Phillida and Corydon

Nicholas Breton (1545–1626)

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 espièd, 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.