or that reason called the speaking airs, because more congenial
to nature, which can never be justly imitated but by a beautiful
simplicity, that will always bear away the palm from the most laboured
refinement of art."

The author has ventured to give the following air, which he fancies
would almost suggest the words of the song to which Sir John Finett is
supposed to have appropriated it. As we have before mentioned, the tune
is traditionary, possessing some of the peculiar characteristics we have
described. It bears a considerable resemblance to the ancient Jewish
music, and likewise to the airs generally given to the little snatches
of old ballads in Shakespeare's plays, which are supposed to have been
handed down successively from the performers in his time; being then
probably "household" music more ancient than the ballads themselves.
This opinion seems warranted by the poet himself in that beautiful
allusion, with which he introduces one of the songs of the _Clown_, in
Twelfth Night--

"Mark it, Cesario; it is old and plain:
The spinsters and the knitters in the sun,
And the free maids that weave their thread with bones,
Do use to chant it; it is silly sooth,
And dallies with the innocence of love
Like the old age."

[Illustration: Music]

HOGHTON TOWER.

They bade me sing, they bade my smile,
They bade my heart be gay;
They called my spirit forth to while
The laughing hours away.
I've sung, I've smiled: where'er my path
Mirth's dazzling meteors shine;
All hearts have owned its magic power,
And all are glad but mine.

FOOTNOTES:

[29] "Sir George Goring, of Hurst Pierrepoint, in Sussex, representative
of a junior line of the respectable family of Goring, which maintains
its importance in that county, was bred at Court, under the care of his
father, one of Elizabeth's Gentlemen Pensioners; was knighted May 29,
1608; in 1610, occurs as Gentleman in Ordinary of the Bedchamber to
Prince Henry; and now accompanied the king to Scotland as Lieutenant of
his Gentlemen Pensioners. He was recommended to James equally by his
sagacity and a peculiar jocularity of humour, and became the king's
familiar companion."--Nichols's _Royal Progresses_, vol. iii. p. 256.

[30] Sir John Finett, says Anthony a Wood (Fasti by Bliss, vol. i. col,
492), was son of Sir Robert Finett, of Soulton, near Dover, in Kent, son
and heir of Sir Thomas, son and heir of John Finet