Thomas Humphry Ward, ed. The English Poets. 1880–1918.rnVol. I. Early Poetry: Chaucer to Donne

Elizabethan Miscellanies

From England’s Helicon: Phillida and Corydon (Nicolas Breton)

IN the merry month of May,

In a morn by break of day,

Forth I walked by the wood-side,

When as May was in his pride:

There I spied all alone

Phillida and Corydon.

Much ado there was, God wot,

He would love and she would not.

She said never man was true,

He said, none was false to you.

He said, he had lov’d her long,

She said, Love should have no wrong.

Corydon would kiss her then,

She said, maids must kiss no men,

Till they did for good and all:

Then she made the shepherd call

All the heavens to witness truth:

Never lov’d a truer youth.

Thus with many a pretty oath,

Yea and nay, and faith and troth,

Such as silly shepherds use

When they will not Love abuse,

Love which had been long deluded,

Was with kisses sweet concluded,

And Phillida with garlands gay,

Was made the lady of the May.