Popular Music Of The Olden Time Vol 2

Ancient Songs, Ballads, & Dance Tunes, Sheet Music & Lyrics - online book

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508
ENGLISH SONG AND BALLAD MUSIC.
The statement that it was " made the night before the engagement," which action took place in June, 1665, is irreconcileable with Pepys' possession of a copy in the preceding January, and has been carefully analysed by Lord Braybrooke, in his notes upon Pepys's Diary, v. 241, edit. 1849. It rests upon the authority of Matthew Prior, who was born in 1664, and who had probably heard the story with a little embellishment.
In Merry Drollery Complete, 1670, is the song " My mistress is a shuttlecock," to this tune. In A Pill to purge State Melancholy, 12mo., 1715, is "The Soldiers' Lamentation for the loss of their General," &c, to the tune of " To you fair ladies ;" and the same was printed in broadside with the date of 1712. Also, " News from Court, a ballad to the tune of To all you ladies now at land, by Mr. Pope," 1719. In the Gentleman's Magazine for July, 1731, "To all you Ladies now at Bath."
The tune is in Watts' Musical Miscellany, vol. iii., 1730, and in the Convivial Songster, 1782; in the ballad-operas of The Jovial Grew, Tlie Cobbler's Opera, The Lover's Opera, Tlie Court Legacy, Polly, A Cure for a Scold, &c.; and (barbarously printed) in Pills to purge Melancholy, vi. 272.
For though the Muses should prove kind,
And fill our empty brain; Yet if rough Neptune rouse the wind
To wave the azure main, Our paper, pen, and ink, and we, Roll up and down our ships at sea,
With a fa la, &c.
Then if we write not by each post,
Think not we are unkind; Nor yet conclude our ships are lost
By Dutchmen or by wind: Our tears we'll send a speedier way, The tide shall bring them twice a-day.
With a fa la, &c.