Glosse.
Syte) situation and place.
Paradise) A Paradise in Greeke signifieth a Garden of pleasure, or place of
delights. So he compareth the soile, wherin Hobbinoll made his abode,
to that earthly Paradise, in scripture called Eden; wherein Adam in his
first creation was placed. Which of the most learned is thought to be
in Mesopotamia, the most fertile and pleasaunte country in the world (as
may appeare by Diodorus Syculus description of it, in the hystorie of
Alexanders conquest thereof) lying betweene the two famous Ryuers
(which are sayd in scripture to flow out of Paradise) Tygris and
Euphrates, whereof it is so denominate.
Forsake the soyle) This is no poetical fiction, but vnfeynedly spoken of
the Poete selfe, who for speciall occasion of priuate affayres (as I
haue bene partly of himselfe
informed) and for his more
preferment remouing out of the Northparts came into the South, as
Hobbinoll indeede aduised him priuately.
Those hylles) that is the North countreye, where he dwelt. N'is) is not.
The Dales) the Southpartes, where he nowe abydeth, which thoughe they be
full of hylles and woodes (for Kent is very hyllye and woodye; and
therefore so called: for Kantsh in the Saxons tongue signifieth woodie)
yet in respecte of the Northpartes they be called dales. For indede the
North is counted the higher countrye.
Night Rauens &c.) by such hatefull byrdes, hee meaneth all misfortunes
(whereof they be tokens) flying euery where.
Frendly faeries) the opinion of Faeries and elfes is very old, and yet
sticketh very religiously in the mindes of some. But to roote that
rancke opinion of Elfes oute of mens hearts, the truth is, that there
be no such thinges, nor yet the shadowes of the things, but onely by a
sort of bald Friers and knauish shauelings so feigned; which as in all
other thinges, so in that, soughte to nousell the comen people in
ignorounce, least being once acquainted with the truth of things, they
woulde in tyme smell out the vntruth of theyr packed pelfe and
Masspenie religion. But the sooth is, that when all Italy was
distraicte into the Factions of the Guelfes and the Gibelins, being two
famous houses in Florence, the name began through their great
mischiefes and many outrages, to be so odious or rather dreadfull in
the peoples eares, that if theyr children at any time were frowarde and
wanton, they would say to them that the Guelfe or the Gibeline came.
Which words nowe from them (as many thinge els) be come into our vsage,
and for Guelfes and Gibelines, we say Elfes and Goblins. No otherwise
then the Frenchmen vsed to say of that valiaunt captain, the very
scourge of Fraunce, The Lord Thalbot, afterward Erle of Shrewsbury;
whose noblesse bred such a terrour in the hearts of the French, that
oft times euen great armies were defaicted and put to flyght at the
onely hearing of hys name. In somuch that the French wemen, to affray
theyr chyldren, would tell them that the Talbot commeth.
Many Graces) though there be indeede but three Graces of Charites (as afore
is sayd) or at the vtmost but foure, yet in respect of many gyftes of
bounty, there may be sayde more. And so Musaeus sayth, that in Heroes
eyther eye there satte a hundred graces. And by that authoritye, thys
same Poete in his Pageaunts sayth. An hundred Graces on her eyeledde
satte, &c.
Haydeguies) A country daunce or rownd. The conceipt is, that the Graces
and Nymphes doe daunce vnto the Muses, and Pan his musicke all night by
Moonelight. To signifie the pleasauntnesse of the soyle.
Peeres) Equalles and felow shepheards. Queneapples vnripe) imitating
Virgils verse. Ipse ego cana legam tenera lanugine mala.
Neighbour groues) a straunge phrase in English, but word for word
expressing the Latine vicina nemora.
Spring) not of water, but of young trees springing. Calliope) afforesayde.
Thys staffe is is [sic] full of verie poetical inuention. Tamburines)
an olde kind of instrument, which of some is supposed to be the
Clarion.
Pan with Phoebus) the tale is well knowne, howe that Pan and Apollo
striuing for ex
cellencye in musick, chose Midas for their iudge. Who
being corrupted wyth partiall affection, gaue the victorye to Pan
vndeserued: for which Phoebus sette a payre of Asses eares vpon hys
head &c.
Tityrus) That by Tityrus is meant Chaucer, hath bene already sufficiently
sayde, & by thys more playne appeareth, that he sayth, he tolde merye
tales. Such as by hys Canterburie tales. whom he calleth the God of
Poetes for hys excellencie, so as Tullie calleth Lentulus, Deum vitae
suae .s. the God of hys lyfe.
To make) to versifie. O why) A pretye Epanorthosis or correction.
Discurtesie) he meaneth the falsenesse of his louer Rosalinde, who
forsaking hym, hadde chosen another.
Poynte of worthy wite) the pricke of deserued blame.
Menalcas) the name of a shephearde in Virgile; but here is meant a person
vnknowne and secrete, agaynst whome he often bitterly inuayeth.
vndersonge) vndermynde and deceiue by false suggestion.
Embleme
You remember, that in the fyrst Æglogue, Colins Poesie was Anchora speme:
for that as then there was hope of fauour to be found in tyme. But nowe
being cleane forlorne and reiected of her, as whose hope, that was, is
cleane extinguished and turned into despeyre, he renounceth all comfort
and hope of goodnesse to come. which is all the meaning of thys
Embleme.
[Ornament, head of woman in fancy headdress flanked by two cornucopiae]
