Englands Helicon. Or The Muses harmony.

¶Astrophell his Song of Phillida and Coridon.

FAire in a morne, (O fairest morne) was neuer morne so faire: There shone a Sunne, though not the Sunne, that shineth in the ayre. For 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, (O blessed hill, was neuer hill so blessed) There stoode a man, (was neuer man for woman so distressed.) This man beheld a heauenly view, which did such vertue giue: As cleares the blinde, and helps the lame, and makes the dead man liue. This man had hap, (O 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, (O gracious guest) to hap on such a face. He pitty cried, 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 forth, to heare the Shepheards sing. But such a Song sung neuer was, nor shall be sung againe: Of Phillida the Shepheards Queene, and Coridon the Swaine. Faire Phillis is the Shepheards Queene, (was neuer such a Queene as shee,) 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 constant'st faith, that euer yet kept Flock in fold. Sweet Phillis is the sweetest sweet, that euer yet the earth did yeeld: And Coridon the kindest Swaine, that euer yet kept Lambs in field. Sweet Philomell is Phillis bird, though Coridon be he that caught her: And Coridon doth heare her sing, though Phillida be she that taught her. Poore Coridon doth keepe the fields, though Phillida be she that owes them: And Phillida doth 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 Shepheards onely Queene:

And Coridon the onely Swaine, that onely hath her Shepheard beene. Though Phillis keepe her bower of state, shall Coridon consume away? No Shepheard no, worke out the weeke, and Sunday shall be holy-day

FINIS.

N. Breton.