The Shepheardes Calender

The Shepheardes Calender

by Edmund Spenser (1552?-1599)

The genre of pastoral, which originated with Greek and Latin poets, especially Virgil, was popular with early modern writers of lyric verse. Because the genre represents its subjects from the idealized perspectives of rural life, it gave writers who were critical of the more sophisticated manners of the city a chance to praise the virtues of simplicity and artlessness. In fact, Spenser's eclogues are rhetorically complex. Composed as dialogues, they exhibit a consciously archaic diction and a demanding rhyme scheme. October is "eclogue the tenth" (aegloga decima) in a series of twelve eclogues or pastoral poems, published in 1579. Each eclogue was composed for a month of the year and as a whole they formed a "calender." The eclogue of October is the poet's craft; it presents an argument between Cuddie, a shepherd and also a piper who wants to renounce his art as unremunerative, and Piers, a shepherd who tells Cuddie that the purpose of his music is to lead its listeners in better ways.

The "Argument" is a prose synopsis of the following dialogue and was written by "E.K.," thought to be Edward Kirke, a friend of Spenser. The notes at the end are his.

Source of introduction: The Longman Anthology of British Literature (New York: Longman, 1999), p. 736.

October.
[Woodcut for October]

Ægloga decima.

A R G V M E N T.

IN Cuddie is set out the perfecte paterne of a Poete, whishe finding no maintenaunce of his state and studies, complayneth of the contempte of Poetrie, and the causes thereof: Specially hauing bene in all ages, and euen amongst the most barbarous alwayes of singular accounpt [a] [esteem] & honor, & being indeede so worthy and commendable an arte: or rather no arte, but a diuine gift and heauenly instinct not to bee gotten by laboure and learning, but adorned with both: and poured into the witte by a certaine [enthusiasmos], and celestiall inspiration, as the Author hereof els where at large discourseth, in his booke called the English Poete, [b] [The English Poete is evidently a lost work by Spenser. "Enthousiasmos": inspiration. The Greek word originally meant "possessed by a god." ] which booke being lately come to my hands, I mynde [Intend] [c] also by Gods grace vpon further aduisement to publish.

	Pierce. Cuddie.

	CVddie, for shame hold vp thy heauye head,
	And let vs cast with what delight to chace:
	And weary thys long lingring Phoebus race.[1]
	Whilome thou wont the shepheards laddes to leade,
5	In rymes, in ridles, and in bydding base: [2]
	Now they in thee, and thou in sleepe art dead?


	Cuddye.

	Piers, I haue pyped erst° so long with payne,°	up to now / care
	That all mine Oten reedes bene rent and wore:[3]
	And my poore Muse hath spent her spared° store,	saved up
10	Yet little good hath got, and much lesse gayne.
	Such pleasaunce makes the Grashopper so poore,
	And ligge so layd, when Winter doth her straine.°[4]	constrain

	The dapper° ditties, that I wont deuise,	pretty
	To feede youthes fancie, and the flocking fry,
15	Delighten much: what I the bett for thy?[5]
	They han° the pleasure, I a sclender prise.	have
	I beate the bush, the byrds to them doe flye:
	What good thereof to Cuddie can arise?


	Piers.

	Cuddie, the prayse is better, then° the price,	than
20	The glory eke° much greater then the gayne:	also
	O what an honour is it, to restraine
	The lust° of lawlesse youth with good aduice:	desires
	Or pricke° them forth with pleasaunce of thy vaine,°	spur / talent
	Whereto thou list° their trayned° willes entice.	desire / ensnared

25	Soone as thou gynst to sette thy notes in frame,
	O how the rurall routes° to thee doe cleaue:	crowds
	Seemeth thou dost their soule of sence bereaue,[6]
	All as the shepheard, that did fetch his dame
	From Plutoes balefull bowre withouten leaue:
30	His musicks might the hellish hound did tame.[7]


	Cuddie.

	O praysen babes the Peacoks spotted traine,
	And wondren at bright Argus blazing eye:
	But who rewards him ere° the more for thy?°	at all / therefore
	Or feedes him once the fuller by a graine?
35	Sike° prayse is smoke, that sheddeth° in the skye,	such / is dispersed
	Sike words bene wynd, and wasten soone in vayne.


	Piers.

	Abandon then the base and viler clowne,°	rustic
	Lyft vp thy selfe out of the lowly dust:
	And sing of bloody Mars, of wars, of giusts,°	jousts
40	Turne thee to those, that weld° the awful° crowne.	bear /awesome
	To doubted° Knights, whose woundlesse armour rusts,	dreaded
	And helmes vnbruzed wexen dayly browne.

