A LETTER OF THE AUTHORS,

EXPOUNDING HIS WHOLE INTENTION IN THE COURSE OF THIS WORKE: WHICH, FOR THAT IT GIVETH GREAT Light TO THE READER, FOR THE BETTER UNDERSTANDING IS HEREUNTO ANNEXED.

TO THE RIGHT NOBLE AND VALOROUS

SIR WALTER RALEIGH, KNIGHT,

LORD 'WARDEIN OF THE STANNERYES, AND HER MAIESTIES LIEFETENAUNT OF THE COUNTY OF CORNEWAYLL.

4

part in some places I doe expresse in Belphœbe,
fashioning her name according to your owne ex-
"cellent conceipt of Cynthia, (Phoebe and Cynthia
being both names of Diana.) So in the person
of Prince Arthure I sette forth magnificence in
particular; which vertue, for that (according to
Aristotle and the rest) it is the perfection of all
the rest, and conteineth in it them all, therefore
in the whole course I mention the deedes of
Arthure applyable to that vertue, which I write
of in that booke. But of the xii, other vertues,
I make xii. other knights the patrones, for the
more variety of the history: Of which these three
bookes contayn three.

The first of the knight of the Redcrosse, in whome I expresse Holynes: The seconde of Sir Guyon, in whome I sette forth Temperaunce: The third of Britomartis, a Lady Knight, in whome 1 picture Chastity. But, because the beginning of the whole worke seemeth abrupte, and as depending upon other antecedents, it needs that ye know the occasion of these three knights seuerall adventures. For the Methode of a Poet historical is not such, as of an Historiographer. For an Historiographer discourseth of affayres orderly as they were donne, accounting as well the times as the actions; but a Poet thrusteth into the middest, even where it most concerneth him, and there recoursing to the thinges forepaste, and divining of thinges to come, maketh a pleasing Analysis of all.

The beginning therefore of my history, if it were to be told by an Historiographer should be the twelfth booke, which is the last; where I devise that the Faery Queene kept her Annuall feaste rii. dayes; uppon which xii, severall dayes, the occasions of the xii, severall adventures hapned, which, being undertaken by xii. severall knights, are in these rii, books severally handled and discoursed. The first was this. In the beginning of the feast, there presented him selfe a tall clownishe younge man, who falling before the Queene of Faries desired a boone (as the manner then was) which during that feast she might not refuse; which was that hee might have the atchievement of any adventure, which during that feaste should happen: that being graunted, he rested him on the floore, unfitte through his rusticity for a better place. Soone after entred a faire Ladye in mourning weedes, riding on a white Asse, with a dwarfe behind her leading a warlike steed, that bore the Armes of a knight, and his speare in the dwarfes hand. Shee, falling before the Queene of Faeries, complayned that her futher and mother, an ancient King and Queene, had bene by an huge dragon many years shut up in a brasen Castle, who thence suffred to ussew: and therefore besought the

Faery Queene to assygne her some one of her knights to take on him that exployt. Presently that clownish person, upstarting, desired that adventure: whereat the Queene much wondering, and the Lady much gainesaying, yet he earnestly importuned his desire. In the end the Lady told him, that unlesse that armour which she brought, would serve him (that is, the armour of a Christian man specified by Saint Paul, vi. Ephes.) that he could not succeed in that enterprise; which being forthwith put upon him, with dewe furnitures thereunto, he seemed the goodliest man in al that company, and was well liked of the Lady. And eftesoones taking on him knighthood, and mounting on that straunge Courser, he went forth with her on that adventure: where beginneth the first booke, viz.

A gentle knight was pricking on the playne. &c. The second day ther came in a Palmer, bearing an Infant with bloody hands, whose Parents he complained to have bene slayn by an Enchaunteresse called Acrasia; and therfore craved of the Faery Queene, to appoint him some knight to performe that adventure; which being assigned to Sir Guyon, he presently went forth with that sume Palmer: which is the beginning of the second booke, and the whole subject thereof. The third day there came in a Groome, who complained before the Faery Queene, that a vile Enchaunter, called Busirane, had in hand a most faire Lady, called Amoretta, whom he kept in most grievous torment, because she would not yield him the pleasure of her body. Whereupon Sir Scudamour, the lover of that Lady, presently tooke on him that adventure. But being vnable to performe it by reason of the hard Enchauntments, after long sorrow, in the end met with Britomartis, who succoured him, and reskewed his loue.

But by occasion hereof many other adventures are intermedled; but rather as Accidents then intendments: As the love of Britomart, the overthrow of Marinell, the misery of Florimell, the vertuousnes of Belphabe, the lasciviousnes of Hellenora, and many the like.

Thus much, Sir, I have briefly overronne to direct your understanding to the wel-head of the History; that from thence gathering the whole intention of the conceit, ye may as in a handfull gripe al the discourse, which otherwise may hap pily seeme tedious and confused. So, humbly craving the continuance of your honorable favour towards me, and th' eternall establishment of your happines, I humbly take leave.

23. Ianuary 1589, Yours most humbly affectionate, Ed. Spenser.

VERSES ADDRESSED TO THE AUTHOR.

A Vision upon this conceipt of the Faery Thy lovely Rosolinde seemes now forlorne,

Queene.

ME thought I saw the grave where Laura lay,
Within that Temple where the vestall flame
Was wont to burne; and passing by that way
To see that buried dust of living fame,
Whose tumbe faire love, and fairer vertue kept,
All suddeinly I saw the Faery Queene:
At whose approch the soule of Petrarke wept,
And from thenceforth those graces were not seene;
For they this Queene attended, in whose steed
Oblivion laid him downe on Lauras herse.
Hereat the hardest stones were seene to bleed,
And grones of buried ghostes the hevens did perse:
Where Homers spright did tremble all for griefe,
And curst th' accesse of that celestiall theife.

