X. PHILLIDA AND CORYDON.
[_]
This Sonnet is given from a small quarto MS in the
editor's possession, written in the time of Q. Elizabeth. Another
Copy of it, containing some variations, is reprinted in
the Muses Library p. 295. from an ancient miscellany,
intitled England's Helicon 1600. 4to. The author was
Nicholas Breton, a writer of some fame in the reign of
Elizabeth; who also published an interlude intitled “An
old man's lesson and a young man's love.” 1605. 4to. and
many other little pieces in prose and verse, the titles of which
may be seen in Winstanley, Ames' Typog. and Osborne's Harl.
catalog. &c.—He is mentioned with great respect by Meres,
in his 2d pt of Wit's Common-wealth. 1598. f. 283. and
is alluded to in Beaumont and Fletcher's Scornful Lady,
Act 2. and again in Wit without money, A. 3.
—See Whalley's Ben Jonson, vol. 3. p. 103.
Phillida and Corydon is one of the Songs in “The
Honourable Entertainment gieven to the Queenes Majestie
in Progresse at Elvetham in Hampshire, by the R. H. the
Earle of Hertford. 1591.” 4to. [Printed by Wolfe. No name of author.] See in that pamphlet,
“The thirde daies Entertainment.
“On Wednesday morning about 9 o' clock, as her Majestie
opened a casement of her gallerie window, ther were 3 excellent
musitians, who being disguised in auncient country
attire, did greet her with a pleasant song of Corydon
and Phillida, made in 3 parts of purpose. The song,
as well for the worth of the dittie, as the aptnesse of
the note thereto applied, it pleased her Highnesse after
it had been once sung to commend it againe, and highly to
grace it with her cheerefull acceptance and commendation.
“The Plowman's Song.
In the merrie month of May, &c.”
The Splendour and Magnificence of Elizabeth's reign is no
where more strongly painted than in these little Diaries of
some of her summer excursions to the houses of her nobility;
nor could a more acceptable present be given to the world, than
a republication of a select number of such details as this of the
entertainment at Elvetham, that at Killingworth,
&c. &c. which so strongly mark the spirit of the times and
present us with scenes so very remote from modern manners.
In the merrie moneth of Maye,
In a morne by break of daye,
With a troope of damselles playing
Forthe ‘I yode’ forsooth a maying:
When anon by a wood fide,
Where that Maye was in his pride,
I espied all alone
Phillida and Corydon.
Muche adoe there was, god wot;
He wold love, and she wold not:
She sayde, never man was trewe;
He sayes, never false to you.
He sayde, hee had lovde her longe:
She sayes, love should have no wronge.
Corydon wold kisse her then:
She sayes, maydes must kisse no men,
Tyll they doe for good and all:
When she made the shepperde call
All the heavens to wytnes truthe,
Never loved a truer youthe.
Then with manie a prettie othe,
Yea and nay, and, faith and trothe;
Suche as seelie shepperdes use
When they would not love abuse;
Love, that had bene long deluded,
Was with kisses sweete concluded;
And the mayde with garlands gaye
‘Crownde’ the lady of the Maye.
