Love
Tityrus to his fair Phyllis
From England's Helicon (1600), ed. A. H. Bullen (1887)
The silly swain whose love breeds discontent.
Thinks death a trifle, life a loathsome thing,
Sad he looks, sad he lies;
But when his fortune's malice doth relent,
Then of Love's sweetness he will sweetly sing;
Thus he lives, thus he dies.
Then Tityrus whom Love hath happy made.
Will rest thrice happy in this myrtle shade;
For though Love at first did grieve him.
Yet did Love at last relieve him.
Codex Note
Signed "I. D." in England's Helicon. Bullen notes that this poem and the two signed "I. M." are all by John Dickenson, from The Shepherds Complaint (c. 1594).
Cite this poem
MLA
Dickenson, John. “Tityrus to his fair Phyllis.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/dickenson_j/0/.
Chicago
Dickenson, John. “Tityrus to his fair Phyllis.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/dickenson_j/0/.
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