SONG. SET BY MR. HENRY LAWES. TO AMARANTHA;' THAT SHE WOULD DISHEVELL HER HAIRE. I. MARANTHA sweet and faire, Ah brade no more that shining haire! II. Let it flye as unconfin'd As it's calme ravisher, the winde, III. Ev'ry tresse must be confest: A portion of this song is printed, with a few orthographical variations, in the Ayres and Dialogues, part i. 1653; and it is also found in Cotgrave's Wits Interpreter, 1655, where it is called "Amarantha counselled." Cotgrave used the text of Lawes, and only gives that part of the production which he found in Ayres and Dialogues. 2 Forbear to brade-Lawes' Ayres and Dialogues, and Cot. grave. 3 This-Lawes' Ayres and Dialogues. Cotgrave reads his. Like a clue of golden thread, IV. Doe not then winde up that light But shake your head, and scatter day. V. See, 'tis broke! within this grove, VI. Heere wee'll strippe and coole our fire, VII. Which our very joys shall leave, 'Milk-baths have been a favourite luxury in all ages. Peele had probably in his mind the custom of his own time and country when he wrote the following passage: "Bright Bethsabe shall wash in David's bower, In water mix'd with purest almond flower, King David and Fair Bethsabe, 1599. SONNET. SET BY MR. HUDSON. I. EPOSE your finger of that ring, And crowne mine with't awhile; Or shines it not as innocent, II. So then inrich me with that treasure, And please me (faire one) with that pleasure Not to save others is a curse The blackest, when y'are ne're the worse. ODE. SET BY DR JOHN WILSON.i TO LUCASTA. THE ROSE. I. WEET serene skye-like flower, Haste to adorn her bower; From thy long clowdy bed Shoot forth thy damaske2 head. Dr. John Wilson was a native of Feversham in Kent, a gentleman of Charles the First's chapel, and chamber-musician to his majesty. For an account of his works, see Burney's His II. New-startled blush of Flora! The griefe of pale Aurora, Haste, haste, to strowe her floore. III. Vermilion ball, that's given From lip to lip in Heaven; Haste, haste, to make her bed. IV. Dear offspring of pleas'd Venus, Haste, haste, to decke the haire, Of th' only sweetly faire. V. See! rosie is her bower, Her floore is all this flower; Her bed a rosie nest By a bed of roses prest. tory of Music, vol. iii. pp. 399-400, or Hawkins' History of Music, iii. 57, where a portrait of Wilson, taken from the original painting, will be found. Wood, author of the Fasti and Athenæ, says that he was in his time, "the best at the lute in all England." Herrick, in his Hesperides, 1648, has these lines in reference to Henry Lawes : "Then if thy voice commingle with the string, I hear in thee the rare Laniere to sing, Or curious Wilson." 2 In a MS. copy of the poem contemporary with the author, now before me, this word is omitted. VI. But early as she dresses, LOVE CONQUER'D. A SONG. SET BY MR. HENRY LAWES. I. HE childish god of love did sweare II. Up then to th' head with his best art At her constant marble heart, He drawes his swiftest surest dart, Which bounded back, and hit his owne. III. Now the prince of fires burnes; Flames in the luster of her eyes; Triumphant she, refuses, scornes; He submits, adores and mournes, And is his votresse sacrifice. D |