[Aa2] [Females playing on the harp.] Thus in the old romance of "Syr Degore (or Degree," No. 22, iii. appendix) we have (Sign. D. i.):
"The lady, that was so faire and bright,
Upon her bed she sate down ryght;
She harped notes swete and fine.
(Her mayds filled a piece of wine.)
And Syr Degore, sate him downe,
For to hear the harpes sowne."
The 4th line being omitted in the pr. copy, is supplied from the folio MS.
In the Squyr of lowe Degree (No. 24, iii. appendix) the king says to his daughter (Sign. D. i.):
"Ye were wont to harpe and syng,
And be the meryest in chamber comyng."
In the Carle of Carlisle, (No. 10. iii. appendix) we have the following passage (folio MS. p. [451], v. 217).
"Downe came a lady faire and free,
And sett her on the Carles knee:
One whiles shee harped another whiles song,
Both of paramours and louinge amonge."
And in the Romance of Eger and Grime (No. 12, iii. appendix), we have (ibid. p. [127], col. 2) in part i. v. 263:
"The ladye fayre of hew and hyde
Shee sate downe by the bed side
Shee laid a souter (psaltry) vpon her knee
Theron shee plaid full lovesomelye.
... And her 2 maydens sweetlye sange."