Decided to read the March section of Spenser's The Shepheardes Calendar it being the first day of the titular month. Quite enjoyed the to and fro between his two shepheards boyes taking occasion of the season but was taken aback somewhat by the poet's summary of his own 'message' in his own note on the Embleme at the end of the piece:
Hereby is meant, that of all the delights of Loue, wherein wanton youth walloweth, be but follye mixt with bitternesse, and sorrow sawced with repentaunce. For besides that the very affection of Loue it self tormenteth the mynde, and vexeth the body many wayes, with vnrestfulnesse all night, and wearines all day, seeking for that we can not haue, and fynding that we would not haue: even the selfe same things which best before vs lyked, in course of time and chaunge of ryper yeares, whiche also therewithall chaungeth our wonted lyking and former fantasies, will then seem lothsome and breede vs annoyaunce when yougthes flowere is withered, and we fynde our bodyes and wits aunswere not to such vayne iollitie and lustful pleasaunce.
Talk about, you give love a bad name! A reminder that for all the attractive features of his verse old Edmund was a harsh Puritan at heart with little of Shakespeare's sense of tolerance. And speaking as one whose youth's flower withered quite a while ago, I really don't mind a bit of vain jollity on occasion.
No comments:
Post a Comment