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This Aeglogue is made in imitation of Theocritus his 16. Idilion, wherin he reprooved the Tyranne Hiero of Syracuse for his niggardise towarde Poets, in whom is the power to make men immortall for their good deeds, or shamefull for their naughtie life. And the like also is in Mantuane. The style hereof as also that in Theocritus, is more loftie then the rest, and applyed to the height of Poeticall wit.

Cuddie, I doubt whether by Cuddy be specified the Author selfe, or some other. For in the eight Aeglogue the same person was brought in, singing a Cantion of Colins making, as he saith. So that some doubt, that the persons be different.

Whilome, sometime.

Oaten reedes, Avenæ.

Ligge so layd, lye so faint and unlustie.
Dapper, pretie.

Fry, is a bold Metaphor, forced from the spawning fishes; for the multitude of young fish be called the Frye.

To restraine: This place seemeth to conspire with Plato, who in his first booke de Legibus saith, that the first invention of Poetry was of very vertuous intent. For at what time an infinit number of youth usually came to their great solemne feastes called Panegyrica, which they used every five yeare to hold, some learned man, being more able then the rest for speciall gifts of wit and Musick, would take upon him to sing fine verses to the people, in praise either of vertue or of victorie, or of immortalitie, or such like. At whose wonderfull gift all men being astonied and as it were ravished with delight, thinking (as it was indeed) that he was inspired from above, called him Vatem which kinde of men afterward framing their verses to lighter musicke (as of Musicke there be many kindes, some sadder, some lighter, some martiall, some heroical, and so diversly eke affect the mindes of men.) found out lighter matter of Poesie also, some playing with love, some scorning at mens fashions, some powred out in pleasure: and so were called Poets or makers,

Sense bereave: what the secret working of musick is in the minds of men, as wel appeareth hereby, that some of the auntient Philosophers, and those the most wise, as Plato and Pythagoras, held for opinion, that the minde was made of a certaine harmony and musicall numbers, for the great compassion, and likenesse of affection in th' one and the other, as also by that memorable history of Alexander; to whom whenas Timotheus the great Musi

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tian plaied the Phrygian melody, it is said, that hee was distraught with such unwonted fury, that, straightway rising from the table in great rage, he caused himselfe to be armed, as ready to go to warre, (for that musicke is very warlike.) And immediately when as the Musitian changed his stroke into the Lydian and Ionique harmony, he was so far from warring, that he sat as still, as if he had bin in matters of counsell. Such might is in Musick. Wherfore Plato and Aristotle forbid the Arabian Melody from children and youth. For that being altogither on the fifth and seventh tone, it is of great force to mollifie and quench the kindly courage, which useth to burne in young breasts. So that it is not incredible which the Poet here saith, that Musick can bereave the soule of sense.

The shepheard that, Orpheus: of whom is said, that by his excellent skill in Musick and Poetry, he recovered his wife Eurydice from hell.

Argus eyes: of Argus is before said, that Iuno to him committed her husband Iupiter his Paragon Io, because hee had an hundred eyes; but afterward Mercury, with his Musick luliing Argus asleepe, slue him and brought lo away, whose eyes it is said that Iuno, for his eternall memorie, placed in her byrd the Peacocks taile; for those coloured spots indeed resemble eyes.

Woundlesse armour, unwounded in warre, do rust through long peace.

Display, A Poeticall metaphor, whereof the meaning is, that, if the Poet list shew his skill in matter of more dig. nitie then in the homely Aeglogue, good occasion is him offered of higher veyne and more Heroical argument in the person of our most gratious soveraigne, whom (as before) hee calleth Elisa. Or if matter of knighthood and chivalry please him better, that there be many noble and valiant men, that are both worthy of his paine in theyr deserved praises, and also favourers of his skill and facultie

The Worthy, he meaneth (as I ghesse) the most honourable and renowmed the Earle of Leycester, whom by his cognisance (although the same be also proper to other rather then by his name he bewraieth, being not likely that the names of worldly princes be knowne to countrey clownes.

Slack, that is when thou chaungest thy verse to stately course, to matter of more pleasance and delight.

The Millers, a kinde of daunce.

Ring, companie of dauncers.

The Romish Tityrus, well known to be noble Virgil, who by Mæcenas meanes was brought into the favor of the Emperour Augustus, and by him moved to write in loftier kind then he earst had done,

Whereon. &c. in these three verses are the three severall workes of Virgil intended, for in teaching his flocke to feede, is meant his Aeglogues. In labouring of lands. is his Georgiques. In singing of warres and deadly dread, is his divine Aeneis figured.

