Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
Nicholas Breton. 1542162673. Phillida and Coridon
IN the merry month of May, | |
In a morn by break of day, | |
Forth I walk’d by the wood-side | |
When as May was in his pride: | |
There I spièd all alone | 5 |
Phillida and Coridon. | |
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. | 10 |
He said, He had loved her long; | |
She said, Love should have no wrong. | |
Coridon would kiss her then; | |
She said, Maids must kiss no men | |
Till they did for good and all; | 15 |
Then she made the shepherd call | |
All the heavens to witness truth | |
Never loved a truer youth. | |
Thus with many a pretty oath, | |
Yea and nay, and faith and troth, | 20 |
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, | 25 |
Was made the Lady of the May. |