¶ Of Phillida. +For the music for this lyric, see Musical Settings . Author: attributed to William Byrd. Structure (May/Ringler): 14: ss
A S I beheld, I saw a Heardman wilde, with his sheepe-hooke a picture fine deface: Which he sometime his fancie to beguilecharm, divert, amuse , had caru’d on bark of Beech in secret place. (5) And with despightthe contempt of most afflicted minde, through deepe dispaire of heart, for loue dismaid: He pull’d euen from the tree the carued rindebark , and weeping sorepainfully , these wofull words he said. Ah Phillida, would God thy picture faire, (10) I could as lightly blot out of my brest: Then should I not thus rage in deepe dispaire, and teare the thing sometime I liked best. But all in vaine, it booteth not God wotGod knows to what advantage it is : What printed is in heart, on tree to blot.
FINIS. Out of M. Birds set Songs.
¶ Melisea her Song, in scorne of her Sheepheard Narcissus. +Printed in Yong, Diana (1598), p. 473. Prefaced by ‘ Melisea , who was all this while dauncing against her will with Narcissus , whom she could not abide, with a disdainfull song thought to be reuenged on this griefe, and iust to the purpose of those paines and griefes, wherewith the Shepherd said he died euerie daie for her sake, making but a mocke and iest of them, did sing thus.’ Answered by ‘His answer to the nymph’s song’ *. Author: Bartholomew Yong. Structure (May/Ringler): 12: 1×4, 1×4, 1×4, a8b6a8b6, abab10
Y Oung Shepheard turne a-side, and moue Me not to follow thee: For I will neither kill with loue, Nor loue shall not kill me.