Representative English Comedies, v. 1. From the beginnings to Shakespeare

by Unknown

"Ah, what is love? It is a prettie thing

As sweete unto a shepheard as a king."

—The Shepheard's Wife's Song, as in Dyce, p. 305.

Grosart's transcript of Q. 1616 (IX. 144) accidentally omits all but the last two lines of this song.

[1216] Besides the frequent identity of tone, note such coincidences as James IV. l. 2669, 'aldertruest,' M. G. (Descript. of Sheph. and Wife), 'alderliefest,' an archaism found nowhere else in Greene,—but in the Folio of 2 Henry VI. l. 28 (prob. by Greene, Fleay, Shakespeare, p. 269). The sentiment of Philador's Scrowle and Ode in M. G. is a variant of the Ovidian precept of James IV. l. 1108.

[1217] Lines 1575-1580, 2655-2699.

[1218] Lines 1901-1902.

[1219] To the Gentlemen Readers of Perymedes.

[1220] S. R. 1594.

[1221] Fleay, Hist. Stage, pp. 399, 400; Life of Shakesp., p. 255 et seq. He guesses also True Chron. Hist. of Leir, Valentine and Orson, and Robin Hood (Hist. Stage, 89, 400).