Aprill. Like Aprill. [headnote]
April woodblock illustration.
Ægloga Quarta. ARGVMENT ARGUMENT .

THis This Æglogue is purposely intended to the honor and prayse of our most gracious souereigne sovereigne , Queene Elizabeth. The speakers herein be Hobbi-noll and Thenott, two shepheardes: the which Hobbinoll being before men-tioned, greatly to haue have loued loved Colin, is here set forth more largely, complay-ning him of that boyes great misaduenture misadventure in Loue Love , whereby his mynd was alienate and with drawen not onely from him, who moste loued loved him, but also from all former delightes and studies, aswell in pleasaunt pyping, as conning ryming and singing, and other his laudable exercises. Whereby he taketh occasion, for proofe of his more excellencie and skill in poetrie, to recorde a songe, which the sayd Colin sometime made in honor of her Maiestie Majestie , whom abruptely he termeth Elysa.
Thenot. Hobbinoll. TEll Tell me good Hobbinoll, what garres thee greete? What? hath some Wolfe thy tender Lambes ytorne? Or is thy Bagpype broke, that soundes so sweete? Or art thou of thy loued loved lasse forlorne? Or bene thine eyes attempred to the yeare, Quenching the gasping furrowes thirst with rayne? Aprill. fol.12 Ye Like April shoure, so stremes the trickling teares Adowne thy cheeke, to quenche thy thristye payne. Hobbinoll. Nor thys, nor that, so muche doeth make me mourne, But for the ladde, whome long I lovd so deare, Nowe loues loves a lasse, that all his loue love doth scorne : : He plongd in payne, his tressed locks dooth teare. Shepheards delights he dooth them all forsweare, Hys pleasaunt Pipe, whych made vs us meriment, He wylfully hath broke, and doth forbeare His wonted songs, wherein he all outwent. Thenot. What is he for a Ladde, you so lament? Ys loue love such pinching payne to them, that proue prove ? And hath he skill to make so excellent, Yet hath so little skill to brydle loue love ? Hobbinoll. Colin thou kenst, the Southerne shepheardes boye: Him Loue Love hath wounded with a deadly darte. Whilome on him was all my care and ioye joye , Forcing with gyfts to winne his wanton heart . . But now from me hys madding mynd is starte, And woes the Widdowes daughter of the glenne: So nowe fayre Rosalind hath bredde hys smart, So now his frend is chaunged for a frenne. Thenot. But if hys ditties bene so trimly dight, I pray thee Hobbinoll, recorde some one: The whiles our flockes doe graze about in sight, And we close shrowded in thys shade alone. Hobbinol. Contented I: then will I singe his laye Of fayre Elisa, Queene of shepheardes all: Which once he made, as by a spring he laye, And tuned it vnto unto the Waters fall. Aprill. I YE Ye dayntye Nymphs, that in this blessed Brooke doe bathe your brest, For sake your watry bowres, and hether looke, at my request: And eke you Uirgins Virgins , that on Parnasse dwell, Whence floweth Helicon the learned well, Helpe me to blaze Her worthy praise, Which in her sexe doth all excell . . Of fayre Elisa be your siluer silver song, that blessed wight: The flowre of Uirgins Virgins , may shee florish long, In princely plight . . For shee is Syrinx daughter without spotte, Which Pan the shepheards God of her begot: So sprong her grace Of heauenly heavenly race, No mortall blemishe may her blotte. See, where she sits vpon upon the grassie greene, (O seemely sight) Yclad in Scarlot like a mayden Queene, And Ermines white. Upon her head a Cremosin coronet, With Damaske roses and Daffadillies set: Bayleaues Bayleaves betweene, And Primroses greene Embellish the sweete Uiolet Violet . Tell me, haue have