English Songs and Ballads Part 23

Tell her that's young, And shuns to have her graces spied, That hadst thou sprung In deserts, where no men abide, Thou must have uncommended died.

Small is the worth Of beauty from the light retired: Bid her come forth, Suffer herself to be desired, And not blush so to be admired.

Then die! that she The common fate of all things rare May read in thee: How small a part of time they share That are so wondrous sweet and fair!

THE FROG HE WOULD A-WOOING RIDE

ANONYMOUS

It was the frog in the well, Humble dum, humble dum, And the merry mouse in the mill, Tweedle, tweedle, twino.

The frog would a-wooing ride, Humble dum, humble dum, Sword and buckler by his side, Tweedle, tweedle, twino.

When upon his high horse set, Humble dum, humble dum, His boots they shone as black as jet, Tweedle, tweedle, twino.

When he came to the merry mill pin, Lady Mouse beene you within?

Then came out the dusty mouse, I am lady of this house;

Hast thou any mind of me?

I have e'en great mind of thee.

Who shall this marriage make?

Our lord, which is the rat.

What shall we have to our supper?

Three beans in a pound of b.u.t.ter.

But, when supper they were at, The frog, the mouse, and e'en the rat,

Then came in Tib, our cat, And caught the mouse e'en by the back, Then did they separate: The frog leapt on the floor so flat;

Then came in d.i.c.k, our drake, And drew the frog e'en to the lake, The rat he ran up the wall, And so the company parted all.

TO ALTHEA, FROM PRISON

RICHARD LOVELACE

When love with unconfined wings Hovers within my gates, And my divine Althea brings To whisper at my grates; When I lie tangled in her hair, And fetter'd to her eye, The birds that wanton in the air Know no such liberty.

When flowing cups run swiftly round, With no allaying Thames, Our careless heads with roses bound, Our hearts with loyal flames; When thirsty grief in wine we steep, When healths and draughts are free,-- Fishes that tipple in the deep Know no such liberty.

When linnet-like confined, I With shriller throat shall sing The sweetness, mercy, majesty, And glories of my king: When I shall voice aloud how good He is, how great should be,-- Enlarged winds that curl the flood Know no such liberty.

Stone walls do not a prison make, Nor iron bars a cage; Minds innocent and quiet take That for a hermitage: If I have freedom in my love, And in my soul am free,-- Angels alone that soar above Enjoy such liberty.

TO LUCASTA, ON GOING TO THE WARS

Tell me not, sweet, I am unkind,-- That from the nunnery Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind To war and arms I fly.

True, a new mistress now I chase, The first foe in the field; And with a stronger faith embrace A sword, a horse, a s.h.i.+eld.

Yet this inconstancy is such As you, too, shall adore; I could not love thee, dear, so much, Loved I not honour more.

YE GENTLEMEN OF ENGLAND

MARTIN PARKER

Ye gentlemen of England That live at home at ease, Ah! little do ye think upon The dangers of the seas.

Give ear unto the mariners, And they will plainly show All the cares and the fears When the stormy winds do blow.

When the stormy winds do blow.

If enemies oppose us When England is at war With any foreign nation, We fear not wound or scar; Our roaring guns shall teach 'em Our valour for to know, Whilst they reel on the keel, And the stormy winds do blow.

And the stormy winds do blow.

Then courage, all brave mariners, And never be dismay'd; While we have bold adventurers, We ne'er shall want a trade: Our merchants will employ us To fetch them wealth, we know; Then be bold--work for gold, When the stormy winds do blow.

When the stormy winds do blow.

THE FAIRY QUEEN

ANONYMOUS

Come follow, follow me, You, fairy elves that be: Which circle on the greene, Come follow Mab your queene.

Hand in hand let's dance around, For this place is fairye ground.

When mortals are at rest, And snoring in their nest; Unheard, and unespy'd, Through key-holes we do glide; Over tables, stools, and shelves, We trip it with our fairy elves.

And, if the house be foul With platter, dish, or bowl, Upstairs we nimbly creep, And find the s.l.u.ts asleep; There we pinch their armes and thighes; None escapes, nor none espies.

But if the house be swept, And from uncleanness kept, We praise the household maid, And duely she is paid: For we use before we goe To drop a tester in her shoe.