Popular Music Of The Olden Time Vol 1

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	REIGNS OF JAMES I. AND CHARLES" I. . 257
	ONCE I LOVED A MAID UN FAIR. A copy of this ballad is in the Roxburghe Collection, i. 350, printed for the assigns of Thomas Symcock. The tune is in The Dancing Master, from 1650 ,to 1698 ; in Playford's Introduction, 1664; in Mustek's Delight on the Cithren, 1666; in Apollo's Banquet for the Treble Violin, 1670 ; in the Pleasant Companion for the Flageolet, 1680 ; &c. The first song in Patrick Carey's Trivial Poems, written in 1651 ("Fair one! if thus kind you be"), is to the tune Once I lov'd a maiden fair. It is also alluded to in The Fool turn'd Critic, 1678—" We. have now such tunes, such lamentable tunes, that would make me forswear all music. Maiden fair and The King's Delight are incomparable to some of these we have now." The ballad consists of twelve stanzas, from which the following are selected.



	Three times I did make it known To the congregation, That the church should make us one, As priest had made relation. Married we straight must be, Although we go a begging ; Now, alas! 'tis like to prove A very hopeless wedding.	Happy he who never knew What to love belonged ; ' Maidens wavering and untrue Many a man have wronged. Fare thee well! faithless girl, I'll not sorrow for thee; Once I held tbee dear as pearl, Now I do abhor thee.