X.

TO ALTHEA FROM PRISON.

This excellent sonnet, which possessed a high degree of fame among the old Cavaliers, was written by Colone, Richard Lovelace during his confinement in the gatehouse, Westminster: to which he was committed by the House of Commons, in April 1642, for presenting a petition from the county of Kent, requesting them to restore the king to his rights, and to settle the government. See Wood's _Athenæ_, vol. ii. p. 228, and Lysons' _Environs of London_, vol. i. p. 109; where may be seen at large the affecting story of this elegant writer, who after having been distinguished for every gallant and polite accomplishment, the pattern of his own sex, and the darling of the ladies, died in the lowest wretchedness, obscurity, and want, in 1658.

This song is printed from a scarce volume of his poems intitled, _Lucasta_, 1649, 12mo. collated with a copy in the Editor's folio MS.

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[As Percy mentions, the folio MS. collations have been added from it (ed. Hales and Furnivall, vol. ii. p. 17), but it will at once be seen that they are of little value. The music to this most exquisite of prison songs was composed by the celebrated Dr. John Wilson, and first printed (according to Dr. Rimbault) in his _Cheerful Ayres or Ballads set for three Voices_, Oxford, 1660.

Lucasta (= Lux casta, Lucy Sacheverell), misled by a report that Lovelace had died of his wounds received at Dunkirk while commanding a regiment of his own forming in the service of the French king, married another lover.

Although doubtless Lovelace died in great trouble, we may hope that Wood's account of his extreme poverty is exaggerated, for his daughter and sole heir married the son of Lord Chief Justice Coke, and brought to her husband the estates of her father at Kingsdown in Kent.]

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When love with unconfined wings Hovers within my gates, And my divine Althea brings To whisper at my grates; When I lye tangled in her haire, 5 And fetter'd with her eye, The birds that wanton in the aire, Know no such libertye.[827]

When flowing cups run swiftly round With no allaying Thames,[828] 10 Our carelesse heads with roses crown'd, Our hearts with loyal flames; When thirsty griefe in wine we steepe,[829] When healths and draughts goe free,[830] Fishes, that tipple in the deepe, 15 Know no such libertìe.[827]

When, linnet-like, confined I With shriller note shall sing The mercye, sweetness, majestye,[831] And glories of my king;[832] 20 When I shall voyce aloud how good He is, how great should be, Th' enlarged windes, that curle the flood,[833] Know no such libertìe.[827]

Stone walls doe not a prison make, 25 Nor iron barres a cage, Mindes, innocent, and quiet, take[834] That for an hermitage:[835] If I have freedom in my love, And in my soule am free, 30 Angels alone, that soare above,[836] Enjoy such libertìe.[837]

FOOTNOTES:

[827] [Ver. 8, 16, 24. enjoyes such lybertye, MS.]

[828] V. 10. with woe-allaying theames, MS. Thames is here used for water in general.

[829] [Ver. 13. thirsty soules, MS.]

[830] [V. 14. when cupps and bowles goe free.]

[831] [V. 19. the mercy, goodnesse, maiestye.]

[832] [V. 20. glory.]

[833] [V. 23. curles the floods.]

[834] [V. 27. the spotlesse soule and inocent.]

[835] [V. 28. Calls this an.]

[836] [V. 31. sores.]

[837] [V. 32. enjoyes. The second and third stanzas are transposed in the MS.]