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UNCERTAIN AUTHORS.

The Lover, deceived by his Lady's Inconstancy, writeth unto her as followeth.

[From "A Gorgious Gallery of Gallant Inventions," 1578,

4to.]

*

THE mist is gone that blear'd mine eyes,
The lowering clouds I see appear;
Though that the blind eat many flies,
I would you knew my sight is clear.
Your sweet, deceiving, flattering face,
Did make me think that you were white;
I muse how you had such a grace
To seem a hawk, and be a kite.

Where precious ware is to be sold,

They shall it have that giveth most.
All things we see are won with gold;
Few things is had where is no cost:
And so it fareth now by me.

Because I press to give no gifts,
She takes my suit unthankfully,
And drives me off with many drifts.

Is this the end of all my suit,

For my good will to have a scorn?
Is this of all my pains the fruit,

To have the chaff instead of corn?
Let them that list possess such dross;
For I deserve a better gain :

Yet had I rather leave with loss,

Than serve and sue, and all in vain.

The following piece was extracted from an extremely scarce miscellany, called " A Handful of Pleasant Delites, con"taining sundrie new sonnets and delectable histories in "divers kinds of meeter, &c. &c. by Clement Robinson "and divers others." London, printed by Richard Jhones, &c. 1584, 12mo.

The tune appears to have acquired an extraordinary degree of popularity in the time of Shakspeare, (see Merry Wives of Windsor, Act ii. Sc. 1, and Act v. Sc. 5,) and the ballad contains some particulars respecting female dress and manners, during the sixteenth century, which may appear curious to the poetical antiquary.

A new courtly Sonnet, of the Lady Greensleeves, to the new tune of " Greensleeves."

GREENSLEEVES was all my joy,
Greensleeves was my delight,
Greensleeves was my hart of gold,

And who but Lady Greensleeves.

Alas, my love,

ye

do me wrong,

To cast me off discourteously: And I have loved you so long,

Delighting in your company! Greensleeves, &c.

I have been ready at your hand,
Το grant whatever you would crave:
I have both waged life and land,

Your love and good-will for to have. Greensleeves, &c.

I bought thee kerchers to thy head, That were wrought fine and gallantly: I kept thee, both at board and bed, Which cost my purse well-favour'dly. Greensleeves, &c.

I bought thee petticoats of the best,
The cloth so fine as fine might be :

I gave thee jewels for thy chest ;
And all this cost I spent on thee.
Greensleeves, &c.

Thy smock of silk both fair and white,
With gold embroider'd gorgeously:

Thy petticoat of sendall1 right;

And this I bought thee gladly. Greensleeves, &c.

Thy girdle of gold so red,

With pearls bedecked sumptuously,

The like no other lasses had :

And yet thou wouldest not love me! Greensleeves, &c.

Thy purse, and eke thy gay gilt knives,
Thy pin-case, gallant to the eye:
No better wore the burgess' wives:
And yet thou wouldest not love me!
Greensleeves, &c.

Thy crimson stockings, all of silk,

With gold all wrought above the knee; Thy pumps, as white as was the milk :

And yet thou wouldest not love me! Greensleeves, &c.

Thy gown was of the grassy green,

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Thy sleeves of satin hanging by ;

Which made thee be our harvest queen :

And yet thou wouldest not love me! Greensleeves, &c.

A thin silk. See Du Cange, voce cendatum.

Thy garters fringed with the gold,

And silver aglets' hanging by ;

Which made thee blithe for to behold:
And yet thou wouldest not love me!
Greensleeves, &c.

My gayest gelding I thee gave,

To ride wherever liked thee:

No lady ever was so brave:

And yet thou wouldest not love me! Greensleeves, &c.

My men were clothed all in green,

And they did ever wait on thee:

All this was gallant to be seen:

And yet thou wouldest not love me! Greensleeves, &c.

They set thee up, they took thee down,
They serv'd thee with humility;

Thy foot might not once touch the ground: And yet thou wouldest not love me!

Greensleeves, &c.

For every morning, when thou rose,

I sent thee dainties, orderly;

I

Aiglets; aiguillette, a lace with tags.

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