Part 2 (2/2)

Webbe's review of existing poetry was the ives to the new poet, whose nah like the author of _In Mee, was one quite apart

This place [to wear the Laurel] have I purposely reserved for one, who, if not only, yet in htest English poet that ever I read: that is, the author of the _Shepherd's Calendar_, intituled to the worthy Gentleman Master Philip Sidney, whether it was Master Sp or what rare scholar in Pembroke Hall soever, because himself and his friends, for what respect I know not, would not reveal it, I force not greatly to set down Sorry I aht couple hih one there is, though now long since seriously occupied in graver studies, Master Gabriel Harvey, yet as he was once his most special friend and fellow poet, so because he hath taken such pains not only in his Latin poetry

but also to reforlish versetherefore will I adventure to set theether as two of the rarest wits and learnedest land

He even ventured to coil

But now yet at the last hath England hatched up one poet of this sort, in my conscience comparable with the best in any respect: even Master Sp, author of the _Shepherd's Calendar_, whose travail in that piece of English poetry I think verily is so coement can yield him less praise for his excellent skill and skilful excellency showed forth in the sail, whom in mine opinion, if the coarseness of our speech, (I e,) had been no ues were unto theht be, surpassed thelish Poesie_, 1589, commonly cited as G Puttenham, classes him with Sidney And frolish poetical writers, till he appears, enius, as Chaucer's not unworthy successor, in the _Faery Queen_ Afterwards, as other successful poetry ritten, and the standards of taste were multiplied, this first enthusiastic reception cooled down In James the First's time, Spenser's use of ”old outords” is criticized as being no lish” than Chaucer or Skelton: it is not ”courtly” enough[49:5] The success of the _Shepherd's Calendar_ had also, apparently, substantial results, which soht of with envy They believed that it secured hie, and opened to hi in the year in which the _Shepherd's Calendar_ came out, contrasts his own less favoured lot, and his ill-repaid poetical efforts, with Colin Clout's good luck

But ever and ever, reat Catoes, _Ecquid erit pretii_, and our little Catoes, _Res age quae prosunt_,in e either you or hiht es, or at the least wise have your meat and drink for your day's works As for myself, howsoever I have toyed and trifled heretofore, I aht, and I trust I shall shortly learn, (no reive you over in the plain field) to employ my travail and time wholly or chiefly on those studies and practices that carry, as they say,evermore their eye upon the title, _De pane lucrando_, and their hand upon their halfpenny For I pray nohat saith Mr Cuddie, alias you knoho, in the tenth aeglogue of the aforesaid famous new Calendar

The dapper ditties, that I wont devise To feed youths' fancy and the flocking fry, Delighten much: what I the best for thy?

They han the pleasure, I a sclender prize

I beat the bush, the birds to theood thereof to Cuddie can arise?

But Master Colin Clout is not everybody, and albeit his old companions, Master Cuddie and Master Hobinoll, be as little beholding to their mistress poetry as ever you wist: yet he, peradventure, by the e, reat lands and lordshi+ps with the money which his _Calendar_ and _Dreams_ have, and will afford him

FOOTNOTES:

[42:1] In the _Guardian_, No 40 Compare Johnson's _Life of Ambrose Phillips_

[42:2] _Shepherd's Calendar_, May, July, and September

[46:3] First published in 1559 It was popular book, and was often re-edited

[46:4] Dedication to Virgil

[49:5] Bolton in Haslewood, ii 249

CHAPTER III

SPENSER IN IRELAND

[1580]

In the first week of October, 1579, Spenser was at Leicester House, expecting ”next week” to be despatched on Leicester's service to France

Whether he was sent or not, we do not know Gabriel Harvey, writing at the end of the one over sea, neither this week nor the next” In one of the aeglogues (Septeest, but do not necessarily iion in a Ro but conjecture whether at this time or any other Spenser was on the Continent The _Shepherd's Calendar_ was entered at Stationers' Hall, December 5, 1579 In April, 1580, as we know from one of his letters to Harvey, he was at Westminster He speaks of the _Shepherd's Calendar_ as published; he is conte the publication of other pieces, and then ”he will in hand forthith his _Fairie Queene_,” of which he had sent Harvey a specimen He speaks especially of his _Dreams_ as a considerable work

I take best rown bycontinually in reat as s excellently, and s wittily discoursed of E

K, and the pictures so singularly set forth and portrayed, as if Michael Angelo were there, he could (I think) nor amend the best, nor reprehend the worst I know you would like the well

It is remarkable that of a book so spoken of, as of the _Nine Cooes on to speak with much satisfaction of another composition, which was probably incorporated, like the _Epithalamion Thamesis_, in his later work