Transcriber's Notes
Small discrepancies in punctuation between the Table of Content and poem titles have been retained.
"Cherry Ripe" and "Julia" are on pages 91 and 90 respectively, rather than on pages 90 and 91 as listed in the Table of Contents.
John Dowland's poem is titled "True till death" in the Table of Contents, but is titled "Love's constancy" on page 95.
TUDOR AND STUART LOVE SONGS
SELECTED AND EDITED BY
J. POTTER BRISCOE, F.R.S.L.
Editor of "The Bibelots"
E. P. DUTTON AND CO.
31 W. 23RD STREET
NEW YORK
INTRODUCTION.
The spirit of reform which was developed during the early part of the sixteenth century brought about a desire on the part of young men of means to travel on the continent of Europe. This was for the purpose of making themselves acquainted with the politics, social life, literature, art, science, and commerce of the various nations of the same, especially of France, Spain, and Italy. These young Englishmen on their return introduced into the society in which they mixed not only the politenesses of these countries, but the wit of Italy, and the character of the poetry which was then in vogue in Southern Europe. Among these travellers during the reign of Henry the Eighth were Sir Thomas Wyatt and the Earl of Surrey. These courtiers possessed the poetical faculty, and therefore paid special attention to literary form. As a result they introduced the Sonnet of the Petrarchan type into England. The amorous verse of the inhabitants of these sunny climes took hold of the young Englishmen. Many men of rank and education, who did not regard themselves as of the world of letters, penned pleasant verse, much of it being of an amatory character based upon that of the Italians. During the reign of "Good Queen Bess" England was full of song. Of the writers of love verses William Watson occupied a very high, probably the highest, position during the time of Elizabeth. A glance at the Table of Contents of this volume will show that some of the best poets who were born between the years 1503 and 1679 have handed down to us poetical contributions of this character.
Of the Elizabethan amatory verses only a small portion has been transmitted to us. That which possessed least literary merit did not long survive, and, no doubt, some of considerable merit has been lost too. The best has been preserved. Selections from these, arranged in chronological order, appear in this anthology. Richard Tottel printed his "Miscellany" in 1557. It is to this work, and to Richard Edwards' "Paradise of Dainty Devices," issued nineteen years later, that much of the best poetical literature of the sixteenth century has come down to us. The first-named passed through eight editions during thirty years: the last issue being dated 1587.
From the amatory verses produced by seventy-one writers during the reign of Henry the Eighth and down to those of the early Georges one hundred and thirteen appear in this love anthology. The limitation of space prevents further biographical particulars being given than the years of birth and death, which will be found in the Table of Contents. As writers do not always agree in this respect, "The Dictionary of National Biography" has been taken as the authority.
Whatever labour has been bestowed on the preparation of this anthology has not been in bulking it out to its present dimensions, but rather in keeping it within the prescribed limits; and, at the same time, furnishing these best examples of the love verses of the numerous authors who have been requisitioned for the purpose of this volume of "Tudor and Stuart Love Songs."
J. P. B.
CONTENTS.
LOVE VERSES OF THE TUDOR & STUART PERIODS.
THE LOST HEART.
And, if that ye have found it, ye that be here,
And seek to convey it secretly,
Handle it soft and treat it tenderly,
Or else it will 'plain, and then appair.
But pray restore it mannerly,
Since that I do ask it thus honestly;
For to lose it, it sitteth me near;
Help me to seek!
But have I thus lost it wilfully?
I-wis, it was a thing all too dear
To be bestowed, and wist not where!
It was mine heart! I pray you heartily
Help me to seek!
Sir Thomas Wyatt.
THE LOVER'S APPEAL.
Say nay! say nay! for shame,
To save thee from the blame
Of all my grief and grame.
And wilt thou leave me thus?
Say nay! say nay!
That hath loved thee so long
In wealth and woe among:
And is thy heart so strong
As for to leave me thus?
Say nay! say nay!
That hath given thee my heart
Never for to depart
Neither for pain nor smart:
And wilt thou leave me thus?
Say nay! say nay!
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.
That built his seat within my captive breast,
Clad in the arms wherein with me he fought,
Oft in my face he doth his banner rest:
She that me taught to love and suffer pain,
My doubtful hope and eke my hot desire
With shamefaced cloak to shadow and restrain,
Her smiling grace converteth straight to ire:
And coward Love then to the heart apace
Taketh his flight, whereas he lurks and plains
His purpose lost, and dare not show his face.
For my lord's guilt, thus faultless, bide I pains:
Yet from my lord shall not my foot remove;
Sweet is his death that takes his end by love!
Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey.
A VOW TO LOVE FAITHFULLY HOWSOEVER HE BE REWARDED.
Or where his beams do not dissolve the ice,
In temperate heat where he is felt and seen,
In presence pressed of people mad or wise,
Set me in high, or yet in low degree,
In longest night, or in the shortest day,
In clearest sky, or where clouds thickest be,
In lusty youth, or when my hairs are gray,
Set me in heaven, in earth, or else in hell,
In hill or dale, or in the foaming flood,
Thrall, or at large, alive whereso I dwell,
Sick, or in health, in evil fame or good:
Hers will I be, and only with this thought
Content myself, although my chance be nought.
Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey.
MY SWEET SWEETING.
My little pretty sweeting,
My sweeting will I love wherever I go:
She is so proper and pure,
Full steadfast, stable, and demure,
There is none such, you may be sure,
As my sweet sweeting.
Is none so pleasant to my eye,
That I am glad so oft to see
As my sweet sweeting.
Her face, her hands, her mignon feet,
They seem to me there is none so sweet
As my sweet sweeting.
Anon., circa 1530.
THE LOVER TO HIS LADY.
Upon the golden skies:
Would I were Heaven! I would behold
Thee then with all mine eyes!
George Turberville.
MASTER GEORGE: HIS SONNET OF THE PAINS OF LOVE.
That I by love sustain:
I burn, I flame, I faint, I freeze,
Of Hell I feel the pain.
George Turberville.
TURBERVILLE'S ANSWER AND DISTICH TO THE SAME.
To purchase love anew:
Let reason rule, where Love did reign,
And idle thoughts eschew.
George Turberville.
THE SHEPHERD'S COMMENDATION OF HIS NYMPH.
The favour of her face
To whom, in this distress,
I do appeal for grace?
A thousand Cupids fly
About her gentle eye;
That kindleth soft sweet fire
Within my sighing heart,
Possessed by desire:
No sweeter life I try
Than in her love to die!
That glories in his white,
For pureness now must yield
And render up his right;
Heaven pictured in her face
Doth promise joy and grace.
That beats on running streams,
Compares not with her white,
Whose hairs are all sunbeams:
So bright my Nymph doth shine
As day unto my eyne!
Exceeds the damask-rose,
Which in her cheeks is spread,
Where every favour grows;
In sky there is no star,
But she surmounts it far.
Of Thetis doth arise,
The morning, blushing red,
In fair carnation-wise,
He shows in my Nymph's face,
As Queen of every grace.
This taint of roseate red,
This Cynthia's silver light,
This sweet fair Dea spread,
These sunbeams in mine eye,
These beauties, make me die!
Edward Vere, Earl of Oxford.
A RENUNCIATION.