1. Shakespeare’s first stanza, based on the Latin poem ‘Ad Lydiam’, occurs at the beginning of the fourth act of Measure for Measure? (?1604). Fletcher’s Rollo Duke of Normandy, or The Bloody Brother? (c.1616) prints the second stanza, which most critics now attribute to Fletcher. John Wilson, who composed music for the King’s Men from about 1615 to 1634, was succeeded in that post by William Lawes.

1. The poem comes from Beaumont and Fletcher’s The Maid’s Tragedy (1610–11), Act II, sc. i., where it is sung by Aspatia. When she has finished, Evadne exclaims: ‘Thats one of your sad songs Madame […] The words are so strange, they are able to make one dreame of hobgoblines.’ Warlock set the poem twice, once for voice and piano or string quartet (1922), and once for orchestra as no. 1 of Two Songs for Soprano and Small Orchestra (1925–8).

1. The poem comes from Beaumont and Fletcher’s The Woman Hater (1607), where it is sung in Act III, sc. i, by Oriana. She prefaces the song with an aside: ‘I had rather sing at dores for bread, then sing to this fellow [Gondarino], but for hate: if this should be told in the Court, that I begin to woe Lords, what a troop of the untrust nobilitie should I have at my lodging tomorrow morning.’ When she has finished the song, Gondarino says: ‘Have you done your wassayle, tis a handsome drowsie dittie ile assure yee; now I had as leeve here a Catte cry, when her taile is cut off, as heare these lamentations, these lowsie love-layes, these bewaylements; you thinke you have caught me Ladie, you thinke I melt now, like a dish of May butter, and runne, all into brine, and passion; yes, yes, I am taken, looke how I crosse my armes, looke pale, and dwyndle, and woo’d cry, but for spoyling my face; we must part, nay we’l avoyd all Ceremony, no kissing Ladie, I desire to know your Ladiship no more. –’

1. The song is sung in the play by one of Queen Katherine’s ladies-in-waiting, and is introduced by the Queen, who says: ‘Take thy Lute wench,/My Soule growes sad with troubles/Sing, and disperse ’em if thou canst: leaue working.’

2. rested.

3. deadly worry.