Pills to Purge Melancholy

General information

Title: Pills to Purge Melancholy

Titles

• Vol. 1 – Songs Compleat, Pleasant and Divertive; Set to Musick By Dr. John Blow, Mr. Henry Purcell, and other Excellent Masters of the Town. Ending with some Orations, made and spoken by me several times upon the Publick Stage in the Theater. Together with some Copies of Verses, Prologues, and Epilogues, as well for my own Plays as those of other Poets, being all Humerous and Comical. Written by Mr. (Thomas) D'Urfey.
• Vol. 2 – Wit and Mirth: or Pills to Purge Melancholy; Being a collection of the best merry ballads and songs, old and new. Fitted to all Humours, having each their proper tune for either voice, or instrument: Most of the songs being new set.
• Vol. 3 – Songs Compleat, Pleasant and Divertive; Set to Musick by Dr. John Blow, Mr. Henry Purcell, and other Excellent Masters of the Town. Ending with some ORATIONS, made and spoken by me several times upon the Publick Stage in the Theater. Together with some Copies of VERSES, PROLOGUES, and Epilogues, as well for my own Plays as those of other Poets, being all Humerous and Comical. VOL III. Written by Mr. (Thomas) D'Urfey.
• Vol. 4 – Songs Compleat, Pleasant and Divertive; Set to Musick by Dr. John Blow, Mr. Henry Purcell, and other Excellent Masters of the Town. Ending with some ORATIONS, made and spoken by me several times upon the Publick Stage in the Theater. Together with some Copies of VERSES, PROLOGUES, and Epilogues, as well for my own Plays as those of other Poets, being all Humerous and Comical. VOL IV.
• Vol. 5 – Songs Compleat, Pleasant and Divertive; Set to Musick by Dr. John Blow, Mr. Henry Purcell, and other Excellent Masters of the Town. Ending with some ORATIONS, made and spoken by me several times upon the Publick Stage in the Theater. Together with some Copies of VERSES, PROLOGUES, and Epilogues, as well for my own Plays as those of other Poets, being all Humerous and Comical. VOL V.
• Vol. 6 – Wit and Mirth: Pills to Purge Melancholy; Being A Collection of the best Merry BALLADS and SONGS, Old and New. Fitted to all Humours, having each their proper TUNE for either Voice, or Instrument: Most of the SONGS being new Set. The Sixth and Last VOL.

Publications using VolumesVolumes

1 – Published 1719 – London:Thomas Pearson, 360 pp.

2 – Published 1719 – London:Thomas Pearson, 348 pp.

3 – Published 1719 – London:Thomas Pearson, 352 pp.

4 – Published 1719 – London:Thomas Pearson, 352 pp.

5 – Published 1719 – London:Thomas Pearson, 352 pp.

6 – Published 1720 – London:Thomas Pearson, 373 pp.

External websites:

• Scans of all volumes from Scottish National Library

Works at CPDL

Volume 1 (1719)

Title	Composer	Page	First Line	Lyricist	Genre	Subgenre	Vo.	Voices
A ditty on a high amour at St. James	Anonymous	14	Great lord frog to lady mouse		Secular	Partsongs	4	SSAA