Popular Music Of The Olden Time Vol 1

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	REIGNS OF JAMES I. AND CHARLES I. 363



	The virtues they were seven, And the fatal sisters three. And three the greater be; And three merry girls, and three merry girls, The Cjesars they were twelve, And three merry girls are we. Another Tliree merry boys are we has been already quoted (ante p. 216).

	CUPID'S COURTESY. Copies of this ballad are in the Roxburghe Collection, ii. 58 ; and in the Douce Collection, p. 27. It i3 also printed entire, with the tune, in Pills to purge Melanclwly, vi. 43. The copy in the Roxburghe Collection may. be dated as of the reign of Charles II., being " printed by and for "W. 0[nley], for A[lexander] Melbourne], and sold by the booksellers;" but Mr. Payne Collier, who reprints it in his Book of Boxburghe Ballads, p. 80, mentions " a manuscript copy, dated 1595," as still extant. The words are in the same metre as Phillida flouts me, and Lady lie near me (ante pages 183 and 185), but the stanzas are shorter, being of eight instead of twelve lines. The ballad is entitled " Cupid's Courtesie; or The young Gallant foil'd at his own weapon. To a most pleasant Northern tune." In another volume of the Douce Collection (p. 264) is " The Young Man's Vindication against The Virgin's Complaint. Tune of The Virgin's Complaint, or Cupid's Courtesie ;" commencing— " Sweet virgin, hath disdain Ne'er to love man again, Mov'd you to passion,— But for the fashion?" &c.