[90] The title of the collection as originally published is obviously ambiguous—­is Shepheardes’ to be considered as singular or plural?  There is a tendency among modern critics to evade the difficulty in such cases by quoting titles in the original spelling.  I confess that this practice seems to me both clumsy and pedantic.  In the present case there can be little doubt that the title of Spenser’s work was suggested by the Calender of Shepherds.  On the other hand, I think it is likewise clear that the poet, in adopting it, was thinking particularly of Colin Clout—­that he intended, that is, to call his poems ’the calender of the shepherd’ (see first line of postscript), rather than ’the calender for shepherds.’  I have therefore adopted the singular form.  ‘Calender’ is, I think, a defensible spelling.

[91] The alternative view, which would make Spenser his own commentator, is not without supporters both in Germany and in this country.  Even were the question, however, one of greater importance from our point of view, the ‘proofs’ so far adduced do not constitute sufficient of an a priori case to justify discussion here.

[92] Anglia, iii. p. 266, and ix. p. 205.

[93] At the end of the Calender Spenser placed as his motto ’Merce non mercede’—­as merchandise, not for reward.

[94] On all questions relating to the Shepherd’s Calender see C. H. Herford’s edition, to which I gratefully acknowledge my indebtedness.  So far as I am aware, we possess no more admirable edition of any monument of English literature.

[95] Cf. the titles of Drayton’s Idea and Basse’s MS. eclogues, infra.

[96] Discoveries, 1640 (-41), p. 116 (Gifford, 1875; Sec. cxxv).  The ‘ancients,’ as appears from the context, are Chaucer and Gower.

[97] Apology for Poetry, 1595; Arber’s edition, p. 63.

[98] Even Sidney’s authorities break down to some extent.  Theocritus certainly modified the literary dialect in his pastoral idyls, and we may recall that when Vergil began his third eclogue with the line—­

  Die mihi, Damoeta, cuium pecus? an Meliboei?

a wit of Rome retorted: 

  Die mihi, Damoeta, ‘cuium pecus?’ anne Latinum?

Or again it may be asked whether Lorenzo de’ Medici is not as good a name to conjure by as Jacopo Sannazzaro.

[99] Some of the eclogues are mucn more pronouncedly dialectal than others, but even within the limits of a single one, literary and dialectal forms may often be found used indiscriminately.  See Herford’s remarks on the subject.

[100] ‘February,’ l. 33, &c.  Lines 35-6 contain one of the few direct reminiscences of Chaucer.  Cf. House of Fame, II. 1225-6.  Spenser repeated the imitation, Faery Queen, VI. ix. 43-5, and was followed by Fletcher, Faithful Shepherdess, V. v. 183-4.

[101] Pastime of Pleasure, xxxv. 6, from the edition of 1555 (Percy Soc., 1845, p. 113).