This is by far the biggest ever anthology of English Renaissance pastoral poetry, and among the biggest recent anthologies of any type of Renaissance poetry. It includes 277 pieces extending from Robert Henryson to pastoral elegists for Charles I. Barclay, Spenser, Sidney, Drayton, Jonson and Drummond are amply represented alongside their many contemporaries. There is a wide range of pastoral lyrics, weightier allusive pieces, and translations from classical and vernacular pastoral poetry; also, more unusually, pastoral ballads, and poems set in all kinds of prose works.
Pastoral is gaining new attention because of its range of themes and allusions, as well as the theoretical implications of the mode. These concerns are conveyed through a distinctive vein of imagination that has exercised poets since the Hellenistic period, but was most widely and variously explored in the Renaissance. This book opens up the full vista of Renaissance pastoral.
Each piece has been newly edited from the original manuscripts and early printed editions. The apparatus includes a headnote, glosses on unfamiliar words and constructions, and a detailed commentary annotating all aspects of the text. It thus meets every need of students of the genre or period, besides catering to more advanced scholars. This book will be complemented by a second volume, which will include a detailed expanded introduction, full textual notes, notes on the authors and various analytic indices.

Sukanta Chaudhuri is Professor Emeritus at Jadavpur University, Kolkata

Introduction to Volume 1
1. Idyll VIII Theocritus, tr. anon.
2. Idyll XI Theocritus, tr. anon.
3. The Pastorall Wooing Theocritus, tr. Edward Sherburne
4. Fragments Theocritus and Virgil, tr. 'T.B.'
5. Epitaph on Bion Moschus, tr. Thomas Stanley
6. Eclogue I Virgil, tr. William Webbe
7. Eclogue II Virgil, tr. Abraham Fraunce
8. Eclogue IV Virgil, tr. Abraham Fleming
9. Eclogue X Virgil, tr. Abraham Fleming
10. Georgic II Virgil, tr. Abraham Cowley
11. Georgic III Virgil, tr. Richard Robinson
12. Epode II Horace, tr. Sir Richard Fanshawe
13. On the Rustic Life Martial(?), tr. Richard Ashmore
14. The Consolation of Philosophy, Bk II, Poem 5 Boethius, tr. Queen Elizabeth I
15. Eclogue IV.1-75 Mantuan, tr. George Turberville
16. Eclogue VI.54-105 Mantuan, tr. Alexander Barclay
17. Eclogue VII.1-50 Mantuan, tr. Thomas Harvey
18. Robene and Makyne Robert Henryson
19. From Of Gentleness and Nobility John Rastell (?), John Heywood (?)
20. To His Little Field Marcantonio Flaminio, tr. Richard Ashmore
21. Kala's Complaint Basilio Zanchi, tr. William Drummond of Hawthornden
22. 'O eyes, that see not him' Jorge de Montemeyor, tr. Bartholomew Yong
23. Passed Contents Jorge de Montemeyor, tr. Bartholomew Yong
24. 'I pray thee keep my kine' Alonso Perez, tr. Bartholomew Yong
25. Prologue to the Eclogues Alexander Barclay
26. Eclogue I.175-304 Alexander Barclay
27. Eclogue III.455-524 Alexander Barclay
28. Eclogue IV. 37-66, 93-232 Alexander Barclay
29. 'Oh! Shepherd, Oh! Shepherd' Anonymous
30. 'Hey, troly loly lo, maid, whither go you?' Anonymous
31. Harpelus' Complaint Anonymous
32. Eclogue II: Dametas Barnabe Googe
33. Golden Age Chorus Torquato Tasso, tr. Samuel Daniel
34. Golden Age Chorus Giovanni Battista Guarini, tr. Richard Fanshawe
35. 'Along the verdant fields' Jean Chassanion, tr. Thomas Beard
36. Song Jean Passerat, tr. William Drummond of Hawthornden
37. 'There where the pleasant Eske' Antonio Beffa, tr. William Drummond of Hawthornden
38. The Shepherd's Calendar, 'April' Edmund Spenser
39. 'O ye nymphs most fine' William Webbe
40. The Shepherd's Calendar, 'June' Edmund Spenser
41. The Shepherd's Calendar, 'July' Edmund Spenser
42. From Colin Clout's Come Home Again Edmund Spenser
43. Astrophel Edmund Spenser
44. The Faerie Queene VI.ix.5-36 Edmund Spenser
45. The Faerie Queene V.x.5-30 Edmund Spenser
46. From The Lady of May Philip Sidney
47. 'Come, shepherd's weeds...' Philip Sidney
48. 'My sheep are thoughts' Philip Sidney
49. 'And are you there Old Pas?' Philip Sidney
50. 'O sweet woods' Philip Sidney
51. 'You goat-herd gods...' Philip Sidney
52. 'Since that to death' Philip Sidney
53. 'Philisides, the Shepherd good and true' Philip Sidney (?)
