I will gather flowers, my Corydon,
                      To set in thy cap.
       Cor.   I will gather pears, my lovely one,
                      To put in thy lap.
       Phyl.   I will buy my true love garters gay,
                      For Sundays, for Sundays,
                         To wear about his legs so tall.
       Cor.   I will buy my true love yellow say,¹
                      For Sundays, for Sundays,
                         To wear about her middle small.

       Phyl.   When my Corydon sits on a hill
                      Making melody—
       Cor.   When my lovely one goes to her wheel,
                      Singing cheerily—
       Phyl.   Sure methinks my true love doth excel
                      For sweetness, for sweetness,
                         Our Pan, that old Arcadian knight.
       Cor.   And methinks my true love bears the bell
                      For clearness, for clearness,
                         Beyond the nymphs that be so bright.

       Phyl.   Had my Corydon, my Corydon,
                      Been, alack! her swain—
       Cor.   Had my lovely one, my lovely one,
                      Been in Ida plain—
       Phyl.   Cynthia Endymion had refused,
                      Preferring, preferring,
                         My Corydon to play withal.
       Cor.   The Queen of Love had been excused
                      Bequeathing, bequeathing,
                         My Phyllida the golden ball.

       Phyl.   Yonder comes my mother, Corydon!
                      Whither shall I fly?
       Cor.   Under yonder beech, my lovely one,
                      While she passeth by.
       Phyl.   Say to her thy true love was not here;
                      Remember, remember,
                         To-morrow is another day.
       Cor.   Doubt me not, my true love, do not fear;
                      Farewell then, farewell then!
                         Heaven keep our loves alway!

66   A Pedlar

John Dowland’s Second Book of
   Songs or Airs, 1600

FINE knacks for ladies! cheap, choice, brave, and new,
    Good pennyworths—but money cannot move:
I keep a fair but for the Fair to view—
    A beggar may be liberal of love.
Though all my wares be trash, the heart is true,
                                        The heart is true.

Great gifts are guiles and look for gifts again;
    My trifles come as treasures from my mind:
It is a precious jewel to be plain;
    Sometimes in shell the orient’st pearls we find:—
Of others take a sheaf, of me a grain!
                                                  Of me a grain!

67   Hey nonny no!

Christ Church MS.

HEY nonny no!
Men are fools that wish to die!
Is’t not fine to dance and sing
When the bells of death do ring?
Is’t not fine to swim in wine,
And turn upon the toe,
And sing hey nonny no!
When the winds blow and the seas flow?
Hey nonny no!

68   Heart’s Music

Campian’s First Book of Airs

    TUNE thy music to thy heart;
Sing thy joy with thanks, and so thy sorrow.
    Though devotion needs not art,
Sometime of the poor the rich may borrow.
    Strive not yet for curious ways;
Concord pleaseth more the less ’tis strainàed.
    Zeal affects not outward praise,
Only strives to show a love unfeignàed.
    Love can wondrous things effect,
Sweetest sacrifice all wrath appeasing.
    Love the Highest doth respect;
Love alone to Him is ever pleasing.

69   Preparations

Christ Church MS.

YET if His Majesty, our sovereign lord,
Should of his own accord
Friendly himself invite,
And say ‘I’ll be your guest to-morrow night,’
How should we stir ourselves, call and command
All hands to work! ‘Let no man idle stand!