A man-at-arms must now serve on his knees, And when he saddest sits in homely cell, He'll teach his swains this carol for a song,"Blessed be the hearts that wish my sovereign well, Cursed be the souls that think her any wrong". Goddess, allow this aged man his right, To be your beadsman now that was your knight. THOMAS NASH. (1567-1601?.) These songs are from the comedy of Summer's Last Will and Testament, 1600 (acted 1592). Nash's works have been edited by Dr. Grosart in the Huth Library. SPRING, THE SWEET SPRING. SPRING, the sweet spring, is the year's pleasant king; Then blooms each thing, then maids dance in a ring; Cold doth not sting, the pretty birds do sing, Cuckoo, jug, jug, pu we, to witta woo. The palm and may make country houses gay, The fields breathe sweet, the daisies kiss our feet, Spring, the sweet spring! DEATH'S SUMMONS. ADIEU, farewell, earth's bliss, This world uncertain is: Fond are life's lustful joys, Lord have mercy on us! Rich men, trust not in wealth, Lord have mercy on us! Beauty is but a flower, Brightness falls from the air; Lord have mercy on us! Strength stoops unto the grave: Lord have mercy on us! Wit with his wantonness, Hell's executioner Hath no ears for to hear Lord have mercy on us! Haste therefore each degree I am sick, I must die. Lord have mercy on us! FADING SUMMER. AIR summer droops, droop men and beasts therefore; FAIR So fair a summer look for never more: All good things vanish less than in a day; Peace, plenty, pleasure, suddenly decay. Go not yet away, bright soul of the sad year, What! shall those flowers that decked thy garland erst, O trees, consume your sap in sorrow's source, Go not yet hence, bright soul of the sad year, THOMAS LODGE. (15587-1625.) The "Song of Rosaline" is in the pastoral romance of Rosalind, 1590, the source of As You Like It. The second selection is one of the "Sundrie Sweet Sonnets " contained in Scilla's Metamorphosis, 1589, written 1577(?). The last selection is found in the Life of Robert, Second Duke of Normandy, 1591. Lodge's works are reprinted in the Hunterian Club publications; Rosalind in Hazlitt's Shakespeare's Library. Many of his lyrics are included among Mr. Bullen's Lyrics from Elizabethan Romances. ROSADER'S DESCRIPTION OF ROSALYND. LIKE to the clear in highest sphere, Of self-same colour is her hair, Her eyes are sapphires set in snow, Heigh ho, would she were mine! Her cheeks are like the blushing cloud That Phoebus' smiling looks doth grace; Her lips are like two budded roses, Whom ranks of lilies neighbour nigh, Within whose bounds she balm encloses Apt to entice a deity. Heigh ho, would she were mine! Her neck like to a stately tower, Her paps are centres of delight, Her paps are orbs of heavenly frame, Where nature moulds the dew of light, To feed perfection with the same. Heigh ho, would she were mine! With orient pearl, with ruby red, Yet soft to touch, and sweet in view; Nature herself her shape admires, Then muse not, Nymphs, though I bemoan Since for her fair there is fairer none, Nor for her virtues so divine. Heigh ho! fair Rosalynd! Heigh ho! my heart, would God that she were mine! |