I have been looking for the answers to a couple of questions
for a few years now and I wonder if anyone out there can now
answer?
In his 'Glosse' for June, in the anonymous 'Shepheardes Calender',
E.K. tells us that the poet "for special occasion of private affairs
(as I have been partly of himself informed) and for his more
preferment, removing out of the Northparts came into the south,
as Hobbinol indeed advised him privately"
"Those hills" is explained as "that is the North country, where he
dwelt."
He goes on to say "The Southparts where he now abideth, which
they be full of hills and woods (for Kent is very hilly and woody and
therefore so-called: for Kantish in the Saxon's tongue signifieth
woody) yet in respect of the Northparts they be called dales. For
indeed the North is counted the higher country".
It has been said that E.K. is referring to Spenser's move from
Lancashire to Kent but it seems pretty clear that he is referring
to Colin's move from the Northparts of Kent to the Southparts
of Kent. From the hills to the dales -- from what are referred to
the North Downs to the South Downs.
Comments please?
Moving on to 'Colin Clouts come home again'. Lines 270 and
271 tell us "We Lundy pass; by that same name is meant an
island, which the first to WEST was shown".
If, as we are told, this was a description of Spenser sailing
from Ireland to England, how can Lundy possibly be the first
land that they see when sailing WEST? Lundy is an island
off the coast of DEVON and the only way that it can be "first
to west" is if Colin had sailed from an English port -- either
Barnstaple or Bideford or maybe even Hartland Quay.
Mention of Hartland Quay has reminded me of line 228 --
"Then hartless quite and full of inward fear". Hartless?
That's a strange word in that context -- unless the author
means that they have left HARTland Quay or sailed past
HARTland Point, the nearest piece of the mainland to
Lundy Island.
So where were Colin and Sir Walter Ralegh going to on
their voyage to that strange land that seemed like heaven?
He had seen "other men and beasts and birds". Are the
English men, beasts and birds that much different from
the Irish?
Why is it accepted that this is a simple crossing from
Ireland to England? Was 'The Shepherd of the Ocean'
so unsure of his directions that he went around in circles?
These questions are reasonable and it would be nice to
receive reasonable replies...
Peter Zenner
Phone/fax (0) 1246 271726
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