and devoted several hours of the day and night to the exercise of prayer and psalmody." The reader will be struck with the resemblance of this poem to that celebrated song, by Dr Percy, "Say, Nanny, wilt thou gang with me."
P. 172. This lively ballad I have discovered, in a little volume, entitled "Westminster Drollery, the Second Part; being a complete Collection of all the newest and choicest Songs, and Poems, at Court, and both the Theatres. By the authors of the First Part, never printed before. London, 1672." I have corrected from it, my MS. copy, which was very faulty. In the printed miscellany, it is called "The Rural Dance about the May-Pole."
In the second volume of that learned and useful work, Beloe's "Anecdotes of Literature, and scarce Books," there is a specimen of songs, which occur in various rare plays, in the Garrick Collection. Among them, is the following, from "Actæon and Diana," by Robert Cox. No date.
Song.
With your musique, dance and song,
Bring your lasses in your hands,
For 'tis that which Love commands;
Then to the May-pole come away,
For it is now a holiday.
For the violets now appear;
Now the rose receives its birth,
And pretty primrose decks the earth.
Then, &c.
One that will not faith abuse;
Nor repay with coy disdain,
Love that should be loved again.
Then, &c.
