A Select Collection of English Songs With their original airs: and a historical essay on the origin and progress of national song, By Joseph Ritson. In three volumes. The second edition, with additional songs and occasional notes by Thomas Park.
[The following index has been taken from the second edition. In both editions, the lyrics are in volumes 1 and 2; for the songs marked with an asterisk, the tunes are in volume 3.]
VOLUME I. PART I. LOVE-SONGS
A BLESSING unknown to ambition and pride, 92 * A cobler there was, and he liv'd in a stall, 164 * A courting I went to my love, 157 A maxim this, amongst the wise, 106 Ah! blame me not, if no despair, 17 Ah! credit not the rival swain, 175 * Ah! cruel maid, how hast thou chang'd, 87 * Ah! gaze not on those eyes! forbear, 5 * Ah! how sweet it is to love, 98 * Ah! stay; ah! turn; ah! whither would you fly, 83 * Ah! why must words my flame reveal, 181 Ah, Chloris! could I now but sit, 1 * Ah, Damon, dear shepherd, adieu, 70 * Ah, false Amyntas! can that hour, 186 * Alexis shunn'd his fellow swains, 74 * All in the Downs the fleet was moor'd, 250 * All my past life is mine no more, 271 * Almeria's face, her shape, her air, 4 Are ye fair as opening roses, 94 * As Amoret with Phillis sat, 177 As he lay in the plain, his arm under his head, 212 Ask me no more, where Jove bestows, 91 * Ask me not how calmly I, 97 * Away with these self-loving lads, 131 * Away! let nought to love displeasing, 281 * BE still, O ye winds, and attentive, ye swains, 261 Behold, my fair, where'er we rove, 275 Belinda, see from yonder flow'rs, 123 * Bless'd as th' immortal gods is he, 224 Blow high, blow low, 291 Boast not to me the charms that grace, 173 * Boast not, mistaken swain, thy art, 184 * By my sighs you may discover, 190 * CAN love be controul'd by advice, 272 Cease to blame my melancholy, 222 Child of summer, lovely rose, 288 Chloris, 'twill be for either's rest, 133 Come here, fond youth, whoe'er thou be, 104 Come listen to my mournful tale, 80 * Come live with me, and be my love, 263 * Come thou rosy-dimpled boy, 96 * Come, all ye youths whose hearts e'er bled, 66 * Come, Chloe, and give me sweet kisses, 238 * Come, dear Amanda, quit the town, 258 Come, dear Pastora, come away! 256 Come, let us now resolve at last, 130 Could you guess, for I ill can repeat, 28 DEAR Chloe, how blubber'd is that pretty face, 147 * Dear Chloe, while thus beyond measure, 277 * Dear Colin, prevent my warm blushes, 179 Defend my heart, benignant pow'rs, 193 Dejected as true converts die, 213 * Despairing beside a clear stream, 64 Distracted with care, 158 Distress me with those tears no more, 290 Does pity give though fate denies, 201 * Drink to me only with thine eyes, 194 ERE Henry embark'd, 202 FAIN would you ease my troubled heart, 15 * Fair Iris I love, and hourly I die, 134 * Fairest isle, all isles excelling, 95 Fairest of thy sex, and best, 27 False though she be to me and love, 130 * For me my fair a wreath has wove, 221 Forgive me if I do not trust, 171 * Freedom is a real treasure, 111 From all uneasy passions free, 228 * From place to place forlorn I go, 179 * From sweet bewitching tricks of love, 112 From the dwelling of the widower, 302 * GENTLE Love, this hour befriend me, 32 Give me more love, or more disdain, 137 Go lovely rose, 23 * Go tell Amynta, gentle swain, 31 * Go, rose, my Chloe's bosom grace, 25 Good morrow to the day so fair, 204 * Grim king of the ghosts, make haste, 67 * HAIL to the myrtle shade, 257 Happy the world in that blest age, 119 Hard by the hall, our master's house, 76 * Hark! hark! 