The Shorter Poems

by Edmund Spenser

  And if you come hether,

  When Damsines I gether,

  I will part them all you among.

  THENOT.

  And was thilk same song of Colins owne making?

  155

  Ah foolish boy, that is with loue yblent:

  Great pittie is, he be in such taking,

  For naught caren, that bene so lewdly bent.

  HOBBINOL.

  Sicker I hold him, for a greater fon,

  That loues the thing, he cannot purchase.

  160

  But let vs homeward: for night draweth on,

  And twincling starres the daylight hence chase.

  Thenots Embleme.

  O quam te memorem virgo?

  Hobbinols Embleme.

  165

  O dea certe.

  GLOSSE.

  [1] Gars thee greete) causeth thee weepe and complain. [4] Forlorne) left and forsaken.

  [5] Attempred to the yeare) agreeable to the season of the yeare, that is Aprill, which moneth is most bent to shoures and seasonable rayne: to quench, that is, to delaye the drought, caused through drynesse of March wyndes.

  [10] The Ladde) Colin Clout. [11] The Lasse) Rosalinda.

  [12] Tressed locks) wrethed and curled.

  [17] Is he for a ladde) A straunge manner of speaking .s. what maner of Ladde is he?

  [19] To make) to rime and versifye. For in this word making, our olde Englishe Poetes were wont to comprehend all the skil of Poetrye, according to the Greeke woorde ποεν, to make, whence commeth the name of Poetes.

  [21] Colin thou kenst) knowest. Seemeth hereby that Colin perteyneth to some Southern noble man, and perhaps in Surrye or Kent, the rather bicause he so often nameth the Kentish downes, and before, As lythe as lasse of Kent.

  [26] The Widowes) He calleth Rosalind the Widowes daughter of the glenne, that is, of a country Hamlet or borough, which I thinke is rather sayde to coloure and concele the person, then simply spoken. For it is well knowen, euen in spighte of Colin and Hobbinoll, that shee is a Gentle woman of no meane house, nor endewed with anye vulgare and common gifts both of nature and manners: but suche indeede, as neede nether Colin be ashamed to haue her made knowne by his verses, nor Hobbinol be greued, that so she should be commended to immortalitie for her rare and singular Vertues: Specially deseruing it no lesse, then eyther Myrto the most excellent Poete Theocritus his dearling, or Lauretta the diuine Petrarches Goddesse, or Himera the worthye Poete Stesichorus hys Idole: Vpon whom he is sayd so much to haue doted, that in regard of her excellencie, he scorned and wrote against the beauty of Helena. For which his præsumptuous and vnheedie hardinesse, he is sayde by vengeaunce of the Gods, thereat being offended, to haue lost both his eyes.

  [28] Frenne) a straunger. The word I thinke was first poetically put, and afterwarde vsed in commen custome of speach for forenne.

  [29] Dight) adorned. [33] Laye) a songe. As Roundelayes and Virelayes. In all this songe is not to be respected, what the worthinesse of her Maiestie deserueth, nor what to the highnes of a Prince is agreeable, but what is moste comely for the meanesse of a shepheards witte, or to conceiue, or to vtter. And therefore he calleth her Elysa, as through rudenesse tripping in her name: and a shepheards daughter, it being very vnfit, that a shepheards boy brought vp in the shepefold, should know, or euer seme to haue heard of a Queenes roialty.

  [37] Ye daintie) is, as it were an Exordium ad preparandos animos.

  [41] Virgins) the nine Muses, daughters of Apollo and Memorie, whose abode the Poets faine to be on Parnassus, a hill in Grece, for that in that countrye specially florished the honor of all excellent studies.

  [42] Helicon) is both the name of a fountaine at the foote of Parnassus, and also of a mounteine in Bæotia, out of which floweth the famous Spring Castalius, dedicate also to the Muses: of which spring it is sayd, that when Pegasus the winged horse of Perseus (whereby is meant fame and flying renowme) strooke the grownde with his hoofe, sodenly thereout sprange a wel of moste cleare and pleasaunte water, which fro thence forth was consecrate to the Muses and Ladies of learning.

