XVI.
WHY SO PALE?
From Sir John Suckling's Poems. This sprightly knight was born in 1613, and cut off by a fever about the 29th year of his age. See above, Song IX. of this Book.
[This celebrated song occurs in the tragedy of Aglaura, where it is sung by Orsames, a young lord, who says—"It is a little foolish counsel I gave a friend of mine four or five years ago when he was falling into a consumption."
Dr. Rimbault (Musical Illustrations, p. 29) writes, "The original air is here given from a MS. volume of old songs with the music, temp. Charles II. in the collection of the Editor. It was originally in the Library at Staunton Harold, Leicestershire, the seat of Earl Ferrers. This beautiful lyric was sung by Mrs. Cross in the Mock Astrologer, to an air composed by Lewis Ramondon. It was afterwards reset by Dr. Arne."
The date of the poet's birth given above is incorrect. Suckling was baptized on the tenth of February, 1608-9, and his mother died in 1613. Reduced in fortune and an alien, he died of poison bought by him of an apothecary at Paris. The date of his death is not known, but it probably took place in 1641, and he certainly was dead before the year 1642 had ended.]