ye seene her angelick face, Like Phœbe fayre? Her heauenly heavenly haueour haveour , her princely grace can you well compare? The Redde rose medled with the White yfere, In either cheeke depeincten liuely lively chere . . Her modest eye, Her Maiestie Majestie , Where haue have you seene the like, but there? Aprill. fol.13 D . . Lo I sawe Phœbus thrust out his golden hedde, vpon upon her to gaze: But when he sawe, how broade her beames did spredde, it did him amaze . . He blusht to see another Sunne belowe, Ne durst againe his fyrye face out showe: Let him, if he dare, His brightnesse compare With hers, to haue have the ouerthrowe overthrowe . Shewe thy selfe Cynthia with thy siluer silver rayes, and be not abasht: When shee the beames of her beauty displayes, O how art thou dasht? But I will not match her with Latonaes seede, Such follie great sorow to Niobe did breede. Now she is a stone, And makes dayly mone, Warning all other to take heede. Pan may be proud, that euer ever he begot such a Bellibone, And Syrinx reioyse rejoyse , that euer ever was her lot to beare such an one. Soone as my younglings cryen for the dam, To her will I offer a milkwhite Lamb: Shee is my goddesse plaine, And I her shepherds swayne, Albee forswonck and forswatt I am. I see Calliope speede her to the place, where my Goddesse shines: And after her the other Muses trace, with their Uiolines Violines . Bene they not Bay braunches, which they doe beare, All for Elisa in her hand to weare? So sweetely they play, And sing all the way, That it a heauen heaven is to heare. Aprill. Now Lo how finely the graces can it foote to the Instrument: They dauncen deffly, and singen soote, in their meriment. Wants not not not not a fourth grace, to make the daunce euen even ? Let that rowme to my Lady be yeuen yeven : She shalbe a grace, To fyll the fourth place, And reigne with the rest in heauen heaven . And whither rennes this beuie bevie of Ladies bright, raunged in a rowe? They bene all Ladyes of the lake behight, that vnto unto her goe . . Chloris, that is the chiefest Nymph of al, Of Oliue Olive braunches beares a Coronall: Oliues Olives bene for peace, When wars doe surcease: Such for a Princesse bene principall . . Ye shepheards daughters, that dwell on the greene, hye you there apace: Let none come there, but that Uirgins Virgins bene, to adorne her grace . . And when you come, whereas shee is in place, See, that your rudenesse doe not you disgrace: Binde your fillets faste, And gird in your waste, For more finesse, with a tawdrie lace. Bring hether the Pincke and purple Cullambine, With Gelliflowres: Bring Coronations, and Sops in wine, worne of Paramoures. Strowe me the ground with Daffadowndillies, And Cowslips, and Kingcups, and loued loved Lillies: The pretie Pawnce, And the Cheuisaunce, Chevisaunce, Cheuiſaunce. Cheuiſaunce, Cheuiſaunce, Shall match with the fayre flowre Delice. Delice, Delice. Aprill. fol.14 Dij. Colin Now ryse vp up Elisa, decked as thou art, in royall aray: And now ye daintie Damsells may depart echeone her way, I feare, I haue have troubled your troupes 149. to: too to too longe: Let dame Eliza thanke you for her song. And if you come hether, When Damsines I gether, I will part them all you among. Thenot Thenot. And was thilk same song of Colins owne making? Ah foolish boy, that is with loue love 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 loves the thing, he cannot purchase. But let vs us homeward: for night draweth on, And twincling starres the daylight hence chase.
Thenots Embleme. O quam te memorem virgo? vìrgo? virgo!
Hobbinols Embleme. O dea certe.
