pretty picture of a fine friendship between the future authors of _Hamlet_ and of the _Faerie Queene_. Shakspere was a mere child, not yet passed into the second of his Seven Ages, when Spenser, being then about seventeen years old, went up to the University. However, this matter need not be further considered, as there is no evidence whatever to connect Spenser with Warwickshire. But in picturing to ourselves Spenser's youth we must not think of London as it now is, or of East Smithfield as now cut off from the country by innumerable acres of bricks and mortar. The green fields at that time were not far away from Spenser's birthplace. And thus, not without knowledge and symnpathy, but with appreciative variations, Spenser could re-echo Marot's 'Eglogue au Roy sous les noms de Pan et Robin,' and its descriptions of a boy's rural wanderings and delights. See his _Shepheardes Calendar_, December:-- Whilome in youth when flowrd my joyfull spring, Like swallow swift I wandred here and there; For heate of heedlesse lust me did so sting, That I oft doubted daunger had no feare: I went the wastefull woodes and forrest wide Withouten dread of wolves to bene espide. I wont to raunge amid the mazie thicket And gather nuttes to make my Christmas game, And joyed oft to chace the trembling pricket, Or hunt the hartlesse hare till she were tame. What wreaked I of wintrie ages waste? Tho deemed I my spring would ever last. How often have I scaled the craggie oke All to dislodge the raven of her nest? How have I wearied, with many a stroke, The stately walnut-tree, the while the rest, Under the tree fell all for nuttes at strife? For like to me was libertie and life.