And rising vp, gan streight to ouerlooke
2 Those cursed leaues, his charmes backe to reuerse;
Full dreadfull things out of that balefull booke
4 He red, and measur'd many a sad verse,
That horror gan the virgins hart to perse,
6 And her faire lockes vp stared stiffe on end,
Hearing him those same bloudy lines reherse;
8 And all the while he red, she did extend
Her sword high ouer him, if ought he did offend.
1 And rising up, began straight to overlook
straight > straightway, immediately overlook > inspect, peruse
2 Those cursed leaves, his charms back to reverse;
leaves > pages; writings charms > spells
3 Full dreadful things out of that baleful book
Full > Exceedingly baleful > deadly, woe-dealing
4 He read, and measured many a sad verse,
measured > traversed, hence: read, read through; also: appraised sad > grievous, calamitous verse > line, versicle; verse
5 That horror began the virgin's heart to pierce,
That > [So that]
6 And her fair locks upstared stiff on end,
upstared > stood erect stiff > stiffly; violently
7 Hearing him those same bloody lines rehearse;
rehearse > read aloud, recite
8 And all the while he read, she did extend 9 Her sword high over him, if aught he did offend.
if aught he did offend > [in case in any respect he should be at fault; in case he did anything wrong]
312.37
Anon she gan perceiue the house to quake,
2 And all the dores to rattle round about;
Yet all that did not her dismaied make,
4 Nor slacke her threatfull hand for daungers dout,
But still with stedfast eye and courage stout
6 Abode, to weet what end would come of all.
At last that mightie chaine, which round about
8 Her tender waste was wound, adowne gan fall,
And that great brasen pillour broke in peeces small.
1 Anon she gan perceive the house to quake,
Anon > Straightway; (catachr.) soon gan > did
2 And all the doors to rattle round about; 3 Yet all that did not her dismayed make, 4 Nor slack her threatful hand for danger's doubt,
slack > [did it make her slacken] threatful > threatening danger's doubt > fear of danger
5 But still with steadfast eye and courage stout
still > ever; motionlessly courage stout > resolute courage; brave spirit
6 Abode, to weet what end would come of all.
Abode > [She] waited, remained weet > learn, find out
7 At last that mighty chain, which round about 8 Her tender waist was wound, adown gan fall,
adown gan fall > did fall down
9 And that great brazen pillar broke in pieces small.
312.38
The cruell steele, which thrild her dying hart,
2 Fell softly forth, as of his owne accord,
And the wyde wound, which lately did dispart
4 Her bleeding brest, and riuen bowels gor'd,
Was closed vp, as it had not bene +bor'd+,
6 And euery part to safety full sound,
As she were neuer hurt, was soone restor'd:
8 Tho when she felt her selfe to be vnbound,
And perfect hole, prostrate she fell vnto the ground.
5 bor'd > sor'd 1590
1 The cruel steel which thrilled her dying heart
thrilled > pierced
2 Fell softly forth, as of its own accord, 3 And the wide wound, which lately did dispart
dispart > divide, cleave asunder
4 Her bleeding breast, and riven bowels gored,
riven > split, torn open bowels > heart, breast gored > wounded, pierced, spiked
5 Was closed up, as it had not been bored,
as > [as if] bored > pierced; hence: made
6 And every part to safety full sound,
full > very
7 As she were never hurt, was soon restored:
As > [As though] soon > straightway
8 Tho when she felt herself to be unbound,
Tho > Then; though
9 And perfect whole, prostrate she fell to the ground.
312.39
Before faire Britomart, she fell prostrate,
2 Saying, Ah noble knight, what worthy meed
Can wretched Lady, quit from wofull state,
4 Yield you in liew of this your gratious deed?
Your vertue selfe her owne reward shall breed,
6 Euen immortall praise, and glory wyde,
Which I your vassall, by your prowesse freed,
8 Shall through the world make to be notifyde,
And goodly well aduance, that goodly well was tryde.
1 Before fair Britomart she fell prostrate, 2 Saying, "Ah noble knight, what worthy meed
meed > reward
3 Can wretched lady, quit from woeful state,
quit > redeemed
4 Yield you in lieu of this your gracious deed?
in lieu of > in place of; hence: as recompense for
5 Your virtue itself its own reward shall breed, 6 Even immortal praise, and glory wide, 7 Which I, your vassal, by your prowess freed,
vassal > slave prowess > valour
8 Shall through the world make to be notified,
notified > proclaimed
9 And goodly well advance that goodly well was tried."
advance > extol that > that which [Britomart's prowess] tried > demonstrated
312.40
But Britomart vprearing her from ground,
2 Said, Gentle Dame, reward enough I weene
For many labours more, then I haue found,
4 This, that in safety now I haue you seene,
And meane of your deliuerance haue beene:
6 Henceforth faire Lady comfort to you take,
And put away remembrance of late teene;
8 In stead thereof know, that your louing Make,
Hath no lesse griefe endured for your gentle sake.
1 But Britomart, uprearing her from ground,
uprearing > raising
2 Said, "Gentle dame, reward enough I ween,
Gentle > Noble ween > expect, anticipate; think likely
3 For many labours more than I have found, 4 This, that in safety now I have you seen,
that > [in that]
5 And mean of your deliverance have been:
mean > instrument, agent
6 Henceforth, fair lady, comfort to you take, 7 And put away remembrance of late teen;
late > recent teen > affliction, woe
8 Instead thereof, know that your loving make
make > companion, lover, consort
9 Has no less grief endured for your gentle sake."
312.41
She was much cheard to heare him mentiond,
2 Whom of all liuing wights she loued best.
Then laid the noble Championesse strong hond
4 Vpon th'enchaunter, which had her distrest
So sore, and with foule outrages opprest:
6 With that great chaine, wherewith not long ygo
He bound that pitteous Lady prisoner, now relest,
8 Himselfe she bound, more worthy to be so,
And captiue with her led to wretchednesse and wo.
1 She was much cheered to hear him mentioned, 2 Whom of all living wights she loved best.
wights > people
3 Then laid the noble championess strong hand 4 Upon the enchanter, who had her distressed 5 So sore, and with foul outrages oppressed: 6 With that great chain, wherewith not long ago
wherewith > with which
7 He bound that piteous lady prisoner, now released, 8 Himself she bound, more worthy to be so, 9 And captive with her led to wretchedness and woe.
312.42
Returning backe, those goodly roomes, which erst
2 +She+ saw so rich and royally arayd,
Now vanisht vtterly, and cleane subuerst
4 +She+ found, and all their glory quite decayd,
That sight of such a chaunge +her+ much dismayd.
6 Thence forth descending to that perlous Porch,
Those dreadfull flames she also found delayd,
8 And quenched quite, like a consumed torch,
That erst all entrers wont so cruelly to scorch.
