¶ The Nimphes meeting their May Queene, entertaine
her with this Dittie, +Printed in The Honorable Entertainement (1591), sig. B4-4v, where it was sung by six virgins representing the three Graces and three Hours before Elizabeth I who ‘after performance of their humble reuerence to her highnesse, walked on before her towards the house, strewing the way with flowers, and singing a sweete song of six parts to this dittie, which followeth’. Imitated by Anthony Nixon in Great Brittaines Generall Ioyes (1613), sig. A4 ‘With Flowers therefore each man strewes the way,/For though this Land were often blest of yore,/… Eliza , flower of the second Troy ,/Enioyes her Frederick ; both haue mutuall ioy’. For the music for this lyric, see Musical Settings Author: Thomas Watson. Structure (May/Ringler): 18: 3×6 aabbCC8
W Ith fragrant flowers we strew the way, And make this our chiefe holy-day. For though this climeclimate were blest of yorelong ago : Yet was it neuer proudshould be ‘prou’d’ proved, demonstrated, experienced before.
(5) O beauteous Queene of second Troy: +a second Helen of Troy, see glossary ; previously used by Watson as a refrain for a song addressed to Elizabeth I, and set for four and six voices in The first sett, of Italian Madrigalls Englished (1590), songs 8 and 28, ‘This sweet and merry month of May/… O Beauteous Queene of second Troy,/Take well in worth a simple toy.’ Accept of our vnfained ioy.
