THE Shepheardes Calender Conteyning twelue Aeglogues proportionable to the twelue monethes .

Entitled TO THE NOBLE AND VERTVous Gentleman most worthy of all titles both of learning and cheualrie M. Philip Sidney .

AT LONDON . Printed by Hugh Singleton , dwelling in Creede Lane neere vnto Ludgate at the signe of the gylden Tunne , and are there to be solde . 1579.

VNCOVTHE VNKISTE , Sayde the olde famous Poete Chaucer : whom for his excellencie and wonderfull skil in making , his scholler Lidgate , a worthy scholler of so excellent a maister , calleth the Loadstarre of our Language : and whom our Colin clout in his Aeglogue calleth Tityrus the God of shepheards , comparing hym to the worthines of the Roman Tityrus Virgile . Which prouerbe myne owne good friend Ma. Haruey , as in that good old Poete it serued well Pandares purpose , for the bolstering of his baudy brocage , so very well taketh place in this our new Poete , who for that he is vncouthe ( as said Chaucer ) is vnkist , and vnknown to most men , is regarded but of few . But I dout not , so soone as his name shall come into the knowledg of men , and his worthines be sounded in the tromp of fame , but that he shall be not onely kiste , but also beloued of all , embraced of the most , and wondred at of the best . No lesse I thinke , deserueth his wittinesse in deuising , his pithinesse in vttering , his complaints of loue so louely , his discourses of pleasure so pleasantly , his pastorall rudenesse , his morall wisenesse , his dewe obseruing of Decorum euerye where , in personages , in seasons , in matter , in speach , and generally in al seemely simplycitie of handeling his matter , and framing his words : the which of many thinges which in him be straunge , I know will seeme the straungest , the words them selues being so auncient , the knitting of them so short and intricate , and the whole Periode & compasse of speache so delightsome for the roundnesse , and so graue for the straungenesse . And firste of the wordes to speake , I graunt they be something hard , and of most men vnused . yet both English , and also vsed of most excellent Authors and most famous Poetes . In whom whenas this our Poet hath bene much traueiled and throughly redd , how could it be , ( as that worthy Oratour sayde ) but that walking in the sonne although for other cause he walked , yet needes he mought be sunburnt ; and hauing the sound of those auncient Poetes still ringing in his eares , he mought needes in singing hit out some of theyr tunes . But whether he vseth them by such casualtye and custome , or of set purpose and choyse , as thinking them fittest for such rusticall rudenesse of shepheards , eyther for that theyr rough sounde would make his rymes more ragged and rustical , or els because such olde and obsolete wordes are most vsed of country folke , sure I think , and think I think not amisse , that they bring great grace , and , as one would say , auctoritie to the verse . For albe amongst many other faultes it specially be obiected of Valla against Liuie , and of other against Saluste , that with ouer much studie they affect antiquitie , as coueting thereby credence and honor of elder yeeres , yet I am of opinion , and eke the best learned are of the lyke , that those auncient solemne wordes are a great ornament both in the one & in the other ; the one labouring to set forth in hys worke an eternall image of antiquitie , and the other carefully discoursing matters of grauitie and importaunce . For if my memory fayle not , Tullie in that booke , wherein he endeuoureth to set forth the paterne of a perfect Oratour , sayth that ofttimes an auncient worde maketh the style seeme graue , and as it were reuerend : no otherwise then we honour and reuerence gray heares for a certein religious regard , which we haue of old age . yet nether euery where must old words be stuffed in , nor the commen Dialecte and maner of speaking so corrupted therby , that as ●● old buildings it seme disorderly & ruinous . But all as in most exquisite pictures they vse to blaze and portraict not onely the daintie lineaments of beautye , but also rounde about it to shadow the rude thickets and craggy clifts , that by the basenesse of such parts , more excellency may accrew to the principall ; for oftimes we fynde ourselues , I knowe not how , singularly delighted with the shewe of such naturall rudenesse , and take great pleasure in that disorderly order . Euen so doe those rough and harsh termes enlumine and make more clearly to appeare the brightnesse of braue & glorious words . So ofentimes a dischorde in Musick maketh a comely concordaunce : so great delight tooke the worthy Poete Alceus to behold a blemish in the ioynt of a wel shaped body . But if any will rashly blame such his purpose in choyse of old and vnwonted words , him may I more iustly blame and condemne , or of witlesse headinesse in iudging , or of heedelesse hardinesse in condemning . for not marking the compasse of hys bent , he wil iudge of the length of his cast . for in my opinion it is one special prayse , of many whych are dew to this Poete , that he hath laboured to restore , as to theyr rightsull heritage such good and naturall English words , as haue ben long time out of vse & almost cleare disherited . Which is the onely cause , that our Mother tonge , which truely of it self is both ful enough for prose & stately enough for verse , hath long time ben coūred most bare & barrein of both . which default when as some endeuoured to salue & recure , they patched vp the holes with peces & rags of other languages , borrowing here of the french , there of the Italian , euery where of the Latine , not weighing how il , those tongues accorde with themselues , but much worse with ours : 〈…〉 they haue made our English tongue , a gallimaufray or hodgepodge of al other speches . Other some no so wel seme in the English tonge as perhaps in other lan guages , if than happen to here an olde word albeit very naturall and significant , crye out streight way , that we speak no English , but gibbrish , or rather such , as in old time Euanders mother spake . whose fitst shame is , that they are not ashamed , in their own mother tonge straungers to be counted and alienes . The second shame no lesse then the first , that what so they vnderstand not , they streight way deeme to be sencelesse , and not at al to be vnderstode . Much like to the Mole in Aesopes fable , that being blynd her selfe , would inno 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 haue so base regard and bastard iudgement , that they will not onely themselues not labor to garnish & beautifie it , but also repine , that of other it shold be embel lished . Like to the dogge in the maunger , that him selfe can eate no hay , and yet barketh at the hungry bullock , that so faine would feede : whose currish kind though 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 ioynts 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 perceiued of the leaste , vnderstoode of the moste , but iudged onely of the learned . For what in most English wryters vseth to be loose , and as it were vngyrt , in this Authour is well grounded , finely framed , and strongly trussed vp together . In regard wherof , I scorne and spue out the rakehellye route of our ragged rymers ( for so themselues vse to hunt the letter ) which without learning boste , without iudgement iangle , without reason rage and some , as if some instinct of Poeticall spirite had newly rauished them 〈…〉 the meannesse of commen capacitie . And being in the middest of all theyr brauery , sodenly eyther for want of matter , or of ryme , or hauing forgotten theyr former conceipt , they seeme to be so pained and traueiled in theyr remembrance , as it were a woman in childbirth or as that same Pythia , when the traunce came vpon her .