2 She > He 1590 4 She > He 1590: FE 5 her > him 1590: FE
1 Returning back, those goodly rooms, which erst
goodly > beautiful erst > formerly; lately
2 She saw so rich and royally arrayed, 3 Now vanished utterly, and clean subversed
subversed > subverted, razed to the ground
4 She found, and all their glory quite decayed:
decayed > destroyed
5 That sight of such a change her much dismayed. 6 Thence forth descending to that perilous porch, 7 Those dreadful flames she also found delayed,
delayed > allayed, quelled, abated
8 And quenched quite, like a consumed torch, 9 That erst all enterers wont so cruelly to scorch.
erst > formerly; recently wont > were accustomed
312.43
Stanzas 43-5 were first printed in the 1596 edition, replacing stanzas 43-7 of the 1590 edition, which are shown at the end of this file.
More easie issew now, then entrance late
2 She found: for now that fained dreadfull flame,
Which chokt the porch of that enchaunted gate,
4 And passage bard to all, that thither came,
Was vanisht quite, as it were not the same,
6 And gaue her leaue at pleasure forth to passe.
Th'Enchaunter selfe, which all that fraud did frame,
8 To haue efforst the loue of that faire lasse,
Seeing his worke now wasted deepe engrieued was.
1 More easy issue now, than entrance late
late > recently
2 She found: for now that feigned dreadful flame 3 (Which choked the porch of that enchanted gate, 4 And passage barred to all that thither came) 5 Was vanished quite, as it were not the same,
as > [as though]
6 And gave her leave at pleasure forth to pass. 7 The enchanter himself, who all that fraud did frame,
frame > make, design; hence: bring about
8 To have efforced the love of that fair lass,
efforced > gained by force (SU)
9 Seeing his work now wasted, deep engrieved was.
deep engrieved > deeply grieved
312.44
But when the victoresse arriued there,
2 Where late she left the +pensife+ Scudamore,
With her owne trusty Squire, both full of feare,
4 Neither of them she found where she them lore:
Thereat her noble hart was stonisht sore;
6 But most faire Amoret, whose gentle spright
Now gan to feede on hope, which she before
8 Conceiued had, to see her owne deare knight,
Being thereof beguyld was fild with new affright.
2 pensife > pensiue 1609
1 But when the victoress arrived there, 2 Where late she left the pensive Scudamour,
late > recently pensive > anxious; sorrowful (as 311.41:6)
3 With her own trusty squire, both full of fear,
her own trusty squire > [Glauce, Britomart's nurse: see 303.61]
4 Neither of them she found where she them lore:
lore > forsook, left (catachr.)
5 Thereat her noble heart was stonished sore;
Thereat > As a result of that; thereupon stonished > stunned
6 But most fair Amoret, whose gentle spirit
gentle > noble; gentle
7 Now began to feed on hope, which she before 8 Conceived had, to see her own dear knight, 9 Being thereof beguiled, was fild with new affright.
thereof beguiled > deprived of that; cheated of that fild > filled; defiled (cf. 105.32:2 etc.) affright > terror
312.45
But he sad man, when he had long in drede
2 Awayted there for Britomarts returne,
Yet saw her not nor signe of her good speed,
4 His expectation to despaire did turne,
Misdeeming sure that her those flames did burne;
6 And therefore gan aduize with her old Squire,
Who her deare nourslings losse no lesse did mourne,
8 Thence to depart for further aide t'enquire:
Where let them wend at will, whilest here I doe respire.
1 But he, sad man, when he had long in dread 2 Awaited there for Britomart's return,
Awaited > Waited
3 Yet saw her not, nor sign of her good speed,
good speed > success
4 His expectation to despair did turn, 5 Misdeeming sure that her those flames did burn;
Misdeeming > Supposing erroneously
6 And therefore gan advise with her old squire,
gan advise > did consult
7 Who her dear nursling's loss no less did mourn, 8 Thence to depart, for further aid to inquire: 9 Where let them wend at will, whilst here I do respire.
respire > recover breath
(End of Book III, Canto xii and of Volume I)
312.43 (1590)
At last she came vnto the place, where late
2 She left Sir Scudamour in great distresse,
Twixt dolour and despight halfe desperate,
4 Of his loues succour, of his owne redresse,
And of the hardie Britomarts successe:
6 There on the cold earth him now thrown she found,
In wilfull anguish, and dead heauinesse,
8 And to him cald; whose voices knowen sound
Soone as he heard, himself he reared light from ground.
1 At last she came to the place where late
late > recently
2 She left Sir Scudamour in great distress, 3 'Twixt dolour and despite half desperate,
dolour > dolour; physical suffering; grief despite > rage; malice
4 Of his love's succour, of his own redress,
his love > [Amoret] redress > means of redress; assistance
5 And of the hardy Britomart's success: 6 There on the cold earth him now thrown she found, 7 In wilful anguish, and dead heaviness,
heaviness > grief, sadness; anger
8 And to him called; whose voice's known sound 9 Soon as he heard, himself he reared light from ground.
Soon > [As soon] light > quickly; lightly
312.44 (1590)
There did he see, that most on earth him ioyd,
2 His dearest loue, the comfort of his dayes,
Whose too long absence him had sore annoyd,
4 And wearied his life with dull delayes:
Straight he vpstarted from the loathed layes,
6 And to her ran with hasty egernesse,
Like as a Deare, that greedily embayes
8 In the coole soile, after long thirstinesse,
Which he in chace endured hath, now nigh breathlesse.
that > [that; she whom]
1 There did he see, that most on earth him joyed,
joyed > gladdened, delighted
2 His dearest love, the comfort of his days, 3 Whose too long absence him had sore annoyed,
annoyed > afflicted
4 And wearied his life with dull delays:
dull > {Causing depression; slow}
5 Straight he upstarted from the loathed lea,
Straight > Straightway, immediately upstarted > got up lea > ground; often grassland, hence also: turf, sward
6 And to her ran with hasty eagerness, 7 Like a deer, that greedily embays
greedily > eagerly embays > bathes
8 In the cool soil after long thirstiness,
soil > {Pool or stretch of water used by as a refuge by a hunted deer}
9 Which it in chase endured has, now nigh breathless.
312.45 (1590)
Lightly he clipt her twixt his armes twaine,
2 And streightly did embrace her body bright,
Her body, late the prison of sad paine,
4 Now the sweet lodge of loue and deare delight:
But she faire Lady ouercommen quight
6 Of huge affection, did in pleasure melt,
And in sweete rauishment pourd out her spright:
8 No word they spake, nor earthly thing they felt,
But like two senceles stocks in long embracement dwelt.
1 Lightly he clipped her 'twixt his arms twain,
Lightly > Quickly clipped > embraced twain > two
2 And straitly did embrace her body bright,
straitly > tightly bright > beautiful
3 Her body, late the prison of sad pain,
late > lately sad > heavy, grievous; sad
4 Now the sweet lodge of love and dear delight: 5 But she, fair lady, overcome quite 6 Of huge affection, did in pleasure melt,
Of > By
7 And in sweet ravishment poured out her spirit: 8 No word they spoke, nor earthly thing they felt, 9 But like two senseless stocks in long embracement dwelt.
stocks > {Tree-trunks, taken as the type of what is motionless}
312.46 (1590)
Had ye them seene, ye would haue surely thought,
2 That they had beene that faire Hermaphrodite,
Which that rich Romane of white marble wrought,
4 And in his costly Bath causd to bee site:
So seemd those two, as growne together quite,
6 That Britomart halfe enuying their blesse,
Was much empassiond in her gentle sprite,
8 And to her selfe oft wisht like happinesse,
In vaine she wisht, that fate n'ould let her yet possesse.
