Witt as free and confin'd

Title:

A Song made to be sung in a play by a woman [MS Folger retitled: A Song: Melinda to Alcander]

Primary Texts:

MS's: F-H 283, 142; Folger, 28 (in Folger this song follows a new song "in reply" written much later).

Secondary Eds:

1903 Reynolds prints Folger text, 128 (this song follows the Alcander's, as in Folger); rpt of Reynolds: 1930 Fausset, 59-60

20C:

Rpt of 1713/1903: 1990 Fullard, 282.

Comment:

Melinda boasts that she has all the wit of men; they speak but what they borrow from her beauty and her eyes; written well before its answer Alcander to Melinda: More then a Sea of tears, can show" (written 1702-5); it is the poem of a young woman who asserts her independence and strength.
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