"The courts of kings hear no such ftrains As daily lull the ruftic swains." England's Helicon. "I would rather than forty fhillings I had my book of songs and sonnets here." Merry Wives of Windsor. "Mark it, Cesario; it is old and plain : The spinsters and the knitters in the sun, And the free maids, that weave their thread with bones, Do use to chant it; it is filly sooth, And dallies with the innocence of love, Like the old age." Twelfth Night. "They were old-fashioned poetry, but choicely good, I think much better than the ftrong lines that are now in fashion in this critical age." Izaak Walton. MELODIES AND MADRIGALS. AN EARNEST SUIT TO HIS UNKIND MISTRESS NOT TO FORSAKE HIM. [1533?] I. AND wilt thou leave me thus? Say nay, say nay, for fhame! Of all my grief and grame. II. And wilt thou leave me thus? And is thy heart so strong And wilt thou leave me thus? That hath given thee my heart, Neither for pain nor smart: And wilt thou leave me thus? Say nay, say nay! IV. And wilt thou leave me thus? And have no more pity Of him that loveth thee? Alas, thy cruelty! And wilt thou leave me thus? Say nay, say nay! SIR THOMAS WYATT. A PRAISE OF HIS LOVE, WHEREIN HE REPROVETH THEM THAT COMPARE THEIR LADIES WITH HIS. [1535?] I. GIVE place, ye lovers, here before That spent your boasts and brags in vain; My lady's beauty passeth more The best of yours, I dare well sayen, Than doth the sun the candle light, Or brightest day the darkest night. And thereto hath a troth as just For what he saith, ye may it trust, Than I with pen have skill to show. III. I could rehearse, if that I would, IV. I know she swore with raging mind, There was no loss by law of kind And this was chiefly all her pain: V. Sith Nature thus gave her the praise, HENRY HOWARD, Earl of Surrey. |