1 Had you them seen, you would have surely thought 2 That they had been that fair Hermaphroditus,
had been > [were] Hermaphroditus > (Son of Hermes and Aphrodite (Venus). The nymph of the fountain of Salmacis, near Halicarnassus, fell in love with him but could not win his affections. One day, as he was bathing in the fountain, she embraced him and prayed that she might be united with him for ever. Her prayer was granted, and their bodies became one, while retaining the characteristics of either sex. See Met. 4.285-388. The statue of which Spenser speaks, and its owner, have not been identified)
3 Which that rich Roman of white marble wrought, 4 And in his costly bath caused to be site:
site > placed
5 So seemed those two, as grown together quite, 6 That Britomart, half envying their bliss, 7 Was much empassioned in her gentle spirit,
empassioned > {Moved or touched with deep feeling} gentle > noble; gentle
8 And to herself oft wished like happiness:
like > similar
9 In vain she wished that fate nould let her yet possess.
that > [that which] nould > would not
312.47 (1590)
Thus doe those louers with sweet counteruayle,
2 Each other of loues bitter fruit despoile.
But now my teme begins to faint and fayle,
4 All woxen weary of their iournall toyle:
Therefore I will their sweatie yokes assoyle
6 At this same furrowes end, till a new day:
And ye faire Swayns, after your long turmoyle,
8 Now cease your worke, and at your pleasure play;
Now cease your worke; to morrow is an holy day.
1 Thus do those lovers, with sweet countervail,
countervail > reciprocation
2 Each other of love's bitter fruit despoil. 3 But now my team begins to faint and fail,
team > (Typically, of oxen or horses: here perhaps a reference to the Muses Clio and Calliope) faint > grow weak
4 All waxed weary of their journal toil:
waxed > grown journal > daily; or: viatical (a "journal" was also a day's travel, or any journey; hence "iournall toil" = "travel", "progress")
5 Therefore I will their sweaty yokes assoil
assoil > pardon, absolve; hence: release, do away with
6 At this same furrow's end, till a new day: 7 And you, fair swains, after your long turmoil,
swains > perhaps: young men (addressing the "learned throng" of 100.1:8); or: lovers (meaning Scudamour and Amoret)
8 Now cease your work, and at your pleasure play; 9 Now cease your work; tomorrow is a holy-day.
holy-day > {Day set aside for religious observance; day on which work is suspended; holiday}
FINIS.
=> PRINTER'S CONTRACTIONS
A number of words contain contractions which enabled the printer better to fit the line on the page. Since these are a device of the printer rather than the author, the contractions are given in their expanded form in the text and listed separately here.
Except for the ampersand, the contractions consist of a letter (a, e, o, or u) with a tilde above it. In this list, "a-tilde" is shown as "{a~}". The long "s" is shown as "/".
The contractions used in the copy text (excluding the introductory material and stanzas 43-7 of Book III in the 1590 edition) are as follows:
Contraction Expands to Occurrences Per cent
{a~} am 1 0.61 {a~} an 10 6.06 {e~} em 9 5.45 {e~} en 24 14.55 {o~} om 14 8.48 {o~} on 13 7.88 {u~} un 7 4.24 & and 87 52.73
101.5:9 Whom to auenge, /he had this Knight from far c{o~}peld. 101.6:9 And this faire couple eke to /hroud th{e~}/elues were fain. 101.17:9 The /troke down fr{o~} her head vnto her /houlder glaun/t. 101.24:9 A /treame of cole black bloud forth gu/hed fr{o~} her cor/e. 101.36:4 Sweet /l{o~}bring deaw, the which to /leepe them biddes. 101.39:9 Whiles /ad Night ouer him her m{a~}tle black doth /pred. 102.6:7 Had /pent his lampe, & brought forth dawning light, 102.7:9 Then gan /he waile & weepe, to /ee that woefull /towre. 102.17:9 And /treames of purple bloud new dies the verd{a~}t fields. 102.34:9 That many err{a~}t knights hath brought to wretchedne//e. 103.36:9 Life from Sansfoy thou took/t, San/loy /hall fr{o~} thee take. 103.41:8 His corage more, that fr{o~} his griping pawes 104.29:4 Who/e wealth was want, who/e pl{e~}ty made him pore, 104.33:9 Trembling through ha/ty rage, wh{e~} choler in him /weld. 104.36:9 Dead /culs & bones of men, who/e life had gone a/tray. 105.6:9 The yron walles to ward their blowes are weake & fraile. 105.28:7 Vnle//e /he cha{u~}/t their /tubborne mouths to twitch; 105.38:3 Fr{o~} /urging gulf two mon/ters /traight were brought, 105.43:9 Great paines, & greater prai/e, both neuer to be donne. 105.46:9 Where they /hould liue in woe, & die in wretchedne//e. 106.6:2 Does throw out thrilling /hriekes, & /hrieking cryes, 106.19:9 Fr{o~} her own wor/hip, they her A//e would wor/hip fayn. 106.33:9 That they the woods are pa/t, & come now to the plaine. 107.3:3 Which through the tr{e~}bling leaues full gently playes 107.11:8 Through that fraile fo{u~}taine, which him feeble made, 107.44.9 He has them now foure yeres be/iegd to make th{e~} thrall. 108.1:9 For who/e deliuer{a~}ce /he this Prince doth thither guide. 108.38:6 For now three Moones haue ch{a~}ged thrice their hew, 109.2:9 Should die vnknown, & buried be in thankle//e thought. 109.16:9 True Loues are oft{e~} /own, but /eldom grow on ground. 109.42:9 Wh{e~} houre of death is come, let none aske whence, nor why. 110.5:9 For /treight & narrow was the way, which he did /how. 110.31:3 Whom /till /he fed, whiles they were weake & young, 110.57:9 More deare vnto their God, then yo{u~}glings to their dam. 110.60:9 For bloud can nought but /in, & wars but /orrowes yield. 110.67:7 Through pa//ing brightne//e, which did quite c{o~}found 111.8:9 Was /wolne with wrath, & poy/on, & with bloudy gore. 111.18:9 Snatcht vp both hor/e & man, to beare them quite away. 111.22:9 That flames of fire he threw forth fr{o~} his large no/ethrill. 111.28:2 With heat, toyle, wounds, armes, /mart, & inward fire 112.13:2 With /haumes, & trompets, & with Clarions /weet; 201.P3:9 He w{o~}der would much more: yet /uch to /ome appeare. 201.10:9 Witne//e ye heau{e~}s, whom /he in vaine to helpe did call. 201.12:9 The /trick{e~} Deare doth chalenge by the bleeding wound. 201.24:2 Through woods & mountaines, till they came at la/t 201.52:3 And then with words & weedes of wondrous might, 202.6:9 And thenceforth were renowmd, & /ought from place to place. 