GLOSSE.
COLIN Cloute) is a name not greatly vsed, and yet haue I sene a Poesie of M. Skel∣tons vnder that title. But indeede the vvord Colin is Frenche, and vsed of the French Poete Marot (if he be worthy of the name of a Poete) in a certein Aeg∣logue. Vnder which name this Poete secretly shadoweth himself, as sometime did Virgil vnder the name of Tityrus, thinking it much fitter, then such Latine names, for the great vnlikelyhoode of the language.
vnnethes) scarcely.
couthe) commeth of the verbe Conne, that is, to knovv or to haue skill. As vvell inter∣preteth the same the worthy Sir Tho. Smitth in his booke of gouerment: wher of I haue a perfect copie in wryting, lent me by his kinseman, and my verye sin∣gular good freend, M. Gabriel Haruey: as also of some other his most graue & excellent vvrytings.
Sythe) time. Neighbour tovvne) the next tovvne: expressing the Latine Vicina.
Stoure) a fitt. Sere) vvithered.
His clovvnish gyfts) imitateth Virgils verse,
Rusticus es Corydon, nec munera curat Alexis.
Hobbinol) is a fained country name, vvhereby, it being so commune and vsuall, seemeth to be hidden the person of some his very speciall & most familiar freend, whom he entirely and extraordinarily beloued, as peraduenture shall be more largely declared hereafter. In thys place seemeth to be some sauour of disorderly loue, vvhich the learned call paederastice: but it is gathered beside his meaning. For vvho that hath red Plato his dialogue called Alcybiades, Xenophon and Max∣imus Tyrius of Socrates opinions, may easily perceiue, that such loue is muche to be alowed and liked of, specially so meant, as Socrates vsed it: vvho sayth, that in deede he loued Alcybiades extremely, yet not Alcybiades person, but hys soule, vvhich is Alcybiades ovvne selfe. And so is paederastice much to be prae∣ferred before gynerastice, that is the loue vvhiche enflameth men vvith lust to∣vvard vvoman kind. But yet let no man thinke, that herein I stand vvith Lucian or hys deuelish disciple Vnico Aretino, in defence of execrable and horrible sinnes of forbidden and vnlavvful fleshlinesse. VVhose abominable errour is ful∣ly confuted of Perionius, and others.
I loue) a prety Epanorthosis in these tvvo verses, and vvithall a Paronomasia or play∣ing vvith the vvord, vvhere he sayth (I loue thilke lasse (alas &c.
Rosalinde) is also a feigned name, vvhich being wel ordered, vvil bevvray the very name of hys loue and mistresse, vvhom by that name he coloureth. So as Ouide sha∣doweth hys loue vnder the name of Corynna, vvhich of some is supposed to be