'tis a voice from the tomb, 71 Hast thou escap'd the cannon's ire, 302 Haste, my rein-deer, and let us nimbly go, 259 He that loves a rosy cheek, 121 Honest lover whatsoever, 101 * How bless'd has my time been, what joys have I known, 279 * How gentle was my Damon's air, 54 How hardly I conceal'd my tears, 183 How much superior beauty awes, 90 How oft, Louisa, hast thou said, 293 How sweet thy modest light to view, 205 How yonder ivy courts the oak, 199 I CANNOT change as others do, 33 I did but look and love awhile, 4 I grant, a thousand oaths I swore, 150 I heard the evening linnet's voice, 200 I know you false, I know you vain, 170 * I lik'd, but never lov'd before, 10 * I love thee, by heavens, I cannot say more, 135 I love thee, maiden, truly love, 296 I love, I dote, I rave with pain, 47 I never saw a face till now, 11 I prythee send me back my heart, 118 * I smile at Love, and all his arts, 8 * I told my nymph, I told her true, 216 I wonder if her heart be still, 172 * If all that I love is her face, 85 If all the world and love were young, 265 If Cupid once the mind possess, 182 If guardian pow'rs preside above, 89 If in that breast, so good, so pure, 29 If Love and Reason ne'er agree, 180 If love be life, I long to die, 137 * If 'tis joy to wound a lover, 131 If 'tis love to wish you near, 196 If wine and music have the pow'r, 237 * I'll range around the shady bowers, 44 I'm not one of your fops, who, to please a coy lass, 136 In Chloris all soft charms agree, 125 In either eye a lingering tear, 299 * In love should there meet a fond pair, 280 * In the merry month of May, 270 In the time of bloom and beauty, 293 * In vain you tell your parting lover, 14 * In vain, dear Chloe, you suggest, 145 * In vain, Philander, at my feet, 192 * It is not that I love you less, 124 It is not, Celia, in our pow'r, 276 It was to smiles I did surrender, 171 KNOW, Celia, (since thou art so proud) 127 LET not Love on me bestow, 136 Let the ambitious ever find, 223 * Love's a dream of mighty treasure, 110 * Love's a gentle gen'rous passion, 100 Love's no irregular desire, 99 Lucy, I think not of thy beauty, 116 MARGARITA first possess'd, 151 Mary, I believ'd thee true, 168 Mild breeze, when thou shalt fan my fair, 203 * Mistaken fair, lay Sherlock by, 25 * My banks they are furnish'd with bees, 58 * My days have been so wond'rous free, 209 * My dear mistress has a heart, 244 * My goddess Lydia, heav'nly fair, 225 My love was fickle, once, and changing, 10 My name is honest Harry, 159 * My passion is as mustard strong, 161 * My time, O ye Muses, was happily spent, 49 * NO more of my Harriot, of Polly no more, 245 Not the soft sighs of vernal gales, 235 Not, Celia, that I juster am, 234 * O HAD I been by fate decreed, 217 * O Nancy, wit thou go with me, 255 * O'er moorlands and mountains, rude, barren, and bare, 269 * Of all the girls that are so smart, 248 * Of all the torments, all the cares, 38 Of Leinster, fam'd for maidens fair, 77 * Oft on the troubled ocean's face, 109 Oh! ever in my bosom live, 93 Oh! forbear to bid me slight her, 6 Oh! Henry, didst thou know the heart, 197 Oh! how vain is every blessing, 101 Oh! talk not to me, 90 * Old Chaucer once to this re-echoing grove, 113 On Belvidera's bosom lying, 226 * On the brow of a hill a young shepherdess dwelt, 187 Once and thine alone I blame, 172 * Once more I'll tune the vocal shell, 229 Once more Love's mighty charms are broke, 129 * One night when all the village slept, 69 * Over the mountains, 107 PHILLIS, men say that all my vows, 215 REMEMBER me while far away, 168 * SAW you the nymph whom I adore? 21 Say, lovely dream, where couldst thou find, 43 * Say, mighty Love, and teach my song, 284 * Say, Myra, why is gentle love, 14 * Send back my long-stray'd eyes to me, 87 Shall I, like an hermit, dwell, 140 Shall I, wasting in despair, 138 * She whom above myself I prize, 84 Should some perverse malignant star, 146 Should the rude hand of care, 295 * Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more, 191 Sighing and languishing I lay, 214 * Stella and Flavia, ev'ry hour, 241 * Stella, darling of the muses, 210 Still to be neat, still to be drest, 166 * Sweet are the banks when spring perfumes, 220 * Sweet are the charms of her I love, 207 Sweet maid, I hear thy frequent sigh, 169 