FLORA GAVE ME FAIREST FLOWERS. FLORA gave me fairest flowers, None so fair in Flora's treasure; These I placed on Phillis' bowers, She was pleased, and she my pleasure: Come ye wantons here to play. WILBYE-1598. CONTENT. THERE is a jewel which no Indian mines can buy, It makes men rich in greatest poverty; Makes water wine, turns wooden cups to gold, WILBYE-1609. TO SHORTEN WINTER'S SADNESS. To shorten winter's sadness, See where the nymphs with gladness, Right wantonly a-mumming. Whilst youthful sports are lasting, The above is from "Ballets and Madrigals to five voyces, by THOMAS WEELKES, Organist of the College of Winchester."Lond. 1598. 4to. Este. IN PRIDE OF MAY. IN pride of May, the fields are gay, So nature would, that all things should, Then Lady dear, do you appear WEELKES-1598. COLD WINTER'S ICE IS FLED. COLD winter's ice is fled and gone, And summer brags on every tree; Of wood-born birds, that wanton be; WEELKES-1600. WHY ARE YOU, LADIES, STAYING. WHY are you, Ladies, staying, And with your garlands greet them; Hark! hark! I hear the dancing, And dance like friends together. WEELKES-1600. THE WINE THAT I SO DEARLY GOT. THE wine that I so dearly got, Sweetly sipping, mine eyes hath blear'd; Than to spoil both the house and all. From Madrigalles to 5 and 6 voices; translated out of sundrie Italian authors.-Yonge, London: 1597. 4to. Este. ALISON'S RECREATIONS. THERE IS A GARDEN IN HER FACE. THERE is a garden in her face, Where roses and white lilies grow; Those cherries fairly do inclose Which when her lovely laughter shows, They look like rose-buds fill'd with snow; Yet them no peer nor prince may buy, Till cherry-ripe themselves do cry. Her eyes like angels watch them still; Her brows like bended bows do stand, Threatening with piercing frowns to kill All that approach with eye or hand These sacred cherries to come nigh, Till cherry-ripe themselves do cry. O HEAVY HEART. O heavy heart, what harms are hid, Then should desert want his reward: 19 After sharp showers the sun shines fair, In hope, a king doth go to war; Though wit bids will blow the retreat, Great rivers scarce may quench the same; Too late for wit to bid take heed. But yet it seems a foolish drift, To follow will and leave the wit; May well be stay'd upon the bit; But check a horse amid his race, Though wit and reason doth men teach Never to climb above their reach. The two foregoing Pieces are from "An Houre's Recreation in Musicke, by RICH. ALISON."-1606. |