Ten Bees there came, all clad in gold, And all the rest did them behold;
But the Thornbud refused this sight to see, And to a cow-plat away flies she.
But where now shall this wedding be?-- For and hey-nonny-no in an old ivy-tree.
And where now shall we bake our bread?-- For and hey-nonny-no in an old horse-head.
And where now shall we brew our ale?-- But even within one walnut-shale.
And also where shall we our dinner make?-- But even upon a galled horse-back:
For there we shall have good company With humbling and bumbling and much melody.
When ended was this wedding-day, The Bee he took his Fly away,
And laid her down upon the marsh Between one marigold and the long grass.
And there they begot good master gnat And made him the heir of all,--that's flat.
From THOMAS WEELKES' _Airs or Fantastic Spirits_, 1608.
The gods have heard my vows, Fond Lyce, whose fair brows Wont scorn with such disdain My love, my tears, my pain. Fa la!
But now those spring-tide roses Are turn'd to winter-posies, To rue and thyme and sage, Fitting thy shrivell'd age. Fa la!
Now, youths, with hot desire See, see, that flameless fire, Which erst your hearts so burned, Quick into ashes turned. Fa la!
_The household-bird with the red stomacher._--DONNE.
The lark, linnet and nightingale to sing some say are best; Yet merrily sings little Robin, pretty Robin with the red breast.
From RICHARD CARLTON's _Madrigals_, 1601.
The love of change hath changed the world throughout, And what is counted good but that is strange? New things wax old, old new, all turns about, And all things change except the love of change. Yet find I not that love of change in me, But as I am so will I always be.
From JOHN DOWLAND's _Third and last Book of Songs and Airs_, 1603.
The lowest trees have tops, the ant her gall, The fly her spleen, the little spark his heat; And slender hairs cast shadows, though but small, And bees have stings, although they be not great; Seas have their source, and so have shallow springs; And love is love, in beggars and in kings!
Where waters smoothest run, deep are the fords; The dial stirs, yet none perceives it move; The firmest faith is in the fewest words; The turtles cannot sing, and yet they love; True hearts have eyes and ears, no tongues to speak; They hear, and see, and sigh, and then they break!