This is in response to BruceO's two posts above. I've had this on my list for a while, but I've only just had the chance to consult a copy of the original printing of Heywood's play (1608) in the British Library. Though it's possible to claim that the song isn't in the play, I don't think it's reasonable to claim that there isn't one which is similar. On pages G5 and H (towards the end) of the original is the following trio between Valerius, Horatius and The Clown which, given the subject matter, has to be said to be in rather poor taste. Vale. Did he take fair Lucrece by the toe man? Clow. Toe man. Vale. I man. Clow. Ha, ha, ha, ha man. Hor. And further did he strive to goe man? Clow. Goe man. Hor. I man. Clow. Ha, ha, ha man, ha fa derry derry downe a, hey fa derry dino. Vale. Did he take fair Lucrece by the heel man? Clow. Heel man. Vale. I man. Clow. Ha, ha, ha, ha man. Hor. And did he further strive to feel man? Clow. Feel man. Hor. I man. Clow. Ha, ha, ha man, ha fa derry derry downe a, hey fa derry dino. Vale. Did he take the Lady by the shin man? Clow. Shin man. Vale. I man. Clow. Ha, ha, ha, ha man. Hor. Further he too would have bin man? Clow. Bin man. Hor. I man. Clow. Ha, ha, ha man, ha fa derry derry downe a, hey fa derry dino. Vale. Did he take the Lady by the knee man? Clow. Knee man. Vale. I man. Clow. Ha, ha, ha, ha man. Hor. Further then that would he be man? Clow. Bee man. Hor. I man. Clow. Ha, ha, ha man, ha fa derry derry downe a, hey fa derry dino. Vale. Did he take the Lady by the thigh man? Clow. Thigh man. Vale. I man. Clow. Ha, ha, ha, ha man. Hor. And now he cme it somewhat nye man? Clow. Nye man. Hor. I man. Clow. Ha, ha, ha man, ha fa derry derry downe a, hey fa derry dino. Vale. But did he do the tother thing man? Clow. Thing man? Vale. I man. Clow. Ha, ha, ha, ha man. Hor. And at the same had he a fling man? Clow. Fling man. Hor. I man. Clow. Ha, ha, ha man, ha fa derry derry downe a, hey fa derry dino. The correspondence between the songs was originally pointed out by John Masefield (1906) in This Article (well worth the read!) though he got the name of the play wrong, probably because of the full name of the play "The Rape of Lucrece a Roman Tragedie with the severall songes in their apt places, by Valerius, the merry lord amongst the Roman Peeres". :-)
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