202.24:9 Does ride on both their backs, & faire her /elfe doth /aue. 202.29:9 That more to mighty h{a~}ds, th{e~} rightfull cau/e doth tru/t. 202.31:3 Weake /he makes /tr{o~}g, & /tr{o~}g thing does increace, 202.33:9 Their minds to plea/ure, & their mouthes to dainty fare. 202.46:9 They wi/t their houre was /p{e~}t; th{e~} each to re/t him hyes. 203.2:9 T'auenge his Par{e~}ts death on them, that had it wrought. 203.43:9 Depart to woods vntoucht, & leaue /o proud di/daine? 203.44:9 Wh{e~} fir/t I heard her horne /ound with /uch gha/tline//e. 204.2:9 Teach him the weake to /tr{e~}gthen, & the /tr{o~}g /uppre//e. 204.7:9 And where he hits, nought knowes, & whom he hurts, nought cares. 204.27:1 The Maid{e~} proud through pray/e, and mad through loue 204.33:2 Through wounds, & /trokes, & /tubborne handeling, 204.33:9 But all your hurts may /oone through t{e~}perance be ea/d. 204.40:3 But wh{e~}ce /hould come that harme, which thou doe/t /eeme 204.44:8 Then loe, where bound /he /its, wh{o~} thou ha/t /ought, 204.45:3 That knights & knighthood doe/t with /hame vpbray, 204.45:4 And /hew/t th'en/{a~}ple of thy childi/h might, 205.5:6 Thereby thine armes /eeme /tr{o~}g, but m{a~}hood fraile; 205.22:9 That armd with fire, more hardly he mote him with/t{o~}d. 205.27:6 Whom then /he does transforme to m{o~}/trous hewes, 205.29:9 Did breath out bounteous /mels, & painted colors /hew. 205.36:8 Through many a /troke, & many a /treaming wound, 205.38:9 And Atin aie him pricks with /purs of /hame & wrong. 207.A:3 Is by him tempted, & led downe, 207.3:2 Couer'd with boughes & /hrubs from heauens light, 207.5:9 The antique /hapes of kings and ke/ars /traunge & rare. 207.11:3 Sheilds, /teeds, and armes, & all things for thee meet 207.13:9 So mak'/t thou kings, & gayne/t wrongfull gouernement. 207.19:9 From heauens /ight, and powre of all which th{e~} pur/ew. 207.21:9 And both did gna/h their teeth, & both did threaten life. 207.25:9 Here Sleep, there Riche//e, & Hel-gate th{e~} both betwext. 207.37:9 Till that him thus be/pake their /oueraigne Lord & /ire. 207.43:8 With crownes and Diademes, & titles vaine, 207.45:9 Th{e~}ceforth /he /ought for helps, to cloke her crime withall. 208.13:9 Your /elfe his prowe//e prou'd & found him fiers & bold. 208.31:9 Right /owre, & feele the law, the which thou ha/t defa/t. 208.32:8 And through his /houlder pier/t; wherwith to gro{u~}d 208.40:5 Glad was the knight, & with fre/h courage fraught, 208.40:9 Emong/t the /hepheard /waynes, then wexeth wood & yond. 209.19:4 Braunched with gold & pearle, mo/t richly wrought, 209.20:9 She graunted, & them leading forth, the /ame did /hew. 209.36:9 As if /ome pen/iue thought c{o~}/traind her gentle /pright. 209.47:2 This parts great workman/hip, & wondrous powre, 209.53:2 Thence brought th{e~} to the /econd roome, who/e wals 209.54:9 But Alma thence th{e~} led to th'hindmo/t roome of three. 209.55:4 Right firme & /trong, though /omewhat they declind, 209.57:8 Some made in books, /ome in long parchm{e~}t /crolles, 210.5:9 By /ea to haue bene fr{o~} the Celticke mayn-land brought. 210.15:3 Which through the world th{e~} /warmd in euery part, 210.17:9 Fr{o~} Guendolene his wife, though alwaies faithfull prou'd. 210.40:5 And ran/ackt Greece well tryde, wh{e~} they were wroth; 210.42:9 Tho/e yet of her be Merti{a~} lawes both nam'd & thought. 210.48:9 Nought el/e, but trea/on, from the fir/t this l{a~}d did foyle. 210.66:5 Through his faire daughters face, & flattring word; 210.73:9 A bridge of bras, who/e /ound heau{e~}s thunder /eem'd to bee. 211.19:5 Wh{e~} the wroth We/tern wind does reaue their locks; 211.44:9 From th'earth, & from her wombe new /pirits to reprize. 212.1:9 M{o~}g/t thou/and dangers, & ten thou/and magick mights. 212.32:9 The worlds /weet In, from paine & weari/ome turmoyle. 212.51:9 That /till it breathed forth /weet /pirit & hole/ome /mell. 212.81:9 Tryde all her arts, & all her /leights, thence out to wre/t. 212.82:4 They tooke them both, & both them /trongly bound 301.6:3 That /eem'd both /hield & plate it would haue riued; 301.6:9 That mi/chieuous mi/chance his life & limbes did /pare. 301.14:9 Saue Beares, Lions, & Buls, which romed them around. 301.28:9 Then to the next /he rode, & downe the next did beare. 301.53:2 With /ighes, and /obs, and plaints, & piteous griefe, 301.56:9 With whom he meant to make his /port & courtly play. 301.58:8 Where through long watch, & late dayes weary toile, 301.58:9 She /oundly /lept, & carefull thoughts did quite a//oile. 301.67:9 They tooke their /teeds, & forth vp{o~} their iourney went. 303.2:9 Which the late world admyres for wondrous monim{e~}ts. 303.7:9 When /o he coun/eld with his /prights enc{o~}pa/t round. 303.60:9 Both /peare & /hield of great powre, for her purpo/e fit. 303.61:9 Them/elues they forth conuayd, & pa//ed forward right. 304.8:9 Which in the/e troubled bowels raignes, & rageth rife. 304.15:9 Decline her head, & touch her crouper with her crowne. 304.38:9 To /ee friends graue, th{e~} dead the graue /elfe to engro//e. 304.46:1 Through thick and thin, through mountaines & through plains, 304.46:2 Tho/e two great ch{a~}pions did attonce pur/ew 305.3:9 Thicke fore/t, was be/cratcht, & both his feet nigh lame. 305.33:9 She with her /carfe did bind the wound fr{o~} cold to keepe. 306.4:6 The/e two were twinnes, & twixt them two did /hare 306.29:2 Where mo/t /he wonnes, wh{e~} /he on earth does dwel. 306.43:9 Threw forth mo/t dainty odours, & mo/t /weet delight. 306.44:8 That nether Ph{oe}bus beams could through th{e~} throng, 307.21:2 With herbs, with charms, with co{u~}/ell, & with teares, 309.10:9 And threatned him with force & puni/hment extreme. 309.15:9 Confounds both land & /eas, and skyes doth ouerca/t. 309.16:9 Then drew he his bright /word, & gan about him throw. 309.18:9 Though nought beleu'd, & entra{u~}ce late did not refu/e. 309.48:3 Whom hauing /laine, through luckles arrowes gla{u~}ce 309.48:9 And great adu{e~}tures found, that now were l{o~}g to /ayne. 309.49:9 That fed on liuing fle/h, & druncke mens vitall blood. 311.36:9 Yet was thy loue her death, & her death was thy /mart. 311.46:1 Kings Queenes, Lords Ladies, Knights & Damzels gent 311.51:9 For loue in thou/and m{o~}/trous formes doth oft appeare. 311.52:6 Their /werds & /peres were broke, & hauberques rent; 312.9:9 That /oone they life conceiu'd, & forth in flames did fly.
