“ Our youth, our joys, and all we have,
And pays us but with age and dust;
Who in the dark and silent grave,
When we have wander'd all our ways,
Shuts up the story of our days.
[Pg 78]
From Add. MS. 2218, fol. 32 (compared with a copy in Wit and Drollery, 1661) . ”

“ HE that intends to woo a maid
With youthful heat, must shun the shade.
When Flora's gardens are i' th' prime
Let him and her pluck May and Time: [12]
There, where the sun doth shine, birds sing,
Let them two both kiss and fling,
Till summer's fairest carpet spread
Yields them a green and pleasant bed:
If lovers there would strive together,
Chastity would not weigh one feather.
[Pg 15]
From John Attey's First Book of Airs, 1622.
MY days, my months, my years
I spend about a moment's gain,
A joy that in th' enjoying ends,
A fury quickly slain ”

“ From Rawlinson MS. Poet. 206.
On a Watch Sent to a Gentlewoman. [44]
GO and count her better hours,
They more happy are than ours.
The day that gives her any bliss
Make it again as long as 'tis;
The hour she smiles, O let that be
By thy art increased to three.
But if she frown on thee or me,
Know night is made by her not thee:
Be swift in such an hour and soon
Make it night though it be noon,
And stay her times who is the free
Fair sun that governs thee and me.
From Wit Restored, 1658.
A Song to his Mistress. ”

“ In the 1671 edition of Wit's Interpreter this poem is headed "Love's Riddle Resolved." It is found in several miscellanies of the time.
["Amplified and spun out, it became a ballad printed for the assigns of Thomas Symcocke, in Roxburghe Collection, l. 242, a probably unique exemplar, entitled 'The Maid's Comfort.'"—J. W. Ebsworth.]
[7] The poem is headed "Cartwright's Song of Dalliance. Never printed before." It was printed in the same year, without the author's name, in Parnassus Biceps, where it is headed, "Love's Courtship." Unquestionably the finest of Cartwright's poems. ”

“ J. W. Ebsworth, with his usual kindness, has helped me when my knowledge or memory has been at fault. No man has so intimate a knowledge as Mr. Ebsworth of the floating literature of the second half of the seventeenth century.
Though not a few of the poems in the present volume could not be included in anthologies intended for general circulation, I must yet be allowed [Pg vi] to state that I have reprinted nothing that is offensively gross. There is a great deal of dirt—nasty worthless trash—in the miscellanies of the Restoration, and with this garbage I have not chosen to meddle. ”

“ Some time ago I was at the pains to transcribe from a unique MS. a long poem of Thomas Nashe. It is smoothly written, but very gross. There must be other poems of Nashe in MS.
[2] Also found in Dr. John Wilson's Cheerful Airs, 1660, and other collections.
[3] These verses are printed (with some slight alterations) in Wit's Interpreter, 1655. For "Kiss Me" (l. 15) Wit's Interpreter gives a word to rhyme with "Money" (l. 7) .
[4] "There was probably a close connection here with the Song on Love, beginning, 'When I do love, I would not wish to speed,' printed in Parnassus Biceps, 1656, p. ”

“ Sir Walter Raleigh is a prominent figure in English literature. The late Archdeacon Hannah's edition of Raleigh's poems is a valuable piece of work; and Sir Egerton Brydges, in collecting what he supposed to be Raleigh's poems, showed commendable industry, but scant judgment. I therefore count myself fortunate in having discovered the characteristic poem, "Nature that wash'd her hands in milk" (page 76) , which escaped the researches of previous enquirers. ”

“ A Dialogue betwixt Castadorus and Arabella in bed.
Arabella.
DEAR Castadorus, let me rise,
Aurora 'gins to jeer me:
She tells me I do wantonise.
Castadorus. I prithee, sweet, lie near me.
Let red Aurora blush, my dear,
And Phœbus laughing follow;
Thou only art Aurora here,
Let me be thy Apollo.
It is to envy at our bliss
That they do rise before us:
Is there such hurt in this or this?
Arabella. Nay, fie! why, Castadorus!
[Pg 54]
Castadorus. What, Arabella, can one night
Of wanton dalliance tire you? ”

“ In the seventeenth century those bounds were not so well defined as in the present age. John Attey, in 1622, [Pg ii] dedicated his "First Book of Airs" to "The Right Honourable John, Earl of Bridgewater, Viscount Brackley, and Baron of Ellesmere; and the truly Noble and Virtuous Lady, Frances, Countess of Bridgewater." Among Attey's songs are the audacious verses, "My days, my months, my years," which I have given in the present collection (page 15) . A noble and virtuous lady now-a-days would be justly incensed if she found such a lyric in a song-book of which she had accepted the dedication ”

