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Cupid's Tryumph.

"But Nature never fram'd a woman's heart
Of prouder stuffe then that of Beatrice:
Disdaine and scorne ride sparkling in her eyes,
Mis-prizing what they look on, and her wit
Values it selfe so highly, that to her

All matter else seemes weake: she cannot loue,
Nor take no shape nor project of affection,

She is so selfe-indeared."-Much Adoe about Nothing, Act iv.

THIS "Answer to 'Cupid's Courtesy" belongs properly to the

previous volume of the Society's Roxburghe Ballads, being a sequel to J. P.'s ballad of that name, on pp. 530-532, beginning"Thro' the cool shady woods as I was ranging,

I heard the pretty birds notes sweetly changing: " &c.

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The Tune is sometimes called "Little Boy," from the commencing line of four verses (2, 3, 4 and 7). The metre agrees with "Cupid's Tryumph," and not with the other " Cupid's Courtesie" (i.e. to fair Sabina "), which begins, "As on a day Sabina fell asleep " (see Roxb. Bds., iii. p. 644.) The music of the "Saraband" is in John Playford's Dancing Master, 1665 edition, p. 88, and Popular Music, p. 497.

Whoever wrote this ballad comforted himself with the delusion that wit or genius may aspire to win Beauty, rank, and wealth: in short, that any man "all tattered and torn " is the chosen mate of

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a damsel all forlorn," as in a well-known example. In Bagford Ballads, pp. 478 and 978,' we have already written concerning "J. P.," the author of the said "Cupid's Courtesy," and probably also of this continuation. He is far superior to most of his competitors, for his ditties seldom lack touches of poetic skill and fancy. Readers will be glad to possess this sequel, although we have to tread outside the Roxburghe circle to obtain it; and there is enough to do in attempting to satisfy the special demands of our own collection. We print each two half-lines as one whole line, here and elsewhere, to save space. Deity is misprinted "Diety," in original, and reproaches as "repraoches."

1 In addition to the eight signed J. P. enumerated by us in Bagford Ballads, pp. 478 and 978, another is in the Euing Collection at Glasgow, No. 176, entitled "Love's Paradice," to the tune of, Fancies Phoenix (the ballad of that name is in Roxb. Coll., III. 128); "All in a pleasant shady grove." Also, a tenth signed J. P., is in the Pepys Collection, IV. 163, entitled "The Merchant Man and the Fidler's Wife," beginning, "A rich merchant man," etc. Compare Pills to Purge Melancholy, v. 77, ed. 1719. We hope to determine conclusively the real significance of these J. P. initials when editing the Civil War Series.

[4to. Rawlinson Collection, 566. art. 76.]

Cupids Tryumph.

Though his Deity is impeached, by his power he is justified. Against the reproaches of a Cop Scornful Lady. Being an Answer to Cupids Courtesie.

Who by experience found that all were stupid Which durst abuse the boundless power of Cupid. THE TUNE IS, Saraban, USED IN DANCING-SCHOOLS. Or, Cupid['s] Courtesie.

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[In the original there are three cuts; the centre one we place on page 14.]

A GALLANT Lady gay, as she was walking

Cupid (hid in her way,) heard her thus talking:

"I wonder Virgins can all be so stupid,

To fall in Love with Man, and follow Cupid.

"He's but a Boy, no more, and a blind Varlet;
His mother is a Whore, and Mars his Harlot:
Hee's but a Flash of Fire when he's unbodied;
'Tis Lust and false desire gave him a God-head.

"None but poor silly things fall down before him,
And 'tis his gaudy Wings makes Maids adore him:
Wine, Mirth and Musick do raise their Devotion;
And they come seldome to any promotion.

[= Mars's

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HE is so blind, that if he do come nigh me;

I'de look more stearn than he, and make him fly me :
If that I had him here, Oh how i'de tear him,
My heart I'de so up-rear that I'de not fear him."

Cupid heard painfully this Exprobation,
And most disdainfully utter'd this Passion:
"What silly Mortal dares batter my Glory?
Or, did her simple ears ne're hear my Story?

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"What rock, or toomb, or cave, hath cooly keept her?
All Kyngs & Queens yet have bow'd to my Scepter:
Thou had'st not been alive my Fame to smother,
Had not I once let drive home at thy Mother."

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With that he drew a Dart and pierc'd her thorow,
In the midst of her Heart he brake his Arrow
(Made it cry twang agen), and then she fainted,
And wishd with some Young-man to be acquainted.

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"Great God of Love (she said), I am most sorry
That I did so upbraid thee and thy Glory:
Dear little Cupid, don't me no more torture,
I to the Court will be the chief Resorter.

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""Twas in a Frantick Fit, when I thee scorned;
Now I have learnt more wit, my heart's adorned
With sweet imbracing Love, which my heart lightens,
It pulls stubborn humors down, and my Love heightens.
"Then prithee, Cupid, send some Young-man to me,
My portion, birth, and friends make me a Lady:
If he a Prentice be, ile pay his Ransome,
Provided that he be a little Handsome.

"If I had Wings like thee (far unlike any one),
I would continually be thy Companion;
Mother like in my arms then would I fold thee;
I'de take a pride to see Virgins behold thee."

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Then did they love and live nobly together,

And thank'd the God of Love that brought them thither;
Wit and Wealth wedded so cannot miscarry:

Ladies, by this you know how you should marry.

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If Muck do match with Muck, both will be dirty;

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When wit & wealth do truck, nothing can hurt ye:
True-love and Vertue shall do more then Crowns will,
I hope Fair Virgins all will take my Counsel.

London, Printed for W. Thackeray, T. Passenger, and W. Whitwood.

[In Black-letter. Date, about 1670. Four woodcuts, as here given.]

The New-Married Couple.

"Jacques.-And you to wrangling for your loving voyage

:

Is but for two months victuall'd. So to your pleasures.
I am for other than your dancing measures."

As You Like It, Act v. scene last.

In the previous volume of Roxburghe Ballads, iii. pp. 363 to 368,

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appeared the two connected ditties, 1.-" The Country Farmer; or, the Buxome Virgin," and 2.-"The Answer to the Buxome Virgin; or, The Farmer well-fitted for slighting his first Love, honest Joan." The first began, "There was a brisk Lass, both bonny and brown; the second, "The Country Farmer is now undone." No indication was given, in either ballad, of there being another distinct portion of the story, necessary to complete it. This connecting link we now furnish, from one of the Bodleian Library Collections, that made and bequeathed by Francis Douce. He was a noble and generous man, but he felt, more keenly than was wholesome, a fancied slight: the omission to make him one of the Trustees of the British Museum. Hence it followed, that he left his valuable collection of printed books, manuscripts, and ballads, to the Bodleian. His choice was strengthened by a love of Oxford quietude: but also by a natural fear of rare works being destroyed, when exposed to the notoriously rough usage of the London mob of Readers; often coarse handed and coarse minded (too often indulging in petty larceny, requiring to be carefully watched and reprimanded). Few of his ballads are early editions, but they afford accessible examples of many rare broadsides, that were elsewhere nearly unapproachable. This ballad of "The New-Married Couple" seems to be unique. It should come between the two others, already mentioned. The false-hearted farmer had married Gill "for lucre of gain," and deserted his true sweetheart Joan. He is here full of uxorious rapture; but his punishment comes later, in the reprinted "Answer," preserved in Roxb. Coll., II. 4, and Pepys, III. 189.

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