In five places, the ligatured "ss" is used. This resembles an overlarge
Greek beta, and is shown here as a dollar sign.
104.15:3 But to Due$' each one him/elfe did paine 202.35:1 Eli$a (/o the elde/t hight) did deeme 207.52:1 There mournfull Cypre$e grew in greate/t /tore, 210.47:1 Whil/t they were young, Ca$ibalane their Eme 210.52:4 His daughter Genui$' in marriage:
=> BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. BOOKS OF THE BIBLE
Colossians
1 Corinthians
Daniel
Deuteronomy
Ecclesiastes
Ephesians
Exodus
Galatians
Genesis
Hebrews
Hosea
Isaiah
Job
Gospel According to John
Joshua
Judges
2 Kings
Luke
Matthew
Psalms
Revelation
Romans
Song of Solomon
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
2. PLAYS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE in Alexander (1951)
Antony and Cleopatra
As You Like It
Cymbeline
Hamlet
Henry VIII
Julius Caesar
King Lear
Macbeth
A Midsummer-night's Dream
Othello
Richard III
Romeo and Juliet
Twelfth Night
Winter's Tale
3. WORKS OF EDMUND SPENSER
The Shepheardes Calender
The Faerie Queene
Teares of the Muses
Virgil's Gnat
Mother Hubberds Tale
Ruines of Rome
Muiopotmos
Colin Clouts Come Home Againe
Amoretti
Epithalamion
A Vewe of the present state of Irelande
4. A CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF EDITIONS OF FQ
4.1. EDITIONS PUBLISHED BEFORE 1900
Quarto of 1590
Quarto of 1596
Folio of 1609
Folio of 1617
Folio of 1679
J. Hughes, 1715
T. Birch, 1751
J. Upton, 1758
R. Church, 1758-9
H. J. Todd, 1805
F. J. Child, 1855
J. P. Collier, 1862
R. Morris, 1869, revised 1896
A. B. Grosart, 1882-4
Kate M. Warren, 1897-1900
4.2. EDITIONS PUBLISHED AFTER 1900
Dodge, R. E. N. (1908) The Complete Poetical Works of Edmund
Spenser. Boston
Smith, J. C. (1909) Spenser's Faerie Queene, Oxford University
Press
Morris, R. (1910) The Faerie Queene, Dent, Dutton [text of the
1869 edition, which favours 1590; reprints its glossary
but without the page references]
Smith, J. C. and E. de Selincourt (1912) The Poetical Works of
Edmund Spenser, Oxford University Press [a paperback
edition was issued in 1970, ISBN 0 19 281070 7]
Greenlaw, E. A., F. M. Padelford, C. G. Osgood, et al. (1932-63)
The Works of Edmund Spenser: a Variorum Edition (11
volumes) including: PROSE WORKS (1949), LIFE (1945)
and INDEX (1963), Oxford University Press, John Hopkins
Press
Greenlaw, E. A., F. M. Padelford, C. G. Osgood, et al. (1966) The
Works of Edmund Spenser: a Variorum Edition, John
Hopkins University [11 vols: reprint of 1932-49
edition]
Kermode, Frank (1965) Edmund Spenser: Selections from the Minor
Poems and The Faerie Queene
Bayley, P. C. (1965) Spenser: The Faerie Queene, Book II,
Oxford University Press
Bayley, P. C. (1966) Spenser: The Faerie Queene, Book I, Oxford
University Press
Spenser, Edmund (1976) The Faerie Queene, Scolar Press, ISBN 0
85967 239 5 [facsimile of 1596 edition; used as the
copy text for this edition]
Morris, R. (1976) The Faerie Queene: A Selection, Dent, Dutton,
ISBN 0 460 00443 3 [taken from the 1910 Everyman
edition]
Hamilton, A. C. (1977) Spenser: The Faerie Queene, Longman, 0
582 48106 6 [this reprints Smith's scrupulous 1909 text
and provides an indispensable commentary]
Hamilton, A. C. (1980) Spenser: The Faerie Queene, Longman, 0
582 49705 1 [paperback edition, with minor revisions,
of 0 582 48106 6]
Roche, T. P. and C. P. O'Donnell (1981) Spenser: The Faerie
Queene, Yale University Press, ISBN 0 300 02705 2
[with commentary; also available in Penguin paperback,
ISBN 0 14 042207 2]
Jussawalla, M. (1982) Spenser: The Faerie Queene, Book I,
Orient Longman, India, ISBN 0 86131 185 X
Brooks-Davies, D. (1987) Spenser: The Faerie Queene, Books I-
III, Dent, Dutton, ISBN 0 460 15443 5
5. COMPLETE LISTING OF WORKS CITED
Adlington, William (1566) (trans.), Lucius Apuleius, The Golden
Ass. London (Abbey Classics, 1922)
Alexander, P. (1951) (ed.), William Shakespeare: The Complete
Works. London
Apuleius, Lucius: see Adlington, William (1566)
Ariosto, Lodovico (1619) Orlando Furioso: see Ceserani (1962),
Hough (1962)
Aristotle: see McKeon (1941)
Bayley, P. C. (1965) Spenser: The Faerie Queene, Book II.
Oxford
Bayley, P. C. (1966) Spenser: The Faerie Queene, Book I.
Oxford
Boas, F. S. (1908-9) Poetical Works of Giles Fletcher and
Phineas Fletcher. Cambridge
Boccaccio (1472) De Genealogia Deorum Gentilium. Venice [also
published in Basel, 1532]
Brewer, E. Cobham (1894) The Dictionary of Phrase and Fable.
London
Brooks-Davies, D. (1987) Spenser: The Faerie Queene, Books I-
III. London
Camden, William (1586) Britannia (trans. Philemon Holland
1610). London
Camden, William (1605) Remains Concerning Britain (1674
edition, ed. John Philipot, Library of Old Authors,
1870). London
Carey, John, and Alastair Fowler (1968) (ed.), John Milton: The
Complete Poems. London
Ceserani, R. (1962) (ed.), Ariosto: Orlando Furioso. Turin
Cheney, Donald (1966) Spenser's Image of Nature: wild man and
shepherd in the "Faerie Queene". New Haven
Clarendon Press (1989) The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd
edition, Oxford
Comes, Natale (1616) Mythologiae, sive explicationis fabularum,
libri decem. Padua
Cooper, Thomas (1565) Thesaurus Linguae Romanae et Britannicae
Dodge, R. E. N. (1908) The Complete Poetical Works of Edmund
Spenser. Boston
Drayton, Michael, Complete Works: see Hebel (1961)
Elyot, Sir Thomas (1534) The Castel of Helth. London
Evans, S. (trans.), rev. C. W. Dunn (1958) Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae. New York
Fletcher, Giles and Phineas: see Boas (1908-9)
Fowler, Alastair (1971) (ed.), John Milton: Paradise Lost.
