Classic Poem

Phillida Flouts Me

Oh, what a plague is love! How shall I bear it?
She will unconstant prove, I greatly fear it.
She so molests my mind, that my wit faileth.
She wavers with the wind, as the ship saileth.
Please her the best I may,
She looks another way.
Alack and well-a-day!
Phyllida flouts me.

At the fair, yesterday, she would not see me,
But turned another way, when she came nigh me.
Dick had her in to dine; he might intreat her.
Will had her to the wine; I could not get her.
With Daniel did she dance;
At me she looked askance.
O thrice unhappy chance!
Phyllida flouts me.

I cannot work and sleep, both at all season:
Love wounds my heart so deep, without all reason.
I do consume, alas! with care and sorrow,
Even like a sort of beasts pinde in a meadow.
I shall be dead, I fear,
Within this thousand year;
And all for very care:
Phyllida flouts me.

She hath a clout of mine, wrought with good coventry,
Which she keeps for a sign of my fidelity;
But, in faith, if she flinch, she shall not wear it;
To Tib, my t'other wench, I mean to bear it.
Yet it will kill my heart
So quickly to depart.
Death, kill me with thy dart!
Phyllida flouts me.

Yesternight, very late, as I was walking,
I saw one in the gate, with my love talking.
Every word that she spoke, he gave her kissing,
Which she as kindly took as mother's blessing.
But when I come to kiss,
She very dainty is.
Oh, what a hell is this!
Phyllida flouts me.

Fair maid, be not so coy, never disdain me!
I am my mother's boy; sweet, entertain me!
She'll give me, when she dies, all things befitting:
Her poultry and her bees, with her goose sitting,
A pair of mattress beds,
A barrel full of shreds,--
And yet, for all my goods,
Phyllida flouts me.

I saw my face, of late, in a fair fountain;
I know there's none so feat, in all the mountain.
Lasses do leave their sheep and flock above me,
And for my love do weep, and fain would have me.
Maidens in every place
Strive to behold my face;
And yet--O heavy case!--
Phyllida flouts me.

Maiden, look what you do, and in time take me!
I can have other two, if you forsake me:
For Doll, the dairy-maid, laughed on me lately,
And wanton Winifred favours me greatly.
One threw milk on my clothes;
T'other plays with my nose:
What loving signs be those!
Phyllida flouts me.

Come to me, pretty peat, let me embrace thee!
Though thou be fair and feat, do not disgrace me;
For I will constant prove (make no denial!)
And be thy dearest love-- proof maketh trial.
If ought do breed thy pain,
I can procure thy gain;
Yet, bootless, I complain--
Phyllida flouts me.

Thou shalt eat curds and cream, all the year lasting;

And drink the crystal stream, pleasant in tasting;
Whig and whey whilst thou burst, and bramble-berries,
Pie-lids and pasty-crust, pears, plums, and cherries.
Thy garments shall be thin,
Made of a wether's skin--
Yet all not worth a pin!--
Phyllida flouts me.

I found a stock-dove's nest, and thou shalt have it.
The cheese-cake, in my chest, for thee I save it.
I will give thee rush-rings, key-nobs and cushnets,
Pence, purse, and other things, bells, beads, and bracelets.
My sheep-hook, and my dog,
My bottle, and my bag--
Yet all not worth a rag!
Phyllida flouts me.

Thy glorious beauty's gleam dazzles my eyesight,
Like the sun's brightest beam shining at midnight.
O my heart! O my heels! Fie on all wenches!
Pluck up thy courage, Giles; bang him that flinches!
Back to thy sheep again,
Thou silly shepherd's swain;
Thy labour is in vain!
Phyllida flouts me.English