GLOSSE. Gars thee greete] greete) causeth thee vveepe weepe and complain. Forlorne] Forlorne) left & and forsaken. Attempred to the yeare] yeare) agreeable to the season of the yeare, that is Aprill, vvhich which mo-neth is most bent to shoures and seasonable rayne: to quench, that is, to delaye the drought, caused through drynesse of March vvyndes wyndes . The Ladde] Ladde) Colin Clout. Clout] The Lasse] Lasse) Rosalinda. Tressed locks) wrethed & and curled curled. Is he for a ladde] ladde) A straunge manner of speaking .s. vvhat what maner of Ladde is he? To make] make) to rime and versifye. For in this vvord word making, our olde Englishe Poetes were vvont wont to comprehend all the skil of Poetrye, according to the Greeke vvoorde woorde ποιεῖν, to make, whence commeth the name of Poetes. Aprill. and Colin thou kenst] kenst) knowest. Seemeth hereby that Colin perteyneth to some Southern noble man, and perhaps in Surrye or Kent, the rather bicause he so often na-meth the Kentish dovvnes downes , and before, As lythe as lasse of Kent. The VVidovves] VVidovves) Widowes] Widowes) He calleth Rosalind the VVidowes Widowes daughter of the glenne, that is, of a country Hamlet or borough, which I thinke is rather sayde to coloure and con-cele the person, 22. then: than then than simply spoken. For it is vvell well knowen, euen even in spighte of Colin and Hobbinoll, that shee is a Gentle vvoman woman of no meane house, nor endewed vvith with anye vulgare and common gifts both of nature and manners: but suche indeede, as neede nether Colin be ashamed to haue have her made knowne by his verses, nor Hobbinol be greued, that so she should be commended to im-mortalitie for her rare and singular Vertues: Specially deseruing deserving it no lesse, 29. then: than then than eyther Myrto the most excellẽt excellent Poete Theocritus his dearling, or Lauretta the diuine divine Petrarches Goddesse, or Himera the vvorthye worthye Poete Stesichorus hys Idole: Vpon Upon vvhom whom he is sayd so much to haue have doted, that in regard of her ex-cellencie, he scorned & and wrote against the beauty of Helena. For which his præ-sumptuous and vnheedie unheedie hardinesse, he is sayde by vengeaunce of the Gods, thereat being offended, to haue have lost both his eyes. Frenne] Frenne) a straunger. The word I thinke vvas was first poetically put, and aftervvarde afterwarde vsed used in commen custome of speach for forenne. Dight] Dight) adorned. Laye] Laye) a songe. as As Roundelayes and Virelayes. Virelayes In all this songe is not to be respected, vvhat what the worthinesse of her Maiestie Majestie de-serueth, de-serveth, nor vvhat what to the highnes of a Prince is agreeable, but vvhat what is moste comely for the meanesse of a shepheards vvitte witte , or to conceiue conceive , or to vtter utter . And therefore he calleth her Elysa, as through rudenesse tripping in her name: & and a shepheards daughter, it being very vnfit unfit , that a shepheards boy brought vp up in the shepefold, should know, or euer ever seme to haue have heard of a Queenes roialty. Ye daintie] daintie) is, as it vvere were an Exordium ad preparandos animos. Virgins] Virgins) the nine Muses, daughters of Apollo & and Memorie, vvhose 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. Helicon] Helicon) is both the name of a fountaine at the foote of Parnassus, and also of a moun-teine in Bœotia Bæotia Boætia , out of which floweth the famous Spring Castalius, dedicate al-so to the Muses: of vvhich which spring it is sayd, that vvhen when Pegasus the winged horse of Perseus (whereby is meant fame and flying renowme) strooke the grovvnde grownde with his hoofe, sodenly thereout sprange a vvel wel of moste cleare and pleasaunte water, vvhich which fro thẽce thence forth was consecrate to the Muses & and Ladies of learning. Your siluer silver song] song) seemeth to imitate the lyke in Hesiodus ἀργυρέον μέλος. Syrinx] Syrinx) is the name of a Nymphe of Arcadie, whom