ANCIENT INEDITED POEMS, NO. III.

In my last communication on this subject, I forgot to remark on the strange title given to the monody on Mr. Browne. May I ask if the name of "Chorus" was thus indiscriminately applied at the time when the poem was composed?

The next poem that I shall give is copied from Harleian MSS., 367., art. 60., fol. 158. It is entitled—

"A VERTUOUS WOMAN.

"When painted vice fils upp the rimes

Of these our last depraued times:

And soe much lust by wanton layes

Disperséd is; that beautie strayes

Into darke corners wheere vnseen,

Too many sadd berefts haue been.

Aduance my muse to blaze[^[1]] that face

Wheere beautie sits enthroand in grace.

The eye though bright, and quicke to moue,

Daignes not a cast to wanton loue.

A comely ffront not husht in hayre,

Nor face be-patcht to make it fayre.

The lipps and cheekes though seemely redd,

Doe blush afresh if by them fedd.

Some wanton youthes doe gaze too much

Though naked breasts are hidd from touch.

When due salutes are past, they shunn

A seconde kisse: yea, half vndone

Shee thinkes herselfe, when wantons praise

Her hande or face with such loose phraise

As they haue learnt at acts and scenes,

Noe hand in hand with them shee meenes,

Shall giue them boldnes to embalme,

Ther filthie fist in her chast palme.

Her pretious honners overlookes,

At her retires the best of bookes.

Whatsoeuer else shee doth forget

Noe busines shall her prayers[^[2]] let.

Those that bee good, shee prizes most,

Noe time with them shee counteth lost.

Her chast delights, her mind, aduance

Above Lot-games or mixéd dance.

Shee cares not for an enterlude,

Or idly will one day conclude.

The looser toungs that filth disclose

Are graueolencie to her nose.

But when a vertuous man shall court

Her virgin thoughts in nuptiall sort:

Her faire depor[t]ment, neyther coy

Nor yet too forward, fits his ioy,

And giues his kisses leaue to seale

On her fayre hand his faythfull zeale.

Blest is his conquest in her loue,

With her alone death cann remoue.

And if before shee did adorne

Her parents' howse, the cheerefull morne

Reioyceth now at this blest payre,

To see a wife soe chast soe fayre.

They happy liue; and know noe smart

Of base suspects or iealous heart;

And if the publike bredd noe feare,

Nor sadd alarms did fill ther care,

From goodnes flowes ther ioy soe cleere

As grace beginnes ther heauen heere."

The poem has no subscription, nor, from the appearance of the paper, should I say there had been one. The comparatively modern phraseology points to a late era. The poem is bound up with a quantity of John Stowe's papers, and I think is in his handwriting, upon comparing it with other papers known to be his in the same book. As it is my chief object (next to contributing to the preservation and publication of these ancient ballads) to obtain data regarding the anonymous productions of the earlier days of England's literature, any remarks, allow me to say, that other contributors will favour our

medium of intercommunication with, will be much appreciated by

Kenneth R. H. Mackenzie.

[Our correspondent is certainly mistaken in supposing this poem to be in Stowe's handwriting. We have the best possible authority for assuring him that it is not.]

Footnote 1:[(return)]

Blason, describe.

We have here an instance of the use of the word prayers as a dissyllable.