Tudor and Stuart Love Songs Part 1

Tudor and Stuart Love Songs.

by Various.

INTRODUCTION.

The spirit of reform which was developed during the early part of the sixteenth century brought about a desire on the part of young men of means to travel on the continent of Europe. This was for the purpose of making themselves acquainted with the politics, social life, literature, art, science, and commerce of the various nations of the same, especially of France, Spain, and Italy. These young Englishmen on their return introduced into the society in which they mixed not only the politenesses of these countries, but the wit of Italy, and the character of the poetry which was then in vogue in Southern Europe. Among these travellers during the reign of Henry the Eighth were Sir Thomas Wyatt and the Earl of Surrey. These courtiers possessed the poetical faculty, and therefore paid special attention to literary form. As a result they introduced the Sonnet of the Petrarchan type into England. The amorous verse of the inhabitants of these sunny climes took hold of the young Englishmen. Many men of rank and education, who did not regard themselves as of the world of letters, penned pleasant verse, much of it being of an amatory character based upon that of the Italians. During the reign of "Good Queen Bess" England was full of song. Of the writers of love verses William Watson occupied a very high, probably the highest, position during the time of Elizabeth. A glance at the Table of Contents of this volume will show that some of the best poets who were born between the years 1503 and 1679 have handed down to us poetical contributions of this character.

Of the Elizabethan amatory verses only a small portion has been transmitted to us. That which possessed least literary merit did not long survive, and, no doubt, some of considerable merit has been lost too. The best has been preserved. Selections from these, arranged in chronological order, appear in this anthology. Richard Tottel printed his "Miscellany" in 1557. It is to this work, and to Richard Edwards'

"Paradise of Dainty Devices," issued nineteen years later, that much of the best poetical literature of the sixteenth century has come down to us. The first-named pa.s.sed through eight editions during thirty years: the last issue being dated 1587.

From the amatory verses produced by seventy-one writers during the reign of Henry the Eighth and down to those of the early Georges one hundred and thirteen appear in this love anthology. The limitation of s.p.a.ce prevents further biographical particulars being given than the years of birth and death, which will be found in the Table of Contents. As writers do not always agree in this respect, "The Dictionary of National Biography" has been taken as the authority.

Whatever labour has been bestowed on the preparation of this anthology has not been in bulking it out to its present dimensions, but rather in keeping it within the prescribed limits; and, at the same time, furnis.h.i.+ng these best examples of the love verses of the numerous authors who have been requisitioned for the purpose of this volume of "Tudor and Stuart Love Songs."

J. P. B.

THE LOST HEART.

Help me to seek! For I lost it there; And, if that ye have found it, ye that be here, And seek to convey it secretly, Handle it soft and treat it tenderly, Or else it will 'plain, and then appair.

But pray restore it mannerly, Since that I do ask it thus honestly; For to lose it, it sitteth me near; Help me to seek!

Alas, and is there no remedy?

But have I thus lost it wilfully?

I-wis, it was a thing all too dear To be bestowed, and wist not where!

It was mine heart! I pray you heartily Help me to seek!

Sir Thomas Wyatt.

THE LOVER'S APPEAL.

And wilt thou leave me thus?

Say nay! say nay! for shame, To save thee from the blame Of all my grief and grame.

And wilt thou leave me thus?

Say nay! say nay!

And wilt thou leave me thus, That hath loved thee so long In wealth and woe among: And is thy heart so strong As for to leave me thus?

Say nay! say nay!

And wilt thou leave me thus, That hath given thee my heart Never for to depart Neither for pain nor smart: And wilt thou leave me thus?

Say nay! say nay!

And wilt thou leave me thus, And have no more pity Of him that loveth thee?

Alas! thy cruelty!

And wilt thou leave me thus?

Say nay! say nay!

Sir Thomas Wyatt.

A SONNET.

Love, that liveth and reigneth in my thought, That built his seat within my captive breast, Clad in the arms wherein with me he fought, Oft in my face he doth his banner rest: She that me taught to love and suffer pain, My doubtful hope and eke my hot desire With shamefaced cloak to shadow and restrain, Her smiling grace converteth straight to ire: And coward Love then to the heart apace Taketh his flight, whereas he lurks and plains His purpose lost, and dare not show his face.

For my lord's guilt, thus faultless, bide I pains: Yet from my lord shall not my foot remove; Sweet is his death that takes his end by love!

Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey.

A VOW TO LOVE FAITHFULLY HOWSOEVER HE BE REWARDED.

Set me whereas the sun doth parch the green, Or where his beams do not dissolve the ice, In temperate heat where he is felt and seen, In presence pressed of people mad or wise, Set me in high, or yet in low degree, In longest night, or in the shortest day, In clearest sky, or where clouds thickest be, In l.u.s.ty youth, or when my hairs are gray, Set me in heaven, in earth, or else in h.e.l.l, In hill or dale, or in the foaming flood, Thrall, or at large, alive whereso I dwell, Sick, or in health, in evil fame or good: Hers will I be, and only with this thought Content myself, although my chance be nought.

Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey.

MY SWEET SWEETING.

Ah, my sweet sweeting!

My little pretty sweeting, My sweeting will I love wherever I go: She is so proper and pure, Full steadfast, stable, and demure, There is none such, you may be sure, As my sweet sweeting.

In all this world, as thinketh me, Is none so pleasant to my eye, That I am glad so oft to see As my sweet sweeting.

When I behold my sweeting sweet, Her face, her hands, her mignon feet, They seem to me there is none so sweet As my sweet sweeting.

Anon., circa 1530.

THE LOVER TO HIS LADY.