“ Manners have changed, and "My days, my months, my years" is no longer a song for the drawing-room; but snugly stowed away with its fellows on a top shelf in the library it can do no harm.
In the present volume I have gathered together from the song-books the songs that could find no place in the former collections, and I have included several poems from rare miscellanies of the seventeenth century. ”

“ I have found a MS. copy of it in Rawlinson MS. Poet., 214, where it is ascribed (how truly I know not) to "Mr. Tho. Head." It occurs in several later miscellanies; and in the variorum translation of Anacreon published at Oxford in 1683. Here is Stanley's rendering of the same ode: it is good, but far inferior to the version in the Drollery:—
On this verdant lotus laid,
Underneath the myrtle's shade,
Let us drink our sorrows dead,
While Love plays the Ganymed.
Life like to a wheel runs round,
And, ere long, we underground
(Ta'en by Death asunder) must
Moulder in forgotten Dust. ”

“ Every reader has that stanza by heart, but the complete poem—as given in the Harleian MS.—is printed for the first time.
Aurelian Townsend is a poet about whom I have often felt curiosity. He was the friend of Carew, and Suckling introduces him into The Session of the Poets. From one of the Malone MSS., in the Bodleian Library, I have recovered the charming verses "To the Lady May;" and I can lay my hand on other poems of Townsend which [Pg iv] have never seen the light. ”

“ Some eighteen months ago I published a collection of "Lyrics from the Song-books of the Elizabethan Age" (J. C. Nimmo) , and recently I issued a second collection, "More Lyrics from the Song-books of the Elizabethan Age" (J. C. Nimmo) . Those volumes were addressed to all classes of readers. They may lie on a drawing-room table without offence. Philemon may give them to his Amanda on her birthday with the full assurance that he will run no risk of bringing a blush to the fair nymph's cheek. ”

“ From William Corkine's Airs, 1610.
HE that hath no mistress must not wear a favour,
He that wooes a mistress must serve before he have her;
He that hath no bedfellow must [learn to] lie alone,
And he that hath no lady must be content with Joan:
And so must I, for why, alas! ”

“ Old ed. "pish;" but "push" (required for the rhyme) , the reading in The Westminster Drollery, is an old form of "pish."
[26] Rawlinson MS. Poet. 211, contains very many, if not all, of the poems in this collection. On the fly-leaf of the MS. is a note, "Charles Williams his booke written with Thomas."
[27] Old ed. "into."
[28] These dainty verses are by Robert Herrick.
[29] These verses are found in many later Miscellanies. ”

“ After reading the various panegyrics on his poems it is a sad disappointment to turn to the poems themselves. But if Cartwright wrote other poems equal to "Hark, my [Pg v] Flora!"—not for publication (for he was "the most florid and seraphical preacher in the University," and seraphical preachers should not publish Songs of Dalliance) , but to be circulated in manuscript among his friends—then the esteem in which his poetical abilities were held would be intelligible.
Among the rare miscellanies from which I have quoted are Wits Interpreter, 1655, 1671; The Academy of Compliments, 1650 ”

“ The last stanza of that poem, "Oh cruel time, which takes in trust," with a couple of lines tacked on, was published in Raleigh's Remains, where it is said to have been "found in his bible in the Gatehouse at Westminster." ”

“ Parnassus Biceps,—
"Say thou ne'er shalt joy again."
[10] This is the reading in Parnassus Biceps—Sportive Wit, "restless."
[11] Parnassus Biceps, "when we twine."
[12] Compare Morley's song, "Thyrsis and Milla," in More Lyrics, pp. 116-7.
[13] Old ed. "brales."
[14] Old ed. "Gods."
[15] Old ed. "had had hastn'ed."
[16] There are some verses in Thomas Flatman's Songs and Poems, 1674, which suggested, or were suggested by, the present poem. They run thus:—
The Slight.
I did but crave that I might kiss,
If not her lip, at least her hand,
The coolest lover's frequent bliss ”

“ The younger Donne printed the verses among the Poems by William, Earl of Pembroke, and Benjamin Ruddier, 1660, ascribing them to the Earl. Donne's authority carries no weight.
[Pg 56]
From Harl. MS. 791, fol. 54.
WHY [37] should passion lead thee blind
'Cause thy mistress is unkind? ”

“ She dropt a tear, and sighing seem'd to say
"Young ladies, marry, marry while you may!"
[Pg 91]
From William Corkine's Second book of Airs, 1612.
TWO lovers sat lamenting
Hard by a crystal brook,
Each other's heart tormenting,
Exchanging look for look,
With sighs and tears bewraying
Their silent thoughts delaying:
At last coth [64] one,
"Shall we alone
Sit here our thoughts bewraying? ”

