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1558?-1597
Œnone. FAIR and fair, and twice so fair,
As fair as any may be;
The fairest shepherd on our green,
A love for any lady.
Paris. Fair and fair, and twice so fair,
As fair as any may be;
Thy love is fair for thee alone
And for no other lady.
Œnone. My
love is fair, my love is gay,
As
fresh as bin the flowers in May
And
of my love my roundelay,
My
merry, merry, merry roundelay,
Concludes
with Cupids curse,
They
that do change old love for new
Pray
gods they change for worse!
Ambo Simul. They that do change old love for new,
Pray gods they change for worse!
Œnone. Fair and fair, etc.
Paris. Fair and fair, etc.
Thy love is fair, etc.
Œnone. My love can pipe, my love can sing,
My love can many a pretty thing,
And of his lovely praises ring
My merry, merry, merry roundelays
Amen to Cupids curse,
They that do change, etc.
Paris. They that do change, etc.
Ambo. Fair and fair, etc.
WHEN as the rye reach to the chin,
And chopcherry, chopcherry ripe within,
Strawberries swimming in the cream,
And school-boys playing in the stream;
Then O, then O, then O my true love said,
Till that time come again,
She could not live a maid.
(TO QUEEN ELIZABETH)
HIS golden locks Time hath to silver turnd;
O Time too swift, O swiftness never ceasing!
His youth gainst time and age hath ever spurnd,
But spurnd in vain; youth waneth by increasing:
Beauty, strength, youth, are flowers but fading seen;
Duty, faith, love, are roots, and ever green.
His helmet now shall make a hive for bees;
And, lovers sonnets turnd to holy psalms,
A man-at-arms must now serve on his knees,
And feed on prayers, which are Age his alms:
But though from court to cottage he depart,
His Saint is sure of his unspotted heart.
And when he saddest sits in homely cell,
Hell teach his swains this carol for a song,
Blest be the hearts that wish my sovereign well.
Curst be the souls that think her any wrong.
Goddess, allow this agàed man his right
To be your beadsman now that was your knight.
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