when Pan being in loue love pursued, she flying frõ 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 vvas was almost out of wind) with hys breath made the Reedes to pype: vvhich which he seeing, tooke of them, and in remembraunce of his lost loue love , 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 divine and immortall (so as the Paynims were wont to iudge judge of all Kinges Aprill. fol.15 D.3. vs us and Princes, according to Homeres saying. Θυμός Θυμòς δὴ μέγας ἐστὶ διοτρεφέων βασιλήων, τιμὴ δ᾽ ἐκ διός ἐστι, φιλεῖ δέ ἑ μητίετα Ζεύς.) Θυμός δὴ [μέ][γα]ς ἐστὶ [δι]ο[τρ]εφέως βασιλήως, τι[μὴ] δ᾽ [ἐκ] διός ἐ[στι], φιλεῖ δέ ἑ μη[τί]ε[τα] Ζεύς.) could deuise devise no parents in his iudgement judgement so vvorthy worthy for her, as Pan the shepe-heards God, and his best beloued beloved Syrinx. So that by Pan is here meant the most famous and victorious King, her highnesse Father, late of worthy memorye 76. K.: King K. King 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. Cremosin coronet] coronet) he deuiseth deviseth her crowne to be of the finest and most delicate flowers, instede of perles and precious stones, wherevvith wherewith Princes Diademes vse use to bee adorned and embost. Embellish] Embellish) beautifye and set out. Phebe] Phebe) the Moone, whom the Poets faine to be sister vnto unto Phœbus, Phæbus, Phœbus, Phœbus, that is the Sunne. Medled] Medled) mingled. Yfere] Yfere) together. By the mingling of the Redde rose and the VVhite White , is meant the vni-ting uni-ting of the two principall houses of Lancaster and of Yorke: by vvhose whose longe discord and deadly debate, this realm many yeares was sore traueiled traveiled , & and almost cleane decayed. Til the famous Henry the seuenth seventh , of the line of Lancaster, ta-king to vvife wife the most vertuous Princesse Elisabeth, daughter to the fourth Ed-vvard Edward of the house of Yorke, begat the most royal Henry the eyght aforesayde, in vvhom whom vvas was the firste vnion union of the VVhyte Whyte Rose and the Redde. Calliope] Calliope) one of the nine Muses: to vvhome whome they assigne the honor of all Poetical In-uention, In-vention, & and the firste glorye of the Heroicall verse. other 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 Poly-mnia, 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, vvhich which (as some construe it) importeth great remembraunce, conteineth another part. but But I holde rather vvith with them, vvhich which call her Polymnia or Polyhymnia of her good singing. Bay branches] 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 & and di Poëti, &c. etc. The Graces] Graces) be three sisters, the daughters of Iupiter Jupiter , (whose names are Aglaia, Thalia, Euphrosyne, & and Homer onely addeth a fourth .s. Pasithea) otherwise called Charites, that is thanks. vvhõ vvhom whõ VVhõ Whom the Poetes feyned to be the Goddesses of al bountie & and comelines, vvhich 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 receive benefits at other mens hands curteously, and thirdly to requite them thankful-ly: vvhich 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 Julius Cæsar) the one hauing having her backe toward vs us , and her face fromwarde, as proceeding from Aprill. returne vs us : the other tvvo two toward vs us , noting double thanke to be due to vs us for the bene-fit, we haue have done. Deaffly] Deaffly) Finelye and nimbly. Soote] Soote) Sweete. Meriment] Meriment) Mirth. Beuie] Beuie) Bevie] Bevie) A beauie of Ladyes, is spoken figuratiuely figuratively for a company or troupe. the The terme is taken of Larkes. For they say a Beuie Bevie of Larkes, euen even as a Couey Covey of Partridge, or an eye of Pheasaunts. Ladyes of the lake] lake) be Nymphes. For it vvas was an olde opinion amongste the Auncient Heathen, that of euery every spring and fountaine vvas was a goddesse the Soueraigne Soveraigne . VVhiche 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 vnlavvfull