Glosse.
This Æglogue is made in imitation of Theocritus his xvi. Idilion, wherein
hee reproued the Tyranne Hiero of Syracuse for his nigardise towarde
Poetes, in whom is the power to make men immortal for theyr good dedes,
or shameful for their naughty lyfe. And the lyke also is in Mantuane,
The style hereof as also that in Theocritus, is more loftye then the
rest, and applyed to the heighte of Poeticall witte.
Cuddie) I doubte whether by Cuddie be specified the authour selfe, or some
other. For
in the eyght Æglogue the same person was brought in, singing
a Cantion of Colins making, as he sayth. So that some doubt, that the
persons be different.
Whilome) sometime. Oaten reedes) Auena.
Ligge so layde) lye so faynt and vnlustye. Dapper) pretye.
Frye) is a bold Metaphore, forced from the spawning fishes. for the
multitude of young fish be called the frye.
To restraine.) This place seemeth to conspyre with Plato, who in his first
booke de Legibus sayth, that the first inuention of Poetry was of very
vertuous intent. For at what time an infinite number of youth vsually
came to theyr great solemne feastes called Panegyrica, which they vsed
euery fiue yeere to hold, some learned man being more hable then the
rest, for speciall gyftes of wytte and Musicke, would take vpon him to
sing fine verses to the people, in prayse eythet [eyther] of vertue or
of victory or of immortality or such like. At whose wonderful gyft al
men being astonied and as it were rauished, with delight, thinking (as
it was indeede) that he was inspired from aboue, called him vatem: which
which kinde of men afterwarde framing their verses to lighter musick (as
of musick be many kinds, some sadder, some lighter, some martiall, some
heroicall: and so diuersely eke affect the mynds of men) found out
lighter matter of Poesie also, some playing wyth loue, some scorning at
mens fashions, some powred out in pleasures, and so were called Poetes
or makers.
Sence bereaue. what the secrete working of Musick is in the myndes of men,
aswell appeareth, hereby, that some of the auncient Philosophers, and
those the moste wise, as Plato and Pythagoras held for opinion, that
the mynd was made of a certaine harmonie and musicall nombers, for the
great compassion & likenes of affection in thone and in the other as
also by that memorable history of Alexander: to whom when as Timotheus
the great Musitian playd the Phrygian melodie, it is said, that he was
distraught with such vnwonted fury, that streight way rysing from the
table in great rage, he caused himselfe to be armed, as ready to goe to
warre (for that musick is very warlike:) And immediately whenas the
Musitian chaunged his stroke into the Lydian and Ionique harmony, he
was so furr from warring, that he sat as styl, as if he had bene in
mattes of counsell. Such might is in musick. wherefore Plato and
Aristotle forbid the Aradian Melodie from children and youth. for that
being altogither on the fyft and vij, tone, it is of great force to
molifie and quench the kindly courage, which vseth to burne in yong
brests. So that it is not incredible which the Poete here sayth, that
Musick can bereaue the soule of sence.
The shepheard that) Orpheus: of whom is sayd, that by his excellent skil in
Musick and Poetry, he recouered his wife Eurydice from hell.
Argus eyes) of Argus is before said, that Iuno to him committed hir husband
Iupiter his Paragon Io, bicause he had an hundred eyes: but afterwarde
Mercury wyth his Musick lulling Argus asleepe, slew him and brought Io
away, whose eyes it is sayd that Inno [Iuno] for his eternall memory
placed in her byrd the Peacocks tayle. for those coloured spots indeede
resemble eyes.
Woundlesse armour) vnwounded in warre, doe rust through long peace.
Display) A poeticall metaphore: whereof the meaning is, that if the Poet
list showe his
skill in matter of more dignitie, then is the
homely Æglogue, good occasion is him offered of higher veyne and more
Heroicall argument, in the person of our most gratious soueraign, whom
(as before) he calleth Elisa. Or if mater of knighthoode and cheualrie
please him better, that there be many Noble & valiaunt men, that are
both worthy of his payne in their deserued prayses, and also fauourers
of hys skil and faculty.
The worthy) he meaneth (as I guesse) the most honorable and renowmed the
Erle of Leycester, whom by his cognisance (although the same be also
proper to other) rather then by his name he bewrayeth, being not likely,
that the names of noble princes be known to country clowne.
Slack) that is when thou chaungest thy verse from stately discourse, to
matter of moro [more] pleasaunce and delight.
The Millers) a kind of daunce. Ring) company of dauncers.
The Romish Tityrus) well knowen to be Virgile, who by Mecaenas means was
brought into the fauour of the Emperor Augustus, and by hin moued to
write in loftier kinde, then he erst had doen.
Whereon) in these three verses are the three seueral workes of Virgile
intended. For in teaching his flocks to feede, is meant his Æglogues.
In labouring of lands, is hys Bucoliques. In singing of wars and deadly
dreade, is his diuine Æneis figured.
In derring doe) In manhood and chiualrie.