  [46] Your siluer song) seemeth to imitate the lyke in Hesiodus γυον μλος.

  [50] Syrinx) is the name of a Nymphe of Arcadie, whom when Pan being in loue pursued, she flying from him, of the Gods was turned into a reede. So that Pan catching at the Reedes in stede of the Damosell, and puffing hard (for he was almost out of wind) with hys breath made the Reedes to pype: which he seeing, tooke of them, and in remembraunce of his lost loue, made him a pype thereof. But here by Pan and Syrinx is not to bee thoughte, that the shephearde simplye meante those Poetical Gods: but rather supposing (as seemeth) her graces progenie to be diuine and immortall (so as the Paynims were wont to iudge of all Kinges and Princes, according to Homeres saying.

  Θνμòς δ μγας στ δοτεφως βασλήως

  τμ δ’ χ δóς στ, φλε δε ò μητετα Ζες.)

  could deuise no parents in his iudgement so worthy for her, as Pan the shepeheards God, and his best beloued Syrinx. So that by Pan is here meant the most famous and victorious King, her highnesse Father, late of worthy memorye K. Henry the eyght. And by that name, oftymes (as hereafter appeareth) be noted kings and mighty Potentates: And in some place Christ himselfe, who is the verye Pan and god of Shepheardes.

  [59] Cremosin coronet) he deuiseth her crowne to be of the finest and most delicate flowers, instede of perles and precious stones, wherewith Princes Diademes vse to bee adorned and embost.

  [63] Embellish) beautifye and set out.

  [65] Phebe) the Moone, whom the Poets faine to be sister vnto Phæbus, that is the Sunne.

  [68] Medled) mingled.

  [68] Yfere) together. By the mingling of the Redde rose and the White, is meant the vniting of the two principall houses of Lancaster and of Yorke: by whose longe discord and deadly debate, this realm many yeares was sore traueiled, and almost cleane decayed. Til the famous Henry the seuenth, of the line of Lancaster, taking to wife the most vertuous Princesse Elisabeth, daughter to the fourth Edward of the house of Yorke, begat the most royal Henry the eyght aforesayde, in whom was the firste vnion of the Whyte Rose and the Redde.

  [100] Calliope) one of the nine Muses: to whome they assigne the honor of all Poetical Inuention, and the firste glorye of the Heroicall verse, other say, that shee is the Goddesse of Rhetorick: but by Virgile it is manifeste, that they mystake the thyng. For there in hys Epigrams, that arte semeth to be attributed to Polymnia, saying:

  Signat cuncta manu, loquiturque Polymnia gestu.

  which seemeth specially to be meant of Action and elocution, both special partes of Rhetorick: besyde that her name, which (as some construe it) importeth great remembraunce, conteineth another part. but I holde rather with them, which call her Polymnia or Polyhymnia of her good singing.

  [104] Bay branches) be the signe of honor and victory, and therfore of myghty Conquerors worn in theyr triumphes, and eke of famous Poets, as saith Petrarch in hys Sonets.

  Arbor vittoriosa triomphale,

  Honor d’ Imperadori & di Poëti, &c.

  [109] The Graces) be three sisters, the daughters of Iupiter, (whose names are Aglaia, Thalia, Euphrosyne, and Homer onely addeth a fourth .s. Pasithea) otherwise called Charites, that is thanks. whom the Poetes feyned to be the Goddesses of al bountie and comelines, which therefore (as sayth Theodontius) they make three, to wete, that men first ought to be gracious and bountiful to other freely, then to receiue benefits at other mens hands curteously, and thirdly to requite them thankfully: which are three sundry Actions in liberalitye. And Boccace saith, that they be painted naked, (as they were indeede on the tombe of C. Iulius Cæsar) the one hauing her backe toward vs, and her face fromwarde, as proceeding from vs: the other two toward vs, noting double thanke to be due to vs for the benefit, we haue done.

  [111] Deaffly) Finelye and nimbly. [111] Soote) Sweete. [112] Meriment) Mirth.

