THE SHEPHEARD'S CALENDER: TWELVE AEGLOGUES PROPORTIONABLE TO THE TWELVE MONETHES ENTITLED TO THE NOBLE AND VERTUOUS GENTLEMAN MOST WORTHY OF ALL TITLES BOTH OF LEARNING & CHIVALRY, MAISTER PHILIP SIDNEY. BY EDMUND SPENSER: NEWLY ADORNED WITH TWELVE PICTURES AND OTHER DEVICES BY WALTER CRANE. LONDON & NEW YORK HARPER & BROTHERS MDCCCXCVIII TO HIS BOOK. Go, little Book! thyself present, As child whose parent is unkent, To him that is the President Of Nobleness and Chivalry: And if that Envy bark at thee, As sure it will, for succour flee Under the shadow of his wing. And, asked who thee forth did bring, A shepheard's swain, say, did thee sing, All as his straying flock he fed: And, when his Honour has thee read, Crave pardon for thy hardyhed. But, if that any ask thy name, Say, thou wert base-begot with blame; Forthy thereof thou takest shame. And, when thou art past jeopardy, Come tell me what was said of me, And I will send more after thee. IMMERITO. TABLE OF CONTENTS. PAGE THE EPISTLE ix THE GENERAL ARGUMENT xix JANUARIE. Ægloga Prima 1 FEBRUARIE. Ægloga Secunda 7 MARCH. Ægloga Tertia 17 APRIL. Ægloga Quarta 23 MAY. Ægloga Quinta 31 JUNE. Ægloga Sexta 43 JULY. Ægloga Septima 51 AUGUST. Ægloga Octava 61 SEPTEMBER. Ægloga Nona 71 OCTOBER. Ægloga Decima 81 NOVEMBER. Ægloga Undecima 89 DECEMBER. Ægloga Duodecima 99 EPILOGUE 107 NOTES 109 GLOSSARY 113 TO THE MOST EXCELLENT AND LEARNED BOTH ORATOR AND POET, MAISTER GABRIEL HARVEY, His very special and singular good friend E. K. commendeth the good liking of this his good labour, and the patronage of the new Poet.