། ΤΟ THE MOST HIGH, MAGNIFICENT EMPRESSE RENOVVMED FOR PIETIE, VERTVE, AND ALL GRATIOVS GOVERNMENT ELIZABETH BY THE GRACE OF GOD QVEENE OF ENGLAND FRAVNCE AND IRELAND AND OF VIRGINIA, DEFENDOVR OF THE FAITH, &c. HER MOST HVMBLE SERVAVNT EDMVND SPENSER DOTH IN ALL HVMILITIE DEDI CATE, PRE- AND CONSECRATE THESE HIS LABOVRS TO LIVE VVITH THE ETERNI TIE OF HER FAME. THE FAERIE QUEENE Invocation Lo I the man, whose Muse whilome did maske, For trumpets sterne to chaunge mine Oaten reeds, To blazon broad emongst her learned throng: Fierce warres and faithfull loves shall moralize my song. Helpe then, O holy Virgin chiefe of nine, The antique rolles, which there lye hidden still, Sought through the world, and suffered so much ill, i ii O helpe thou my weake wit, and sharpen my dull tong. And thou most dreaded impe of highest Jove, Faire Venus sonne, that with thy cruell dart And with thy mother milde come to mine ayde: After his murdrous spoiles and bloudy rage allayd. iii And with them eke, O Goddesse heavenly bright, Great Lady of the greatest Isle, whose light Like Phœbus lampe throughout the world doth shine, Shed thy faire beames into my feeble eyne, And raise my thoughts too humble and too vile, To thinke of that true glorious type of thine, The argument of mine afflicted stile: The which to heare, vouchsafe, O dearest dred a-while. iv The Knight and the Lady Book I, Canto I, i-xii A GENTLE Knight was pricking on the plaine, But on his brest a bloudie Crosse he bore, The deare remembrance of his dying Lord, For whose sweete sake that glorious badge he wore, And dead as living ever him ador'd: Upon his shield the like was also scor'd, For soveraine hope, which in his helpe he had : Right faithfull true he was in deede and word, But of his cheere did seeme too solemne sad ; Yet nothing did he dread, but ever was ydrad. ii Upon a great adventure he was bond, A lovely Ladie rode him faire beside, Upon a lowly Asse more white then snow, Seemed in heart some hidden care she had, So pure an innocent, as that same lambe, iii iv qued deser And by descent from Royall lynage came Till that infernall feend with foule uprore Forwasted all their land, and them expeld: Whom to avenge, she had this Knight from far compeld. Behind her farre away a Dwarfe did lag, Of needments at his backe. Thus as they past, vi The day with cloudes was suddeine overcast, That every wight to shrowd it did constrain, Enforst to seeke some covert nigh at hand, vii A shadie grove not far away they spide, That promist ayde the tempest to withstand: Whose loftie trees yclad with sommers pride, Did spred so broad, that heavens light did hide, Not perceable with power of any starre : And all within were pathes and alleies wide, With footing worne, and leading inward farre : Faire harbour that them seemes; so in they entred arre. And foorth they passe, with pleasure forward led, Much can they prayse the trees so straight and hy, The Aspine good for staves, the Cypresse funerall. The Laurell, meed of mightie Conquerours And Poets sage, the Firre that weepeth still, The carver Holme, the Maple seeldom inward sound. viii ix |