III.

LOVE WILL FIND OUT THE WAY.

This excellent song is ancient: but we could only give it from a modern copy.

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[Earlier editions of this spirited song are printed in Evans's _Old Ballads_, iii. 282 (1810), and Rimbault's _Little Book of Songs and Ballads_, p. 137. It is quoted in Brome's _Sparagus Garden_, acted in 1635, and Shirley's _Constant Maid_ was republished in 1661, under the title of _Love will find out the Way_, by T. B.

Dr. Rimbault has the following note in his _Musical Illustrations_, "The old black-letter copy of this ballad is called '_Truth's Integrity: or, a curious Northerne Ditty_, called _Love will finde out the Way_. To a pleasant new Tune Printed at London for F. Coules, dwelling in the Old Bailey.' There is a second part consisting of six stanzas, which Percy has not reprinted. The tune is here given (translated from the _Tablature_) from _Musicks Recreation on the Lyra Viol_, published by Playford in 1652. It is also preserved in Forbes's _Cantus_, 1662; in _Musick's Delight on the Cithren_, 1666; and in D'Urfey's _Pills to Purge Melancholy_, 1719. The _Pepysian Collection_ contains several ballads to this tune."

Mr. Chappell writes, "The air is still current, for in the summer of 1855, Mr. Jennings, Organist of All Saints' Church, Maidstone, noted it down from the wandering hop-pickers singing a song to it on their entrance into that town." _Popular Music_, vol. i. p. 304.]

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Over the mountains, And over the waves; Under the fountains, And under the graves; Under the floods that are deepest, 5 Which Neptune obey; Over rocks that are steepest, Love will find out the way.

Where there is no place For the glow-worm to lye; 10 Where there is no space For receipt of a fly; Where the midge dares not venture, Lest herself fast she lay; If love come, he will enter, 15 And soon find out his way.

You may esteem him A child for his might; Or you may deem him A coward from his flight; 20

But if she, whom love doth honour, Be conceal'd from the day, Set a thousand guards upon her, Love will find out the way.

Some think to lose him, 25 By having him confin'd; And some do suppose him, Poor thing, to be blind; But if ne'er so close ye wall him, Do the best that you may, 30 Blind love, if so ye call him, Will find out his way.

You may train the eagle To stoop to your fist; Or you may inveigle 35 The phenix of the east; The lioness, ye may move her To give o'er her prey; But you'll ne'er stop a lover: He will find out his way.

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