54. Of the Quietness that Plain Country Bringeth Thomas Churchyard
55. From A Revelation of the True Minerva Thomas Blenerhasset
56. Argentile and Curan William Warner
57. Amyntas: The Second Lamentation Thomas Watson, tr. Abraham Fraunce
58. Amyntas: The Last Lamentation Thomas Watson, tr. Abraham Fraunce
59. An Old-Fashioned Love, Epistle 1 John Trussel (?)
60. The Argument of Amyntas John Finet (?)
61. 'Arcadian Syrinx' Abraham Fraunce
62. A Tale of Robin Hood Anonymous
63. From Daphnis and Chloe Angel Day
64. An Eclogue Gratulatory to Robert Earl of Essex George Peele
65. From Descensus Astraeae George Peele
66. Apollo and Daphne, from the Bisham Entertainment Anonymous
67. An Eclogue Between a Shepherd and a Herdman Arthur Gorges
68. The Country Lass Arthur Gorges
69. The Herdman's Happy Life William Byrd
70. 'Though Amarillis dance in green' William Byrd
71. The Shepherd's Ode Robert Greene
72. Doron's Jig Robert Greene
73. Doron's Eclogue Joined with Carmela's Robert Greene
74. The Description of the Shepherd and his Wife Robert Greene
75. The Shepherd's Wife's Song Robert Greene
76. The Song of a Country Swain at the Return of Philador Robert Greene
77. Of the Vanity of Wanton Writings Robert Greene
78. Old Damon's Pastoral Thomas Lodge
79. Coridon's Song Thomas Lodge
80. A Pleasant Eclogue between Montanus and Coridon Thomas Lodge
81. Phillis, Sonnet 4 Thomas Lodge
82. Phillis, Sonnet 12 Thomas Lodge
83. To Reverend Colin Thomas Lodge
84. The Passionate Shepherd to his Love Christopher Marlowe
85. The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd Walter Ralegh (?)
86. Another of the Same Nature Anonymous
87. Psalm 23 tr. Sir John Davies
88. On Lazy and Sleeping Shepherds Andrew Willett
89. Coridon to his Phillis Edward Dyer (?)
90. 'One night I did attend my sheep' Barnabe Barnes
91. 'Sing sing (Parthenophil)' Barnabe Barnes
92. From Oenone and Paris Thomas Heywood
93. From Amphrisa the Forsaken Shepherdess Thomas Heywood
94. Mercury's Song Thomas Heywood
95. From The Affectionate Shepherd, The Second Day Richard Barnfield
96. From 'The Shepherd's Content' Richard Barnfield
97. Cynthia, Sonnet XV Richard Barnfield
98. Cynthia, Sonnet XVIII Richard Barnfield
99. From Moderatus Robert Parry
100. Damon's Ditty Francis Sabie
101. 'Shepherd, i'faith now I say' Robert Sidney
102. 'Day which so bright dids't shine' Robert Sidney
103. Chloris, Sonnet 3 William Smith
104. Chloris, Sonnet 5 William Smith
105. From The Shepherd's Complaint John Dickenson
106. Description of Arcadia, from The Shepherd's Complaint John Dickenson
107. 'In a field full fair of flowers' Anonymous
108. The Unknown Shepherd's Complaint Anonymous
109. To Thomas Strangways Thomas Bastard
110. Sonnet from Sundry Christian Passions Henry Lok
111. 'The Lord he is my shepherd' Nicholas Breton
112. 'Upon a dainty hill' Nicholas Breton
113. 'In time of yore' Nicholas Breton
114. 'Fair in a morn' Nicholas Breton
115. 'Fair Phillis is the shepherds' queen' Nicholas Breton
116. A pastoral of Phillis and Coridon Nicholas Breton
117. 'In the merry month of May' Nicholas Breton
118. 'The fields are green' Nicholas Breton
119. A Shepherd's Dream Nicholas Breton (?)
120. Coridon's Supplication to Phillis Nicholas Breton
121. The Second Shepherd's Song Nicholas Breton
122. A Farewell to the World Nicholas Breton
123. 'Peace Shepherd' Anonymous
124. 'When I was a little swain' Nicholas Breton (?)
