Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, PHYLLIDA AND CORYDON, by NICHOLAS BRETON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

PHYLLIDA AND CORYDON, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: In the merry month of may
Last Line: Was made the lady of the may.
Variant Title(s): Pastoral;the Ploughman's Song;phillida And Corydon
Subject(s): Courtship; Love


IN the merry month of May,
In a morn by break of day,
With a troop of damsels playing
Forth I rode, forsooth, a-maying,
When anon by a woodside,
Where as May was in his pride,
I espied, 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 says, "None was false to you."
He said he had loved her long:
She says, "Love should have no wrong."
Corydon he would kiss her then.
She says, "Maids must kiss no men
Till they do 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.




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