London
Genders, Roy (1971) The Scented Wild Flowers of Britain.
London
Gerard, John (1597) The Herball or General Historie of Plantes.
London (and the 2nd edition of 1633)
Gilbert, Allan H. (1941) Modern Language Notes 56:594-7
Giles, J. A. (1891) (ed.), Six Old English Chronicles. London
Grant, Michael (1960) (ed.) Cicero: Selected Works. London
Greenlaw, E. A., F. M. Padelford, C. G. Osgood, et al. (1932-63)
The Works of Edmund Spenser: a Variorum Edition.
Oxford
Guessard, F. and C. Grandmaison (1860) (ed.) Huon de Bordeaux.
Paris
Guterman, N. (trans). (1951) (ed. Jolande Jacobi), Paracelsus:
Selected Writings. London
Hamilton, A. C. (1980) Spenser: The Faerie Queene. London
Harper (1910) The Sources of the British Chronicle History in
Spenser's "Faerie Queene". Philadelphia
Hebel (1961) The Complete Works of Michael Drayton. Oxford
Holinshed, Raphael (1577, 1587) Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland. London
Horace: see Michie (1964)
Hough, Graham (1962) (ed.) Ariosto: Orlando Furioso. Arundel
[new edn of Sir John Harrington's trans.]
Johnson, Richard (1592). The Seven Champions of Christendom.
London
Jortin, J. (1734) Remarks on Spenser's Poems. London
Jowett, B. (1973) Plato: the Republic and Other Works. New
York
Jussawalla, M. (1982) Spenser: The Faerie Queene, Book I.
Calcutta
Kermode, Frank (1965) Edmund Spenser: Selections from the Minor
Poems and The Faerie Queene
Latham, A. M. C. (1951) Sir Walter Raleigh: Poems. London
Lewis, C. S. (1967) (ed. Fowler), Spenser's Images of Life.
London
Martin, Ernest (1882-7) (publ.) Le Roman de Renart. Strasbourg
McKeon, R. (1941) (ed.), Basic Works of Aristotle. New York
Michie, James (1964) (trans.) The Odes of Horace. London
Milton, John (1667) Paradise Lost: see Fowler (1971)
Milton, John (1637) Comus: see Carey and Fowler (1968)
Monmouth, Geoffrey of, Historia Regum Britanniae: see Giles (1891)
Morris, R. (1869) (ed.), The Works of Edmund Spenser. London
Morris, R. (1910) (ed.), The Faerie Queene (from Morris 1869).
London
Ordnance Survey, The (1987) The Ordnance Survey Gazetteer of
Great Britain. Southampton, London and Basingstoke
Paracelsus: see Guterman (1951)
Plato: see Jowett (1973)
Raleigh, Walter, The Ocean's Love to Cynthia: see Latham (1951)
Robinson, F. N. (1957) (ed.) The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer.
Boston and London
Roche, T. P. and C. P. O'Donnell (1981) Spenser: The Faerie
Queene. London
Shakespeare: see Alexander (1951)
Shepherd, G. (1965) (ed.), An Apology for Poetry. London
Shire, H. (1978) A Preface to Spenser. London
Sidney, Sir Philip (1595) An Apology for Poetry: see Shepherd (1965)
Smith, J. C. (1909) Spenser's Faerie Queene. Oxford
Smith, J. C. and E. de Selincourt (1912) The Poetical Works of
Edmund Spenser. Oxford
Tasso, Torquato (1581) Gerusalemme Liberata: see Weiss (1962)
The Times Index-Gazetteer of the World (1965). London
Warton, T. (1754), Observations on "The Faerie Queene". London
Weiss, R. (1962) (ed.) Tasso: Gerusalemme Liberata. Arundel [new edn of Edward Fairfax's English trans. of 1600]
=> BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIAL
This comprises (1) a table of important dates in the life of Spenser, and (2) a biography Edmund Spenser taken verbatim from the 1896 Macmillan Globe edition of Spenser's collected works, edited by R. Morris. It is by John W. Hales.
Footnotes are grouped together at the end of the file.
(1) SOME IMPORTANT DATES IN THE LIFE OF EDMUND SPENSER
?1552 Born at East Smithfield, London.
1558 (Queen Elizabeth accedes to the throne.)
1561 [Aged about 9] Spenser enters the newly-founded Merchant Taylors' School, headmaster Richard Mulcaster.
1569 [17] Anonymously contributes verse translations of Visions of Petrarch and Visions of Bellay to Van der Noodt's Theatre of Worldlings; enters Pembroke Hall (College), Cambridge.
1570 [18] Made a Fellow of Pembroke Hall.
1573 [21] Bachelor of Arts.
1574 [22] Plague in Cambridge. Spenser temporarily departs.
1576 [24] Master of Arts; leaves Cambridge for the north of England.
?1577 [25] Visits Ireland. Returns to London.
1578 [26] Appointed secretary to John Young, Bishop of Rochester, former Master of Pembroke Hall.
1579 [27] Enters the service of the Earl of Leicester. Composition of The Faerie Queene already under way. 5 December: The Shepheardes Calender entered in Stationers' Register.
1580 [28] ?Marries Machabyas Chylde. Publication of The Shepheardes Calender and of correspondence with Gabriel Harvey. Appointed secretary to Lord Grey, Lord Deputy of Ireland. In ?August, to Dublin with Lord Grey. In November, apparently witnesses the siege and massacre at Smerwick, in Munster.
1581 (Publication of Tasso's Gerusalemme Liberata.)
1582 [30] Lord Grey recalled to London; end of Spenser's employment as his secretary. Spenser leases a house in Dublin, and a country residence: New Abbey at Kilcullen, 25 miles from Dublin. Birth of his son Sylvanus.
1583 [31] Appointed a Commissioner of Musters in County Kildare for a period of two years.
?1584 [32] Becomes deputy to the Clerk of the Council of Munster,
Lodowick Bryskett. ?Birth of daughter Katherine; ?death of
Machabyas Chylde.
1586 [34] Granted 3,028 acres at Kilcolman, 8 miles NNE of the town
of Mallow in County Cork; does not take up residence until 1588
or 1589. (Death of Sir Philip Sidney.)
1587 (Mary, Queen of Scots executed.)
1588 [36] Resigns his clerkship in the Court of Chancery. (Spanish Armada.)
1589 [37] Visited at Kilcolman by Raleigh. October or November: with Raleigh to England. Audience with the Queen. 1 December: the Faerie Queene entered in Stationers' Register.
1590 [38] Publication of the Faerie Queene, Books I-III. Suit against him begun by Lord Roche.
1591 [39] Publication of Complaints, and perhaps also of Daphnaida. Returns to Kilcolman. Composition of Colin Clouts Come Come Again. 25 February: granted annual pension of {pounds}50 by the Queen.