125. A Pastoral Riddle Anonymous
126. Upon a Kiss Given John Lilliat
127. The Shepherdess Her Reply John Lilliat
128. An Excellent Pastoral Ditty John Ramsey (?)
129. On the Reported Death of the Earl of Essex Anonymous
130. Votum Primum Anonymous
131. The Page's Pleasant Rustick Anonymous
132. Theorello. A Shepherd's Idyllion Edmund Bolton (?)
133. The Shepherd's Song for Christmas Edmund Bolton (?)
134. Phillida's Love-Call to Her Coridon, and His Replying Anonymous
135. Damætas' Jig in Praise of His Love John Wootton
136. Wodenfride's Song in Praise of Amargana W.H. (?)
137. A Poor Shepherd's Introduction Robert Chester
138. Eclogue upon the Death of Sir Philip Sidney 'A.W'
139. A Dialogue between Two Shepherds in Praise of Astraea Mary Herbert, Countess of Pembroke
140. Fiction How Cupid Made a Nymph Wound Herself with His Arrows Anonymous
141. 'A shepherd poor' Francis Davison
142. From The Ocean to Cynthia Walter Ralegh
143. Epitaph on Robert Cecil Walter Ralegh
144. 'Feed on my flocks' Henry Chettle
145. A Pastoral Song between Phillis and Amarillis Henry Chettle (?)
146. The Shepherd's Spring Song Henry Chettle
147. The Good Shepherd's Sorrow Anonymous
148. The Shepherd's Lamentation Anonymous
149. Fair Dulcina Complaineth Anonymous
150. A Pleasant Country Maying Song Anonymous
151. The Country Lass Martin Parker (?)
152. The Obsequy of Fair Phillida Anonymous
153. The Shepherd and the King Anonymous
154. The Lover's Delight Anonymous
155. Phillida Flouts Me Anonymous
156. Robin Hood and the Shepherd Anonymous
157. The Arcadian Lovers Anonymous
158. The Beautiful Shepherdess of Arcadia Anonymous
159. 'As at noon Dulcina rested' Anonymous
160. Idea the Shepherd's Garland, Eclogue VII Michael Drayton
161. Idea the Shepherd's Garland, Eclogue VIII Michael Drayton
162. Eclogue IX, 1606 Michael Drayton
163. From Poly-Olbion Michael Drayton
164. The Shepherd's Sirena Michael Drayton
165. The Description of Elizium Michael Drayton
166. The Muses Elizium, Nymphal VI Michael Drayton
167. The Muses Elizium, Nymphal X Michael Drayton
168. From Pastoral Elegy III William Basse
169. Laurinella, of True and Chaste Love William Basse
170. Phillis Giovan Battista (Giambattista) Marino, tr. William Drummond of Hawthornden
171. A Shepherd Inviting a Nymph to His Cottage Girolamo Preti, tr. Edward Sherburne
172. 'Jolly shepherd and upon a hill as he sat' Thomas Ravenscroft
173. 'Come follow me merrily' Thomas Ravenscroft
174. To His Loving Friend Master John Fletcher George Chapman
175. Hymn to Pan, from The Faithful Shepherdess John Fletcher
176. A Sonnet Honoré d'Urfé
177. 'Close by a river clear' Honoré d'Urfé
178. From Christ's Victory and Triumph Giles Fletcher
179. The Complaint of the Shepherd Harpalus David Murray
180. 'A jolly shepherd that sat on Sion hill' Anonymous
181. 'Alas, Our Shepherd' William Alabaster
182. The Shepherd's Speech from Himatia-Poleos Anthony Munday
183. To His Much Loved Friend Master W Browne Christopher Brooke
184. An Eclogue between Willy and Wernocke John Davies of Hereford
185. The Shepherd's Hunting, Eclogue V George Wither
186. From Fair Virtue George Wither
187. Hymn for a Sheep-Shearing George Wither
188. Hymn for a Shepherd George Wither
189. From Britannia's Pastorals, Book I William Browne
190. From Britannia's Pastorals, Book II Song 1 ll.817-1050 William Browne
191. To Penshurst Ben Jonson
192. To Sir Robert Wroth Ben Jonson
193. Hymns from Pan's Anniversary Ben Jonson
194. A New Year's Gift Sung to King Charles, 1635 Ben Jonson
195. From The Careless Shepherdess Thomas Goffe
196. Damon and Moeris William Drummond of Hawthornden
197. Erycine at the Departure of Alexis William Drummond of Hawthornden
198. Alexis to Damon William Alexander
199. A Pastoral Elegy on the Death of Sir Anthony Alexander William Drummond of Hawthornden
200. Fragment of a Greater Work William Drummond of Hawthornden
