* * * The Spanish Ladie (Oxford University Press, 21s.),
containing James Mabbe's 1640 translation of three of Cervantes' stories, will delight all lovers of romance. The rough course of true love is the theme of the title story, which is suitably meandering and all on the side of youth. But "The Jealous Husband" relates a triumph of old age, and is the• gem of the collection. So jealous was the husband that " he would not permit that within his house there should be any creature that was a male, no, not so much as a Cat to persecute the Mice, nor a little dogge to lie on his wife's lappe." And though a resourceful gallant gained admittance to the castle, the old husband had his way, and kept his wife to himself ; however, the following chorus was sung in the castle at midnight to the accompaniment of a ghitterne
" Keepe me not under locke and key For who can holds what will away, If I doe not myselfe contain, Your watche and warde is all in vaine.
Like to a bodkin in a bagge, Like to a home in a Stagge,
Or like to bin singin the face,
Love `to get out, wil finds a place."
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