Page:Spencer - The Shepheardes Calender, conteining twelue æglogues proportionable to the twelue monethes, 1586.djvu/28

 There grew, This tale of the Oake and the Brere, hee telleth' as learned of Chaucer, but it is cleane in another kinde, and rather like to Aesops fables, It is verie excellent for pleaſant deſcriptions, being altogether a certeine Icon ot Hypotypoſis of diſdainefull yonkers,

Sneb, checke.

Why ſtand,t, The ſpeach is ſcornfull and verie preſumpteous. in graine. Trees of ſtate, taller trees fit for timber wood. ſturdy. an ſpeach of ambitious nen.

Coronall, Garland.

The Primroſe, The chiefe and worthieſt.

Naked armes, metaphorically ment of the bare boughes, ſpoiled of leanes.This colourably he ſpeaketh, as adiudging him to the fire.

The blood, ſpoken of a blocke, as it were of a liuing. creature, figuratinely, and (as they ſay) Kat’ etkaſmon,

Hoarie lockes, metaphorically for withered leaues. Enaunter, leaſt that.

The prieſtes crew, holy water pot, wherewith the popiſh prieſt vſed to ſprinkele and hallow the trees from miſchauce. Such blindnes was in thoſe times, which the Poet ſuppoſeth to haue beene the finall decay of this auncient Oake.

The blocke oft groned,a liuely figure, which giueth ſence and feeling to vnſenſible creatures as Virgil alſo ſaith: ''Saxa gemunt grauido. &c.''

Boreas, The Northrne wind, that bringeth the moſt ſtormie weather.

Glee, cheare and iollity.

For ſcorning Eld, And minding (as ſhould ſeeme) to haue made rime to the former verſe.

Galage a, ſtartup or clowniſh ſhoe.

This embleme is ſpuken of Thenot, as a morall of his former tale: namely, that God, which is himſelfe moſt aged, being before all ages,and without beggining, maketh thoſe whom he loueth, like to himſelfe, in heaping yeares vnto their dayes, and bleſſing them with long life. For the bleſſing of age is not giuen to all, but vnto, whom God will ſo bleſſe,and albeit that many euil men reach vnto ſuch fulnes of yeares, and ſome alſo waxe old in miſerie and thraldome, yet therefore is not age euer the leſſe bleſsing. For euen to ſuch euil men ſuch number of yeares is added, that they may in their laſt dayes repent, and come to their firſt home. So the olde man checketh the raw-headed boye, for deſpiſing his gray and froſtie haires.

Whom Cuddie doth counterbuſſe with a byting and bitter prouerbe, ſpoken in deede at the firſt in contempt of old-age generally. For it was an olde opinion,and yet is continned in ſome mens conceite, that men of yeares haue no feare of God at all, or not ſo much as yonger folke. For that being ripened with long experience, and hauing paſſed manye bitter brunts and blaſtes of vengeance, they dread no ſtormes of Fortune, nor wrath of Gods, nor danger of men, as being either by long and ripe wiſedeme armed againſt all miſchances and aduerſitie, or with much trouble hardened againſt all troubleſome tides: like vnto the Ape; of which is ſaide in Aeſops fables, that oftentimes meeting the Lion, hee was at firſt ſore agaſt and diſmaide at the grimneſſe and auſteritie of his countenance, but at laſt being acquainted with his lookes, he was ſo farre from fearing him, that he woold familiarly gybe and ieaſt with him: Such long experience beredeth in ſome men ſecuritie. Althongh it pleaſe Eraſmus, a great clarke and good old father, more fatherly and fauourably