Ayres: by Alfonso Ferrabosco

AYRES : BY Alfonso Ferrabosco .

LONDON : Printed by T. SNODHAM , for IOHN BROWNE , and are to be sould at his shoppe in S. Dunstones Church-yard in Fleetstreet .

1609.

TO THE MOST EQVALL TO HIS BIRTH , AND ABOVE all Titles , but his owne Vertue : Heroique Prince Henry . Excellent Prince :

THat which was wont to accompany all Sacrifices , is now become a Sacrifice , MVSIQVE : And to a Composition so full of Harmony as yours , what could bee a fitter Offring ? The rather , since they are the Offerers first fruits , and that he giues them with pure hands . J could , now , with that solemne industry of many in Epistles , enforce all that hath beene said in praise of the Faculty , and make that commend the worke , but J desire more , the worke should commend the Faculty : And therefore suffer these few Ayres to owe their Grace rather to your Highnesse iudgement , then any others testimonie . J am not made of much speach . Onely J know them worthy of my Name : And , therein , J tooke paynes to make them worthy of Yours .

Your Highnesse most humble Seruant Alfonso Ferrabosco .

TO MY EXCELLENT FRIEND ALFONSO FERRABOSCO . TO vrge , my lou'd Alfonso , that bold fame Of building Townes , and making wilde Beasts tame , Which Musique had ; or speake her knowne effects , That she remoueth cares , sadnesse eiects , Declineth anger , perswades clemency , Doth sweeten mirth , and heighten pietie , And is to'a body , often , ill inclinde No lesse a soueraigne cure , then to the minde ; To'alledge , that greatest men were not asham'd Of old , euen by her practise , to be fam'd ; To say , indeed , she were the Soule of Heauen , That the eight Spheare , no lesse then Planets seauen Mou'd , by her order ; And the ninth , more high , Including all , were thence call'd Harmony : I , yet , had vtter'd nothing , on thy part , When these were but the praises of the Art . But when I haue saide , The proofes of all these be Shed in thy Songs ; T is true : But short of thee . Ben : Ionson .

TO THE WORTHY AVTHOR . MVsicks maister , and the offspring Of rich Musicks Father , Old Alfonso's Image liuing , These faire flowers you gather Scatter through the Brittish soile ; Giue thy fame free wing , And gaine the merit of thy toyle : Wee whose loues affect to praise thee , Beyond thine owne deserts , can neuer raise thee . By T. Campion , Doctor in Physicke .

AMICISS : ET PRAESTANTISSIMO IN RE MVSICA , ALFONSO FERRABOSCO . PErcellis , oro , mitte animam meam O diue Syren , vinculaque auribus Iniecta soluas , nec potenti Perpetuo moriar camaenâ . Ardore rapta mens furit entheo , Scanditque Lunam , & circuit aethera , Ter millies coelo reposta , Et totiès relocata terris . O Musicae artis quanta potentia , Ferra-bosco Non in ferarum solavagum nemus , Sed in virorum plus cateruas Participes melioris aurae ! Alsonse , dux & rex Lyrici gregis ; Pulsare dignus coelicolum lyram , Excellis omnes sic canendo Sempèr vt ipse sies canendus . N. Tomkins .

I. LIke Hermit poore , in place obscure , I meane to spend my dayes of endlesse doubt , To waile such woes as time cannot recure , Where none but Loue shall finde mee out , And at my gates dispaire shall , dispaire shal linger still , To let in death whēloue & fortune , when Loue and Fortune will .

II. COme home my troubled thoughts , stay and retire , Call home your erring fellowes make a stand , Follow not still the coulours of desire , False are her wishes cruel her command , Come then obay this summons come away , come away , For here vaine hopes , for here vaine hopes must serue you for your pay .

III COme away , come away , we grow ielous of your stay , If you doe not stoppe your eare , We shall haue more cause to feare , Sirens of the land then they , to doubt the Sirens of the Sea .

