| Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900. |
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| Nicholas Breton. 1542–1626 |
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| 73. Phillida and Coridon |
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| 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 | 5 |
| 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. | 10 |
| 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; | 15 |
| 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, | 20 |
| 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, | 25 |
| Was made the Lady of the May. | |
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