XIV.

The Shepherd's Address to his Muse.

THIS poem, originally printed from the small MS. volume mentioned above in no. x., has been improved by a more perfect copy in England's Helicon, where the author is discovered to be N. Breton.

GOOD Muse, rocke me aslepe
With some sweete harmony:
This wearie eyes is not to kepe
Thy wary company.

Sweet Love, begon a while,

Thou seest my heavines:

Beautie is borne but to beguyle
My harte of happines.

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See how my little flocke,

That lovde to feede on highe,

Doe headlonge tumble downe the rocke,
And in the valley dye.

The bushes and the trees,

That were so freshe and greene, Doe all their deintie colors leese,

And not a leafe is seene.

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120 THE SHEPHERD'S ADDRESS TO HIS MUSE.

The blacke birde and the thrushe,

That made the woodes to ringe, With all the rest, are now at hushe,

And not a note they singe.

Swete Philomele, the birde

That hath the heavenly throte, Doth nowe, alas! not once afforde Recordinge of a note.

The flowers have had a frost,

The herbs have loste their savoure;

And Phillida the faire hath lost

6 For me her wonted' favour.

Thus all these careful sights

So kill me in conceit :
That now to hope upon delights,

It is but meere deceite.

XV.

Lord Thomas and Fair Ellinor,

Is given (with corrections) from an ancient copy in blackletter in the Pepys collection, entitled, " A tragical ballad on the unfortunate love of lord Thomas and fair Ellinor, together with the downfall of the browne girl." In the same collection may be seen an attempt to modernize this old song, and reduce it to a different measure: a proof of its popularity.

LORD Thomas he was a bold forrestèr,

And a chaser of the kings deere:

Faire Ellinor was a fine womàn,

And Lord Thomas he loved her deare.

Come riddle my riddle, dear mother, he sayd, 5

And riddle us both as one;

Whether I shall marrye with faire Ellinòr,

And let the browne girl alone?

The browne girl she has got houses and lands,

Faire Ellinor she has got none,

And therefore I charge thee on my blessing,
To bring me the browne girl home.

And as it befelle on a high holidaye,
As many there are beside,

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Lord Thomas he went to faire Ellinor,
That should have been his bride.

And when he came to faire Ellinors bower,

He knocked there at the ring,

And who was so readye as faire Ellinòr,

To lett lord Thomas withinn.

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What newes, what newes, lord Thomas, she sayd?

What newes dost thou bring to mee?

I am come to bid thee to my wedding,

And that is bad newes for thee.

O God forbid, lord Thomas, she sayd,
That such a thing should be done;
I thought to have been the bride my selfe,
And thou to have been the bridegrome.

Come riddle my riddle, dear mother, she sayd,

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And riddle it all in one; Whether I shall goe to lord Thomas his wedding,

Or whether shall tarry at home?

There are manye that are your friendes, daughter,

And manye a one your foe,

Therefore I charge you on my blessing,

To lord Thomas his wedding don't goe.

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Ver. 29. It should probably be, Reade me, read, &c., i. e. Advise me, advise.

There are manye that are my friendes, mother

But were every one my foe,

;

Betide me life, betide me death,

To lord Thomas his wedding I'ld goe.

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She cloathed herself in gallant attire,

And her merrye men all in greene ; And as they rid through every towne, They took her to be some queene.

But when she came to lord Thomas his gate,

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She knocked there at the ring;

And who was so readye as lord Thomàs,

To lett faire Ellinor in.

Is this your bride? fair Ellinor sayd,

Methinks she looks wonderous browne; Thou mightest have had as faire a woman, As ever trod on the grounde.

Despise her not, fair Ellin, he sayd,
Despise her not unto mee;

For better I love thy little finger,

Than all her whole bodèe.

This browne bride had a little penknife,

That was both long and sharpe,

And betwixt the short ribs and the long,

She prick'd faire Ellinor's harte.