	There may thy Muse display her fluttryng wing,
	And stretch her selfe at large from East to West:
45	Whither thou list° in fayre Elisa rest,	choose
	Or if thee please in bigger notes to sing,
	Advaunce° the worthy whome she loueth best,	extol
	That first the white bear to the stake did bring.

	And when the stubborne stroke of stronger stounds,°	efforts
50	Has somewhat slackt the tenor of thy string:
	Of loue and lustihead° tho° mayst thou sing,	pleasure / then
	And carrol lowde, and leade the Myllers rownde,
	All° were Elisa one of thilke same ring.	although
	So mought our Cuddies name to Heauen sownde.


	Cuddie.

55	Indeede the Romish Tityrus, I heare,
	Through his Mecænas left his Oaten reede,
	Whereon he earst° had taught his flocks to feede,	formerly
	And laboured lands to yield the timely eare,
	And eft° did sing of warres and deadly drede,°	afterward / danger
60	So as the heauens did quake his verse to here.

	But ah Mecænas is yclad in claye,
	And great Augustus long ygoe is dead:
	And all the worthies liggen° wrapt in leade,	lie
	That matter made for Poets on to play:
65	For euer, who in derring doe were dreade,°	held in awe
	The loftie verse of hem° was loued aye.	them

	But after vertue gan for age to stoupe,
	And mighty manhode brought a bedde° of ease:	to bed by
	The vaunting Poets found nought worth a pease,°	pea
70	To put in preace° emong the learned troupe.	present for competition
	Tho° gan the streames of flowing wittes to cease,	then
	And sonnebright honour pend in shamefull coupe. [8]

	And if that any buddes of Poesie,
	Yet of the old stocke gan to shoote agayne:
75	Or° it mens follies mote° be forst to fayne,°	either / must / feign
	And rolle with rest in rymes of rybaudrye.°	ribaldry
	Or as it sprong, it wither must agayne:
	Tom Piper makes vs better melodie.


	Piers.

	O pierlesse Poesye, where is then thy place?
80	If nor in Princes pallace thou doe sitt:
	(And yet is Princes pallace the most fitt)
	Ne brest of baser birth doth thee embrace.
	Then make thee winges of thine aspyring wit,°	mind
	And, whence thou camst, flye backe to heauen apace.


	Cuddie.

85	Ah Percy it is all to° weake and wanne,	too
	So high to sore,° and make so large a flight:	soar
	Her peeced pyneons bene not so in plight,
	For Colin fittes such famous flight to scanne: [9]
	He, were he not with loue so ill bedight,°	afflicted
90	Would mount as high, and sing as soote° as Swanne.	sweet


	Piers.

	Ah fon,° for loue does teach him climbe so hie,	fool
	And lyftes him vp out of the loathsome myre:
	Such immortall mirrhor, as he doth admire,
	Would rayse ones mynd aboue the starry skie.
95	And cause a caytiue corage to aspire,
	For lofty loue doth loath a lowly eye.


	Cuddie.

	All otherwise the state of Poet stands,
	For lordly loue is such a Tyranne fell:°	fierce
	That where he rules, all power he doth expell.
100	The vaunted verse a vacant head demaundes,
	Ne wont with crabbed care the Muses dwell:
	Vnwisely weaues, that takes two webbes in hand. [10]

	Who euer casts° to compasse° weightye prise,	tries / attain
	And thinks to throwe out thondring words of threate:
105	Let powre in lauish cups and thriftie bitts of meate,
	For Bacchus fruite is frend to Phoebus wise. [11]
	And when with Wine the braine begins to sweate,
	The nombers flowe as fast as spring doth ryse.

	Thou kenst° not Percie howe the ryme should rage.	knowest
110	O if my temples were distaind° with wine,	stained
	And girt in girlonds of wild Yuie twine, [12]
	How I could reare the Muse on stately stage,
	And teache her tread aloft in buskin fine, [13]
	With queint Bellona in her equipage.°	equipment; retinue

115	But ah my corage cooles ere it be warme,
	For thy,° content vs in thys humble shade:	therefore
	Where no such troublous tydes° han vs assayde,°	times / assaulted
	Here we our slender pipes may safely charme.


	Piers.

	And when my Gates shall han their bellies layd: [14]
120	Cuddie shall haue a Kidde to store his farme.

Cuddies Embleme.

