English Poetry I: From Chaucer to Gray.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14. |
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| 64. Paris and Œnone |
| | | George Peele (1558–1597) |
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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. | |
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Paris.
Fair and fair, and twice so fair, | 5 |
| As fair as any may be; | |
| Thy love is fair for thee alone, | |
| And for no other lady. | |
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Œnone.
My love is fair, my love is gay, | |
| As fresh as bin the flowers in May, | 10 |
| And of my love my roundelay, | |
| My merry, merry, merry roundelay. | |
| Concludes with Cupid’s curse,— | |
| ‘They that do change old love for new | |
| Pray gods they change for worse!’ | 15 |
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Ambo Simul.
They that do change old love for new, | |
| Pray gods they change for worse! | |
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Œnone.
Fair and fair, etc. | |
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Paris.
Fair and fair, etc. | |
| Thy love is fair, etc. | 20 |
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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 Cupid’s curse,— | 25 |
| ‘They that do change,’ etc. | |
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Paris.
They that do change, etc. | |
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Ambo.
Fair and fair, etc. | |
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