A Musical Dreame or Fourth Booke of Ayres

In Sherwood lived stout Robin Hood,
An archer great, none greater,
His bow and shafts were sure and good,
Yet Cupid's were much better,
Robin could shoot at many a Hart and misse,
Cupid at first could hit a hart of his.
Hey! jolly Robin Hood!
Love finds out me
As well as thee,
To follow me to the greenwood.

A noble thief was Robin Hood,
Wise was he could deceive him;
Yet Marian in his bravest mood
Could of his heart bereave him;
No greater thiefe lies hidden under skies
Than beauty closely logde in womens eyes.
Hey! jolly Robin Hood!
Love finds out me
As well as thee,
To follow me to the greenwood.

An outlaw was this Robin Hood,
His life free and unruly,
Yet to fair Marian bound he stood
And love's debt paid her duly:
Whom curbe of strictest law could not hold in,
Love with obeydness and a wink could winne.
Hey! jolly Robin Hood!
Love finds out me
As well as thee,
To follow me to the greenwood.

Now wend we home, stout Robin Hood,
Leave we the woods behind us,
Love-passions must not be withstood,
Love ev'rywhere will find us.
I lived in field and town, and so did he,
I got me to the woods, love followed me.
Hey! jolly Robin Hood!
Love finds out me
As well as thee,
To follow me to the greenwood.

Though your strangenesse frets my hart,
Yet may not I complaine :
You perswade me, 'tis but Art,
That secret loue must faine.
If another you affect,
Tis but a shew t'auoid suspect.
Is this faire excusing ?   O no, all is abusing.

Your wisht sight if I desire,
Suspitions you pretend,
Causelesse you your selfe retire,
While I in vaine attend.
This a Louer whets, you say,
Still made more eager by delay.
Is this faire excusing ?   O, no, all is abusing.

When another holds your hand,
You sweare I hold your hart :
When my Riuals close doe stand,
And I sit farre apart,
I am neerer yet then they,
Hid in your bosome, as you say.
Is this faire excusing ?   O no, all is abusing.

Would my Riual then I were,
Or els your secret friend :
So much lesser should I feare,
And not so much attend.
Then enioy you, eu'ry one,
Yet I must seeme your friend alone.
Is this faire excusing ?   O no, all is abusing. 

Will saide to his mammy
That hee woulde goe woo,
Faine would he wed but he wot not who.
Soft a while my lammy stay, and yet abide.
Hee like a foole as he was replide:
In faith chil have a wife, a wife, a wife,
O what a life do I lead
For a wife in my bed
I may not tell you,
O there to have a wife, a wife, a wife,
Tis a smart to my hart,
Tis a racke to my backe and to my belly.

Scarcely was hee wedded,
Full a fortnighty space,
But that he was in a heavie case.
Largely was he headded,
And his cheekes lookt thinne:
And to repent he did thus beginne:
A figge for such a wife, a wife, a wife,
O what a life doe I lead,
With a wife in my bedde,
I may not tell you,
There to have a wife, a wife, a wife,
O tis a smart to my heart,
Tis a racke to my backe and to my belly.

All you that are Batchelers,
Be learnd by crying Will,
When you are well to remaine so still,
Better for to tarry,
And alone to lie,
Than like a foole with a foole to crie:
A figge for such a wife, a wife, a wife,
O what a life doe I leade,
With a wife in my bed,
I may not tell you,
O  there to have a wife, a wife, a wife,
O tis a smart to my heart,
Tis a racke to my backe
And to my belly.

Ite, caldi sospiri, al freddo core,
rompete il ghiaccio che Pietà contende,
et se prego mortale al ciel s’intende,
morte o mercé sia fine al mio dolore.

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