Corydon and Phyllis

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Barry Taylor
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The word to this song were a published in Poems by Persons of Honour and Quality (1705). The poem was set to music in Thomas D'Urfey's Pills to Purge Melancholy, III, 1707. These are the words that appeared in a 1719 volume of Pills to Purge Melancholy with the title "A Song: Set by Mr. Clarke."

The poem is sometimes attributed to Sir Charles Sedley (1639-1701). Sedley was a prominent member of a group of wits (called the "Merry Gang") in Charles II's court. Sedley wrote several plays between 1668-1687, but is best known for his lyrics and translations. Later in life he sat in Parliament earning a reputation as a serious legislator.

The music is not the exact music from Pills. I repeated a line to make them fit one another better. The line in parenthesis is not in the original words.

 Young Coridon and Phillis
Sate in a lovely Grove;
Contriving Crowns of Lillies,
Repeating Tales of Love:
And something else, but what I dare not name.
(And something else, but what I dare not name.)

But as they were a Playing,
She oagled so the Swain;
It sav'd her plainly saying,
Let's kiss to ease our Pain;
And something else, but what I dare not name.
(And something else, but what I dare not name.)

A thousand times he kiss'd her,
Laying her on the green:
But as he farther press'd her,
Her pretty Leg was seen:
And something else, but what I dare not name.
(And something else, but what I dare not name.)

So many Beauties removing,
His Ardour still increas'd
And greater Joys pursuing,
He wander'd o'er her Breast:
And something else, but what I dare not name.
(And something else, but what I dare not name.)

A last Effort she trying,
His Passion to withstand;
Cry'd, but it was faintly crying,
Pray take away your Hand:
And something else, but what I dare not name.
(And something else, but what I dare not name.)

Young Coridon grown bolder,
The Minute would improve;
This is the Time he told her,
To shew you how I love;
And something else, but what I dare not name.
(And something else, but what I dare not name.)

The Nymph seem'd almost dying,
Dissolv'd in amorous Heat;
She kiss'd, and told him sighing,
My Dear your Love is great:
And something else, but what I dare not name.
(And something else, but what I dare not name.)

But Phillis did recover
Much sooner than the Swain;
She blushing ask'd her Lover,
Shall we not Kiss again:
And something else, but what I dare not name.
(And something else, but what I dare not name.)

Thus Love his Revels keeping,
'Till Nature at a stand;
From talk they fell to Sleeping,
Holding each others Hand;
And something else, but what I dare not name.
(And something else, but what I dare not name.)
Related Links
Information From A thread at the Digital Tradition Forum And "Sedley, Sir Charles, 4th Baronet" Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
http://www.eb.com:195/bol/topic?eu=68281&sctn=1
[Accessed 11 August 1999].