TAKE, oh! take, those lips away, 23 Tell me no more how fair she is, 21 Tell me not I my time misspend, 219 Tell me, Damon, dost thou languish, 103 Tell me, thou soul of her I love, 92 * That Jenny's my friend, my delight, and my pride, 278 That which her slender waist confin'd, 222 * The bird that hears her nestlings cry, 227 The charms which blooming beauty shows, 289 The flame of love assuages, 109 * The gentle swan with graceful pride, 236 * The heavy hours are almost past, 37 The lover in melodious verses, 173 * The merchant to secure his treasure, 144 * The nymph that undoes me is fair and unkind, 22 The shape alone let others prize, 242 * The silver moon's enamour'd beam, 230 * The silver rain, the pearly dew, 29 * The sun was sunk beneath the hill, 46 The tears I shed must ever fall, 194 * The western sky was purpled o'er, 232 * Think not, my love, when secret grief, 85 * Thou rising sun, whose gladsome lay, 252 Though Celia on the flowery mead, 175 * Though cruel you seem to my pain, 40 Though I am young, 167 * Though winter its desolate train, 273 Though, Flavia, to my warm desire, 123 * Thus Kitty, beautiful and young, 240 * Thy fav'rite bird is soaring still, 297 'Tis not your saying that you love, 30 'Tis now since I sat down before, 142 * To all you ladies now at land, 34 * To be gazing on those charms, 226 * To melancholy thoughts a prey, 33, 88 * To the brook and the willow that heard him complain, 52 * Tom loves Mary passing well, 154 * Too plain, dear youth, these tell-tale eyes, 185 * 'Twas when the seas were roaring, 73 VAIN are the charms of white and red, 122 * Vain is ev'ry fond endeavour, 191 * Waft me, some soft and cooling breeze, 253 * We all to conquering beauty bow, 218 * Well met, pretty nymph, says a jolly young swain, 155 What fury does disturb my rest, 41 What state of life can be so blest, 41 When charming Teraminta sings, 239 * When Damon languish'd at my feet, 187 * When Delia on the plain appears, 211 When every voice of rapture woos, 296 When fair Serena first I knew, 27 * When first I fair Celinda knew, 26 * When first I saw thee graceful move, 3 * When first upon your tender cheek, 2 When gentle Celia first I knew, 148 * When here, Lucinda, first we came, 260 * When innocence and beauty meet, 243 When lovely woman stoops to folly, 189 When Phillis watch'd her harmless sheep, 178 When the first dawn, 294 * When the trees are all bare, not a leaf to be seen, 267 When youth, my Celia's in the prime, 273 Whence comes my love? 165 Where the light cannot pierce, in a grove of tall trees, 266 While for men the women fair, 120 * While from my looks, fair nymph, you guess, 6 Whilst I am scorch'd with hot desire, 30 Whilst on those lovely looks I gaze, 9 White as her hand, fair Julia threw, 7 * Why d'ye with such disdain refuse, 128 Why so pale and wan, fond lover, 141 Why we love and why we hate, 154 Why will Florella, when I gaze, 13 * Why will you my passion reprove, 60 * Why, cruel creature, why so bent, 45 * Why, Delia, ever when I gaze, 16 With women I have pass'd my days, 12 Within this faithful bosom lies, 292 Would you choose a wife, for a happy life, 117 Would you with her you love be blest, 115 Wrong not, sweet mistress of my heart, 18 YE belles, and ye flirts, and ye pert little things, 286 Ye fair married dames, who so often deplore, 282 Ye fair possess'd of every charm, 283 Ye happy swains, whose hearts are free, 111 Ye little Loves that round her wait, 142 Ye shepherds so cheerful and gay, 56 Ye shepherds, give ear to my lay, 62 Ye virgin pow'rs, defend my heart, 189 Yes, Daphne, in your face I find, 125 Yes, fairest proof of beauty's pow'r, 39 Yes, I'm in love, I feel it now, 246 Yes, Mary-Ann, I freely grant, 200 Yes, my fair, to thee belong, 292 Yes, thou art chang'd since first we met, 301 You may cease to complain, 19 * You say, at your feet I have wept in despair, 126 You tell me I'm handsome, 198
VOLUME II. PART II. DRINKING-SONGS.