In derring do, In manhood and chivalrie

For ever. He sheweth the cause why Poets were wont to bee had in such honour of noble men, that is, that by them their worthinesse and valor should through their famous poesies be commended to all posterities. Wherfore it is said, that Achilles had never beene so famous, as he is, but for Homers immortall verses, which is the onely advantage which hee had of Hector. And also that Alexander the great, comming to his tombe in Sigues, with naturall teares blessed him, that ever it was his hap to be honoured with so excellent a poets worke, as so renowned and ennobled only by his meanes. Which being declared in a most eloquent Oration of Tullies, is of Petrarch no lesse woorthily set forth in a Sonnet.

"Giunto Alessandro a la famosa tomba
"Del fero Achille, sospirando disse:

"O fortunato, che si chiara tromba Trouasti, &c." And that such account hath beene alwaye made of Poets, as well sheweth this, that the worthie Scipio, in all his warres against Carthage and Numantia, had evermore in his companie, and that in most familiar sort, the good olda poet Ennius; as also that Alexander destroying Thebes, when he was enformed, that the famous Lyrick poet Pin

darus was borne in that Citie, not onely commaunded straightly, that no man should, upon paine of death, do any violence to that house, or otherwise: but also specially spared most, and some highly rewarded, that were of his kinne. So favoured he the onely name of a poet, which praise otherwise was in the same man no lesse famous, that when he came to ransacking of king Darius coffers, whom hee lately had overthrowne, he found in a little coffer of silver the two bookes of Homers workes, as laide up there for speciall lewels and riches, which he taking thence, put one of them dayly in his bosome, and the other every night layde under his pillow. Such honour have Poets alwayes found in the sight of Princes and noble men, which this authour here verie well sheweth, as else were more notably.

But after, &c. he sheweth the cause of contempt of poetrie to be idlenesse and basenesse of minde.

Pent, shut up in slouth, as in a coope or cage.

Tom Pyper, an ironicall Sarcasmus, spoken in derision of those rude wits, which make more account of a ryming ribaud then of skill grounded upon learning and iudge

ment.

Ne brest, the meaner sort of mer.

Iler peeced pineons, unperfect skill: Spoken with humble modestie

As soote as swanne: The comparison seemeth to be straunge for the swan hath ever woonne small commendation for her sweete singing: but it is said of the learned, that the Swanne, a litle before her death, singeth most pleasantly, as prophecying by a secrete instinct her neere destinie, as well saith the poet elsewhere in one of his Sonnets.

"The silver Swan doth sing before her dying day,

"As she that feeles the deepe delight that is in death, &c."

Immortall mirrour, Beautie, which is an excellent obiect of poeticall spirits, as appeareth by the worthie Petrarch, saying.

"Fiorir faceva il mio debile ingegno,

"A la sua ombra, et crescer ne gli affanni." A caytive courage, a base and ablect minde.

For loftie love, I thinke this playing with the letter, be rather a fault then a figure, as well in our English tongue, as it hath beene alwayes in the Latin, called Cocozelon. A vacant, imitateth Mantuans saying, “Vacuum curis divina cerebrum Poscit."

Lavish cups,

Resembleth the common verse, "Fæcundi calices quem non fecere disertum."

O if my, &c. he seemeth here to be ravished with a poeticall furie. For (if one rightly marke) the numbers rise so full, and the verse groweth so bigge, that it seemeth he had forgot the meannesse of shepheards state and stile. Wild yvie, for it is dedicate to Bacchus, and therefore it is sayd, that the Mænades (that is Bacchus franticke priests) used in their sacrifice to carrie Thyrsos, which were pointed staves or iavelins, wrapped about with yvie. In buskin, it was the maner of poets and players in Tragedies to weare buskins, as also in Comedies to use socks and light shooes. So that the buskin in poetrie is used for tragicall matter, as is said in Virgill," Sola Sophocleo tua carmina digna cothurno." And the like in Horace, "Magnum loqui, nitique cothurno."

Queint, strange. Bellona the goddesse of battell, that is, Pallas, which may therefore well be called queint, for that (as Lucian saith) when Iupiter her father was in travaile of her, he caused his sonne Vulcan with his axe to hew his head: Out of which leaped out lustily a valiant Damsell armed at all points, whom Vulcan seeing so faire and comely, lightly leaping to her, proferred her some curtesie, which the Ladie disdayning, shaked her speare at him, and threatned his saucinesse. Therefore such straungenesse is well applyed to her

Equipage, order.

