XIII.

DULCINA.

Given from two ancient copies, one in black-print, in the Pepys Collection, the other in the Editor's folio MS. Each of these contained a stanza not found in the other. What seemed the best readings were selected from both.

This song is quoted as very popular in Walton's Compleat Angler, chap. 2. It is more ancient than the ballad of ROBIN GOOD-FELLOW printed below, which yet is supposed to have been written by Ben Jonson.

As at noone Dulcina rested

In her sweete and shady bower,
Came a shepherd, and requested

In her lapp to sleepe an hour.
But from her looke

A wounde he tooke

Soe deepe, that for a further boone

The nymph he prayes.

Wherto shee sayes,

Forgoe me now, come to me soone.

But in vayne shee did conjure him

To depart her presence soe;

Having a thousand tongues to allure him,

And but one to bid him goe:

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Where

Where lipps invite,

And eyes delight,

And cheekes, as fresh as rose in june,

Persuade delay;

What boots,

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she say,

Forgoe me now, come to me soone?

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He demands what time for pleasure

Can there be more fit than now :

She sayes, night gives love that leysure,

Which the day can not allow.

He sayes, the sight

? Improves delight.

'Which she denies: Nights mirkie noone

In Venus' playes

Makes bold, shee sayes;

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Forgoe me now, come to mee soone.

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But what promise or profession

From his hands could purchase scope?

Who would sell the sweet possession

Of suche beautye for a hope?

Or for the sight

Of lingering night

Foregoe the present joyes of noone?

Though ne'er soe faire

Her speeches were,

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Forgoe me now, come to me soone.

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How,

How, at last, agreed these lovers?

Shee was fayre, and he was young:

The tongue may tell what th'eye discovers;
Joyes unseene are never sung.

XIV.

THE LADY ISABELLA'S TRAGEDY.

This ballad is given from an old black-letter copy in the Pepys Collection, collated with another in the British Museum, H. 263. folio. It is there intitled, "The "Lady Isabella's Tragedy, or the Step-Mother's Cruelty: 'being a relation of a lamentable and cruel murther, "committed on the body of the lady Isabella, the only daughter of a noble Duke, &c. To the tune of, The "Lady's Fall." To some copies are annexed eight more modern stanzas, intitled, "The Dutchess's and "Cook's Lamentation."

THERE was a lord of worthy fame,
And a hunting he would ride,
Attended by a noble traine
Of gentrye by his side.

And while he did in chase remaine,
To see both sport and playe;
His ladye went, as she did feigne,
Unto the church to praye.

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This lord he had a daughter deare,

Whose beauty shone so bright,

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She was belov'd, both far and neare,

Of many a lord and knight.

Fair Isabella was she call'd,

A creature faire was shee;

She was her fathers only joye;
As you shall after see.

Therefore her cruel step-mothèr

Did envye her so much,

That daye by daye she sought her life,
Her malice it was such.

She bargain'd with the master-cook,

To take her life awaye :

And taking of her daughters book,

She thus to her did saye.

Go home, sweet daughter, I thee praye,

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And tell unto the master-cook

Go hasten presentlie;

These wordes that I tell thee.

And bid him dresse to dinner streight
That faire and milk-white doe,

That in the parke doth shine so bright,

There's none so faire to showe.

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