The prayse of meaner wits this worke like profit brings,

[sings.

And all thy gentle flockes forgotten quight:
Thy chaunged hart now holdes thy pypes in scorne,
Those prety pypes that did thy mates delight;
Those trusty mates, that loved thee so well;
Whom thou gav'st mirth, as they gave thee the bell.

Yet, as thou earst with thy sweete ronndelayes

Didst stirre to glee our laddes in homely bowers;
So monghtst thou now in these refyned layes

Delight the daintie cares of higher powers:
And so mought they, in their deepe skanning skill,
Alow and grace our Collyns flowing quyll.

And faire befall that Faery Queene of thine,

In whose faire eyes love linckt with vertue sittes;
Enfusing, by those bewties fyers devyne,

Such high conceites into thy humble wittes,
As raised hath poore pastors oaten reedes
From rustick tunes, to chaunt heroique deedes.

As doth the Cuckoes song delight when Philumena So mought thy Redcrosse knight with happy hand
If thou hast formed right true vertues face herein,
Vertue her selfe can best discerne to whom they

written bin.

If thou hast beauty praysd, let her sole lookes
Judge if ought therein be amis, and mend it by

her eine.

[foes,

Victorious be in that faire Ilands right,
Which thou dost vayle in Type of Faery land,
[divine Elizas blessed field, that Albion hight:
That shieldes her friendes, and warres her mightie
Yet still with people, peace, and plentie flowes.
But (jolly shepheard) though with pleasing style
Let not conceipt thy setled sence beguile,
Thou feast the humour of the Courtly trayne,

If Chastitie want ought, or Temperaunce her dew,
Behold her Princely mind aright, and write thy
Queene anew.

sore

Meane while she shall perceive, how far her vertues Above the reach of all that live, or such as wrote [of yore: And thereby will excuse and favour thy good will; Whose vertue can not be exprest, but by an Angels quill.

Of me no lines are lov'd, nor letters are of price, Of all which speak our English tongue, but those of thy device.

Subject thy dome to her Empyring spright, [light.
Ne daunted be through envy or disdaine.
From whence thy Muse, and all the world, takes
HOBYNOLL.

Whose hand strowes Palme and never-dying bayes:
Let all at once, with thy soft murmuring sowne,
For he hath taught hye drifts in shepeherdes weedes,
Present her with this worthy Poets prayes;
And deepe conceites now singes in Faeries deedes.

R. S.

Grave Muses, march in triumph and with pray ses; What though his taske exceed a humaine witt,

VERSES

ADDRESSED, BY THE AUTHOR of the FAERIE QUEENE, TO VARIOUS NOBLEMEN, &C.

To the Right honourable Sir Christopher Hatten, Lord high Chauncelor of England, &c.

THOSE prudent heads, that with theire counsels wise

Whylom the pillours of th' earth did sustaine,
And taught ambitious Rome to tyrannise
And in the neck of all the world to rayne,
Oft from those grave affaires were wont ab-
staine,

With the sweet Lady Muses for to play:
So Ennius the elder Africane,

So Maro oft did Cæsars cares allay. [sway
So you, great Lord, that with your counsell
The burdeine of this kingdom mightily,
With like delightes sometimes may eke delay
The rugged brow of carefull Policy,
And to these ydle rymes lend litle space,
Which for their titles sake may find more grace.

To the most honourable and excellent Lord the
Earle of Essex.

To the Right Honourable the Earle of Oxen-
ford, Lord high Chamberlayne of Eng-
land, &c.

Receive, most Noble Lord, in gentle gree,
The unripe fruit of an unready wit;
Which by thy countenaunce doth crave to
bee

Which so to doe may thee right well befit,
Defended from foule Envies poisnous bit.
Sith th' antique glory of thine auncestry
Under a shady vele is therein writ,
Succeeding them in true nobility:
And eke thine owne long living memory,

And also for the love which thou doest beare
To th' Heliconian ymps, and they to thee;
They unto thee, and thou to them, most

deare:

That loves and honours thee, as doth behove.
Deare as thou art unto thy selfe, so love

Horse to her Highnesse, and knight of
the Noble order of the Garter, &c.
Magnificke Lord, whose vertues excellent,
Doe merit a most famous Poets witt
To be thy living praises instrument,
Yet doe not sdeigne to let thy name be writt
In this base Poeme, for thee far unfitt:
Nought is thy worth disparaged thereby;
But when my Muse, whose fethers, nothing
flitt,

Great Maister of the To the right honourable the Earle of North

Doe yet but flagg, and lowly learne to fly,
With bolder wing shall dare alofte to sty
To the last praises of this Faery Queene;
Then shall it make more famous memory
Of thine Heroicke parts, such as they beene:
Till then, vouchsafe thy noble countenaunce
To these first labours needed furtheraunce.

umberland.

The sacred Muses have made alwaies clame
To be the Nourses of nobility,

And Registres of everlasting fame,
Then, by like right the noble Progeny,
To all that armes professe and chevalry.
Which them succeed in fame and worth, are
tyde

T' embrace the service of sweete Poetry,
And eke from all, of whom it is envide,
By whose endevours they are glorifide;
To patronize the authour of their praise,
Which gives them life, that els would soone
have dide,

And crownes their ashes with immortall baies.
To thee, therefore, right noble Lord, I send
This present of my paines, it to defend.