Song

Love, like spring-tides full and high,
Swells in every youthful vein;
But each tide does less supply,
Till they quite shrink in again.
If a flow in age appear,

'T is but rain, and runs not clear.

1670.

SONG

24

John Dryden.

From Abdelazar

LOVE in fantastic triumph sate,

Whilst bleeding hearts around him flow'd, For whom fresh pains he did create, And strange tyrannic power he show'd: From thy bright eyes he took his fires, Which round about in sport he hurl'd; But 't was from mine he took desires Enough t' undo the amorous world.

From me he took his sighs and tears,
From thee his pride and cruelty;
From me his languishments and fears,
And every killing dart from thee.
Thus thou and I the god have arm'd
And set him up a deity;

But my poor heart alone is harm'd,
Whilst thine the victor is, and free!

1677.

Aphra Behn.

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16

SALLY IN OUR ALLEY

Of all the girls that are so smart
There's none like pretty Sally;
She is the darling of my heart,

And she lives in our alley.
There is no lady in the land

Is half so sweet as Sally; She is the darling of my heart, And she lives in our alley.

Her father he makes cabbage-nets,

And through the streets does cry 'em; Her mother she sells laces long

To such as please to buy 'em:

But sure such folks could ne'er beget
So sweet a girl as Sally!

She is the darling of my heart,
And she lives in our alley.

When she is by, I leave my work,

I love her so sincerely;
My master comes, like any Turk,
And bangs me most severely:
But let him bang his bellyful,

I'll bear it all for Sally;
She is the darling of my heart,
And she lives in our alley.

8

16

24

Sally in Our Alley

Of all the days that 's in the week
I dearly love but one day-

And that's the day that comes betwixt
A Saturday and Monday;

For then I'm drest, all in my best,

To walk abroad with Sally; She is the darling of my heart, And she lives in our alley.

My master carries me to church,
And often am I blamèd

Because I leave him in the lurch
As soon as text is named;
I leave the church in sermon-time
And slink away to Sally;

She is the darling of my heart,
And she lives in our alley.

When Christmas comes about again,

O, then I shall have money; I'll hoard it up, and box it all,

I'll give it to my honey:

I would it were ten thousand pound,
I'd give it all to Sally;

She is the darling of my heart,
And she lives in our alley.

My master and the neighbours all
Make game of me and Sally,
And, but for her, I 'd better be

A slave and row a galley;

32

40

48

1729?

But when my seven long years are out,
O, then I'll marry Sally;

O, then we 'll wed, and then we 'll bed-
But not in our alley!

56

Henry Carey.

MY DEAR AND ONLY LOVE,

I PRAY

My dear and only love, I pray
That little world, of thee,
Be governed by no other sway
Than purest monarchy.
For if confusion have a part,
Which virtuous souls abhor,
And hold a synod in thine heart,
I'll never love thee more.

As Alexander I will reign,
And I will reign alone;

My thoughts did evermore disdain
A rival on my throne:

He either fears his fate too much,
Or his deserts are small,

That dares not put it to the touch,
To gain or lose it all.

But I will reign, and govern still,
And always give the law,

And have each subject at my will,
And all to stand in awe;

16

1711.

Song

But 'gainst my batteries if I find

Thou kick, or vex me sore,
As that thou set me up a blind,

I'll never love thee more.

And in the empire of thine heart,
Where I should solely be,

If others do pretend a part,

Or dare to vie with me,

Or if committees thou erect,

And go on such a score,

I'll laugh and sing at thy neglect,
And never love thee more.

But if thou wilt prove faithful, then,

And constant of thy word,

I'll make thee glorious by my pen,

And famous by my sword;

I'll serve thee in such noble ways
Was never heard before,

I'll crown and deck thee all with bays,
And love thee more and more.

James Graham, Marquess of Montrose.

24

32

40

SONG

My silks and fine array,

My smiles and languish'd air,

By Love are driven away;
And mournful lean Despair