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REIGNS OF JAMES I. AND CHARLES I. 303 |
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Joan, shall we have a Hay or a Round, Or some dance that is new-found? Lately I was at a Masque in the Court, Where I saw of every sort, Many a dance made in France,
Many a Braule, and many a Measure; Gay coats, sweet notes,
Brave wenches—O 'twas a treasure. In Pills to purge Melancholy, the above by others, such as the following:— Did you not see the Lord of the May Walk along in his rich array ? There goes the lass that is only his ; See how they meet, and how they kiss!
Come AVill, run Gill," Or dost thou list to lose thy labour ;
Kit, Crowd, scrape aloud, Tickle up Tom with a pipe and tabor.
Lately I went to a Masque at the Court, Where I saw dances of every sort; There they did dance with time and measure, But none like a country-dance for pleasure ;
They did dance as in France, Not like the English lofty manner;
And every she must furnished be With a feathered knack, when she's hot for to fan her.
[sweat, But we, when we dance, and do happen to Have a napkin in hand for to wipe off the wet; And we with our lasses do jig it about, Not like at Court, where they often are out;
If the tabor play, we jump away, And turn, and meet our lasses to kiss 'em;
Nay, they will be as ready as we, That hardly at any time can we miss 'em. |
But now, methinks, these courtly toys
Us deprive of better joys :
Gown made of gray, and skin soft as silk,
Breath sweet as morning milk j
O, these more please ;
[All] these hath my Joan to delight me:
False wiles, court smiles, None of these hath my Joan to despite me. second and third stanzas are replaced
Come, sweet Joan, let us call a new dance, That we before 'em may advance ; Let it be what you desire and crave, And sure the same sweet Joan shall have.
She cried, and replied, If to please me thou wilt endeavour,
Sweet Pig, the Wedding Jig, Then, my dear, I'll love thee for ever.
There is not any that shall outvie My litttle pretty Joan and I; For I am sure I can dance as well As Robin, Jenny, Tom, and Nell :
Last year we were here, When rough Ralph he played us a Briree,
And we merrily Thump'dit about, and gain'd the glory.
And if we hold on as we begin, Joan, thou and I the garland shall win; Nay, if thou live till another day, I'll make thee Lady of the May.
Dance about, in and out, Turn and kiss, and then for greeting;
Now, Joan, we have done, Fare thee well till next merry meeting. |
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LOVE WILL FIND OUT TEE WAY.
This tune is contained in Playford's Musictfs Recreation on the Lyra Viol, 1652; in MusicKs Delight on the Cithren, 1666; in the Skene and several other MSS.; also in Pills to purge Melancholy, vi. 86 (1719).
The words are in Percy's Beliques; Evans' Old Ballads, iii. 282 (1810) ; and Rimbault's Little Booh of Songs and Ballads, p. 137. All these versions differ.
Evans prints from a black-letter copy by F. Coules (whose ballads occasionally bear dates which vary from 1620 to 1628); Rimbault from Forbes' Cantus, 1662, with the second part from Coules' copy; and Percy from a comparatively modern edition.
The ballad is quoted in Brome's Sparagus Gfarden, acted in 1635, and its popularity was so great, that "Love will find out the way" was taken as the title to a play printed in 1661. Although stated on the title-page to be a comedy by T.B., it was only Shirley's Constant Maid, under a new name. |
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