V.

UNFADING BEAUTY.

This little beautiful fonnet is reprinted from a fmall volume of "Poems by THOMAS CAREW, Efq. one of the gen"tlemen of the privie-chamber, and fewer in ordinary to his "majefty (Charles 1.) Lond. 1640." This elegant, and almoft forgotten writer, whofe poems have been defervedly revived, aied in the prime of his age, in 1639.,

In the original follows a third ftanza; which, not being of general application, nor of equal merit, I have ventured

bo omit.

EE, that loves a rofie cheeke,

HEE

Or a corall lip admires,

Or from star-like eyes doth feeke
Fuell to maintaine his fires,
As old time makes these decay,

5

So his flames must waste away.

But a smooth and stedfaft mind,
Gentle thoughts, and calme defires,
Hearts with equal love combin'd

GEORGE

VI.

BARNWELL.

The fubject of this ballad is fufficiently popular from the modern play which is founded upon it. This was written by GEORGE LILIO, a jeweller of London, and firft acted about 1730. As for the ballad it was printed at leaft as early as the middle of the last century.

It is here given from three old printed copies, which exhibit a frange intermixture of Roman and black letter. It is alfo collated with another copy in the Ashmole colie&tion at Oxford, which is thus intitled, "An excellent ballad of "GEORGE ANWELL, an apprentice of London, who ... thrice robbed his mafter and murdered his uncle in "Ludlow." The tune is The Merchant."

66

6.

This tragical narrative feems to relate a real fact; but when it bappened I have not been able to difcover.

AL

THE FIRST PART.

LL youths of fair Englànd
That dwell both far and near,

Regard my ftory that I tell,

And to my fong give ear.

A London lad I was,

A merchant's prentice bound;

My name George Barnwell; that did spend

My mafter many a pound.

5

Take

Take heed of harlots then,

And their enticing trains;

For by that means I have been brought

To hang alive in chains.

As I, upon a day,

Was walking through the street About my mafter's business,

A wanton I did meet.

A gallant dainty dame,

And fumptuous in attire;

With fmiling look the greeted me,
And did my name require.

Which when I had declar'd,

She gave me then a kiss,

And faid, if I would come to her,
I fhould have more than this.

Fair mistress, then quoth I,

If I the place may know,

This evening I will be with you,

For I abroad must go

Good Barnwell, then quoth fhe,

Do thou to Shoreditch come,

And afk for Mrs. Millwood's house,

35

Next door unto the Gun.

And truft me on my truth,

If thou keep touch with me,

My dearest friend, as my own heart

Thou shalt right welcome be.

Thus parted we in peace,

And home I paffed right;

Then went abroad, and gathered in,

By fix o'clock at night,

40

She took me by the hand,

And with a modest grace,

Welcome, sweet Barnwell, then quoth fhe,

Unto this homely place.

And fince I have thee found
As good as thy word to be:
A homely fupper, ere we part,
Thou shalt take here with me.

O pardon me, quoth I,

Fair mistress, I you pray;

For why, out of my master's house,
So long I dare not stay.

Alas, good Sir, fhe faid,'

Are you fo ftrictly ty'd,

You may not with your dearest friend

One hour or two abide?

Faith, then the cafe is hard:

If it be fo, quoth fhe,

I would I were a prentice bound,
To live along with thee:

Therefore, my dearest George,
Lift well what I fhall fay,
And do not blame a woman much,
Her fancy to bewray.