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452 ENGLISH 'SONG AND BALLAD MUSIC.
In the same Collection, i. 320, is " A Paire of Turtle Doves, Or a dainty new Scotch Dialogue between a yong man and his mistresse, both correspondent in affection," &c. "To a pretty pleasant tune called The absence of my Mistresse, or, I live not where I love." It is subscribed " Martin Parker," Printed at London for Thomas Lambert at the Horse-shoe in West Smithfield, and commences thus:—
Yonq Man. " Mnst the absence of my mistresse, Gar me be thus discontent, As thus to leave me in distresse, And with languor to lament," &c.
In the Pepys Collection, iv. 40, is another ballad by P. L., called " The valiant Trooper and Pretty Peggy," &c. " To the tune of Though I live not where I love" beginning:—
" Heard you not of a valiant trooper With a kind salute, and fierce dispute,
That had his pockets well lin'd with gold, He thought to make her his only one ;
He was in love with a gallant lady, But unconstant woman, true to no man,
As I to you shall here unfold. Is gone and left her bird alone."
A ballad very much akin to the last is contained in Pills to purge Melancholy, iii. 156, 1707, entitled " The unconstant woman. To a new tune" It begins:
" Did you not hear of a gallant sailor, With a kind salute, and without dispute, Whose pockets they were lin'd with gold; He thought to gain her for his own :
He fell in love with a pretty creature, Unconstant woman proves true to no man,— As I to you the truth unfold : She has gone and left me all alone."
It consists of eight stanzas, and ends thus:—
" Since Peggy has my kindness slighted, In ship I'll enter, on seas I'll venture, I'll never trust a woman more; And sail the world where I'm not known:
In her. alone I e'er delighted, Unconstant woman proves true to no man,
But since she's false I'll leave the shore: She's gone and left me here alone."
This last song is still sung about the country, sometimes to a tune resembling that printed in the Pills, but more commonly to this air. No tune seems to be more generally known by tradition. I have been favored with copies from various and widely distant parts of the country. Captain Darnell had learnt it from " old Harry Smith, the fiddler, of Nunnington, near Kirby Moorside;" Mr. Edward Loder had repeatedly heard it in the West of England. The late George Macfarren recollected it, and the words he heard had the burden, " Hive not where I love." This was before the Roxburghe Collection of ballads had been purchased for the British Museum, and (having overlooked the one ballad in the Pepys Collection) I did not know the burden to be so old. Although it is impossible to guarantee any considerable antiquity to an air preserved solely by tradition, I think it a favorable circumstance that the measure should agree with that of the old ballads, |
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