For priefeproof thereof my death shall weepe, and moane with many a mocke. +derision, although as McCabe notes ‘playing on the dual senses of ridicule and (empathetic) imitation’, Spenser Shorter Poems , p. 551 So learn’d I loue on a holy-Eue, (70) hey hoe holy-day: That euer since my heart did grieue, now endeth our Roundelay.
FINIS. Edm. Spencer.
¶ Phillida and Coridon. +The shepherdess, Phyllida or Phyllis, is referred to in Virgil, Eclogues , III, and Corydon in Virgil, Eclogues , VII, see also A pastoral of Phillis and Coridon *; printed in The Honorable Entertainement (1591), sig. D3-3v. The poem was part of the third day’s entertainment and given the title ‘The Plowmans Song’ in the first two editions of the printed account: ‘On Wednesday morning,… as her Maiestie opened a casement of her gallerie window, ther were three excellent Musitians, who being disguised in auncient countrey attire, did greet her with a pleasant song of Coridon and Phyllida, made in three parts of purpose’ (D2v). For the music for this lyric, see Musical Settings . A longer, variant version of this lyric was printed as a broadside ballad and set to the tune ‘Frog Galliard’, see Ballad Tunes Other copies in: L: Add. 34064, c. 1596, f.16; O: Rawl. Poet 85. C. 1590, fol. 3; L: Harley 3991, fol. 81v; L: Add. 52585, fol. 57; O: Don. c. 57, fol. 77; F: V.a.308, fol. 8; H: MS Eng 1495, fol. 16; H: MS Eng 895, fol. 54. Author: Nicholas Breton. Structure (May/Ringler): 26: aa4troch
I N the merry month of May, In a morne by breake of day, Forth I walked by the Wood-side, When as May was in his pride: (5) There I spied all alone, Phillida and Coridon. Much a-doo there was God wotknows , He would loue, and she would not. She said neuer man was true, (10) He said, none was false to you. He said, he had lou’d her long, She said, Loue should haue no wrong. Coridon would kisse her then, She said, Maides must kisse no men, (15) Till they did for good and all. Then she made the Shepheard call All the heauens to witnesse truth: Neuer lou’d a truer Youth. Thus with many a pretty oath, (20) Yea and nay, and faith and troath,
