41. 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 spièd 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.