Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction and the Drama, Vol. 3: A Revised American Edition of the Reader's HandbookBrewer, Ebenezer Cobham
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Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction and the Drama, Vol. 3: A Revised American Edition of the Reader's Handbook
Brewer, Ebenezer Cobham
Allusions; Fiction -- Dictionaries; Literature -- Dictionaries
=Passe-tyme of Plesure=, an allegorical poem in forty-six capitulos and in
seven-line stanzas, by Stephen Hawes (1506)[TN-66] The poet supposes that
while Graunde Amoure was walking in a meadow he encountered Fame,
“enuyroned with tongues of fyre,” who told him about La bell Pucell, a
ladye fair, living in the Tower of Musike, and then departed, leaving
him under the charge of Gouernaunce and Grace, who conducted him to the
Tower of Doctrine. Countenaunce, the portress, showed him over the
tower, and Lady Science sent him to Gramer. Afterwards he was sent to
Logyke, Rethorike, Inuention, Arismetrike and Musike. In the Tower of
Musike he met La bell Pucell, pleaded his love, and was kindly
entreated; but they were obliged to part for the time being, while
Graunde Amoure continued his “passe-tyme of plesure.” On quitting La
bell Pucell he went to Geometrye and then to Dame Astronomy. Then,
leaving the Tower of Science, he entered that of Chyualry. Here Mynerue
introduced him to Kyng Melyzyus, after which he went to the temple of
Venus, who sent a letter on his behalf to La bell Pucell. Meanwhile the
giant False Report (or Godfrey Gobilyue) met him, and put him to great
distress in the house of Correction, but Perceueraunce at length
conducted him to the manor-house of Dame Comfort. After sundry trials
Graunde Amoure married La bell Pucell, and, after many a long day of
happiness and love, was arrested by Age, who took him before Policye and
Auarice. Death in time came for him, and Remembraunce wrote his epitaph.
=Pastor Fi´do= (_Il_), a pastoral by Giovanni Battista Guari´ni of Ferrara
(1585).
=Pastoral Romance= (_The Father of_), Honoré d’Urfé (1567-1625).
=Pastorella=, the fair shepherdess (bk. vi. 9), beloved by Corydon, but
“neither for him nor any other did she care a whit.” She was a
foundling, brought up by the shepherd Melibee. When Sir Calidore (3
_syl._) was the shepherd’s guest, he fell in love with the fair
foundling, who returned his love. During the absence of Sir Calidore in
a hunting expedition, Pastorella, with Melibee and Corydon, were carried
off by brigands. Melibee was killed, Corydon effected his escape, and
Pastorella was wounded. Sir Calidore went to rescue his shepherdess,
killed the brigand chief, and brought back the captive in safety (bk.
vi. 11). He took her to Belgard Castle, and it turned out that the
beautiful foundling was the daughter of Lady Claribel and Sir Bellamour
(bk, vi. 12).--Spenser, _Faëry Queen_, vi. 9-12 (1596).
“Pastorella” is meant for Frances Walsingham, daughter of Sir Francis
Walsingham, whom Sir Philip Sidney (“Sir Calidore”) married. After
Sidney’s death the widow married the earl of Essex (the queen’s
favorite). Sir Philip being the author of a romance called _Arcadia_
suggested to the poet the name Pastorella.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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