Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/138

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With that the shepherd waked from sleeping, And spying where the day was peeping, He said, 'Now take my soul in keeping,

My sweetest dear!

Kiss me and take my soul in keeping, Since I must go, now day is near.'

��NICHOLAS BRETON 82 Phillida and Condon

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��r N the merry month of May, In a morn by break of day, Forth I walk'd by the wood-side When as May was in his pride. There I spied all alone Phillida and Condon. 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. He said, He had loved her long; She said, Love should have no wrong. Coridon 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 loved a truer youth. Thus with many a pretty oath, Yea and nay, and faith and troth,

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