Tydes, seasons.

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NOVEMBER.

AEGLOGA UNDECIMA.

ARGUMENT.—In this xi. Aeglogue hee bewaileth the death of some maiden of great blood, whom he calleth Dido. The personage is secret, and to me altogither unknowne, albeit of himselfe I often required the same. This Aeglogue is made in imita ion of Maro: his song, which he made upon the death of Loyes the French Queen; but farre passing his reach, and in mine opinion all other the Acglogues of this Book.

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Thenot. Colin, my deare, when shall it please thee sing,

As thou wert wont, songes of some iouisaunce?
Thy Muse too long slombreth in sorrowing,
Lulled asleepe through Loves misgovernaunce.
Now somewhat sing, whose endlesse sovenaunce
Emong the shepheards swaines may aye remaine,
Whether thee list thy loved lass advaunce,
Or honor Pan with himnes of higher vaine.

Col. Thenot, now nis the time of merrimake,
Nor Pan to herie, nor with Love to play;
Sike myrth in May is meetest for to make,
Or sommer shade, under the cocked hay.
But nowe sadde winter welked hath the day,
And Phoebus, wearie of his yearly taske,

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Ystabled hath his steedes in lowly lay,
And taken up his ynne in Fishes haske:
Thilk sollein season sadder plight doth aske,
And loatheth sike delights as thou doest prayse:
The mornefull Muse in myrth now list ne maske,
As she was wont in youngth and sommer-dayes;
But if thou algate lust light virelayes,
And looser songs of love to underfong,
Who but thy self deserves sike poets praise!
Relieve thy oaten pypes that sleepen long.
The. The nightingale is sovereigne of song,
Before him sits the titmouse silent bee;
And I, unfit to thrust in skilfull throng,

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Should Colin make iudge of my fooleree :
Nay, better learne of hem that learned bee,
And han bene watered at the Muses wel;
The kindely dewe drops from the higher tree,
And wets the little plants that lowly dwell:
But if sadde winters wrath, and season chill,
Accord not with thy Muses merriment,
To sadder times thou maist attune thy quill,
And sing of sorrowe and deathes dreriment;
For deade is Dido, deade, alas! and drent;
Dido! the great shepheard his daughter sheene:
The fayrest May shee was that ever went,
Her like shee has not left behinde I weene:
And, if thou wilt bewayle my wofull teene,
I shall thee give yond cosset for thy payne;
And, if thy rymes as rounde and ruefull beene
As those that did thy Rosalind complayne,
Much greater gifts for guerdon thou shalt gayne,
Than kid or cosset, which I thee bynempt:
Then up, I say, thou iolly shepheard swayne,
Let not my small demaunde be so contempt.

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Col. Thenot, to that I chose thou doest mee tempt;

But ah! too well I wote my humble vayne,
And how my rimes bene rugged and unkempt;
Yet, as I conne, my conning I will strayne.

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"The feeble flocks in field refuse their former foode,
And hang their heades as they would learne to weepe;
The beastes in forrest wayle as they were woode, 135
Except the wolves, that chase the wandring sheepe,
Now shee is gone that safely did hem keepe:
The turtle on the bared braunch

Laments the wounde that Death did launch.
O heavie herse!

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And Philomele her song with teares doth steepe; O carefull verse!

"The water nymphs, that wont with her to sing and daunce,

And for her girlond olive braunches beare,
Nowe balefull boughes of cypres doen advaunce; 145

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Welked, shortned or empayred. As the Moone being i the wayne is said of Lidgate to welk.

In lowly lay, according to the season of the moneth of November, when the Sunne draweth low in the South toward his Tropick or returne.

In fishes haske, the Sunne raygned, that is, in the signe Pisces all November: a haske is a wicker ped, wherei they use to carrie fish.

Virelayes, a light kind of song.

Bewatred, for it is a saying of Poets, that they have drunke of the Muses Well Castalias, whereof was before sufficiently said.

Dreriment, dreery and heavie cheere.

The great shepheard, is some man of high degree, and not, as some vainly suppose, god Pan. The person both of the shepheard and of Dido is unknowne, and closely buried in the Authours conceipt. But out of doubt I am, that it is not Rosalind, as some imagine: for he speaketh soone after of her also.

Shene, fayre and shining. May, for mayde.

Teene, sorrow.

Guerdon, reward.

Bynempt, bequeathed.

Cosset, a lambe brought up without the dam. Unkempt, Incompti. Not combed, that is, rude and unhansome.

