Madrigals to three, four, and five parts

In the merry month of May,
On a morn by break of day,
Forth I walk’d by the wood-side,
Whereas May was in her pride:
There I spyèd all alone
Phillida and Corydon.
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.[Pg 58]
He said, he had loved her long;
She said, Love should have no wrong.
Corydon would kiss her then;
She said, maids must kiss no men
Till they did for good and all;
Then she made the shepherd call
All the heavens to witness truth
Never lov’d a truer youth.
Thus with many a pretty oath,
Yea and nay, and faith and troth,
Such as seely shepherds use
When they will not love abuse,
Love, which had been long deluded,
Was with kisses sweet concluded;
And Phillida with garlands gay
Was made the Lady of the May.

My hope a counsel with my heart
  Hath long desired to be,
And marvels much so dear a friend
  Is not retain’d by me.

She doth condemn my haste
  In passing the estate
Of my whole life into their hands
  Who nought repays but hate:

And not sufficed with this, she says,
  I did release the right
Of my enjoyèd liberties
  Unto your beauteous sight.