vnlawfull unlavvfull unlawfull leasing of the La-dyes of the Lake, that is, the Nymphes. For the word Nymphe in Greeke sig-nifieth VVell Well water, or othervvise otherwise a Spouse or Bryde. Behight) Bedight] Bedight, Behight, called or named. Cloris] Cloris) the name of a Nymph, and signifieth greenesse, of vvhome whome is sayd, that Zephyrus the VVesterne Westerne wind being in loue love with her, and coueting coveting her to wyfe, gaue gave her for a dowrie, the chiefedome and soueraigntye soveraigntye of al flowres and greene herbes, growing on earth. Oliues Olives bene] bene) The Oliue Olive vvas was vvont 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 Olive tree, they say, vvill will not grovve growe neare the Firre tree, vvhich which is dedicate to Mars the God of battaile, and vsed used most for speares and other instruments of warre. VVhereupon Whereupon is finely feigned, that vvhen when Neptune and Minerua Minerva stroue strove for the naming of the citie of Athens, Neptune striking the ground with his mace, caused a horse to come forth, that importeth vvarre warre , but at Mineruaes Minervaes stroke sprong out an Oliue Olive , to note that it should be a nurse of learning, and such peaceable studies. Binde your] your) Spoken rudely, and according to shepheardes simplicitye. Bring] Bring) all these be names of flovvers flowers . Sops in vvine wine a flovvre flowre in colour much like to a Coronation, but differing in smel and quantitye. Flowre delice, that which they vse use to misterme, Flovvre Flowre de luce, being in Latine called Flos delitiarum. A Bellibone] Bellibone) or a Bonibell. homely Homely spoken for a fayre mayde or Bonilasse. Forsvvonck Forswonck and forswatt] forswatt) ouerlaboured overlaboured and sunneburnt. I savv saw Phœbus) Phæbus] Phœbus, Phæbus, the sunne. A sensible Narration, & and present view of the thing mentioned, which they call παρουσία. Cynthia] Cynthia) the Moone so called of Cynthus a hyll, vvhere where she was honoured. Latonaes seede] seede) VVas Was Apollo and Diana. VVhom Whom vvhen when as Niobe the vvife wife of Am-phion scorned, in respect of the noble fruict of her wombe, namely her seuen seven sonnes, and so many daughters, Latona being therewith displeased, commaun-ded her sonne Phœbus to slea al the sonnes, and Diana all the daughters: whereat whereat the vnfortunate unfortunate Niobe being sore dismayed, and lamenting out of measure, vvas was feigned of the Poetes, to be turned into a stone vpon upon the sepulchre of her children. for For which cause the shepheard sayth, he vvill will not compare her to them, for feare of like mysfortune. Now rise] rise) is the conclusion. For hauing having so decked her vvith with prayses and comparisons, he Aprill. fol.16 lourable returneth all the thanck of hys laboure to the excellencie of her Maiestie Majestie . VVhen When Damsins] Damsins) A base revvard reward of a clovvnish clownish giuer giver . Yblent] Yblent) Y, is a poeticall addition. blent Blent blinded. Embleme. This Poesye is taken out of Virgile, and there of him vsed used in the person of Æneas to his mother Venus, appearing to him in likenesse of one of Dianaes damosells: be-ing there most diuinely divinely set forth. To vvhich which similitude of diuinitie divinitie Hobbinoll comparing the excelency of Elisa, and being through the worthynes of Colins song, as it were, ouercome overcome with the hugenesse of his imagination, brusteth out in great admiration, (O quam te memorẽ memorem virgo?) being otherwise vnhable unhable , 188. then: than then than by soddein silence, to expresse the vvorthinesse worthinesse of his conceipt. VVhom Whom Thenot answereth vvith with another part of the like verse, as confirming by his graunt and approuaunce approvaunce , that Elisa is no vvhit whit inferiour to the Maiestie Majestie of her, of vvhome whome that Poete so boldly pronounced, O dea certe.
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