IIII. DEere when to thee my sad complaint I make , And shew how oft Loue doth my death renue , And how afresh I suffer for thy sake , I euer feare this answere to insue , Who would bewaile the Bird that scapes the snare , And euer caught and neuer can beware ? But my reply is iust , that if the eye That sees the danger , yet obayes the hart That leades the sence , for his delight to dye , In that this pray , preferres the better part The gayner should haue mercy to forgiue , If Beautie be a Tyrant who can liue ?

V. FAine I would but O I dare not , Speake my thoughts at full to praise her , Speake the best cryes Loue , and spare not , Thy speech can no higher raise her , Thy speach then thy thoughts are lower , Yet thy thoughts doth not halfe know her .

VI. COme my Celia , let vs proue , while wee may the sweets of loue , Time wil not be ours for euer , he at length our good wil seuer , Spend not then his gifts in vaine , Sunnes that set may rise again , But if we once loose this light , t is with vs perpetuall night , Why should wee deferre our ioyes , fame and rumour are but toyes ? Cannot we delude the eyes of a few poore houshold spyes , Or his easier eares beguile , Thus remoued by our wile T' is no sinne loues fruits to steale , But the sweet theft to reueale , To be taken , to be seene , These haue crimes accounted been to be taken , to be seene , These haue crimes accounted beene .

VII . SO , so , leaue off , this last lamenting kisse , which sucks two soules and vapours both away , Turne thou ghost that way , And let me turne this , and let our selues be-night our happy day , we aske none leaue to loue , nor will we owe any so cheape a death as saying goe . We aske none leaue to loue , nor wil we owe any so cheape a death as saying goe . Goe , goe , and if that word haue not quite kild thee , Ease me with death by bidding me goe to : O , if it haue let my word worke on me , And a iust office on a murderer doe . Except it be too late to kill me so , Being double dead , going and bidding goe .

VIII . YOung and simple though I am , I haue heard of Cupids name , Guesse I can what thing it is , Men desire when they doe kisse , Smoake can neuer burne they say , But the flames , But the flames that follow may . 2 I am not so foule or faire , to be proud or to dispaire , Yet my lips haue oft obseru'd , men that kisse them presse them hard , As glad louers vse to doe , when their new met loues they wooe . 3 Faith t is but a foolish minde , yet me thinkes a heat I finde , Like thirst longing that doth bide euer one my weaker side , Where they say my hart doth moue , Venus graunt it be not Loue . 4 If it be alas what then , were not Women made for Men ? As good t is a thing were past , that must needes bee done at last , Roses that are ouer-blowne , grow lesse sweet then fall alone . 5 Yet nor Churle , nor silken Gull , shall my maiden blossome pull , Who shall not I soone can tell , who shall would I could as well , This I know who ere hee be , loue hee must or flatter mee .

IX . DRowne not with teares my deerest Loue , Those eyes which my affections moue , Doe not with weeping those lights blinde , Which me in thy subiection binde , Time that hath made vs two of one , And forst thee now to liue alone , Will once againe vs revnite , To shew how shee can Fortune spight , Then will we our time redeeme , And hould our howres in more esteeme , Turning all our sweetest nights , Into millions of delights , And striue with many thousand kisses , To multiply , to multiply exchange of blisses . exchange of blisses .

X. I Am a louer yet was neuer lou'd ; well haue I lou'd and wil though hated euer , Troubles I passe yet neuer any mou'd , sighs haue I giuen and yet she heard me neuer , I would complaine , and she would neuer heare me , and flie from loue , but it is euer neare me , Obliuion onely blamelesse doth beset mee , for that remembreth neuer to forget me .

XI . WHy stayes the bridegroome to in╌uade her , that would be a matron made , Good night whilst yet we may , good night to you a virgin say , To morrow rise , the same your mother is , and vse a nobler name , Speed well in hymens war , that what you are , by your perfections wee and all may see .