Nethelesse let them a Gods name 〈◊〉 on theyr owne folly , so they seeke not to darken the beames of others glory . As for Colin , vnder whose person the Authour selfe is shadowed , how ●●rre he is from such vaunted titles and glorious showes , both him selfe sheweth , where he sayth .

Of Muses Hobbin . I conne no skill . And Enough is me to paint out my vnrest , &c.

And also appeareth by the basenesse of the name , wherein , it semeth , he chose rather to vnfold great matter of argument couertly , then professing it , not suffice thereto accordingly . which moued him rather in Aeglogues , 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 & most auncient Poetes , which deuised 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 proue theyr tender wyngs , before they make a greater flyght . So flew Theocritus , as you may perceiue 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 diuers other excellent both Italian and French Poetes , whose foting this Author euery where followed ; 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 Aeglogues , I mind not to say much , him selfe labouring to conceale it . Onely this appeareth , that his vnstayed yougth had long wandred in the common Labyrinth of Loue , in which time to mitigate and allay the heate of his passion , or els to warne ( as he sayth ) the young shepheards 〈◊〉 his equalls and companions of his vnfortunate folly , he compiled these xij . Aeglogues , 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 haue I added a certain Glosse or scholion for th exposition of old wordes & harder phrases : which maner of glosing and commenting , well I wote , wil seeme straunge & rare in our tongue : yet for somuch as I knew many excellent & proper deuises both in wordes and matter would passe in the speedy course of reading , either as vnknowen , 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 vpon me , the rather for that by meanes of some familiar acquaintaunce I was made priuie to his counsell and secret meaning in them , as also in sundry other works of his . which albert I know he nothing so much hateth , as to promulgate , yet thus much haue I aduentured vpon his frendship , him selfe being for long time furre estraunged , hoping that this will the rather occasion him , to put forth diuers other excellent works of his , which slepe in silence , as his Dreamcs , 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 . These my present paynes if to any they be pleasurable or profitable , be you iudge , mine own good Maister Haruey , to whom I haue both in respect of your worthinesse generally , and otherwyse vpon some particular & special cousiderations voued this my labour , and the maydenhead of this our commen frends Poetrie , himselfe hauing already in the beginning dedicated it to the Noble and worthy Gentleman , the right worshipfull Ma. Phi. Sidney , a special fauourer & maintainer of all kind of learning . ) Whose cause I pray you Sir , yf Enuie shall stur vp any wrongful accusasion , defend with your mighty Rhetorick & other your rare gifts of learning , as you can , & shield with your good wil , as you ought , against the malice and outrage of so many enemies , as I know wil be set on fire with the sparks of his kindled glory . And thus recommending the Author vnto you , as vnto his most special good frend , and my selfe vnto you both , as one making singuler account of two so very good and so choise frends , I bid you both most hartely farwel , and commit you & your most commendable studies to the tuicion of the greatest .

LIttle I hope , needeth me at large to discourse the first Originall of Aeglogues , hauing alreadie touched the same . But for the word Aeglogues I know is vnknowen to most , and also mistaken of some the best learned ( as they think ) I wyll say somewhat thereof , being not at all impertinent to my present purpose .

