3. Love, when 'tis true, needs not the aid. 119. Man is for woman made. 123. My dear mistress has a heart. 121. [139]My girl, thou gazest much. 6. My Phyllis hath the morning sun. 16. My true-love hath my heart, and I have his. 27. Naked Love did to thine eye. 111. Not an angel dwells above. 125. Now fie on foolish love, it not befits. 82. Now thou hast loved me one whole day. 75. O gentle Love, ungentle for thy deed! 17. O if thou knew'st how thou thyself dost harm. 77. Oh, what a plague is love! 64. Once I loved a maiden fair. 105. Over the mountains. 62. Phylida was a fair maid. 12. Pretty twinkling starry eyes. 42. Ring out your bells, let mourning shews be spread. 28. Rise, Lady Mistress! rise! 89. Say, mighty Love, and teach my song. 132. See, see, she wakes! Sabina wakes! 128. Set me whereas the sun doth parch the green. 4. Shall I come, sweet Love, to thee. 37. Shall I like a hermit dwell. 18. Shall I, wasting in despair. 85. Shepherd, what's love? I pray thee tell! 20. Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more. 55.

Since first I saw your face I resolved. 108. Since there's no help, come let us kiss and part. 53. Some asked me where the rubies grew. 90. Sweetest love, I do not go. 76. Take, O, take those lips away. 79. Tell me, dearest, what is love? 80. [140]The air which thy smooth voice doth break. 115. The lark now leaves his wat'ry nest. 97. There is a garden in her face. 38. Thou pretty bird, how do I see. 104. 'Tis true I never was in love. 114. Too late, alas! I must confess. 120. Tune on my pipe the praises of my love. 83. Two lines shall teach you how. 8. Two lines shall tell the grief. 7. Weep eyes, break heart! 72. Were I as base as is the lowly plain. 52. What shepherd can express. 9. When love, with unconfined wings. 113. When thy beauty appears. 135. Whence comes my love? O heart, disclose! 45. While that the sun with his beams hot. 57. Who is Sylvia? What is she. 54. Why so pale and wan, fond lover? 107. Why we love, and why we hate. 130. With fragrant flowers we strew the way. 34. Wonder not, though I am blind. 87. Ye blushing Virgins happy are. 103.

[141]

INDEX OF AUTHORS.

Alexander, W., Earl of Stirling. 77. Anonymous. 5, 57, 59, 61, 62, 64, 66, 101, 105. Aytoun, Sir Robert. 67. Beaumont, Francis. 80. Beaumont and Fletcher. 79. Breton, Richard. 35. Brome, Alexander. 114. Brooke, Lord. 24. Campion, Thomas. 37. Carew, Thomas. 87. Congreve, William. 128. Constable, Henry. 46. Cowley, Abraham, 110. Daniel, John. 104. Daniel, Samuel. 47. Davenant, Sir William. 97. Donne, Dr. John. 75. Dowland, John. 95. Drayton, Michael. 53. Drummond, William. 78. Dyer, Sir Edward. 16. Etherege, Sir George. 116. Farquhar, George. 134. Field, Nathaniel. 89. Fletcher, see Beaumont and F. Gascoigne, George. 14. Googe, Barnaby. 12. Gould, Robert. 118. Granville, George. 127. Greene, Robert. 39. Greville, Fulke, Lord Brooke. 24. Habington, William. 103. Harrington, Sir John. 45. Herrick, Robert. 90. Howard, Henry, Earl of Surrey. 3. Hughes, John. 133. Hume, Capt. Tobias. 102. Jonson, Ben. 73. King, Bp. Henry. 94. Lodge, Thomas. 31. Lovelace, Richard. 112. Lyly, John. 26. Marlowe, Christopher. 50. Middleton, Thomas. 71. Motteux, Peter Anthony. 123. Oldmixon, John. 131.

Oxford, Earl of. 9. Parnell, Thomas. 135. Peele, George. 17. Philips, Ambrose. 130. Prior, Matthew. 124. Raleigh, Sir Walter. 18. Randolph, Thomas, 99. Rochester, Earl of. 120. [142] Sackville, Charles, Earl of Dorset. 117. Sedley, Sir Charles, 119. Shakespeare, William. 54. Sherburne, Sir Edmund. 111. Sidney, Sir Philip. 27. Southwell, Robert. 43. Stanley, Thomas. 115. Stirling, Earl of. 77. Suckling, Sir John. 106. Surrey, Earl of. 3. Sylvester, J. 52. Turberville, George. 6. Vanbrugh, Sir John. 125. Vaughan, Henry. 100. Vere, E., Earl of Oxford, 9. Waller, Edmund. 98. Watson, Thomas. 34. Watts, Dr. Isaac. 132. Weelkes, Thomas. 96. Wilmot, John. 120. Wither, George. 85. Wootton, John. 83. Wyatt, Sir Thomas. 1.

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