Fair maidens, have a care,

And in time take me!

I can have those as fair,
If you forsake me:
For Doll the dairy-maid

Laugh'd on me lately,
And wanton Winifred
Favours me greatly.

One throws milk on my clothes, T'other plays with my nose: What wanton signs are those? Phillada flouts me!

I cannot work and sleep

All at a season;

Love wounds my heart so deep,

Without all reason.

I 'gin to pine away,

With grief and sorrow,

Like to a fatted beast

Penn'd in a meadow.

I shall be dead, I fear,

Within this thousand year,

And all for

very fear!

Phillada flouts me!

SONG.

[From "The British Miscellany," where it is stated to be copied from an ancient MS1]

POOR Chloris wept, and from her eyes
The liquid tears ran trickling down;
(Such melting drops might well suffice
Το pay a ransom for a crown)

And as she wept, she sighed and said,
"Alas for me, unhappy maid,

That by my folly am betray'd!

"But when those eyes (unhappy eyes!)
Met with the object of my wo,
Methought our souls did sympathize,
And it was death to hear a no.

He woo'd; I granted; then befell
My shame, which I do shame to tell:-
Oh, that I had not lov'd so well!

"And had I been so wise as not
T' have yielded up my virgin fort;

My name had been without a blot,
And thwarted th' envy of report.

But now, my shame hath made me be
A butt for time to point at me,

And but a mark of misery.

1 It is also to be found with some variations in the Westminster and Windsor Drolleries.

"But, now, in sorrow must I sit,

And pensive thoughts possess my breast;

My silly soul with cares is split,

And grief denies me wonted rest.

Come then, black night, and screen me round,

That I may never more be found,
Unless in tears of sorrow drown'd!"

[From an old MS. in Mr. Lloyd's Collection.]
YE nimble dreams, with cobweb wings,
That fly by night from brain to brain,
And represent a world of things
With much ado and little pain!

You, that find out the shortest ways
Through every cranny, hole, or wall,
That no perdues your passing stays,
Nor jealousy, that catcheth all!

You visit ladies in their beds,

And are so lusty in their ease;

You put fine fancies in their heads!

You make them think on what you please!

How highly am I bound to ye,

Safe messengers of secrecy,

That make my mistress think on me

Just in the place where I would be.

Oh! would I might myself prefer
To be in place of one of you!

Not for to visit, but serve her,

That she may swear the dream was true.

Upon his Mistress's Inconstancy.

[From the same MS.]

THOU art pretty, but inconstant,
Too, too lovely to be true!
Thine affections, in an instant,

Struggle which shall first be new:

This and that, and here and there, Only in thy thoughts appear.

Thou art weary, thou art wavering,
Coy, and in a while as kind;

All thy passions, in a turning,
Shift as often as the wind

To and fro, and up and down:

Change doth all thy actions crown.

But to me thou ne'er art chang'd

In thy wonted cruelty!

Still from me thou keep'st estrang'd;
There's thy only constancy.

Oh then, let thy next change be
From neglect to love of me!

VOL. III.

Y

If in that mind I could find ye,
I would hold thee fast enow.
This should be my trick to bind ye:
Change I would as oft as you.

Then, by my example taught,

Thou shouldst see that change is naught.

Cupid and the Clown'.

[From the same MS.]

As Cupid took his bow and bolt,
Some birding sport to find,

He chanced on a country swain

Which was some yeoman's hind.

Clown. "Well met, fair boy! what sport abroad?
It is a goodly day;

The birds will sit this frosty morn,
You cannot choose but slay.

"Gadzooks! your eyes are both put out!

You will not bird, I trow?

Alas, go home, or else I think

The birds will laugh at you."

1 A copy of this, with some variations, is printed in restored."

" Wit