  [118] Beuie) A beauie of Ladyes, is sp
oken figuratiuely for a company or troupe, the terme is taken of Larkes. For they say a Beuie of Larkes, euen as a Couey of Partridge, or an eye of Pheasaunts.

  [120] Ladyes of the lake) be Nymphes. For it was an olde opinion amongste the Auncient Heathen, that of euery spring and fountaine was a goddesse the Soueraigne. Whiche opinion stucke in the myndes of men not manye yeares sithence, by meanes of certain fine fablers and lowd lyers, such as were the Authors of King Arthure the great and such like, who tell many an vnlawfull leasing of the Ladyes of the Lake, that is, the Nymphes. For the word Nymphe in Greeke signifieth Well water, or otherwise a Spouse or Bryde.

  [120] Behight) called or named.

  [122] Cloris) the name of a Nymph, and signifieth greenesse, of whome is sayd, that Zephyrus the Westerne wind being in loue with her, and coueting her to wyfe, gaue her for a dowrie, the chiefedome and soueraigntye of al flowres and greene herbes, growing on earth.

  [124] Oliues bene) The Oliue was wont to be the ensigne of Peace and quietnesse, eyther for that it cannot be planted and pruned, and so carefully looked to, as it ought, but in time of peace: or els for that the Oliue tree, they say, will not growe neare the Firre tree, which is dedicate to Mars the God of battaile, and vsed most for speares and other instruments of warre. Whereupon is finely feigned, that when Neptune and Minerua stroue for the naming of the citie of Athens, Neptune striking the ground with his mace, caused a horse to come forth, that importeth warre, but at Mineruaes stroke sprong out an Oliue, to note that it should be a nurse of learning, and such peaceable studies.

  [133] Binde your) Spoken rudely, and according to shepheardes simplicitye.

  [136] Bring) all these be names of flowers. Sops in wine a flowre in colour much like to a Coronation, but differing in smel and quantitye. Flowre delice, that which they vse to misterme, Flowre de luce, being in Latine called Flos delitiarum.

  [92] A Bellibone) or a Bonibell. homely spoken for a fayre mayde or Bonilasse.

  [99] Forswonck and forswatt) ouerlaboured and sunneburnt.

  [73] I saw Phæbus) the sunne. A sensible Narration, and present view of the thing mentioned, which they call παουσα.

  [82] Cynthia) the Moone so called of Cynthus a hyll, where she was honoured.

  [86–7] Latonaes seede) Was Apollo and Diana. Whom when as Niobe the wife of Amphion scorned, in respect of the noble fruict of her wombe, namely her seuen sonnes, and so many daughters, Latona being therewith displeased, commaunded her sonne Phœbus to slea al the sonnes, and Diana all the daughters: whereat the vnfortunate Niobe being sore dismayed, and lamenting out of measure, was feigned of the Poetes, to be turned into a stone vpon the sepulchre of her children, for which cause the shepheard sayth, he will not compare her to them, for feare of like mys-fortune.

  [145] Now rise) is the conclusion. For hauing so decked her with prayses and comparisons, he returneth all the thanck of hys laboure to the excellencie of her Maiestie.

  [152] When Damsins) A base reward of a clownish giuer.

  [155] Yblent) Y, is a poeticall addition. blent blinded.

  Embleme.

  This Poesye is taken out of Virgile, and there of him vsed in the person of Æneas to his mother Venus, appearing to him in likenesse of one of Dianaes damosells: being there most diuinely set forth. To which similitude of diuinitie Hobbinoll comparing the excelency of Elisa, and being through the worthynes of Colins song, as it were, ouercome with the hugenesse of his imagination, brusteth out in great admiration, (O quam te memorem virgo?) being otherwise vnhable, then by soddein silence, to expresse the worthinesse of his conceipt. Whom Thenot answereth with another part of the like verse, as confirming by his graunt and approuaunce, that Elisa is no whit inferiour to the Maiestie of her, of whome that Poete so boldly pronounced, O dea certe.

  Maye.

  Ægloga Quinta.

