THESE beautiful stanzas were written by George Wither, of whom some account was given in the former part of this volume: see the song entitled, The Shepherd's Resolution, book ii. song xxi. In the first edition of this work, only a small fragment of this sonnet was inserted. It was afterwards rendered more complete and entire by the addition of five stanzas more, extracted from Wither's pastoral poem, entitled, The Mistress of Philarete, of which this song makes a part. It is now given still more correct and perfect by comparing it with another copy, printed by the author in his improved edition of The Shepherd's Hunting, 1620, 8vo.

HENCE away, thou Syren, leave me,

Pish! unclaspe these wanton armes ; Sugred words can ne'er deceive me,

(Though they prove a thousand charmes).

Fie, fie, forbeare;

No common snare

Can ever my affection chaine :
Thy painted baits,

And poore deceits,

Are all bestowed on me in vaine.

I'me no slave, to such as you be ;
Neither shall that snowy brest,
Rowling eye, and lip of ruby

Ever robb me of my rest:

Goe, goe, display

Thy beautie's ray

To some more-soone enamour'd swaine :

Those common wiles

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Of sighs and smiles

Are all bestowed on me in vaine.

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I have elsewhere vowed a dutie;
Turne away thy tempting eye:
Shew not me a painted beautie;
These impostures I defie :
My spirit lothes

Where gawdy clothes

And fained othes may love obtaine:

I love her so,

Whose looke sweares No;

That all your labours will be vaine.

Can he prize the tainted posies,
Which on every brest are worne ;
That may plucke the virgin roses
From their never-touched thorne ?
I can goe rest

On her sweet brest,

That is the pride of Cynthia's traine:
Then stay thy tongue;

Thy mermaid song

Is all bestowed on me in vaine.

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Where each lustfull lad may wooe: Give me her, whose sun-like beautie

Buzzards dare not soare unto :

Shee, shee it is

Affoords that blisse

For which I would refuse no paine :

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But such as you,

Fond fooles, adieu;

You seeke to captive me in vaine.

Leave me then, you Syrens, leave me;

Seeke no more to worke

my.

Craftie wiles cannot deceive me,

harmes :

Who am proofe against your charmes :

You labour may

To lead astray

The heart, that constant shall remaine :

And I the while

Will sit and smile

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65

To see you spend your time in vaine.

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VIII.

The Spanish Virgin, or Effects of Jealousy.

THE subject of this ballad is taken from a folio collection of tragical stories, entitled, "The theatre of God's judgments, by Dr. Beard and Dr. Taylor, 1642." Pt. ii. p. 89. -The text is given (with corrections) from two copies; one of them in black-letter in the Pepys collection. In this every stanza is accompanied with the following distich by way of burden :

"Oh jealousie! thou art nurst in hell :

Depart from hence, and therein dwell."

Did on this lady wait;

With bravest dames she might compare ;

Her beauty was compleat.

Her lady cast a jealous eye

Upon this gentle maid;
And taxt her with disloyaltye;

And did her oft upbraid.

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