CXXIV. Sing we at pleasure, Content is our treasure; Sweet love shall keep the ground, All shepherds in a ring Shall dancing ever sing. Fa la. "Shall dancing ever sing" is in accordance with the meaning of the word Ballet as given in my former little treatise on Madrigals; viz., a light species of music which was sung and danced to at the same time. So also in one of Morley's Ballets, No. LXXVI. it is described of Thirsis and Chloris, how 66 ....... they danced to and fro, and finely flaunted it, "And then both met again, and thus they chaunted it." Burton says that in his time nothing was so familiar in France, as for citizens' wives and maids to dance a round in the streets; and often too, for want of better instruments, to make good music of their own voices, and dance after it. “After the music had sounded his Madrigale, Philamour "took Harpaste by the hand, and thus applied his song to "the melody."-Euphues' Shadow, by T. Lodge, 1590. CXXV. Sing shepherds after me, Our hearts do never disagree: No war can spoil us of our store, Our wealth is ease, we wish no more. Black is our look, we go not brave*, Fa la. And what better thing canst thou have, I prythee, good shepherd? Does not the son of Sirach say, "Gladness of "heart is the life of man, and the joyfulness of a man pro"longeth his days?"-Ecclus. xxx. 22. CXXIV. Sing we at pleasure, Content is our treasure; Sweet love shall keep the ground, All shepherds in a ring Shall dancing ever sing. Fa la. Shall dancing ever sing" is in accordance with the meaning of the word Ballet as given in my former little treatise on Madrigals; viz., a light species of music which was sung and danced to at the same time. So also in one of Morley's Ballets, No. LXXVI. it is described of Thirsis and Chloris, how “......... they danced to and fro, and finely flaunted it, And then both met again, and thus they chaunted it.” Burton says that in his time nothing was so familiar in France, as for citizens' wives and maids to dance a round in the streets; and often too, for want of better instruments, to make good music of their own voices, and dance after it. After the music had sounded his Madrigale, Philamour "took Harpaste by the hand, and thus applied his song to "the melody."-Euphues Shadow, by T. Lodge, 1590. Then wait on pleasure, Heart's ease it lendeth, Then sing we all Fa la la la la. CXXVII. Lady, your eye my love enforced; But your proud look my heart divorced : That now I laugh, and now I And now I sing before I die. cry, Fa la. CXXVIII. We shepherds sing, we pipe, we play, We care for no gold, But with our fold We dance And prance As pleasure would. Fa la. CXXIX. Come clap thy hands, thou shepherd swain, Phillis doth love thee once again: If thou agree, then sing with me, Phillis my choice of choice shall be. |