Nicholas Breton
| Between 1575 and his death Nicholas Breton published over 30 individual collections of verse, three prose fictions and at least 25 pamphlets and miscellaneous works. |
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 spied all alone
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.
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.
Now for another piece by Nicholas Breton with a rather lengthy title!
In a morn by break of day,
Forth I walk'd by the wood-side
When as May was in his pride:
There I spied all alone
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.
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.
Now for another piece by Nicholas Breton with a rather lengthy title!
| A Report Song In A Dream, Between A Shepherd And His Nymph |
| Shall we go dance the hay? _The hay?_ Never pipe could ever play Better shepherd's roundelay. Shall we go sing the song? _The song?_ Never Love did ever wrong. Fair maids, hold hands all along. Shall we go learn to woo? _To woo?_ Never thought came ever to[o](?) Better deed could better do. Shall we go learn to kiss? _To kiss?_ Never heart could ever miss Comfort where true meaning is. Thus at base they run, _They run,_ When the sport was scarce begun; But I waked, and all was done. |