“ A Song in Dialogue.
Strephon.
DEAR, I must do.
Phillis. O I dare not.
Strephon. 'Twill not hurt you.
Phillis. No, I care not.
Strephon. Then I prithee, sweet, tell me the reason.
Phillis. Will you marry?
Strephon. Yes, to-morrow.
Phillis. Till then tarry.
Strephon. I would borrow.
Phillis. Fruit is best when gathered in season.
[Pg 26]
From The Windsor Drollery, 1672.
(After Anacreon.) ”

“ I ought perhaps to omit this poem, for it is fairly well known. The writer was George Wither, in whose Fair Virtue, 1622, it first appeared. There are other versions in the Marrow of Compliments, 1655, and similar collections.
[70] This song is by Tom D'Urfey, and is printed in the first volume of his Pills to Purge Melancholy. In Comes Amoris the reading is "Aminta."
[71] "With music by Pelham Humphrey, in Playford's Choice Ayres, i. 34. Twice given in Windsor Drollery. Believed to be by Charles, Earl of Dorset."—J. W. Ebsworth. ”

“ Mr. Ebsworth kindly pointed out to me that this dialogue belongs to Jordan. I had taken it from Wit and Drollery, 1656. The earlier text is more correct. There is an MS. copy of it in Harleian MS. 3511 fol. 108.
[37] This poem is ascribed by the younger Donne to William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke. It was very popular, and is found in many MS. collections. "Go, soul, the body's guest," is ascribed by Donne to Pembroke. People must have been very credulous in the second half of the seventeenth century. (See Windsor Drollery, 1672; Add. MS. 10309, &c.) . ”

“ This song was printed from a MS. in the Sloane Collection, by Ritson, in Antient Songs, 1790. It is in Egerton MS. 923, fol. 65, and Ashmole MS. 38, No. 272.
["Cf. Oxford Drollery (3 stanzas) , ii. 89, 'Nay pish, nay fie! you venter to enter,' which is by Thomas Jordan, or before 1664. There is much closer resemblance (beyond accidental coincidence) to 'Loves Follies,' a four stanza song in Merry Drollery, 1661, 'Nay, out upon this fooling, for shame!'"—J. W. Ebsworth.] ”

“ Attributed to Thomas Carew.
[58] Old ed. "beauties."
[59] There is a somewhat similar copy of verses in Choice Drollery, 1656:—
"If at this time I am derided,
And you please to laugh at me,
Know I am not unprovided
Every way to answer thee,
Love or hate, Whate'er it be," &c.
[60] Old ed. "by."
[61] Mr. Ebsworth reminds me that this is Theocles' song, by Sir William Davenant, sung in Act iii. of "The Rivals," 1668.
[62] Old ed. "they."
[63] This poem is by Thomas Flatman, and is printed among his Songs and Poems, 1669. ”

“ Both the MS. and printed copy read "pleasures."
[51] I have at present no information about "W. Munsey," whose name is attached to this (not very valuable) poem in the MS. In Rawlinson MS. 117, fol. 151, a copy of "I saw fair Chloris walk alone" (which has been attributed, without evidence, by some to Carew, and by others to Herrick) is subscribed "Munsey." The well-known poem, "In the nonage of a winter's day," usually ascribed to Carew, is signed in Rawlinson MS. Poet., 210, "W. Munsey."
[52] Immediately, without delay.
[53] MS. "ornaments."
[54] MS. "vppon downe."
[55] MS. "beds." ”

“ But I'll not take 't as heretofore,
Not I, I'll vow, not I.
"The Resolution" is far the better poem.
[17] Quite in Mr. Browning's vein this expression, "Put case that."
[18] The Windsor Drollery, 1672, has a similar copy of verses:—
I'd have you, quoth he? ”

“ Old ed. "enough."
[74] From the section containing Poems Collected by the Honourable Herbert Aston (pp. 307, 308) .
[75] "This was a song of 1683, set to music by Captain Pack, and not improbably to his own words. It was printed in 1684 in Playford's Choice Ayres, v. 14, and parodies soon followed. Cf. Roxburghe Ballads, iv. 350."—J. W. Ebsworth.
[76] "This appeared twenty-four years earlier, being by Robert Baron, among his Poems, 1650, p. 65."—J. W. Ebsworth.
[77] Dr. Lancelot Andrewes, Bishop of Winchester, a prelate of rare virtue and high ability. This is the best of his poems. ”