PREFACE. "Is there any thing new whereof it may be said, See this is new? "It hath already been of old time which was before us."-Eccles. i. 10. To the often-quoted assertion of the wise man, "there is nothing new under the sun," many a one will be disposed to make answer, "That I deny," as did Sterne to the text* of his own sermon. Now it is not my purpose here to ascertain whether Solomon was acquainted with the power of steam, or whether David's harp had pedals, or whether his chief musician taught Solfaing according to the Hexachord. I am only desirous of maintaining the truth of my text, upon one point, viz. that human nature was as well understood; that human feelings of every kind ; joy, grief, fear, hope, love, hate, &c.; all the every-day thoughts and actions of mankind, were as well (if not better) expressed in poetry and 64 * "It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to the house of feasting." prose, centuries ago, than in the year of grace 1837. In proof of this I need not go back to the golden days of Greece and Rome. It is quite sufficient to refer to the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and to the writings of Shakspeare; which last in themselves are an epitome of all that has ever been thought, expressed, or written, by the inward soul, the outward tongue, or pen of man. Education at that period, although not so generally diffused as at present, must have been of a far more solid and sensible kind; for in spite of the Schoolmaster being abroad, as is the cant phrase, we now look in vain for the mental stores from which the writers of the olden time drew so largely, and for that nervous and classical language with which they clothed their ideas. From what I have just said, my readers must not suppose that this collection is to contain very splendid specimens of old English poetry. Some of the pieces inserted are mere translations of Italian Sonnets, &c. which came into vogue in this country about the year 1580, but which will be found generally far inferior to the genuine productions of the English muse; so much so indeed, that I should have printed very few of that sort, had it not been, that from the beauty of their music, many of them are well known and frequently performed at public concerts, as well as in private societies, for whose use chiefly this book is intended. Yet nevertheless, amongst much that some people may consider childish nonsense, there will be found stanzas of which a first-rate poet might well be proud; ideas and allusions which could only have proceeded from the mind of a scholar: there will be found descriptions of natural objects, country sports, dancing, singing, &c. to interest the outward observer; while for the benefit of such as love to analyze the inward feelings of the breast, there are strains in a more serious mood. 66 Moreover, there are ditties of shepherds and shepherdesses, suited to the cases of all, from the fickle coquette who plays with hearts like nine-pins, down to the lovesick serving-maid, who cries her eyes out over the sweet tale of " Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy;" or laments, in propriá personá, the faithlessness of an inconstant swain. I have ventured to intersperse these ditties with observations, some original, but mostly consisting of passages from other works tending to illustrate the different subjects under consideration. To Burton I am indebted (as other compilers have been before me) for many a hint or quaint comparison. Much that is said will, I fear, seem trifling; yet to such as in this utilitarian age, sometimes condescend to open a book for the sake of relaxation from severer studies, I am not without hope that my humble volume may prove an amusing companion. At all events, I consider myself fully entitled to "honour in my generation," which, according to Ecclesiasticus, chap. xliv. 5. is the meed due to "such "as found out musical tunes and recited ditties in "writing:" for I do assure thee, gentle reader, this is but a small part of my labours in that way: verily, I have (to use the words of the same writer) found "much study a weariness to the flesh;" in recompense whereof, "My friend, if that thou dost regard A Handful of Pleasant Ditties, 1584. Having in a former publication given the different meanings assigned to the word Madrigal, I have merely to add, that there is a town in Spain of that name, thirty miles from Valladolid, but cannot say if any thing is thence to be deduced. My own opinion is, that if we must have a derivation, there can be none better than mandra, a fold for cattle; whence mandriale, the keeper of a fold; which word in old Italian Dictionaries is said to be an obsolete term in regard to music; whence Madriale and Madrigale. In fact it is a pastoral kind of verse corresponding in derivation to the bucolicks of the Latin Poets. To those, however, who wish to know the meaning of Madrigal, not considered as a mere word, I do not say, (as the late Dr. Abernethy used to advise his patients,) "Buy my book;" but buy John Wilbye's Down in a Valley, or Sweet honey-sucking bees; and you will understand what a Madrigal is, much better than from any explanation of mine. Not being able to ascertain the authors of ་ many of the following ditties, I have arranged them under the titles of the composers of the music, except in the case of Collections, such as The Triumphs of Oriana, Musica Transalpina, &c., which form separate heads. |