1594 [42] 12 February: loses lawsuit against Lord Roche. 11 June: marries Elizabeth Boyle.
1595 [43] Publication of Colin Clouts Come Home Again, and of Amoretti and Epithalamion in one volume. Birth of his son Peregrine.
1596 [44] In England. Publication of second edition of the Faerie
Queene, Books I-VI, Fowre Hymns, and Prothalamion. 12
November: King James of Scotland claims that the portrayal of
Duessa in the Faerie Queene is a libel on his mother, Mary,
Queen of Scots; outcome of this claim not known. (Essex raids
Cadiz.)
1597 [45] Returns to Ireland. Purchases Renny Castle for his son; also purchases Buttevant Abbey.
1598 [46] 14 April: A Vewe of the Present State of Irelande entered in Stationers' Register but not passed for printing. Spenser recommended for appointment as Sheriff of Cork. October: Tyrone's rebellion in Munster; Spenser's castle at Kilcolman sacked and burnt. In December, Spenser in London.
1599 [47] 13 January: death of Spenser.
1609 Publication of third edition of the Faerie Queene, incorporating Books I-VI and Two Cantos of Mutabilitie.
1611 First publication of the collected works.
1617 Second publication of the collected works.
1620 Memorial to Spenser erected at Westminster Abbey.
1633 Publication of A Vewe of the Present State of Ireland.
(2) A BIOGRAPHY OF EDMUND SPENSER,
BY JOHN W. HALES
Revised 1896
From the Macmillan Globe edition of
THE WORKS OF EDMUND SPENSER
[ Please note: footnotes for each chapter are enclosed in curly brackets, e.g. {1} ]
E D M U N D S P E N S E R.
Ille velut fidis arcana sodalibus olim
Credebat libris; neque, si male cesserat, unquam
Decurrens alio, neque si bene; quo fit ut omnis
Votiva pateat veluti descripta tabella
Vita senis.
Hither, as to their fountain, other stars
Repairing in their urns draw golden light.
The life of Spenser is wrapt in a similar obscurity to that which hides from us his great predecessor Chaucer, and his still greater contemporary Shakspere. As in the case of Chaucer, our principal external authorities are a few meagre entries in certain official documents, and such facts as may be gathered from his works. The birth-year of each poet is determined by inference. The circumstances in which each died are a matter of controversy. What sure information we have of the intervening events of the life of each one is scanty and interrupted. So far as our knowledge goes, it shows some slight positive resemblance between their lives. They were both connected with the highest society of their times; both enjoyed court favour, and enjoyed it in the substantial shape of pensions. They were both men of remarkable learning. They were both natives of London. They both died in the close vicinity of Westminster Abbey, and lie buried near each other in that splendid cemetery. Their geniuses were eminently different: that of Chaucer was the active type, Spenser's of the contemplative; Chaucer was dramatic, Spenser philosophical; Chaucer objective, Spenser subjective; but in the external circumstances, so far as we know them, amidst which these great poets moved, and in the mist which for the most part enfolds those circumstances, there is considerable likeness. Spenser is frequently alluded to by his contemporaries; they most ardently recognised in him, as we shall see, a great poet, and one that might justly be associated with the one supreme poet whom this country had then produced—with Chaucer, and they paid him constant tributes of respect and admiration; but these mentions of him do not generally supply any biographical details. The earliest notice of him that may in any sense be termed biographical occurs in a sort of handbook to the monuments of Westminster Abbey, published by Camden in 1606. Amongst the 'Reges, Regin{ae}, Nobiles, et alij in Ecclesia Collegiata B. Petri Westmonasterii sepulti usque ad annum 1606' is enrolled the name of Spenser, with the following brief obituary: 'Edmundus Spencer Londinensis, Anglicorum Poetarum nostri seculi facile princeps, quod ejus poemata faventibus Musis et victuro genio conscripta comprobant. Obijt immatura morte anno salutis 1598, et prope Galfredum Chaucerum conditur qui felicissime po{e"}sin Anglicis literis primus illustravit. In quem h{ae}c scripta sunt epitaphia:—
Hic prope Chaucerum situs est Spenserius, illi
Proximus ingenio proximus ut tumulo.
Hic prope Chaucerum, Spensere poeta, poetam
Conderis, et versu quam tumulo propior.
Anglica, te vivo, vixit plausitque po{e"}sis;
Nunc moritura timet, te moriente, mori.'
'Edmund Spencer of London, far the first of the English Poets of our age, as his poems prove, written under the smile of the Muses, and with a genius destined to live. He died prematurely in the year of salvation 1598, and is buried near Geoffrey Chaucer, who was the first most happily to set forth poetry in English writing: and on him were written these epitaphs:—
Here nigh to Chaucer Spenser lies; to whom
In genius next he was, as now in tomb.
Here nigh to Chaucer, Spenser, stands thy
hearse,{1}
Still nearer standst thou to him in thy verse.
Whilst thou didst live, lived English poetry;
Now thou art dead, it fears that it shall die.'
The next notice is found in Drummond's account of Ben Jonson's conversations with him in the year 1618: 'Spencer's stanzas pleased him not, nor his matter. The meaning of the allegory of his Fairy Queen he had delivered in writing to Sir Walter Rawleigh, which was, "that by the Bleating Beast he understood the Puritans, and by the false Duessa the Queen of Scots." He told, that Spencer's goods were robbed by the Irish, and his house and a little child burnt, he and his wife escaped, and after died for want of bread in King Street; he refused 20 pieces sent to him by my lord Essex, and said he was sure he had no time to spend them.'{2} The third record occurs in Camden's History of Queen Elizabeth (Annales rerum Anglicarum et Hibernicarum regnante Elizabetha), first published in a complete form in 1628. There the famous antiquary registering what demises marked the year 1598 (our March 25, 1598, to March 24, 1599), adds to his list Edmund Spenser, and thus writes of him: 'Ed. Spenserus, patria Londinensis, Cantabrigienis autem alumnus, Musis adeo arridentibus natus ut omnes Anglicos superioris {ae}vi Poetas, ne Chaucero quidem concive excepto, superaret. Sed peculiari Poetis fato semper cum paupertate conflictatus, etsi Greio Hiberni{ae} proregi fuerit ab epistolis. Vix enim ibi secessum et scribendi otium nactus, quam a rebellibus {e\} laribus ejectus et bonis spoliatus, in Angliam inops reversus statim exspiravit, Westmonasterii prope Chaucerum impensis comitis Essexi{ae} inhumatus, Po{e"}tis funus ducentibus flebilibusque carminibus et calamis in tumulum conjectis.'{3} This is to say: 'Edmund Spenser, a Londoner by birth, and a scholar also of the University of Cambridge, born under so favourable an aspect of the Muses that he surpassed all the English Poets of former times, not excepting Chaucer himself, his fellow-citizen. But by a fate which still follows Poets, he always wrestled with poverty, though he had been secretary to the Lord Grey, Lord Deputy of Ireland. For scarce had he there settled himself into a retired privacy and got leisure to write, when he was by the rebels thrown out of his dwelling, plundered of his goods, and returned to England a poor man, where he shortly after died and was interred at Westminster, near to Chaucer, at the charge of the Earl of Essex, his hearse being attended by poets, and mournful elegies and poems with the pens that wrote them thrown into his tomb.'