Agitante calescimus illo &c. [15]

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. [Return to Text]

Whilome) sometime. [Return to Text]

Oaten reedes) Auena. [Return to Text]

Ligge so layde) lye so faynt and vnlustye. [Return to Text]

Dapper) pretye. [Return to Text]

Frye) is a bold Metaphore, forced from the spawning fishes. for the multitude of young fish be called the frye. [Return to Text]

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 [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. [Return to Text]

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. [Return to Text]

The shepheard that) Orpheus: of whom is sayd, that by his excellent skil in Musick and Poetry, he recouered his wife Eurydice from hell. [Return to Text]

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 [Iuno] for his eternall memory placed in her byrd the Peacocks tayle. for those coloured spots indeede resemble eyes. [Return to Text]

Woundlesse armour) vnwounded in warre, doe rust through long peace. [Return to Text]

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. [Return to Text]

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. [16] [Return to Text]

Slack) that is when thou chaungest thy verse from stately discourse, to matter of mor[e] pleasaunce and delight. [Return to Text]

The Millers) a kind of daunce. [Return to Text]

Ring) company of dauncers. [Return to Text]

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. [17] [Return to Text]

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. [18] [Return to Text]

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. [Return to Text]

In derring doe) In manhood and chiualrie. [Return to Text]

But after) he sheweth the cause of contempt of Poetry to be idlenesse and baseness of mynd. [Return to Text]

Pent) shut vp in slouth, as in a coope or cage. [Return to Text]

Tom Piper) An Ironicall [Sarcasmus], spoken in derision of these rude wits, whych make more account of a ryming rybaud, then of skill grounded vpon learning and iudgment. [Return to Text]

Ne brest) the meaner sort of men. [Return to Text]

Her peeced pineons) vnperfect skil. Spoken wyth humble modestie. [Return to Text]

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. [Return to Text]

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. [Return to Text]

A caytiue corage) a base and abiect minde. [Return to Text]

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. [Return to Text]

A vacant) imitateth Mantuanes saying. vacuum curis diuina cerebrum Poscit. [Return to Text]

Lauish cups) Resembleth that comen verse Faecundi calices quem non fecere disertum. [Return to Text]

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. [Return to Text]

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. [Return to Text]

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. [Return to Text]

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 [straungenesse] is well applyed to her. [Return to Text]

Æquipage.) order. [Return to Text]

Tydes) seasons. [Return to Text]

Charme) temper and order. for Charmes were wont to be made by verses as Ouid sayth.

Aut si carminibus. [Return to Text]

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. [Return to Text]

a. Esteem. [Return to Text]

b. The English Poete is evidently a lost work by Spenser. "Enthousiasmos": inspiration. The Greek word originally meant "possessed by a god." [Return to Text]

c. Intend. [Return to Text]

1. I.e., let us see how we may pass this long day pleasantly. [Return to Text]

2. A popular gamel here, perhaps a poetry contest. [Return to Text]

3. The shepherd's pipe is a symbol of pastoral poetry. [Return to Text]

4. I.e., lie so subdued. The reference is to the fable of the industrious ant who laid up supplies for winter, and the carefree grasshopper who did not. [Return to Text]

5. I.e., how am I better for that? [Return to Text]

6. I.e., hypnotise them. [Return to Text]

7. In classical mythology, the three-headed dog Cerberus guards the entrance to Hades. [Return to Text]

8. Coop, cage. I.e., poets found nothing worthy to write of, and the spirit of heroic achievement (sunbright honor) found expression neither in deeds nor in song. [Return to Text]

9. Cuddie explains that the imperfect, patched wings ("peeced pyneons") of his own poetic powers are not in condition, but that it is proper for ("fittes") Colin to attempt ("scanne") such a high poetic flight. [Return to Text]

10. I.e., the Muses are not accustomed ("wont") to dwell with those afflicted by love (crabbed care"); he is an unwise weaver who takes two pieces of cloth ("webbes") in hand at once. [Return to Text]

11. I.e., let him pour lavish drink but take only a little food, for wine ("Bacchus fruite") promotes poetry ("Phoebus"--Apollo--is god of poetry). [Return to Text]

12. Worn by followers of Bacchus. [Return to Text]

13. "Buskin": a boot worn by the actors in classical tragedies--hence, a symbol for tragedy. [Return to Text]

14. I.e., when my goats bear their young. [Return to Text]

15. The Latin line, of which Spenser gives the first three words, is from Ovid's Fasti 6.5: "There is a god within us; it is from his stirring that we feel warm." [Return to Text]

16. Leicester's device was the bear and ragged staff. [Return to Text]

17. Maecenas was Virgil's patron. [Return to Text]

18. The Georgics is Virgil's idealising poem about farm life. [Return to Text]

Last Update: 31 October, 2006