Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE MESSAGE, FR. THE FAIR MAID OF THE EXCHANGE, by THOMAS HEYWOOD


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE MESSAGE, FR. THE FAIR MAID OF THE EXCHANGE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Ye little birds that sit and sing
Last Line: Return with pleasant warblings.
Variant Title(s): To Phyliss;song
Subject(s): Birds; Love


YE little birds that sit and sing
Amidst the shady valleys,
And see how Phyllis sweetly walks
Within her garden-alleys;
Go, pretty birds, about her bower;
Sing, pretty birds, she may not lower;
Ah me! methinks I see her frown!
Ye pretty wantons, warble.

Go tell her through your chirping bills,
As you by me are bidden,
To her is only known my love,
Which from the world is bidden.
Go, pretty birds, and tell her so;
See that your notes strain not too low,
For still methinks I see her frown;
Ye pretty wantons, warble.

Go tune your voices' harmony
And sing, I am her lover;
Strain loud and sweet, that every note
With sweet content may move her:
And she that hath the sweetest voice,
Tell her I will not change my choice:
--Yet still methinks I see her frown!
Ye pretty wantons, warble.

O fly! make haste! see, see, she falls
Into a pretty slumber!
Sing round about her rosy bed
That waking she may wonder.
Say to her, 'tis her lover true
That sendeth love to you, to you;
And when you hear her kind reply
Return with pleasant warblings.





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