  ARGVMENT.

  In this fift Æglogue, vnder the persons of two shepheards Piers and Palinodie, be represented two formes of pastoures or Ministers, or the protestant and the Catholique: whose chiefe talke standeth in reasoning, whether the life of the one must be like the other. with whom hauing shewed, that it is daungerous to mainteine any felowship, or giue too much credit to their colourable and feyned goodwill, he telleth him a tale of the foxe, that by such a counterpoynt of craftines deceiued and deuoured the credulous kidde.

  PALINODE. PIERS.

  Is not thilke the mery moneth of May,

  When loue lads masken in fresh aray?

  How falles it then, we no merrier bene,

  Ylike as others, girt in gawdy greene?

  5

  Our bloncket liueryes bene all to sadde,

  For thilke same season, when all is ycladd

  With pleasaunce: the grownd with grasse, the Wods

  With greene leaues, the bushes with bloosming Buds.

  Yougthes folke now flocken in euery where,

  10

  To gather may buskets and smelling brere:

  And home they hasten the postes to dight,

  And all the Kirke pillours eare day light,

  With Hawthorne buds, and swete Eglantine,

  And girlonds of roses and Sopps in wine.

  15

  Such merimake holy Saints doth queme,

  But we here sytten as drownd in a dreme.

  PIERS.

  For Younkers Palinode such follies fitte,

  But we tway bene men of elder witt.

  PALINODE.

  Sicker this morrowe, ne lenger agoe,

  20

  I sawe a shole of shepeheardes outgoe,

  With singing, and shouting, and iolly chere:

  Before them yode a lusty Tabrere,

  That to the many a Home pype playd,

  Whereto they dauncen eche one with his mayd.

  25

  To see those folkes make such iouysaunce,

  Made my heart after the pype to daunce.

  Tho to the greene Wood they speeden hem all,

  To fetchen home May with their musicall:

  And home they bringen in a royall throne,

  30

  Crowned as king: and his Queene attone

  Was Lady Flora, on whom did attend

  A fayre flocke of Faeries, and a fresh bend

  Of louely Nymphs. (O that I were there,

  To helpen the Ladyes their Maybush beare)

  35

  Ah Piers, bene not thy teeth on edge, to thinke,

  How great sport they gaynen with little swinck?

  PIERS.

  Perdie so farre am I from enuie,

  That their fondnesse inly I pitie.

  Those faytours little regarden their charge,

  40

  While they letting their sheepe runne at large,

  Passen their time, that should be sparely spent,

  In lustihede and wanton meryment.

  Thilke same bene shepeheards for the Deuils stedde,

  That playen, while their flockes be vnfedde.

  45

  Well is it seene, theyr sheepe bene not their owne,

  That letten them runne at randon alone.

  But they bene hyred for little pay

  Of other, that caren as little as they,

  What fallen the flocke, so they han the fleece,

  50

  And get all the gayne, paying but a peece.

  I muse, what account both these will make,

  The one for the hire, which he doth take,

  And thother for leauing his Lords taske,

  When great Pan account of shepeherdes shall aske.

  PALINODE.

  55

  Sicker now I see thou speakest of spight,

  All for thou lackest somedele their delight.

  I (as I am) had rather be enuied,

  All were it of my foe, then fonly pitied:

  And yet if neede were, pitied would be,

  60

  Rather, then other should scorne at me:

  For pittied is mishappe, that nas
remedie,

  But scorned bene dedes of fond foolerie.

  What shoulden shepheards other things tend,

  Then sith their God his good does them send,

  65

  Reapen the fruite thereof, that is pleasure,

  The while they here liuen, at ease and leasure?

  For when they bene dead, their good is ygoe,

  They sleepen in rest, well as other moe.

  Tho with them wends, what they spent in cost,

  70

  But what they left behind them, is lost.

  Good is no good, but if it be spend:

  God giueth good for none other end.

  PIERS.

  Ah Palinodie, thou art a worldes childe:

  Who touches Pitch mought needes be defilde.

  75

  But shepheards (as Algrind vsed to say,)