aintance with the brother naturally threw him into contact with
the sister; while the circumstance of her marriage with another
justifies the complaint of infidelity, and accounts for the
"insurmountable barrier," that is, a living husband. Daniel was the
early _protege_ of the Pembroke family, as was Spenser of the house
of Leicester. The youthful poets must often have met in the company
of their mutual friend, Sir Philip Sidney,--for the Countess of
Pembroke was the "Sidney's sister, Pembroke's mother," celebrated by
Ben Jonson, and consequently niece, as Sir Philip was nephew, of
Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. Rose and Edmund were thus thrown
together under circumstances every way favorable to the development
of love in a breast so susceptible as that of the "passionate
shepherd."

Other circumstances in the life of Rose Daniel correspond so
strikingly with those attributed to Rosalinde, as strongly to
corroborate the foregone conclusion.

Rosalinde, after having given encouragement to her enamored shepherd,
faithlessly and finally deserted him in favor of a rival. This is
evident throughout the "Shepherd's Calendar." The First Eclogue
reveals his passion:--

"I love thilk lass, (alas! why do I love?)
And am forlorne, (alas! why am I lorn?)
She deigns not my good will, but doth reprove,
And of my rural music holdeth scorn."

Her scorn, however, may have meant no more than the natural coyness
of a maiden whom the learned Upton somewhat drolly designates as
"a skittish female." [3] Indeed, Spenser must have thought so himself,
and with reason, for she continues to receive his presents,
"the kids, the cracknels, and the early fruit," sent through his
friend Hobbinoll (Gabriel Harvey).

We hear of no alteration of his circumstances until we reach the
Sixth Eclogue, in which the progress and utter disappointment of his
suit are distinctly and bitterly complained of. "This eclogue," says
the editorial "E.K.," "is wholly vowed to the complaining of Colin's
ill-success in love. For being (as is aforesaid) enamoured of a
country lass, Rosalinde, and having (as it seemeth) found place in
her heart, he lamenteth to his dear friend Hobbinoll that he is now
forsaken unfaithfully, and in his stead _Menalcas_, another shepherd,
received disloyally: and this is the whole argument of the eclogue."
In fact, she broke her plighted vow to Colin Clout, transferred her
heart to Menalcas, and let her hand accompany it.