From John Dowland’s Third and Last Book of Songs or Airs, 1603.
By a fountain where I lay,
Fair with garlands all addrest,
(Was never Nymph more fairly blest!)
Blessèd in the highest degree,
(So may she ever blessèd be!)
Came to this fountain near,
With such a smiling cheer!
Such a face,
Such a grace!
Happy, happy eyes, that see
Such a heavenly sight as She!
Then I forthwith took my pipe,
Which I all fair and clean did wipe,
And upon a heavenly ground,
All in the grace of beauty found,
Play’d this roundelay:
“Welcome, fair Queen of May!
Sing, sweet air!
Welcome, Fair!
Welcome be the Shepherds’ Queen,
The glory of all our green!”
From Thomas Ravenscroft’s Brief Discourse, &c., 1614.
The Urchins’ Dance.
By the moon we sport and play,
The Elves’ Dance.
Round about in a fair ring-a,