201. From Damon: Or a Pastoral Elegy George Lauder
202. Hermes and Lycaon Edward Fairfax
203. The Solitude Antoine Girard Saint-Amant, tr. Thomas, Third Baron Fairfax.
204. Amor Constans Christopher Morley
205. The Shepherd's Dialogue of Love Anonymous
206. Technis' Tale Richard Brathwait
207. The Shepherd's Holiday Richard Brathwait
208. 'Tell me love what thou canst do' Richard Brathwait
209. Song: 'Love as well can make abiding' Mary Wroth
210. 'A shepherd who no care did take' Mary Wroth
211. 'You pleasant flowery mead' Mary Wroth
212. Of Jack and Tom James I
213. From Taylor's Pastoral John Taylor
214. 'Woodmen Shepherds' James Shirley
215. An Eclogue between a Carter and a Shepherd Nicholas Oldisworth
216. A Sonnet William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke
217. An Ode upon Occasion of His Majesty's Proclamation Richard Fanshawe
218. Songs from Fuimus Troes Jasper Fisher
219. Piscatory Eclogue VII Phineas Fletcher
220. To My Beloved Thenot in Answer of His Verse Phineas Fletcher
221. From The Purple Island Phineas Fletcher
222. Christmas, Part II George Herbert
223. To My Noblest Friend, I. C. Esquire William Habington
224. That a Pleasant Poverty Is to Be Preferred Before Discontented Riches Abraham Cowley
225. The Country Life Abraham Cowley, tr. by himself
226. Eclogue to Master Jonson Thomas Randolph
227. An Eclogue Occasioned by Two Doctors Disputing upon Predestination Thomas Randolph
228. An Eclogue on the Palilia on Cotswold Hills Thomas Randolph
229. A Dialogue betwixt a Nymph and a Shepherd Thomas Randolph
230. Lycidas John Milton
231. Ode IV.21: From The Song of Song Casimir Sarbiewski, tr. George Hills
232. The Praise of a Religious Recreation Casimir Sarbiewski, tr. George Hills
233. The Spring Thomas Carew
234. To Saxham Thomas Carew
235. On Westwell Downs William Strode
236. Thenot's Abode Anonymous
237. All Hail to Hatfield Anonymous
238. Tom and Will Sidney Godolphin (?)
239. The Shepherd's Oracle Francis Quarles
240. Scenes from a Pastoral Play Jane Cavendish and Elizabeth Brackley
241. A Pastoral upon the Birth of Prince Charles Robert Herrick
242. A Pastoral Sung to the King Robert Herrick
243. To His Muse Robert Herrick
244. The Hock-Cart Robert Herrick
245. A New-Year's Gift Sent to Sir Simeon Steward Robert Herrick
246. A Dialogue Weeping the Loss of Pan Mildmay Fane
247. My Happy Life, to a Friend Mildmay Fane
248. In Praise of a Country Life Mildmay Fane
249. From Psyche Joseph Beaumont
250. A Pastoral Dialogue between Coridon and Thirsis Anonymous
251. The Shepherds Henry Vaughan
252. Daphnis: An Elegiac Eclogue Henry Vaughan
253. From The Shepherd's Holiday William Denny
254. 'Jack! Nay prithee come away' Patrick Cary
255. The Pleasure of Retirement Edward Benlowes
256. A Description of Shepherds and Shepherdesses Margaret Cavendish
257. A Shepherd's Employment Is Too Mean an Allegory for Noble Ladies Margaret Cavendish
258. Similizing the Sea to Meadows and Pastures Margaret Cavendish
259. Jack the Plough-Lad's Lamentation Thomas Robins (?)
260. A Pastoral Dialogue Thomas Weaver
261. The Isle of Man Thomas Weaver
262. Upon Cloris Her Visit after Marriage William Hammond
263. A Pastoral Song: With the Answer Anonymous
264. A Pastoral Song Anonymous
265. A Song Anonymous
266. The Land-Schap between Two Hills Eldred Revett
267. The Milkmaids Anonymous
268. Coridon and Strephon Aston Cokayn
269. The Old Ballet of Shepherd Tom Anonymous
270. The Jolly Shepherd Anonymous
271. To My Ingenious Friend Master Brome Izaak Walton
272. Pastoral on the King's Death Alexander Brome
273. A Dialogue betwixt Lucasia and Rosania Katherine Philips
274. A Country Life Katherine Philips
275. Eclogue. Corydon, Clotten Charles Cotton
276. An Invitation to Phillis Charles Cotton
277. On the Execrable Murder of Charles I Anthony Spinedge
Index of Authors
Index of Titles and First Lines