Song Meaning
This pastoral plea urges Corydon to reconsider his despair, framing his heartbreak not as a fatal blow but as a lover's game. The narrator dismisses the idea of dying, questioning the severity of a heart "slain" and a love that is merely "flying." It’s a gentle chiding, suggesting Corydon’s pain is perhaps exaggerated or at least manageable.
The central tension lies in the paradoxical nature of the beloved, the "Nymph." She is described as "light and shadow-like," embodying elusiveness and an almost playful cruelty. The lyrics suggest her power over Corydon is conditional, dependent entirely on his reaction to her.
The most striking craft element is the direct, almost proverbial advice given in the final lines: "For if thou follow her, she'll fly from thee / But if thou fly from her, she'll follow thee." This perfectly encapsulates the nymph's capricious behavior and offers a clear, albeit potentially manipulative, strategy for Corydon to regain control.
These lyrics resonate because they tap into the universal experience of unrequited or difficult love, presenting a clever, almost witty solution to a common heartache. The advice is both practical and poetic, offering a way out of despair through a simple shift in perspective and action.
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