First part . XII . SIng wee then heroyque grace , So with louely light adorning , that faire heauen of his face , As the Starre that leads the morning , body braue for part and whole , purest seate of purer soule , Where reposed lodge by nature , Princely strength and comely stature .

Second part . XIII . SIng the riches of his skill ; Long by studious toyle prouided , Wit that neuer guideth ill , Will that neuer ill is guided , Iudgement that can best discerne , Memory that needs not learne , Courage where such thoughts assemble , Iustly may his haters tremble .

Third part . XIIII SIng the nobles of his race , Sing his power , his wealth , his glory , Breaking all the bounds of place , endlesse ages , agelesse storry , Peace that maketh one of two , more then euer warre could doe , Terror chased , terror chased , Iustice fixed , Mercy , mercy still with Iustice mixed .

XV. WIth what new thoughts should I now entertaine my minde , if I my sadnesse should forgoe , What pleasing hopes haue I not proued , I not proued vaine , or what false shew of ioy doe I not know ? O partiall loue there is no power in thee , to make her loue or else to set me free , to make her loue or else to set me free .

XVI . FLy from the world O flye thou poore distrest , where thy diseased soule infects thy soule , And where thy thoughts doe multiply vnrest , Tiring with wishes what they straight controule , O world , O world betrayer of the minde , O thoughts , O thoughts that guide vs being blinde . O thoughts that guide vs being blinde , that guide vs being blinde . 2 Come therefore care , conduct me to my end , And steere this shipwrackt carkasse to the graue : My sighes a strange and stedfast winde shall lend , Teares wet the sailes , Repentance from rocks saue . Haile death , haile death , the land I doe discry , Strike saile , goe soule , rest followes them that dye .

XVII . SHall I seeke to ease my griefe ? No my sight is lost with eying ; Shall I speak and beg reliefe ? No my voyce is hoarse with crying , What remaines but onely dying ? What remaynes but onely dying ? 2 Loue and I of late did part , But the Boy my peace enuying , Like a Parthian threw his dart , Backward and did wound me flying . What remaines but onely dying ? 3 She whom then I looked one , My remembrance beautifying Stayes with me , though I am gone , Gone , and at her mercy lying . What remaynes , but onely dying ? 4 Thus my vitall breath doth wast , And my blood with sorrow drying , Sighes and teares make life to last , For a while his place supplying . What remaynes but onely dying ?

First part . XVIII . IF all these Cupids now were blinde , as is their wanton brother , Or play should put it in their mindes , to shoot at one another , What prety battaile they would make if they their obiects should mistake , and each one wound , and each one wound his mother .

Second part . XIX . IT was no pollicie of court , although the place be charmed , To let in earnest or in sport , so many loues in armed , For say the dames should with their eyes vpon the hearts here meane surprise , Were not the men , were not the men , were not the men like harmed .

Third part . XX. YEs were the loues or false or straying , or beautie not their beautie waying , But here no such deceipt is mixt , their flames are pure their eyes are fixt , They doe not warre , they doe not warre , with diffrent darts , but strike a musicke of like hearts , they doe not warre with diffrent darts , but strike a musicke of like hearts .

XXI . SO beautie on the waters stood , when Loue had seuer'd earth from floud , So when hee parted ayre from fire , hee did with concord all inspire , And then a motion hee them taught , that elder then himselfe was thought , which thought was yet the childe of earth , for loue is elder then his birth .

XXII . HAd those that dwell in error foule and hold that women haue no soule , But seene those moue , they would haue then said , women were the soules of men , so they doe moue each heart and eye , with the worlds soule their harmonie .

XXIII . IF all the ages of the earth were crown'd but in this famous birth , but in this famous birth , and when that they would boast their store of worthy Queenes , of worthy Queenes they knew no more , how happier is that age can giue , a Queene in whom they all doe liue ?

XXIIII . VNconstant loue why should I make my moane , or send sad sighes vnto thy carelesse eare ? Since thy affection and thy faith is gone , and all those vertues which I once held deare , Farewell , farewell , most false of all to mee , that with affection deerely , deerely loued thee .