They were first of the Greekes the inuentours of them called Aeglogaj as it were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . that is Goteheards tales . For although in Virgile and others the speakers be most shepheards , and Goteheards , yet Theocritus in whom is more ground of authoritie , then in Virgile , this specially from that deriuing , as from the first head and welspring the whole Inuericion of his Aeglogues , maketh Goteheards the persons and authors of his tales . This being , who seeth not the grossenesse of such as by colour of learning would make vs beleeue that they are more rightly termed Eclogai , as they would say , extraordinary discourses of vnnecessarie matter , which difinition albe in substaunce and meaning it agree with the nature of the thing , yet nowhit answereth with the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and interpretation of the word . For they be not termed Eclogues , but Aeglogues . which sentence this authour very well obseruing , vpon good iudgement , though indeede few Goteheards haue to doe herein , nethelesse doubteth not to cal than by the vsed and best knowen name . Other curious discourses hereof I reserue to greater occasion . These xij . Aeclogues euery where answering to the seasons of the twelue monthes may be well deuided into three formes or ranckes . For eyther they be Plaintiue , as the first , the sixt , the eleuenth , & the twelfth , or recreatiue , such as al those be , which conceiue matter of loue , or commendation of special personages , or Moral : which for the most part be mixed with some Satyrical bitternesse , namely the second of reuerence dewe to old age , the fift of coloured deceipt , the seuenth and ninth of dissolute shepheards & pastours , the tenth of contempt of Poetrie & pleasaunt wits . And to this diuision may euery thing herein be reasonably applyed : A few onely except , whose speciall purpose and meaning I am not priuie to . And thus much generally of these xij . Aeclogues . Now will we speake particularly of all , and first of the first . which he calleth by the first monethes name Ianuarie . wherein to some he may seeme fowly to haue faulted , in that he erroniously beginneth with that moneth , which beginneth not the yeare . For it is welknown and stoutely mainteyned with stronge reasons of the learned , that the yeare beginneth in March. for then the sonne reneweth his finished course , and the seasonable spring refresheth the earth , and the pleasaunce thereof being buried in the sadnesse of the dead winter now worne away , reliueth . This opinion maynteine the olde Astrologers and Philosophers , namely the reuerend Andalo , and Macrobius in his holydayes of Saturne , which accoumpt also was generally obserued both of Grecians and ROmans . But sauing the leaue of such learned heads , we mayntaine a custome of coumpting the seasons from the moneth Ianuary , vpon a more speciall cause , then the heathen Philosophe● euer coulde conceiue , that is , for the incarnation of our mighty Sauiour and eternall redeemer the L. Christ , who as then renewing the state of the decayed world , and returning the compasse of expired yeres to theyr former date and first commencement , 〈◊〉 to vs his 〈◊〉 a memoriall of his birth in the ende of the last yeere and beginning of the next . which reckoning , beside that eternall monument of our saluation , leaneth also vppon good proofe of special iudgement . For albeit that in elder-times , when as yet the coumpt of the yere was not perfected , as afterwarde it was by Iulius Caesar , they began to tel the monethes from Marches beginning , and according to the same God ( as is sayd in Scripture ) comaunded the people of the Iewes to count the moneth Abil , that which we call March , for the first moneth , in remembraunce that in that moneth he brought them out of the land of Aegipt : yet according to tradition of latter times it hath bene otherwise obserued , both in gouernment of of the church , and rule of Mightiest Realmes . For from Iulius Caesar who first obserued the leape yeere which he called Bissextilem Annum , and brought in to a more certain course the odde wandring dayes which of the Greekes were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . of the Romanes intercalares ( for in such matter of learning I am forced to vse the termes of the learned ) the monethes haue bene nombred xij . which in the first ordinaunce of Romulus were but tenne , counting but CCCiiij . dayes in euery yeare , and beginning with March . But Numa Pompilius , who was the father of al the Romain ceremonies and religion , seeing that reckoning to agree neither with the course of the sonne , nor of the Moone , therevnto added two monethes , Ianuary and February : wherin it seemeth , that wise king minded vpon good reason to begin the yeare at Ianuarie , of him therefore so called tanquam Ianua anni the gate and entraunce of the yere , or of the name of the god Ianus , to which god for that the old Paynims attributed the byrth & beginning of all creatures new comming into the worlde , it seemeth that he therfore to him assigned the beginning and first enrraunce of the yeare . which account for the most part hath hetherto continued . Notwithstanding that the Aegiptians beginne theyr yeare at September , for that according to the opinion of the best Rabbins , and very purpose of the scripture selfe , God made the worlde in that Moneth , that is called of them Tisri And therefore he commaunded them , to keepe the feast of Pauilions in the end of the yeare , in the xv . day of the seuenth moneth , which before that time was the first .

But our Authour respecting nether the subtiltie of th one parte , nor the antiquitie o thother , thinketh it fittest according to the simplicitie of commen vnderstanding , to be gin with Ianuarie , wening it perhaps no decoru , that Sepheard should be seene in matter of so deepe insight , or canuase a case of so doubtful iudgment . So therefore beginne 〈…〉 he & so continueth he throughout .