As gracious Queen Mary the Letter did read, And likewise be kind to thy Grandsire also, A Lady of Honour then stood by the side But a careful Woman that hour did seek, This Child was a Girl about two years of age, In sumptuous apparel likewise it does go: And thus by her Royal compassionate care, The Queen with her Ladies doth nourish it there. finis. Licensed according to Order. Printed for P. Brooksby, J. Deacon, J. Blare, J. Back. [In Black-letter. 54 60 66 Three woodcuts (the third is the Winter-piece Lady with gloves of our p. 344). Date, probably 1691-93; certainly before the end of 1695.] The Dying Lover's Reprieve. "The poor World is almost six thousand years old, and in all this time there was never any man died, in his own person, videlicet, in a Love-cause." -As You Like It, iv. sc. 1. It would have been satisfactory to find that the following "Re T prieve" is the same that was mentioned in Bagford Ballads as "The Reprieved Captive" (with the tune known as belonging to "The Doubting Virgin" of our p. 339), for which we have been searching unsuccessfully a long time. But the metre is different, and the search must continue. Patience, and shuffle the cards. Two tunes are here indicated for "The Dying Lover's Reprieve." To the first," Digby's Farewell," or "Captain Digby's Farewell," or briefly "Digby," allusion was made on p. 125. The music of it was composed by Robert Smith. It is found in John Playford's Choice Ayres, 1676, Book First, p. 10, where the words begin "And I'll go to my Love, where he lies in the deep." Elsewhere they appear The Original "Captain Digby's Farewell." 393 either as "I will go to my Love," or, "I'll go to my Love." Thus they are met in three Drolleries published in 1671, viz. 1.—A New Academy of Complements, p. 291; 2.-Windsor Drollery, p. 12; 3.-Orford Drollery, Part Second (devoted to "various authors"), p. 126, where the full title is, "On a Gentleman in a late Engagement against the Turk [who] was slain and thrown overboard, and she [who loved him has] since gone mad." In a later Drollery, entitled Mock Songs, and Joking Poems, 1675, is a parody on the same song, probably written by Captain William Hicks, who was addicted to such frivolities, beginning, "I will go to my Love, where she lyes in the Park." We add it on p. 400, and give here the original song, which is short and good. It is somewhat of a "Bess of Bedlam" composition, like Henry Purcell's Mad Maid, "From silent Shades and the Elysian groves," or Tom D'Urfey's Altesidora, "From rosy Bowers, where sleeps the God of Love." Captain Digby's Farewell. 'Le go to my Love, where he lies in the Deep, And in my embraces my Dearest shall sleep: When we wake, the kind Dolphins together shall throng, The orient pearls, which the Ocean bestowes, We will teach them to Love, and [like] Cockles to kiss. The tune became a favourite with ballad-writers, and was often chosen afterwards. The words must have been written earlier than the date of our first known copies, 1671. It was lengthened into a broadside ballad, one version of which, "The Sorrowful Ladie's Complaint," we bring hither (and reprint on p. 398, from Roxburghe Collection, II. 434). It begins, "One morning I walk'd by myself on the shore." The other tune mentioned, for "The Dying Lover's Reprieve,' was known as "Give me the Lass" (which tune agrees with one called "The French Rant "). As it does not meet us for a long time, being in Roxb. Coll., III. 90, we give it on p. 402 (first turning topsy-turvy a few of the silliest verses), following the ballad of the Sorrowful Ladie's Complaint; with the modern variation, and Hicks's Parody. [Roxburghe Collection, II. 119; Wood's E. 25. fol. 20.] The Dying Lover's Reprieve : The Reward of True Love. With sighs and tears her love he does desire, Airest and dearest, to thee I am bound, Firest For love and affection thy servant to be; Your skill I desire to heal up my wound, There's none in the world that can cure it but thee: And thus you compel me unto you to cry, Grant me thy affection, or else I shall dye. And I'le be your servant to wait on you ever; 8 "The ground of my torment to thee I'le impart, 'Twas Cupid with 's Arrow that wounded my heart, Which pains me and grieves me, that I cannot rest, Brings tears from my eyes, and deep sighs from my breast: The Dying Lover's Reprieve. Which makes me go mourning to think on my grief, "Then, dearest, be pleased to hear my request, 295 16 [word lost. 24 And never have known what love's torments have meant; I prithee, love, tell me, shall I live or dye? 32 "Your love then restore me, and grant what I crave, Or else to remove me from hence to the Grave; Except you release me, no joy I can find, Whereby it may ease me and settle my mind: And you are the object wherein the fault lies: Which makes me go mourning to think on my pain, "Although for my love you do prove so unkind, I have been your servant a long time in vain, "Therefore, I beseech you to hear my complaint, 40 48 At the hand of my dear, who hath caused my [grief.] 56 "But when I consider you cast me aside, [The Maid's Reply to her Lover.] "Kind Sir, then" (she said) "since your love it is true,] These words so revived his sorrowful mind, He straightway imbrac'd her, and gave her a kiss,] And so from that instant united in love, 61 72 With constant affection that ne'r shall remove: And now they live happy in joy and content, And for what is [all] past have no cause to repent. 80 Printed for F. Coles, T. Vere, J. Wright, and J. Clarke. [Slightly mutilated at edge. Black-letter. Four cuts. Date, before Aug., 1685.] |