Colin Clouts Come Home Again, is a poetic hint, not only of the reality of the Arcadian land, but that it lets the reader into some acquaintance with the method of access to it, and particularly gives us a glimpse of the Queen herself under the name of Cynthia-which may be applicable to the Queen of the isle in Borderie's poem just recited. We here give the poem itself, according to its name, with all its notes, as we find it in the 5th volume of Spenser's Works, published in Boston by Little & Brown, 1860. The dissent of the author of the Remarks from the opinion expressed in some of the notes, will appear in the progress of the Remarks. TO THE RIGHT WORTHY AND NOBLE KNIGHT SIR WALTER RALEIGH, CAPTAINE OF HER MAIESTIES GUARD, LORD WARDEIN OF THE STANNERIES, AND LIEUTENANT OF THE COUNTIE OF CORNWALL. SIR, THAT you may see that I am not alwaies ydle as yee thinke, though not greatly well occupied, nor altogither undutifull, though not precisely officious, I make you present of this simple Pastorall, unworthie of your higher conceipt for the meanesse of the stile, but agreeing with the truth in circumstance and matter. The which I humbly beseech you to accept in part of paiement of the infinite debt, in which I acknowledge my selfe bounden unto you for your singular favours, and sundrie good turnes, shewed to me at my late being in England; and with your good countenance protect against the malice of evill mouthes, which are alwaies wide open to carpe at and misconstrue my simple meaning. I pray continually for your happinesse. From my house of Kilcolman, the 27. of December. 1591. [rather perhaps 1595.] Yours ever humbly, ED. SP. COLIN CLOUTS COME HOME AGAINE.* THE shepheards boy (best knowen by that name) Laies of sweet love, without rebuke or blame, 1 Charming his oaten pipe unto his peres, The shepheard swaines that did about him play: Did stand astonisht at his curious skill, Like hartlesse deare, dismayd with thunders sound. 1 Charming, tuning. Ver. 2.-Tityrus.] Chaucer. 5 "In the year 1595, Spenser published Colin Clouts come Home againe, a sort of pastoral, giving an account of his return to England, of his presentation to Queen Elizabeth, and of several persons attached to the court. It might be highly interesting at the time it was written, but its chief interest is now lost. It possesses nothing striking, either in character or description, to attract a modern reader."-Retrospective Review. [The author of the Remarks dissents from this opinion, and from several others expressed in the notes to this poem.] At last, when as he piped had his fill, He rested him: and, sitting then around, One of those groomes (a iolly groome was he, 20 "Colin, my liefe," my life, how great a losse Had all the shepheards nation by thy lacke! And I, poore swaine, of many, greatest crosse ! That, sith thy Muse first since thy turning backe Was heard to sound as she was wont on hye, Has made us all so blessed and so blythe. Whilest thou wast hence, all dead in dole* did lie: The woods were heard to waile full many a sythe," And all their birds with silence to complaine : The fields with faded flowers did seem to mourne, 25 And all their flocks from feeding to refrain: The running waters wept for thy returne, And all their fish with languor did lament: But now both woods and fields and floods revive, 3 Sith thou art come, their cause of merriment, That us, late dead, hast made againe alive: But were it not too painefull to repeat The passed fortunes, which to thee befell 30 1 Hight, called. 2 Liefe, dear. s Sith, since. 5 Sythe, time. Ver. 15.-Hobbinol.] This is Spenser's friend, Gabriel Harvey. |