llections.

As I have no technical knowledge of the subject, it would be impertinent
for me to attempt to estimate the merits of the music contained in these
old song-books; but I venture with all confidence to commend the poetry
to the reader's attention. There is one poem which I have deliberately
kept back. It occurs in "The First Part of Airs, French, Polish, and
others together, some in tableture and some in prick-song," 1605. The
composer was a certain Captain Tobias Hume, but who the author of the
poem was I know not. Here is the first stanza:--

"Fain would I change that note
To which fond love hath charm'd me,
Long long to sing by rote,
Fancying that that harm'd me:
Yet when this thought doth come,
'Love is the perfect sum
Of all delight,'
I have no other choice
Either for pen or voice
To sing or write."

The other stanza shall occupy the place of honour in the front of my
Anthology; for among all the Elizabethan song-books I have found no
lines of more faultless beauty, of happier cadence or sweeter
simplicity, no lines that more justly deserve to be treasured in the
memory while memory lasts.

[1] In his address _To The Reader_ prefixed to the "Fourth Book of Airs"
he writes:--"Some words are in these books which have been clothed in
music by others, and I am content they then served their turn: _yet give
me leave to make use of mine own_." Again, in the address _To the
Reader_ prefixed to the "Third Book of Airs:"--"In these English airs I
have chiefly aimed to _couple my words and notes lovingly together;
which will be much for him to do that hath not power over both_."

[2] Some editions read "Vobiscum Antiope."

_IN LAVDEM AMORIS._

O LOVE, THEY WRONG THEE MVCH
THAT SAY THY SWEET IS BITTER,
WHEN THY RICH FRVIT IS SVCH
AS NOTHING CAN BE SWEETER.
FAIR HOVSE OF JOY AND BLISS,
WHERE TRVEST PLEASVRE IS,
I DO ADORE THEE;
I KNOW THEE WHAT THOV ART,
I SERVE THEE WITH MY HEART,
AND FALL BEFORE THEE.

CAPTAIN HUME's _First Part of Airs_, 1605.

INDEX OF FIRST LINES

A little pretty bonny lass was walking (Farmer)
A shepherd in a shade his plaining made (John Dowland)
A sparrow-hawk proud did hold in wicked jail (Weelkes)
A woman's looks (Jones)
About the maypole new, with glee and merriment (Morley)
Adieu! sweet Amaryllis (Wilbye)
April is in my mistress' face (Morley)
Arise, my thoughts, and m