A BOOK, a friend, a song, a glass, 7 Adieu, ye jovial youths, who join, 83 * As swift as time put round the glass, 18 * BACCHUS must now his power resign, 47 Backe and side go bare, 77 Better our heads than hearts should ake, 2 * Bid me, when forty winters more, 10 * Busy, curious, thirsty fly, 19 * By the gayly circling glass, 42 CARE thou canker of our joys, 93 Come fill me a glass, fill it high, 35 * Come now, all ye social powers, 12 * Come, come, my hearts of gold, 59 * Cupid no more shall give me grief, 34 * DEAR Tom, this brown jug, that now foams with mild ale, 79 * Diogenes surly and proud, 37 * EVERY man take his glass in his hand, 23 * FILL me a bowl, a mighty bowl, 44 * GAY Bacchus, liking Estcourt's wine, 52 * Give me but a friend and a glass, boys, 9 * God prosper long from being broke, 55 * HAD Neptune, when first he took charge of the sea, 25 * Hence with cares, complaints and frowning, 87 * How stands the glass around, 84 * I am the king and prince of drinkers, 48 * I cannot eate but lytle meate, 77 I have been in love, and in debt, and in drink, 80 * If gold could lengthen life, I swear, 14 In the social enjoyments of life let me live, 92 * JOLLY mortals, fill your glasses, 17 LET care be a stranger to each jovial soul, 94 Let soldiers fight for pay and praise, 46 * Let the waiter bring clean glasses, 93 * Let us drink and be merry, 15 * Let's be jovial, fill our glasses, 22 Listen all, I pray, 31 MORTALS, learn your lives to measure, 21 * My temples with clusters of grapes I'll entwine, 81 NOT drunken, nor sober, but neighbour to both, 63 * Now Phoebus sinketh in the west, 41 * OLD Chiron thus preach'd to his pupil Achilles, 21 PHO! pox o' this nonsense, I prithee give o'er, 1 * Preach not to me your musty rules, 11 * RAIL no more, ye learned asses, 36 * SAYS Plato, why should man be vain, 8 * She tells me, with claret she cannot agree, 5 * Some say, women are like the seas, 3 * THE festive board was met, the social band, 86 * The man that is drunk is void of all care, 50 The thirsty earth drinks up the rain, 26 * The women all tell me I'm false to my lass, 3 * This bottle's the sun of our table, 42 * UPBRAID me not, capricious fair, 81 * VULCAN, contrive me such a cup, 43 * WHAT Cato advises, most certainly wise is, 13 What dreaming drone was ever blest, 89 When Bacchus, jolly god, invites, 87 * When I drain the rosy bowl, 20 When the bottle to human and social delight, 88 * When the chill sirocco blows, 62 Whene'er the gods, like us below, 91 Whilst some in epic strains delight, 75 Who thirsts for more knowledge is welcome to roam, 90 Wine, wine in a morning, 24 * With an honest old friend, and a merry old song, 6 * With women and wine I defy every care, 82 YE free-hearted sons of good humour and mirth, 95 * Ye good fellows all, 27 * Ye true honest Britons, who love your own land, 61 You know that our ancient philosophers hold, 45 * Youth's the season made for joys, 11 * ZENO, Plato, Aristotle, 41
PART III. MISCELLANEOUS-SONGS
AS near Porto-Bello lying, 192 As now the shades of eve imbrown, 224 As o'er the varied, 224 * BLOW, blow, thon winter wind, 134 Blow, warder, blow thy sounding horn, 225 * CEASE rude Boreas, blust'ring railer! 144 * Come follow, follow me, 172 Come shepherds, we'll follow the hearse, 165 * Come, come, my good shepherds, 110 DOWN, down a thousand fathom deep, 221 * FORTH from my dark and dismal cell, 162 Friendship, peculiar gift of Heaven, 132 * From Oberon in fairy-land, 175 * From the court to the cottage convey me away, 116 * GENTLY stir and blow the fire, 152 Go soul, the body's guest, 134 * Goddess of ease, leave Lethe's brink, 115 HAPPY insect, what can be, 180 * Hark! hark! jolly sportsmen, a while to my tale, 184 * How happy a state does the miller possess, 124 How happy is he born and taught, 103 * How pleasant a sailor's life passes, 123 How sacred and how innocent, 111 