[Bagford Collection, II. 161; Pepys, iii. 119.]

A Remedy for the Green Sickness.

Lay panting all alone,

Which did a Youngsters pitty move,
To hear her sigh and groan.

A pretty Damsel, full of love,

I am both young and fair, yet 'tis my fortune hard, I'me ready to despair,

my pleasures are debar'd: And I, poor soul, cannot enjoy nor tast of Lovers bliss, Whilst others meet,

Those joyes so sweet,

Oh! what a life is this.

Were but my passion known,

sure some would pitty me,

That lye so long alone

for want of company.

Had I some young man in my Arms

that would be brisk and brave,
My pains would end,
He'd prove my Friend,

And keep me from my grave.
For this tormenting pain
I cannot long endure,
My hopes are all in vain
if I expect a cure,

Without some thundring lad comes in
and, with a courage bold,

Grant me delight,

I'de him requite,

With silver and with Gold.

[Second Part.]

Aahat the next room lay,

gallant lively Lad,

It made his heart full glad
to hear what she did say.
Into the room immediately
this youngster he did rush,
Some words he spoke,
Love to provoke,

But she straight cryed out hush.

My Father he will hear,

and then we'r both undone,

Quoth he, love do not fear,

i'le venture for a Son.

The coverled he then threw off,
and jump'd into the Bed,
And in a trice,

He kiss'd her twice,

Then to his Chamber fled.

And blushing all alone

this Damsel sweating lay,

Her troubles they were gone,

thus softly she did say:

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67

Had I but known that Lovers bliss

had been so sweet a taste,
I'de nere have stay'd,
Nor beg'd nor pray'd,

That so much time did waste.

This lusty Youthful boy

that banisht all my pain,

I must his love enjoy
e're it be long again.

For Gold and Silver ile not spare,
can that his courage prove,
He has an Art,

Without all smart,

Green Sickness to remove.

A sigh she gave, and said,

oh! come again to me,

For I am half affraid

I shall not cured be,

At this first bout, then prithee try

90

to help me once again;
Count me not bold,

I'le give thee Gold

Enough for all thy pain.

Printed for, F. Cole[s], T. Vere, J. Wright, J. Clark, W.

Thackery, & T. Passenger.

[In Black-letter. Date, about 1682–3.]

The Redeemed Captive.

Rosalind. "It may be said of him that Cupid hath clapped him o' the shoulder; but I'll warrant him heart-whole."-As You Like It, Act iv. sc. 1.

WE have already given part of the history of the tune be

longing to this ballad, afterwards called "The Doubting Virgin," and "The Soldier's Departure," &c. (pp. 336, 353-4). It is here called "When Aurelia first [I courted]." Words and music of the song thus commencing are given in Playford's Choice Ayres, 1676, i. 14; and Pills, iv. 249. The music was composed by Pelham Humphrey, who was fortunate and skilful in setting melodies to many spirited poems. "When Aurelia" is not later than 1670, being in Windsor Drollery, 108, and in Oxford Drollery, 75, 1671. (Capt. Wm. Hickes made a parody or "Answer," in his Oxford Drollery, p. 70, beginning "When Aurelia late I treated, She had youth and beauty too.")

W she had Youth and Beauty too;
Killing Pleasures when she sported,

THEN Aurelia first I courted,

And her Charms were ever new.
Conqu'ring Time does now deceive her;
Which her glories did uphold:
All her Arts can ne'er retrieve her,
Poor Aurelia's growing old.

The Airy Spirits which invited,

Are retir'd, and move no more; And her Eyes are now benighted,

Which were Comets heretofore: Want of these abates her Merits,

Yet I've Passion for her Name: Only Kind and Active Spirits

Kindle, and maintain the Flame.

The

Reprinted by Watson, 1711, in the so-called Collection of Scots Poems, iii. 87, it bears title "On my Lady_Castlady intended is evidently Barbara Palmer, Lady Castlemaine, afterwards (Aug. 3, 1670) Duchess of Cleveland. Her memoir has been written with a fullness and accuracy leaving nothing to be desired-the very model of such biography--and printed for private circulation only, by G. Steinman Steinman, Esq., F.S.A., author of "Althorp Memoirs" and "Mrs. Myddelton," 1871. The voluptuous beauty of this syren Barbara, with her large languid eyes, her full under-lip and bursting boddice, is photographed from the original miniature by Samuel Cooper.

Having already given, to the same tune. both "The Soldier's Departure" and "The Soldier's Return," we feel bound to add, in this place, another black-letter ballad, which certainly belongs to the same group, and was printed in 1689. It seems to have been intended to precede them both, although it possibly was printed after them, and has not been hitherto reproduced. It is entitled A Dialogue between a Souldier and his Love, at his taking his leave. To the tune of, The Souldier's Departure.

DEAREST Love, I now must leave If a Souldier thinks to merit

to the Wars I needs must go, [thee, Yet let not my absence grieve thee, dearest, since it must be so: Life and Fortune I will venter,

England's freedom to regain, And a bloody Scene will enter, ere I do return again.

Tell me not this killing Story,

which, alas! will break my heart; Nay, and blast my youthful Glory

if my love and I must part:
Therefore do not prove so cruel,
thy beloved to refrain;
For I fear, my dearest Jewel,

I shall ne'r see thee again.
May the powers of Heaven bless thee,
Whom I dearly do adore,
Do not let such feare possess thee,
but be chearful evermore:
This great Land must be defended
from the French and Irish Train,
And, when all our work is ended,
Love, I will return again.
When I think upon your lying
on the close besieged Walls,
Where the Shot like Hail is flying,

while the best of Souldiers falls: Grief of heart I shall lye under, fearing that thou shouldst be slain,

It will surely burst in sunder, if I ne'r see thee again.

4

honour, fame, and high Renown; He must have a Noble Spirit,

which will not be soon cast down: 36 For if Foes our fears discover,

they will then fall on amain,

But our Wars will soon be over,

8

then I will return again.

40

Can I see my Native Nation
threatned by a forregn Foe;

To Religious Extirpation,

12

and yet not be free to go?

44

No, I'll see our Foes surrounded,

never fearing to be slain;

And when they are all confounded,

16

20

then I will return again.

Therefore, dearest, cease thy weeping,
all thy Blessings i'le restore;
Thou hast my whole heart in keeping,
and shall have for evermore:
Then let not my absence grieve thee,
do not in the least Complain;
Tho' at present here I leave thee,
i'll return to thee again.

48

52

56

24

Printed for J. Blare, on London Bridge, 1689.

It is interesting to compare our Bagford ballad of the Redeemed Captive "Surely now I'm out of danger" with another ditty, beginning similarly, by that blithe and stalwart Cavalier, Patrick Carey (composed about 1647). The MS. states: "writt here in obedience to Mrs. Tomkins commands by Patrick Carey, 1651, August the 20th." It is the sixth of his "Triviall Ballades," preceding the Triolets.

TO THE TUNE,- But I fancy Louely Nancy,' &c.

SURELY now I'me out of danger,

And noe more need feare my heart;
Who loves thus to bee a ranger,
Nere will fix in any part;

All the graces of fayre faces

I have seene, and yett am free:
I like many, but not any

Shall subdue my libertee.

1 Fourth song in The Royal Garland of Protestant Delight. 1689.