purgatorie, wherby he did ope iniury to the bloud of Christ, which only purgeth vs fro al our sinnes (and deliuereth vs from al tormets, both temporall and eternal, according to the saying of the wyse ma, the soules of the ryghteous are in the hands of God, and no torment toucheth them. But to returne to the lightes in which there ar yet twoo thinges to be considered. First, why they leade men out of their waye. And secondly, why they seeme to follow men and go before the. The cause why they leade men out of the waye, is, that me whyle they take hede to such lights, and are also sore afrayde, they forgett their waye, and then being ones but a litle out of their waye, they wader they woote not whether, to waters, pyttes, and other very daungerous places, which, when at lengthe they happe the waye home, wyll tell a greate tale, how they have been lead about by a spirite in the likenes of fyre. Nowe the cause why they seeme to goe before men, or to followe them, some men haue sayde to be the mouing of the ayer by the goyng of the man, which ayre moued, shold driue them forward if they were before, and drawe them after, if they were behynd. But this is no reason at all, that the fire which is ofte times, thre or fowre miles distaunt from the man that walketh, shold be moued to and froe by that ayre which is moued through his walkinge, but rather the mouing of the ayre & the man's eyes, causeth the fyre to seeme as though it moued, as the Moone to chyldren seemeth, if they are before it, to run after them: if she be before them, to run before them, that they can not ouertake her though she seeme to be very neare them. Wherfore these lyghtes rather seeme to moue, then that they be moued in deade."

Old Madrigals.

i.

J. H.

"In vain he seeks for beautie that excelleth,
That hath not seen her eyes where Loue soiourneth ;
How sweetly here and there the same she turneth,
He knowes not how loue healeth and how he quelleth ;
That knowes not how she sighes and sweet beguileth,
And how she sweetly speakes and sweetly smyleth.

ii. I

Musica Transalpina, Altvs. Madrigales translated of foure, fiue, and sixe partes, chosen out of diuers excellent authors, with the first and second part of La Verginella, made by Maister Byrd, upon

ii.

I saw my lady weeping and Loue did languish,
And of their plaint ensued so rare concenting,
That neuer yet was heard more sweet lamenting,
Made all of tender pittie and mournfull anguish :
The flouds forsaking their delightfull swelling.
Stayd to attend their plaint; the winds enraged,
Still and content to quiet calm asswaged,

Their wonted storins and euery blast rebelling.

(Part 2.)

Like as from heauen the dew full softly showring,
Doth fall and so refresh both fieldes and closes:
Filling the parched flowers with sap and sauour:
So while she bath'd the violets and the roses,
Vpon her louely cheekes so freshly flow'ring:

The spring reneu'd his force with her sweet fauour.
iii.

Sleepe, sleepe mine only juell,

Much more thou didst delight mee,

Then my belou'd, to cruell,

That hid hir face to spyte mee.

(Part 2.)

Thou bringst her home full nye me,
While she so fast did flye me,

By thy meanes I behold those eyes so shyning,
Long time absented, that look so mild appeased;
Thus is my griefe declyning:

Thou in my dreames dost make desire well pleased.
Sleepe if thou be like death, as thou art fayned,
A happy lyfe by such a death were gayned.

tvo Stanza's of Ariosto, and brought to speake English vvith the rest. Published by N. Yonge in fauour of such as take pleasure in musicke of voices. Imprinted at London by Thomas East the assigne of William Byrd. 1588. Cum Priuilegio Regia Maiestatis. Cantvs, Bassvs, Sextvs, same date. Dedicated to Gilbert, Lord Talbot, son of George, Earl of Shrewsbury: wherein Yonge observes, "I endeuoured to get into my hands all such English songes as were praise worthie, and amongst others I had the hap to find in the hands of some of my good friends certaine Italian Madrigales translated most of them five years ago by a gentleman for his priuate delight," which form part of the collection. Dated first of October, 1588. Contains 57 pieces. For extracts from second part of the Musica Transalpina, see Cens. Lit. Vol. IX. p. 5. In the present collection may be found the poem inserted in England's Helicon, ed. 1812. p. 204.

iv. Rvbies

Bird,

iv.

Rvbyes and pearles and treasure,
Kingdomes, renowne and glory;

Please the delightful minde and cheare the sory:
But much the greater measure

Of true delight he gaineth,

That for the fruits of Loue sues and obtaineth.

V.

The fayre yong virgin is like the rose vntainted,
In garden faire while tender stalk doth beare it ;
Sole and vntoucht, with no resort acquainted,

No shepherd nor his flock doth once come neere it :
Th'ayre full of sweetnesse, the morning fresh depainted,
The earth the water with all their fauours cheer it:
Daintie yong gallants, and ladyes most desired,
Delight to haue therewith their head and breasts attyred.
(Part 2.)

Bvt not soone from greene stock where it growed,
The same is pluckt and from the same remoued;
As lost is all from heauen and earth that flowed,
Both fauour grace and beauty best beloued:
The virgin faire that hath the flower bestowed,
Which more than life to gard it her behowed;
Loseth hir praise, and is no more desired
Of those that late vnte hir loue aspired.*

vi.

Zephirus brings the time that sweetly senteth,
With flowers and herbs and winter's frost exileth;
Progne now chirpeth and Philomele iamenteth,
Flora the garlands white and red compileth,
Fields doe reioyce the frowning skye relenteth,
Joue to behold his dearest daughter smyleth:
Th' ayre, the water, the earth to ioy consenteth;
Each creature now to loue him reconcileth.
(Part 2)

But with me wretch the storms of woe perseuer,

And heaty sighes which from my hart she strayneth;

That tooke the keye therof to heauen for euer,

So that singing of byrds and spring time flowryng,

And ladies loue that men's affection gayneth,
Are lyke a desert and cruell beasts deuouring.

J. H.

This is the piece in two parts referred to in the title as by