Melpomene, The sadde and wailefull Muse, used of Poets in honour of Tragedies: as saith Virgil," Melpomene tragico proclamat mæsta boatu."

Up griesly ghosts, The manner of the tragicall Poets, to call for helpe of Furies and damned ghosts: so is Hecuba of Euripides, and Tantalus brought in of Seneca. And the rest of the rest.

Herse, is the solemne obsequie in funeralles.
Waste of, decay of so beautifull a peece.
Carke, care.

Ah why, an elegant Epanorthosis, as also soone after. Nay time was long ago.

Flowret, a diminutive for a little floure. This is a notable and sententious comparison, “A minore ad maius." Relive not, live not againe, i. not in their earthly bodies: for in heaven they receive their due reward.

The braunch, He meaneth Dido, who being as it were the maine branch now withered, the buds, that is, beautie (as hee sayd afore) can no more flourish.

With cakes. fit for shepheards bankets.

Heame, for home, after the Northern pronouncing.
Tinct, dyed or stained.

The gaudie, the meaning is, that the things which were the ornaments of her life are made the honour of her funerall, as is used in burials.

Lobbin, the name of a shepheard, which seemeth to have beene the lover and deere friend of Dido.

Rushrings, agreeable for such base gifts.

Faded lorkes, dried leaves. As if Nature her selfe bewailed the death of the Mayde.

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into a birde of her name, whose complaints be very wel set forth of M. George Gascoin a wittie gentleman, and the very cheefe of our late rimers, who and if some parts of learning wanted not (albe it is well knowne he altogether wanted not learning) no doubt would have attained to the excellencie of those famous Poets. For gifts of witte and naturall promptnes appeare in him aboundantly. Cypresse, used of the olde paynims in the furnishing of their funerall pompe, and properly the signe of all sorrow and heavinesse.

The fatal sisters, Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos, daughters of Herebus and the Night, whome the Poets faine to spin the life of man, as it were a long thred, which they draw out in length, till his fatall houre and timely death be come; but if by other casualtie his daies be abridged, then one of them, that is, Atropos, is said to have cut the threed in twaine. Hereof commeth a common verse.

"Clotho colum baiulat, Lachesis trahit, Atropos occat."

O trustlesse. &c. a gallant exclamation moralized with great wisedome, and passionate with great affection.

Beere, a frame, whereon they use to lay the dead corps.
Furies, of Poets are fained to be three, Persephone,
Alecto, and Megera, which are said to be the authors of all
evill and mischiefe.

Eternal night, is death or darkenesse of hell.
Betight, happened.

I see, A lively Icon or representation, as if he saw her in heaven present.

Elysian fieides, be devised of Poets to be a place of pleasure like Paradise, where the happie soules do rest in peace and eternall happinesse.

Die would, the very expresse saying of Plato in Phædone.
Astart, befall unwares.

Nectar and Ambrosia, bee fained to be the drinke and foode of the gods: Ambrosia they liken to Manna in Scripture, and Nectar to be white like creame, whereof is a proper tale of Hebe, that spilt a cup of it, and stayned the heavens, as yet appeareth. But I have already discoursed that at large in my Commentary upon the Dreames of the same Authour.

Meynt, mingled.

EMBLEME.

For

Which is as much to say, as death byteth not. although by course of nature we be borne to dye, and being ripened with age, as with timely harvest, we must bee gathered in time, or else of our selves we fall like rotted ripe fruite from the tree: yet death is not to be coveted for evill, nor (as the Poet said a litle before) as doome of ill desert. For though the trespasse of the first man brought death into the world, as the guerdon of sinne, yet being overcome by the death of one that died for all, it is now made (as Chaucer saith) the greene pathway of life. So that it agreeth well with that was saide, that Death byteth not (that is) hurteth not at all.

DECEMBER.

AEGLOGA DUODECIMA.

ARGUMENT. This Aeglogue (even as the first began) is ended with a complaint of Colin to god Pan; wherein, as wearie of his former waies, hee proportioneth his life to the foure seasons of the yeare; comparing his youth to the spring time, when hee was fresh and free from loves follie. His manhood to the sommer, which, he saith, was consumed with great heate and excessive drouth, caused through a Comet or blazing Starre, by which hee meaneth love; which passion is commonly compared to such flames and immoderate heate. His ripest yeres he resembleth to an unseasonable harvest, wherein the fruits fall ere they be ripe. His latter age to winters chill and frostie season, now drawing neere to his last ende.

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