The Works in Verse and Prose of Nicholas Breton For the First Time Collected and Edited: With Memorial-Introduction, Notes and Illustrations, Glossarial Index, Facsimilies, &c. By the Rev. Alexander B. Grosart. In Two Volumes |
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Astrophell his Song of Phillida and Coridon. |
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 | The Works in Verse and Prose of Nicholas Breton |  |
Astrophell his Song of Phillida and Coridon.
Faire in a morne, (ô fairest morne)was neuer morne so faire:
There shone a Sunne, though not the Sunne,
that shineth in the ayre.
For of the earth, and from the earth,
(was neuer such a creature:)
Did come this face, (was neuer face,)
that carried such a feature.
Vpon a hill, (ô blessed hill,
was neuer hill so blessèd)
There stoode a man, (was neuer man
for woman so distressèd)
This man beheld a heauenly view,
which did such vertue giue:
As cleares the blind, and helps the lame,
and makes the dead man liue.
This man had hap, (ô happy man
more happy none then hee;)
For he had hap to see the hap,
that none had hap to see.
This silly Swaine, (and silly Swaines
are men of meanest grace:)
Had yet the grace, (ô gracious guest)
to hap on such a face.
He pitty cryed, and pitty came,
and pittied so his paine:
As dying, would not let him die,
but gaue him life againe.
For ioy whereof he made such mirth,
as all the woods did ring:
And Pan with all his Swaines came foorth,
to heare the Sheepheard sing.
But such a Song sung neuer was,
nor shall be sung againe:
Of Phillida the Sheepheards Queene,
and Coridon the Swaine.
Faire Phillis is the Sheepheards Queene,
(was neuer such a Queene as she,)
And Coridon her onely Swaine,
(was neuer such a Swaine as he)
Faire Phillis hath the fairest face,
that euer eye did yet behold:
And Coridon the constants faith,
that euer yet kept flocke in fold.
Sweete Phillis is the sweetest sweete,
that euer yet the earth did yeeld:
And Coridon the kindest Swaine,
that euer yet kept Lambs in field.
Sweete Philomell is Phillis bird,
though Coridon be he that caught her:
And Coridon dooth heare her sing,
though Phillida be she that taught her.
Poore Coridon dooth keepe the fields,
though Phillida be she that owes them:
And Phillida dooth walke the Meades,
though Coridon be he that mowes them.
The little Lambs are Phillis loue,
though Coridon is he that feedes them:
The Gardens faire are Phillis ground,
though Coridon be he that weedes them.
Since then that Phillis onely is,
the onely Sheepheards onely Queene:
And Coridon the onely Swaine,
that onely hath her Sheepheard beene.
Though Phillis keepe her bower of state,
shall Coridon consume away:
No Sheepheard no, worke out the weeke,
and Sunday shall be holy-day.
N. Breton.
| The Works in Verse and Prose of Nicholas Breton | |