XIV.

THE SHEPHERD's ADDRESS TO HIS MUSE.

This Poem, originally printed from the fmall MS. volume, mentioned above in No. X. has been improved by a more perfect Copy in England's Helicon," where the author is difcovered to te N. BRETON.

66

OOD Mufe, rocke me aflepe

G with fome fweete harmony:

This wearie eyes is not to kepe

Thy wary company.

That lovde to feede on highe,

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

10

The bushes and the trees,

That were fo freshe and greene,
Doe all their deintie colors leefe,
And not a leafe is feene.

15

The

The blacke birde and the thrufhe,

That made the woodes to ringe,

With all the rest, are now at hushe,

And not a note they finge.

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 favoure;

And Phillida the faire hath loft

For me her wonted' favour.

Thus all these careful fights,
So kill me in conceit;
That now to hope upon delights,

It is but meere deceite.

20

25

XV.

LORD THOMAS AND FAIR ELLINOR,

is given (with corre&ions) from an ancient copy in black letter, in the Pepys collection, intitled, "A tragical ballad on "the unfortunate love of lord Thomas and fair Ellinor, toge"ther with the downfall of the browne girl."-In the fame Collection may be feen an attempt to modernize this old fong, and reduce it to a different meafure: A proof of its popularity

L

ORD Thomas he was a bold forrestèr,

And a chafer of the kings deere;

Faire Ellinor was a fine woman,

And lord Thomas he loved her deare.

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

And riddle us both as one;

Whether I fhall marrye with faire Ellinor,

And let the browne girl alone?

The browne girl fhe has got houses and lands,

Faire Ellinor fhe has got none,

And therefore I charge thee on my b'efsing,

To bring me the browne girl home.

And

And as it befelle on a high holidaye,

As many there are befide,

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

And when he came to faire Ellinors bower,
He knocked there at the ring,

And who was fo readye as faire Ellinòr,

To lett lord Thomas withinn.

15

20

What newes, what newes, lord Thomas, the fayd?

What newes doít 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, fhe fayd,
That fuch a thing should be done;
I thought to have been the bride my felfe,
And thou to have been the bridegrome.

Come riddle my riddle, dear mother, she sayd,
And riddle it all in one;
Whether I fhall goe to lord Thomas his wedding,
Or whether shall tarry at home?

25

30

There are manye that are your friendes, daughtèr,

And manye a one your foe,

Therefore I charge you on my bleffing,

To lord Thomas his wedding don't goe.

35

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

me, advife,

There

.

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..

40

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 fome queene.

But when she came to lord Thomas his gate, 45
She knocked there at the ring;

And who was fo readye as lord Thomas,

To lett faire Ellinor in.

Is this your bride, fair Ellinor fayd?
Methinks the looks wonderous browne;

Thou mightest have had as faire a woman,

As ever trod on the grounde.

Defpife her not, fair Ellin, hè fayd,

Despise her not unto mee;

50

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 prickd faire Ellinor's harte.
G

VOL. III.

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