first, that what so they understand not, they streight way deeme to be sencelesse, and not at al to be understode: Much like to the Mole in Æsopes fable, that being blynd her selfe, would in no wise be perswaded, that any beast could see. The last, more shameful then both, that of their owne country and natural speach, which together with their Nources milk they sucked, they have so base regard and bastard judgement, that they will not onely themselves not labor to garnish and beautifie it, but also repine, that of other it shold be embellished: Like to the dogge in the 10 maunger, that him selfe can eate no hay, and yet barketh at the hungry bullock, that so faine would feede: whose currish kind though it cannot be kept from barking, yet I conne them thanke that they refrain from byting. Now for the knitting of sentences, whych they call the joynts and members therof, and for al the compasse of the speach, it is round without roughnesse, and learned wythout hardnes, such indeede as may be perceived of the leaste, understoode of the moste, but judged onely of the learned. For what in most English wryters useth to be loose, and 20 as it were ungyrt, in this Authour is well grounded, finely framed, and strongly trussed up together. In regard wherof, I scorne and spue out the rakehellye route of our ragged rymers (for so themselves use to hunt the letter) which without learning boste, without judgement jangle, without reason rage and fome, as if some instinct of Poeticall spirite had newly ravished them above the meanenesse of commen capacitie. And being in the middest of all theyr bravery, sodenly eyther for want of matter, or of ryme, or having forgotten theyr former conceipt, they seeme to be 30 so pained and traveiled in theyr remembrance, as it were a woman in childebirth, or as that same Pythia, when the traunce came upon her. Os rabidum fera corda domans &c. Nethelesse let them a Gods name feede on theyr owne folly, so they seeke not to darken the beames of others glory. As for Colin, under whose person the Author selfe is shadowed, how furre he is from such vaunted titles and glorious showes, both him selfe sheweth, where he sayth. Of Muses Hobbin. I conne no skill. And, And also appeareth by the basenesse of the name, wherein, it semeth, he chose rather to unfold great matter of argument covertly, then professing it, not suffice thereto accordIo ingly. Which moved him rather in Æglogues, then other wise to write, doubting perhaps his habilitie, which he little needed, or mynding to furnish our tongue with this kinde, wherein it faulteth, or following the example of the best and most auncient Poetes, which devised this kind of wryting, being both so base for the matter, and homely for the manner, at the first to trye theyr habilities and as young birdes, that be newly crept out of the nest, by little first to prove theyr tender wyngs, before they make a greater flyght. So flew Theocritus, as you may perceive 20 he was all ready full fledged. So flew Virgile, as not yet well feeling his winges. So flew Mantuane, as being not full somd. So Petrarque. So Boccace. So Marot, Sanazarus, and also divers other excellent both Italian and French Poetes, whose foting this Author every where followeth, yet so as few, but they be wel sented, can trace him out. So finally flyeth this our new Poete, as a bird, whose principals be scarce growen out, but yet as that in time shall be hable to keepe wing with the best. Now as touching the generall dryft and purpose of his 30 Æglogues, I mind not to say much, him selfe labouring to conceale it. Onely this appeareth, that his unstayed yougth had long wandred in the common Labyrinth of Love, in which time to mitigate and allay the heate of his passion, or els to warne (as he sayth) the young shepheards .s. his equalls and companions of his unfortunate folly, he compiled these xij. Æglogues, which for that they be proportioned to the state of the xij. monethes, he termeth the SHEPHEARDS CALENDAR, applying an olde name to a new worke. Hereunto have I added a certain Glosse or scholion for thexposition of old wordes and harder phrases: which maner of glosing and commenting, well I wote, wil seeme straunge and rare in our tongue: yet for somuch as I knew many excellent and proper devises both in wordes and matter would passe in the speedy course of reading, 10 either as unknowen, or as not marked, and that in this kind, as in other, we might be equal to the learned of other nations, I thought good to take the paines upon me, the rather for that by meanes of some familiar acquaintaunce I was made privie to his counsell and secret meaning in them, as also in sundry other works of his. Which albeit I know he nothing so much hateth, as to promulgate, yet thus much have I adventured upon his friendship, him selfe being for long time furre estraunged, hoping that this will the rather occasion him to put forth divers other 20 excellent works of his, which slepe in silence, as his Dreames, his Legendes, his Court of Cupide, and sondry others; whose commendations to set out, were verye vayne; the thinges though worthy of many, yet being knowen to few. Gabriel Harvey Letter to Spenser, 1580 I LIKE your DREAMES passingly well and the rather, bicause they savour of that singular extraordinarie veine and invention whiche I ever fancied moste, and in a manner admired onelye, in LUCIAN, PETRARCHE, ARETINE, PASQUILL, and all the most delicate and fine conceited Grecians and Italians (for the Romanes to speake of are but verye Ciphars in this kinde): whose chiefest endevour and drifte was to have nothing vulgare, but in some respecte or other, and especially in LIVELY HYPERBOLICALL AMPLIFICATIONS, rare, queint, and odde in every pointe, and, as a man woulde saye, a degree or two at the leaste above the reach and compasse of a common Schollers capacitie. Sir Philip Sidney An Apologie for Poetry, written c. 1583, published 1595 I ACCOUNT the Mirrour of Magistrates meetely furnished 10 of beautiful parts; and in the Earle of Surries Liricks many things tasting of a noble birth, and worthy of a noble minde. The Shepheards Kalender hath much Poetrie in his Eglogues: indeed worthy the reading, if I be not deceived. That same framing of his stile to an old rustick language I dare not alowe, sith neyther Theocritus in Greeke, Virgill in Latine, nor Sanazar in Italian did affect it. Besides these, doe I not remember to have seene but fewe (to speake boldely) printed, that have poeticall sinnewes in them. Richard Barnfield Poems: In divers humors, 1598 IF Musique and sweet Poetrie agree, 20 As they must needes (the Sister and the Brother) Dowland to thee is deare; whose heavenly tuch Thou lov'st to heare the sweete melodious sound, That Phoebus Lute (the Queene of Musique) makes: And I in deepe Delight am chiefly drownd, When as himselfe to singing he betakes. One God is God of Both (as Poets faigne) Anonymous The Returne from Parnassus, 1606 Ingenioso. What's thy judgement of Spencer? 10 Michael Drayton Epistle to Henry Reynolds, of Poets and Poetry, 1627 20 |