of the _Shepherd's Calendar_ had
also, apparently, substantial results, which some of his friends thought
of with envy. They believed that it secured him high patronage, and
opened to him a way to fortune. Poor Gabriel Harvey, writing in the year
in which the _Shepherd's Calendar_ came out, contrasts his own less
favoured lot, and his ill-repaid poetical efforts, with Colin Clout's
good luck.

But ever and ever, methinks, your great Catoes, _Ecquid erit
pretii_, and our little Catoes, _Res age quae prosunt_, make
such a buzzing and ringing in my head, that I have little joy
to animate and encourage either you or him to go forward,
unless ye might make account of some certain ordinary wages,
or at the least wise have your meat and drink for your day's
works. As for myself, howsoever I have toyed and trifled
heretofore, I am now taught, and I trust I shall shortly
learn, (no remedy, I must of mere necessity give you over in
the plain field) to employ my travail and time wholly or
chiefly on those studies and practices that carry, as they
say, meat in their mouth, having evermore their eye upon the
Title, _De pane lucrando_, and their hand upon their
halfpenny. For I pray now what saith Mr. Cuddie, alias you
know who, in the tenth AEglogue of the aforesaid famous new
Calendar.

* * * * *

The dapper ditties, that I wont devise
To feed youths' fancy and the flocking fry,
Delighten much: what I the best for thy?
They han the pleasure, I a sclender prize.
I beat the bush, the birds to them do fly.
What good thereof to Cuddie can arise?

But Master Colin Clout is not everybody, and albeit his old
companions, Master Cuddie and Master Hobinoll, be as little
beholding to their mistress poetry as ever you wist: yet he,
peradventure, by the means of her special favour, and some
personal privilege, may haply live by _Dying Pelicans_, and
purchase great lands and lordships with the money which his
_Calendar_ and _Dreams_ have, and will afford him.

FOOTNOTES:

[42:1] In the _Guardian_, No. 40. Compare Johnson's _Life of Ambrose
Phillips_.

[42:2] _Shepherd's Calendar_, May, July, and September.

[46:3] First published in 1559. It was popular book, and was often
re-edited.

[46:4] Dedication to Virgil.