Epiſtle.
and alſo diuers other excellent both Italian and French ports, whoſe footing this Authour euery where followeth, yet ſo a few, but they be well ſented can trace him out. So finally flyeth this our new poet, as a bird, whoſe principals be ſcarce growen out, but yet as one that in time ſhall be hable to keepe wing with the beſt. Now as touching the generall dryſt & purpoſe of his Aeglogues, I minde not to ſay much, himſelfe labouring to conceale it. Onely this appeareth, that his vnſtayed youth had long wandered in the common Labirinth of Loue, in which time to mittigate and allaye the heate ot his paſſion, or els to warne (as he ſaith) the young ſhepheards i, his equals and cōpanions of his vnfortunate folly, he cōpiled theſe xii. Aeglogues, which for that they be proportioned to the ſtate of the xii. monethes, he termeth it the Shepherds Calender, applying an olde name to a new worke. Hereunto haue I added a certaine Gloſſe or ſcholion for th expoſition of olde wordes and harder phraſes which maner of gloſing aod commenting, well I wote, will ſeeme ſtrange and rare in our tongue: yet for ſo much as I knew many excellent and proper deuiſes both in wordes and matter would paſſe in the ſpeedie courſe of reading, either as vnknowen, or as not marked, and that in this kinde, as in other wee might bee equall to the learned of other nations, I thought good to take the paines vpon me, the rather for that by meanes of ſome familiar acquaintance I was made priuie to his counſell and ſecret meaning is them, as alſo in ſundry other works of his. Which albeit I knowe hee nothing ſo much hateth, as to promulgate, yet thus much haue I aduentured vpon his friendſhip, him ſelfe being for long time farre eſtraunged, hoping that this will the rather occaſion him, to put forth diuers other excellent workes of his, which ſleepe in ſilence, as his Dreames, his Legendes, his Court of Cupid, and ſundry others, whoſe commendations to ſet out, were very vaine, the things 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 owne good M.Haruey to whom I haue both in reſpect of your worthinſſe generally, and otherwiſe vpon ſome particular and ſpeciall conſiderations vowed my labour, and the maydenhead of thir our common friendes Poetrie, himſelfe hauing already in the beginning dedicated it to the Noble and worthy Gentleman, the right Worſhipfull M.Philip Sidney, a ſpeciall fauourer and maintainer of all kinde of learning. Whoſe cauſe I pray you Sir, if Eauye ſhall ſturre vp any wrongfull accuſation, defend with your mightie Rhetorick and other your rare giftes of learning, as you can, and ſhielde with your good will, as you ought, againſt the malice and outrage of ſo many enemies, as I know wil be ſet on fire with the ſparkes of his kindled glory. And thus recommending the Author vnto you, as vnto his moſt ſpeciall good friend, and my ſelfe vnto you both, as one making ſingular account of two ſo very good and ſo choyſe friendes, I bid you both moſt hartily farwell,and commit you and your moſt commendable ſtudies to the tuition of the greateſt,
Your owne aſſuredly to
be commaunded E. K.
NOw I truſt M. Haruey, that vpon ſight of your ſpeciall friendes and fellow Poets doings, or els for enuye of ſo many vnworthye Quidams, which catch at the garland, which to you alone is due. you will be perſwaded to plucke out of the hatefull darkeneſſe, thoſe ſo many excellent Engliſh poemes of yours, which lie hid, and bring them forth to eternall light. Truſt me you do both them great wrong in depriuing them of the deſired ſunne, and alſo yourſelfe, in ſmoothering your deſerued praiſes, and all men generally, in withholding from them ſo diuine pleaſares, which they might conceiue of your gallant Engliſh verses, as they haue already done of your latine Poemes, which in my opinion both for inuention and Elocution are very delicate, and ſuperexcellent. And thus againe, I take my leaue of my good M Haruey, From my lodging at London this 10 of Aprill. 1579.
