Volume Ii Part 58 (1/2)
PHILLIDA AND CORIDON
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 Coridon.
Much ado there was, G.o.d 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 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; 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, 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.
Nicholas Breton [1545?-1626?]
”CRABBED AGE AND YOUTH”
From ”The Pa.s.sionate Pilgrim”
Crabbed Age and Youth Cannot live together: Youth is full of pleasance, Age is full of care; Youth like summer morn, Age like winter weather; Youth like summer brave, Age like winter bare.
Youth is full of sport, Age's breath is short; Youth is nimble, Age is lame; Youth is hot and bold, Age is weak and cold; Youth is wild, and Age is tame.
Age, I do abhor thee; Youth, I do adore thee; O, my Love, my Love is young!
Age, I do defy thee: O, sweet shepherd, hie thee!
For methinks thou stay'st too long.
William Shakespeare [1564-1616]
”IT WAS A LOVER AND HIS La.s.s”
From ”As You Like It”
It was a lover and his la.s.s, With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino, That o'er the green corn-field did pa.s.s, In the spring time, the only pretty ring time, When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding; Sweet lovers love the spring.
Between the acres of the rye, With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino, These pretty country folks would lie, In the spring time, the only pretty ring time, When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding; Sweet lovers love the spring.
This carol they began that hour, With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino, How that life was but a flower In the spring time, the only pretty ring time, When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding; Sweet lovers love the spring.
And, therefore, take the present time With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino, For love is crowned with the prime In the spring time, the only pretty ring time, When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding; Sweet lovers love the spring.
William Shakespeare [1564-1616]