GRAND CHORUS. As from the power of facred lays 55 60 SONG. FAREWELL, FAIR ARMIDA*. FAREWELL, fair Armida, my joy and grief, my In vain I have lov'd you, and hope no relief; This fong, written on the death of Captain Digby, has been given by Mr. Malone in his Life of Dryden, on account, he fays, of its "not having been preferv'd in Dryden's works, and being found entire only in a Scarce Mifcellany, viz. Covent Garden Drollery." I must, however, obferve, that the Song is printed entire in New Court-Songs and Poems, by R. V. Gent. 8vo. 1672, p. 78. In this collection the fecond line runs thus :— "In vain I have lov'd you, and find no relief.” The fixth, "A fate which in pity, &c." The twelfth, "My fate from your fight, &c." An answer from Armida, as she is called, follows the Song in this collection; but it is not worth citing. The ridiculous parody on this Song in the REHEARSAL is too well known to require copying here. But the following ludicrous stanza, which I have feen in MS. and which is a coeval parody on Dryden's Song to Armida, deferves to be cited : : "Or if the king pleafe that I may, at his charge, Undone by your virtue, too ftrict and severe, Your eyes gave me love, and you gave me defpair: Now call'd by my honour, I feek with content 5 On feas and in battles, in bullets and fire, bear My fall from your fight-not to coft you a tear: 15 Armida is faid to have been the beautiful Frances Stuart, wife of Charles, Duke of Richmond. Captain Digby was killed at fea in the engagement between the English and Dutch fleet, off Southwold Bay, in 1672. THE LADY'S SONG. I. A CHOIR of bright beauties in fpring did appear, To choose a May-lady to govern the year; All the nymphs were in white, and the shepherds in green; The garland was given, and Phyllis was queen : But Phyllis refus'd it, and fighing did fay, 5 I'll not wear a garland while Pan is away. II. While Pan and fair Syrinx are fled from our fhore, The Graces are banish'd, and Love is no more: The foft god of pleasure, that warm'd our defires, Has broken his bow, and extinguish'd his fires: And vows that himself, and his mother, will mourn, 'Till Pan and fair Syrinx in triumph return. 11 |