How sleep the brave, who sink to rest, 167 I ENVY not the mighty great, 104 I envy not the proud their wealth, 102 I hate that drum's discordant sound, 203 * If I live to grow old, for I find I go down, 126 If those who live in shepherd's bow'r, 209 * In good king Charles's golden days, 141 In the down-hill of life, 204 In the sightless air I dwell, 220 In Tyburn-road a man there liv'd, 189 LET Spain's proud traders, 206 Life's like a ship in constant motion, 222 Lo! here, beneath this hallow'd shade, 174 MAN'S a poor deluded bubble, 120 * My mind to me a kingdom is, 97 * NO glory I covet, no riches I want, 105 Nor blazon'd gems, nor silken sheen, 222 * Nor on beds of fading flowers, 108 O FOR the death of those, 218 O memory! thou fond deceiver, 151 * O say, what is that thing call'd light, 121 Oft I've implor'd the gods in vain, 170 PRINCES that rule and empire sway, 118 SAY, sweet carol, who are they, 202 Sleep, sleep poor youth, sleep, sleep in peace, 166 Some hoist up Fortune to the skies, 106 * Songs of shepherds, in rustical roundelays, 182 TELL me on what holy ground, 219 * The glories of our birth and state, 107 * The honest heart whose thoughts are clear, 126 The loud wind roar'd, 200 * The muse and the hero together are fir'd, 195 The rose had been wash'd, 211 * The solitary bird of night, 128 The sweet and blushing rose, 120 * The world, my dear Myra, is full of deceit, 133 * The wretch condemn'd with life to part, 151 * Thou soft flowing Avon, by thy silver stream, 169 Through groves sequester'd, dark, and still, 115 Through many a land and clime a ranger 199 * Thursday in the morn, the ides of May, 197 'Tis not wealth, it is not birth, 210 * To fair Fidele's grassy tomb, 168 * To hug yourself in perfect ease, 101 To tinkling brooks, to twilight shades, 109 Toll for the brave, 215, 217 * Two gossips they merrily met, 154 * UNDER the greenwood tree, 162 * WELCOME, welcome, brother debtor, 122 What are outward forms and shows, 204 What frenzy must his soul possess 109 What is th' existence of man's life? 118 * What man in his wits had not rather be poor, 104 When Britain on her sea-girt shore, 227 * When daffodils begin to peer, 159 * When daisies pied, and violets blue, 160 * When icicles hang on the wall, 161 When my hand thus I proffer, 212 * When Orpheus went down to the regions below, 153 When this old cap was new, 138 When 'tis night, and the mid-watch is come, 226 While happy in my native land, 213 * Who has e'er been at Paris must needs know the Greve, 187 * With an old song made by an old ancient pate, 156 With any so happy in this happy nation, 207 Woman, dear woman, 201 Would we attain the happiest state, 100 YE mariners of England, 214 Ye spotted snakes wild double tongue, 219 Yes, once more that dying strain, 208 * You gentlemen of England, 146
PART IV. ANCIENT BALLADS
A MERCHANT of great riches dwelt, 374 All youths of fair England, 292 As it fell one holyday, 254 As it fell out upon a day, 232 COLD and raw the North did blow, 321 FAREWELL rewards and fairies, 377 GOD prosper long our noble king, 359 HENRY, our royal king, would ride a hunting, 307 IF Rosamond, that was so fair, 266 I'll tell you a story, a story anon, 317 In the days of old, 274 In woeful wise my song shall rise, 380 Is there never a man in all Scotland, 355 LORD Thomas he was a bold forester, 228 MARK well my heavy doleful tale, 249 * NOW ponder well, you parents dear, 286 * OF a worthy London prentice, 335 * Old stories tell how Hercules, 340 THERE was a youth, and a well-beloved youth, 272 WAS ever knight for lady's sake, 330 When Arthur first in court began, 325 When as king Henry rul'd this land, 259 When England's fame did ring, 369 When Flora with her fragrant flowers, 346 * When Troy-town, for ten years wars, 240 Will you hear a Spanish lady, 245 YOU beauteous ladies, great and small, 282 You dainty dames, so finely fram'd, 235