Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
Anonymous. 158955. The Faithless Shepherdess William Byrd’s Songs of Sundry Natures
WHILE that the sun with his beams hot | |
Scorchèd the fruits in vale and mountain, | |
Philon the shepherd, late forgot, | |
Sitting beside a crystal fountain | |
In shadow of a green oak tree, | 5 |
Upon his pipe this song play’d he: | |
Adieu, Love, adieu, Love, untrue Love! | |
Untrue Love, untrue Love, adieu, Love! | |
Your mind is light, soon lost for new love. | |
So long as I was in your sight | 10 |
I was your heart, your soul, your treasure; | |
And evermore you sobb’d and sigh’d | |
Burning in flames beyond all measure: | |
—Three days endured your love to me, | |
And it was lost in other three! | 15 |
Adieu, Love, adieu, Love, untrue Love! | |
Untrue Love, untrue Love, adieu, Love! | |
Your mind is light, soon lost for new love. | |
Another shepherd you did see, | |
To whom your heart was soon enchainèd; | 20 |
Full soon your love was leapt from me, | |
Full soon my place he had obtainèd. | |
Soon came a third your love to win, | |
And we were out and he was in. | |
Adieu, Love, adieu, Love, untrue Love! | 25 |
Untrue Love, untrue Love, adieu, Love! | |
Your mind is light, soon lost for new love. | |
Sure you have made me passing glad | |
That you your mind so soon removèd, | |
Before that I the leisure had | 30 |
To choose you for my best belovèd: | |
For all my love was pass’d and done | |
Two days before it was begun. | |
Adieu, Love, adieu, Love, untrue Love! | |
Untrue Love, untrue Love, adieu, Love! | 35 |
Your mind is light, soon lost for new love. |