{4} In 1633, Sir James Ware prefaced his edition of Spenser's prose work on the State of Ireland with these remarks:— 'How far these collections may conduce to the knowledge of the antiquities and state of this land, let the fit reader judge: yet something I may not passe by touching Mr. Edmund Spenser and the worke it selfe, lest I should seeme to offer injury to his worth, by others so much celebrated. Hee was borne in London of an ancient and noble family, and brought up in the Universitie of Cambridge, where (as the fruites of his after labours doe manifest) he mispent not his time. After this he became secretary to Arthur Lord Grey of Wilton, Lord Deputy of Ireland, a valiant and worthy governour, and shortly after, for his services to the Crowne, he had bestowed upon him by Queene Elizabeth, 3,000 acres of land in the countie of Corke. There he finished the latter part of that excellent poem of his "Faery Queene," which was soone after unfortunately lost by the disorder and abuse of his servant, whom he had sent before him into England, being then a rebellibus (as Camden's words are) {e\} laribus ejectus et bonis spoliatus. He deceased at Westminster in the year 1599 (others have it wrongly 1598), soon after his return into England, and was buried according to his own desire in the collegiat church there, neere unto Chaucer whom he worthily imitated (at the costes of Robert Earle of Essex), whereupon this epitaph was framed.' And then are quoted the epigrams already given from Camden. The next passage that can be called an account of Spenser is found in Fuller's Worthies of England, first published in 1662, and runs as follows:— 'Edmond Spencer, born in this city (London), was brought up in Pembroke-hall in Cambridge, where he became an excellent scholar; but especially most happy in English Poetry; as his works do declare, in which the many Chaucerisms used (for I will not say affected by him) are thought by the ignorant to be blemishes, known by the learned to be beauties, to his book; which notwithstanding had been more saleable, if more conformed to our modern language. 'There passeth a story commonly told and believed, that Spencer presenting his poems to queen Elizabeth, she, highly affected therewith, commanded the lord Cecil, her treasurer, to give him an hundred pound; and when the treasurer (a good steward of the queen's money) alledged that the sum was too much; "Then give him," quoth the queen, "What is reason;" to which the lord consented, but was so busied, belike, about matters of higher concernment, that Spencer received no reward, whereupon he presented this petition in a small piece of paper to the queen in her progress:—
I was promis'd on a time,
To have reason for my rhyme;
From that time unto this season,
I receiv'd nor rhyme nor reason.
'Hereupon the queen gave strict order (not without some check to her treasurer), for the present payment of the hundred pounds the first intended unto him. 'He afterwards went over into Ireland, secretary to the lord Gray, lord deputy thereof; and though that his office under his lord was lucrative, yet he got no estate; but saith my author "peculiari poetis fato semper cum paupertate conflictatus est." So that it fared little better with him than with William Xilander the German (a most excellent linguist, antiquary, philosopher and mathematician), who was so poor, that (as Thuanus saith), he was thought "fami non famae scribere." 'Returning into England, he was robb'd by the rebels of what little he had; and dying for grief in great want, anno 1598, was honourably buried nigh Chaucer in Westminster, where this distich concludeth his epitaph on his monument
Anglica, te vivo, vixit plausitque poesis;
Nunc moritura timet, te moriente, mori.'
Whilst thou didst live, liv'd English poetry
Which fears now thou art dead, that she shall die.
'Nor must we forget, that the expence of his funeral and monument was defrayed at the sole charge of Robert, first of that name, earl of Essex.' The next account is given by Edward Phillips in his Theatrum Po{e"}tarum Anglicanorum, first published in 1675. This Phillips was, as is well known, Milton's nephew, and according to Warton, in his edition of Milton's juvenile poems, 'there is good reason to suppose that Milton threw many additions and corrections into the Theatrum Po{e"}tarum.' Phillips' words therefore have an additional interest for us. 'Edmund Spenser,' he writes, 'the first of our English poets that brought heroic poesy to any perfection, his "Fairy Queen" being for great invention and poetic heighth, judg'd little inferior, if not equal to the chief of the ancient Greeks and Latins, or modern Italians; but the first poem that brought him into esteem was his "Shepherd's Calendar," which so endeared him to that noble patron of all vertue and learning Sir Philip Sydney, that he made him known to Queen Elizabeth, and by that means got him preferred to be secretary to his brother{5} Sir Henry Sidney, who was sent deputy into Ireland, where he is said to have written his "Faerie Queen;" but upon the return of Sir Henry, his employment ceasing, he also return'd into England, and having lost his great friend Sir Philip, fell into poverty, yet made his last refuge to the Queen's bounty, and had 500_l_. ordered him for his support, which nevertheless was abridged to 100_l_. by Cecil, who, hearing of it, and owing him a grudge for some reflections in Mother Hubbard's Tale, cry'd out to the queen, What! all this for a song? This he is said to have taken so much to heart, that he contracted a deep melancholy, which soon after brought his life to a period. So apt is an ingenuous spirit to resent a slighting, even from the greatest persons; thus much I must needs say of the merit of so great a poet from so great a monarch, that as it is incident to the best of poets sometimes to flatter some royal or noble patron, never did any do it more to the height, or with greater art or elegance, if the highest of praises attributed to so heroic a princess can justly be termed flattery.'{6} When Spenser's works were reprinted—the first three books of the Faerie Queene for the seventh time—in 1679, there was added an account of his life. In 1687, Winstanley, in his Lives of the most famous English Poets, wrote a formal biography. These are the oldest accounts of Spenser that have been handed down to us. In several of them mythical features and blunders are clearly discernible. Since Winstanley's time, it may be added, Hughes in 1715, Dr. Birch in 1731, Church in 1758, Upton in that same year, Todd in 1805, Aikin in 1806, Robinson in 1825, Mitford in 1839, Prof. Craik in 1845, Prof. Child in 1855, Mr. Collier in 1862, Dr. Grosart in 1884, have re-told what little there is to tell, with various additions and subtractions. Our external sources of information are, then, extremely scanty. Fortunately our internal sources are somewhat less meagre. No poet ever more emphatically lived in his poetry than did Spenser. The Muses were, so to speak, his own bosom friends, to whom he opened all his heart. With them he conversed perpetually on the various events of his life; into their ears he poured forth constantly the tale of his joys and his sorrows, of his hopes, his fears, his distresses. He was not one of those poets who can put off themselves in their works, who can forego their own interests and passions, and live for the time an extraneous life. There is an intense personality about all his writings, as in those of Milton and of Wordsworth. In reading them you can never forget the poet in the poem. They directly and fully reflect the poet's own nature and his circumstances. They are, as it were, fine spiritual diaries, refined self- portraitures. Horace's description of his own famous fore-runner, quoted at the head of this memoir, applies excellently to Spenser. On this account the scantiness of our external means of knowing Spenser is perhaps the less to be regretted. Of him it is eminently true that we may know him from his works. His poems are his best biography. In the sketch of his life to be given here his poems shall be our one great authority.