When SPENSER saw the fame was spredd so large To seeme a shepeheard then he made his choice, VERSES TO THE AUTHOR. LONDON: PRINTED FOR J. BELL, BOOKSELLER TO HIS THE PRINCE OF WALES. THE FAERY QUEENE. BOOK V. Contayning The Legend of Artegall, or of Justice. I. So oft as I with state of present time II. It's now at earst become a stonie one; And men themselves, the which at first were framed III. Let none then blame me if, in discipline I do not forme them to the common line For that which all men then did vertue call, Is now cald vice; and that which vice was hight, Right now is wrong, and wrong that was is right, Is wandred farre from where it first was pight, Of all this lower world toward his dissolution. V. For whoso list into the heavens looke, And search the courses of the rowling spheares, bore: VI. And eke the Bull hath with his bow-bent horne So now all range and do at random rove And all this world with them amisse doe move, Ne is that same great glorious lampe of light And if to those Ægyptian wisards old (Which in star-read were wont have best insight) Faith may be given, it is by them told, That since the time they first tooke the sunnes hight, And next to him old Saturne, that was wont be best. |