Love

Corydon's Farewell to Phillis

by Anonymous (English and Scottish Ballads) traditional; texts recorded c. 15th–18th century

From Percy, Reliques of Ancient English Poetry (1765)

Love

Farewell, dear love; since thou wilt needs be gone,
Mine eyes do shew, my life is almost done.
Nay I will never die, so long as I can spie
There be many mo, though that she doe goe,
There be many mo, I fear not:
Why then let her goe, I care not.

Farewell, farewell; since this I find is true,
I will not spend more time in wooing you:
But I will seek elsewhere, if I may find love there:
Shall I bid her goe? what and if I doe?
Shall I bid her goe and spare not?
O no, no, no, I dare not.

Ten thousand times farewell;--yet stay a while:--
Sweet, kiss me once; sweet kisses time beguile:
I have no power to move. How now am I in love?
Wilt thou needs be gone? Go then, all is one.
Wilt thou needs be gone? Oh, hie thee!
Nay stay, and do no more deny me.

Once more adieu, I see loath to depart
Bids oft adieu to her, that holds my heart.
But seeing I must lose thy love, which I did choose,
Goe thy way for me, since that may not be.
Goe thy ways for me. But whither?
Goe, oh, but where I may come thither.

What shall I doe? my love is now departed.
She is as fair, as she is cruel-hearted.
She would not be intreated, with prayers oft repeated,
If she come no more, shall I die therefore?
If she come no more, what care I?
Faith, let her goe, or come, or tarry.

✦ ✦ ✦

Percy prints it from the old miscellany The Golden Garland of Princely Delights; Sir Toby quotes it in Twelfth Night.

MLA

Anonymous (English and Scottish Ballads). “Corydon's Farewell to Phillis.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-english-scottish-ballads/237/.

Chicago

Anonymous (English and Scottish Ballads). “Corydon's Farewell to Phillis.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-english-scottish-ballads/237/.

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