For euer) He sheweth the cause, why Poetes were wont be had in such honor of
noble men; that is, that by them their worthines & valor shold through
theyr famous Posies be commended to al posterities. wherfore it is sayd,
that Achilles had neuer bene so famous, as he is, but for Homeres
immortal verses. which is the only aduantage, which he had of Hector.
And also that Alexander the great comming to his tomb in Sigeus, with
naturall teares blessed him, that euer was his hap to be honoured with
so excellent a Poets work: as so renowmed and ennobled onely by hys
meanes. which being declared in a most eloquent Oration of Tulies, is of
Petrarch no lesse worthely sette forth in a sonet
Giunto Alexandro a la famosa tomba
Del sero Achille sospirando disse
O fortunato che si chiara tromba. Trouasti
&c.
And that such account hath bene alwayes made of Poetes, aswell sheweth
this that the worthy Scipio in all his warres against Carthage and
Numantia had euermore in his company, and that in a most familiar sort
the goode olde Poete Ennius: as also that Alexander destroying Thebes,
when he was enformed that the famous Lyrick Poet Pindarus was borne in
that citie, not onely commaunded streightly, that no man should vpon
payne of death do any violence to that house by fire or otherwise: but
also specially spared most, and some highly rewarded, that were of hys
kinne. So fauoured he the only name of a Poete. whych prayse otherwise
was in the same man no lesse famous, that when he came to ransacking of
king Darius coffers, whom he lately had ouerthrowen, he founde in a
little coffer of siuer two bookes of Homers works, as layd vp there for
speciall iewells and richesse, which he taking thence, put one of them
dayly in his bosome, and thother euery night layde vnder his
pillowe.
Such honor haue Poetes alwayes found in the sight of princes and noble
men. which this author here very well sheweth, as els where more
notably.
But after) he sheweth the cause of contempt of Poetry to be idlenesse and
baseness of mynd. Pent) shut vp in slouth, as in a coope or cage.
Tom piper) An Ironicall Sacrasmus [Sarcasmus], spoken in derision of these
rude wits, whych make more account of a ryming rybaud, then of skill
grounded vpon learning and iudgment.
Ne brest) the meaner sort of men. Her peeced pineons) vnperfect skil.
Spoken wyth humble modestie.
As soote as Swanne) The comparison seemeth to be strange: for the swanne
hath euer wonne small commendation for her sweete singing: but it is
sayd of the learned that the swan a little before hir death, singeth
most pleasantly, as prophecying by a secrete instinct her neere destinie
As wel sayth the Pote elswhere in one of his sonetts.
The siluer swanne doth sing before her dying day
As shee that feeles the deepe delight that is in death &c.
Immortall myrrhour) Beauty, which is an excellent obiect of Poeticall
spirites, as appeareth by the worthy Petrarchs saying.
Fiorir faceua il mio debile ingegno
A las sua ombra, et crescer ne gli affanni.
A caytiue corage) a base and abiect minde.
For lofty loue) I think this playing with the letter to be rather a fault
then a figure, aswel in our English tongue, as it hath bene alwayes in
the Latin, called Cacozelon.
A vacant) imitateth Mantuanes saying.
vacuum curis diuina cerebrum Poscit.
Lauish cups) Resembleth that comen verse Faecundi calices quem non fecere
disertum.
O if my) He seemeth here to be rauished with a Poeticall furie. For (if one
rightly mark) the numbers rise so ful, & the verse groweth so big, that
it seemeth he hath forgot the meanenesse of shepheards state and stile.
Wild yuie) for it is dedicated to Bacchus & therefore it is sayd that the
Maenades (that is Bacchus franticke priestes) vsed in theyr sacrifice
to carry Thyrsos, which were pointed staues or Iauelins, wrapped about
with yuie.
In buskin) it was the maner of Poetes & plaiers in tragedies to were
buskins, as also in Comedies to vse stockes & light shoes. So that the
buskin in poetry is vsed for tragical matter, as it said in Virgile.
Sola sophocleo tua carmina digna cothurno.
Queint) strange Bellona; the goddese of battaile, that is Pallas, which may
therefore wel be called queint for that (as Lucian saith) when Iupiter
hir father was in traueile of her, he caused his sonne Vulcane with his
axe to hew his head. Out which leaped forth lustely a valiant damsell
armed at all poyntes, whom seeing Vulcane so faire & comely, lightly
leaping to her, proffered her some cortesie, which the Lady
disdeigning, shaked her speare at him, and threatned his saucinesse.
Therefore such strauugenesse [straungenesse] is well applyed to her.
Æquipage.) order. Tydes) seasons.
Charme) temper and order. for Charmes were wont to be made by verses as Ouid
sayth.
Aut si
carminibus.
Embleme.
Hereby is meant, as also in the whole course of this Æglogue, that Poetry
is a diuine instinct and vnnatural rage passing the reache of comen
reason. Whom Piers answereth Epiphonematicos as admiring the excellencye
of the skyll whereof in Cuddie hee hadde alreadye hadde a taste.