Charon: this song marks Dioclesian’s killing the villain Aper (the Boar), as prophesied by Delphia the prophetess. The song strangely implies that the Boar is nevertheless to be granted proper funerary observance.

The Yorkshire Feast of 1690 had to be postponed because of the change in the Monarchy. James II had recently fled the country and William and Mary were crowned as joint monarchs. Thomas D’Urfey’s words convey this upturn in events with appropriate loyal sentiments.

“Why, why shou...