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ENGLISH SONG AND BALLAD MUSIC. |
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In the academic play of Lingua, Phantastes says—
" 0 heavens! how am I troubled these latter times with poets—ballad-makers. Were it not that I pity the printers, these sonnet-mongers should starve for conceits for all Phantastes." |
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The popular music of the time of Charles I. was so much like that of James, • as not to require separate notice. I have therefore included many ballads of Charles' reign in this division; but reserved those -which relate to the troubles and to the civil war, for the period of the Protectorate. |
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UPON A SUMMER'S-DAY. In The Dancing Master, from 1650 to 1665, and in Mustek's Delight on the Cithren, 1666, this is entitled " Upon a Summer's-day;" and in later editions of The Dancing Master, viz., from 1670 to 1690, it is called " The Garland, or a Summer's-day."
The song, "Upon a Summer's-day" is in Merry Drollery Complete, 1661, p. 148. "The Garland" refers, in all probability, to a ballad in the Roxburghe Collection, i. 22, or Pepysian, i. 300; which is reprinted in Evans' Old Ballads, iv. 345 (1810), beginning, "Upon a Summer's time." It is more frequently quoted by the last name in ballads. In the Pepys Collection, vol. i., is a " Discourse between a Soldier and his Love ;"—
" Shewing that she did hear a faithful mind, For land nor sea could make her stay behind.
To the tune of Upon a Summer time." It begins, " My dearest love, adieu." And at p. 182 of the same volume, "I smell a rat: to the tune of Upon a Summer tide, or The Seminary Priest." It begins, " I travell'd far to find."
In the Roxburghe Collection, vol. i. 526, "The good fellow's advice," &c, to the tune of Upon a Summer time;" the burden of which is— " Good fellows, great and small, Pray let me you advise To have a care withall;
'Tis good to be merry, and wise." And at p. 384 of the same volume, another by L.P., called " Seldom cleanely, or— A merry new ditty, wherein you may see The trick of a huswife in every degree ; Then lend your attention, while I do unfold As pleasant a story as ever was told.
To the tune of Upon a Summer's time." It begins— " Draw near, you country girls,
And listen unto me; I'll tell you here a new conceit, Concerning huswifry." I have chosen a song which illustrates an old custom, instead of the original words to this tune, because it is not desirable to reprint them. Li Wit and |
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