Specimens of English literature from the 'Ploughmans crede' to the ...

XXVIII. (a) the shepheardes calender. 345Pisces all Nouember : a haske is a wicker pad, wherein they vseto cary fish.2 1 . Fire/aies^ a light kind of song.30. Bee (watred) For it is a saying of Poetes, that they hauedronk of the Muses well Gast[a]lias, whereof was before sufficientlysayd.36. Dreriment) dreery and heauy cheere.38. The great shepheard, is some man of high degree, and not,as some vainely suppose, God Pan. The person both of theshephearde and of Dido is vnknowen and closely buried in theAuthors conceipt. But out of doubt I am, that it is not Rosalind,as some imagin : for he speaketh^ soone after of her also.38. Shene') fayre and shining.39. May^ for mayde.41. Tene) sorrow.45. Guerdon') reward.46. Bynempt) bequethed.46. Cosset) a lambe brought vp without the dam.51. Fnkempt) Inco;«pti. Not comed, that is, rude & vnhansome.53. Melpomene) The sadde and waylefull Muse, vsed of Poetsin honor of Tragedies : as saith Virgile—Melpomene Tragicoproclamat maesta boatu.55. Vp griesly gosts) The maner of Tragicall Poetes, to call forhelpe of Furies, and damned ghostes : so is Hecuba of Euripides,and Tantalus brought in of Seneca. And the rest of the rest.60. *Herse) is the solemne obsequie in funeralles.64. fVast of) decay of so beautifull a peece.66. Carke) care.Tl. Ah qjuhy) an elegant Epanorthosis : as also soone after, ' naytime was long ago' (1. 81).83. Flouret, a diminutiue^ for a little floure. This is a notable>and sententious comparison, A minore ad mains.89. Reliuen not) liue not againe. s[cilicet,] not in theyr earthlybodies : for in heauen they enioy their due reward.91. The braunch) He meaneth Dido, who being, as it were, themayne braunch now withered, the buddes, that is, beautie (as hesayd afore) can no more flourish.96. IVtth cakes) fit for shepheards bankets.98. Heame) for home, after the northerne pronouncing.107. Tinct) deyed or stayned.108. The gaudie) the meaning is, that the things, which werethe ornaments of her lyfe, are made the honor of her funerall, asis vsed in burialls.1 Printed ' speakerh.'"^Printed * dimumtine.