Chapter I: Front Matter

Transcriber’s Note: Upright text within italic passages is indicated ~like this~. See end for a fuller note.

Choyce Drollery.

_J. W. Ebsworth sc. 1876_]

Choyce
DROLLERY:
SONGS & SONNETS.

BEING

_A Collection of Divers Excellent
Pieces of Poetry_,

OF SEVERAL EMINENT AUTHORS.

_Now First Reprinted from the Edition of 1656._

TO WHICH ARE ADDED THE EXTRA SONGS OF
MERRY DROLLERY, 1661,
AND AN
ANTIDOTE AGAINST MELANCHOLY, 1661:

EDITED,

_With Special Introductions, and Appendices of Notes,
Illustrations, Emendations of Text, &c._,

BY J. WOODFALL EBSWORTH, M.A., CANTAB.

BOSTON, LINCOLNSHIRE:
Printed by _Robert Roberts_, Strait Bar-Gate.
M,DCCCLXXVI.

TO THOSE

STUDENTS OF ART,

AMONG WHOM HE FOUND

Friendship and Enthusiasm;

BEFORE HE LEFT THEM,

WINNERS OF UNSULLIED FAME,

AND SOUGHT IN A QUIET NOOK

CONTENT, INSTEAD OF RENOWN:

THESE

“DROLLERIES OF THE RESTORATION”

ARE BY THE EDITOR

DEDICATED.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

DEDICATION v

PRELUDE ix

INTRODUCTION TO “CHOICE DROLLERY, 1656” xi

§ 1. HOW CHOICE DROLLERY WAS INHIBITED xi

2. THE TWO COURTS IN 1656 xix

3. SONGS OF LOVE AND WAR xxvi

4. CONCLUSION: THE PASTORALS xxxiii

ORIGINAL “ADDRESS TO THE READER,” 1856

“CHOYCE DROLLERY,” 1656 1

TABLE OF FIRST LINES TO DITTO 101