XXV . O Eyes , O mortall starres , the authors of my harmes , that in slumbring wage wars , to kill me with sweet charmes , If closed you annoy me , be'ng open you 'ld destroy me . If closed you annoy me , be'ng open you 'ld destroy me . If closed you annoy me , be'ng open you 'ld destroy me . If closed you annoy me , be'ng open you 'ld destroy mee .

A Dialogue betweene a Shepheard and a Nimph. XXVI . FAyre cruell Nimph why thus in griefe & anguish , Mak'st thou him thatadores thee pine and languish ? O but these fancies from thy beautie flow , O how I ioy , O how I ioy in thee my happy choise , As thou in me , as thou in me , so I in thee reioyce : Then let vs still together liue and loue , and sing the ioyes , the ioyes , and sing the ioyes that happy louers proue . Dialogue Nimph. XXVI . WHy Shepheard dost thou mee condemne as cruell , Since thine owne fancies are thy passions fuell ? Then shall reliefe to thee from bountie grow , O how I Ioy , O how I Ioy in this my happy choise , As thou in me , As thou in me , so I in thee reioyce , Then let vs still together liue and loue , And sing the ioyes , and sing the ioyes that happy louers proue .

A Dialogue . XXVII . WHat shall I wish what shall I flye ? False I defie , Such euer speake , Such neuer breake , Flattery yeelds pleasure , Onely truth , onely truth yeelds waight , Happy are they that neuer knew deceit . Happy are they that neuer knew deceit . neuer knew deceit . A Dialogue . XXVII . TRue Loue I seeke , Wordes haue their truth , Deeds haue their faith , Flattery yeelds pleasure : Happy are they that neuer knew deceit . happy are they , happy are they that neuer knew deceit .

A Dialogue betweene a Shepheard and a Nimph. XXVIII . TEll me O Loue , when shall it be that thy faire eyes shall shine on me ? Whom nothing now reuiueth , Alas sweet Nymph , I cannot chuse since thou estranged liues from me , Alas , what ioy is in such loue that euer liues apart ? O , let me die , yet stay sweet Loue , ☞ Dialogue Nimph. XXVIII . I Pray thee Shepheard , I pray thee shepheard leaue thy feares , Drowne not thy heart and eyes with teares , Such sighes my sence depriueth , O doe not me for that accuse , My Loue , my life doth liue in thee , Alas , what ioy is in such loue , and neuer other comforts proue , but cares that kill the hart ? And so will I , yet stay sweet Loue and sing this song with me , Time brings to passe what loue thinkes could not be . Time brings to passe what loue thinkes could not be . ☞ and sing this song with me , time bring to passe , what loue thinks could not be . time brings to passe , what loue thinks could not be . FINIS .

A Table of all the Songs contained in this Booke .

I. Like Hermit poore . II. Come home my troubled thoughts . III. Come away . IIII. Deere , when to thee . V. Faine I would . VI. Come my Celia . VII . So , so , leaue off . VIII . Young and simple though I am . IX . Drowne not with teares . X. I am a Louer . XI . Why stayes the Bridegroome . XII . Sing we then heroyque grace . 1. Part. XIII . Sing the riches of his skill . 2. Part. XIIII . Sing the Nobles of his race . 3. Part. XV. With what now thoughts . XVI . Flye from the world . XVII . Shall I seeke to ease my griefe ? XVIII . If all these Cupids now were blinde . 1. Part. XIX . It was no pollicie of Court . 2. Part. XX. Yes were the loues . 3. Part. XXI . So beautie on the waters stood . XXII . Had those that dwell . XXIII . If all the ages of the earth . XXIIII . Vnconstant Loue . XXV . O eyes ▪ O mortall starres . XXVI . Faire cruell Nymph . Dialogue . XXVII . What shall I wish . Dialogue . XXVIII . Tell me O Loue . Dialogue .