With lullaby now take thine ease, Thus lullaby my youth, mine eyes, But welcome pain, let pleasure pass. George Gascoigne [1525?-1577] PHILLIDA AND CORIDON IN the merry month of May, In a morn by break of day, Much ado there was, God wot! He said, He had loved her long; She said, Love should have no wrong. She said, Maids must kiss no men Till they did for good and all; All the heavens to witness truth Yea and nay, and faith and troth, 1 "It Was a Lover and His Lass" Love, which had been long deluded, 717 Nicholas Breton [1545?-1626?] "CRABBED AGE AND YOUTH” From "The Passionate Pilgrim " CRABBED Age and Youth Youth like summer morn, Youth is full of sport, Age's breath is short; Youth is nimble, Age is lame; Age is weak and cold; Youth is wild, and Age is tame. Age, I do abhor thee; Youth, I do adore thee; O, my Love, my Love is young! Age, I do defy thee: O, sweet shepherd, hie thee!' For methinks thou stay'st too long. William Shakespeare [1564-1616] "IT WAS A LOVER AND HIS LASS" From "As You Like It " It was a lover and his lass, With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino, That o'er the green corn-field did pass, In the spring time, the only pretty ring time, When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding; Sweet lovers love the spring. Between the acres of the rye, With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino, These pretty country folks would lie, In the spring time, the only pretty ring time, When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding; Sweet lovers love the spring. This carol they began that hour, With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino, How that life was but a flower In the spring time, the only pretty ring time, When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding; Sweet lovers love the spring. And, therefore, take the present time With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino, For love is crowned with the prime In the spring time, the only pretty ring time, When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding; Sweet lovers love the spring. William Shakespeare [1564-1616] "I LOVED A LASS" I LOVED a lass, a fair one, But, fool as then I was, I thought she loved me too: Her hair like gold did glister, Which passed all others far; In summer time or winter To maidens' vows and swearing You may give them the hearing, Unconstant, frail, untrue: T George Wither [1588-1667] TO CHLORIS Ан, Chloris! that I now could sit Your charms in harmless childhood lay Than youth concealed in thine. My passion with your beauty grew, Threw a new flaming dart: Each gloried in their wanton part; To make a lover, he Employed the utmost of his art To make a beauty, she. Charles Sedley [1639?–1701] SONG THE merchant, to secure his treasure, My softest verse, my darling lyre, Upon Euphelia's toilet lay; When Chloe noted her desire That I should sing, that I should play. |