History of King Arthur, as most fit for the excellency of his person, being made famous by many men's former works, and also farthest from the danger of envy, and suspicion of present time. In which I have followed all the antique poets historical; first Homer, who in the persons of Agamemnon and Ulysses hath ensampled a good governor and a virtuous man, the one in his Ilias, the other in his Odysseis; then Virgil, whose like intention was to do in the person of Æneas; after him Ariosto comprised them both in his Orlando; and lately Tasso dissevered them again, and formed both parts in two persons, namely that part which they in philosophy call Ethice, or virtues of a private man, coloured in his Rinaldo; the other named Politice in his Godfredo. By ensample of which excellent poets, I labour to pourtraict in Arthur, before he was king, the image of a brave knight, perfected in the twelve private Moral Virtues, as Aristotle hath devised; the which is the purpose of these first twelve books: which if I find to be well accepted, I may be perhaps encouraged to frame the other part of Politick Virtues in his person, after that he came to be king. To some I know this method will seem displeasant, which had rather have good discipline delivered plainly in way of precepts, or sermoned at large, as they use, than thus cloudily enwrapped in allegorical devices. But such, me seem, should be satisfied with the use of these days, seeing all things accounted by their shows, and nothing esteemed of, that is not delightful and pleasing to common sense. For this cause is Xenophon preferred before Plato, for that the one, in the exquisite depth of his judgment, formed a commonwealth, such as it should be; but the other, in the person of Cyrus, and the Persians, fashioned a government, such as might best be; so much more profitable and gracious is doctrine by ensample, than by rule. So have I laboured to do in the person of Arthur: whom I conceive, after his long education by Timon, to whom he was by Merlin delivered to be brought up, so soon as he was born of the Lady Igrayne, to have seen in a dream or vision the Faery Queene, with whose excellent beauty ravished, he awaking resolved to seek her out; and so being by Merlin armed, and by Timon throughly instructed, he went to seek her forth in Faery Land. In that Faery Queene I meane Glory in my general intention, but in my particular I conceive the most excellent and glorious person of our soveraine the Queene, and her kingdom in Faery Land. And yet, in some places else, I do otherwise shadow her. For considering she beareth two persons, the one of a most royal Queene or Empress, the other of a most virtuous and beautiful lady, this latter part in some places I do express in Belphoebe, fashioning her name according to your own excellent conceit of Cynthia: Phoebe and Cynthia being both names of Diana. So in the person of Prince Arthur I set forth Magnificence in particular; which Virtue, for that (according to Aristotle and the rest) it is the perfection of all the rest, and containeth in it them all, therefore in the whole course I mention the deeds of Arthur applyable to that Virtue, which I write of in that book. But of the xii. other Virtues, I make xii. other knights the patrons, for the more variety of the history: of which these three books contain three. The first of the Knight of the Redcross, in whom I express Holiness: The second of Sir Guyon, in whom I set forth Temperance: The third of Britomartis a lady knight, in whom I picture Chastity. But, because the beginning of the whole work seemeth abrupt and as depending upon other antecedents, it needs that ye know the occasion of these three knights' several adventures. For the method of a poet historical is not such, as of an historiographer. For an historiographer discourseth of affairs orderly as they were done, accounting as well the times as the actions; but a poet thrusteth into the midst, even where it most concerneth him, and there recoursing to the things forepast, and divining of things to come, maketh a pleasing analysis of all. eral The beginning therefore of my history, if it were to be told by an historiographer, should be the twelfth book, which is the last; where I devise that the Faery Queene kept her annual feast ii. days; upon which xii. several days, the occasions of the xii adventures happened, which, being undertaken by xii. several knights, are in these xii. books severally handled and discoursed. The first was this. In the beginning of the feast, there presented himself a tall clownish young man, who, falling before the Queene of Faeries, desired a boon (as the manner then was) which during that feast she might not refuse; which was that he might have the achievement of any adventure, which during that feast should happen. That being granted, he rested him on the floor, unfit through his rusticity for a better place. Soon after entered a fair lady in mourning weeds, riding on a white ass, with a dwarf behind her leading a warlike steed, that bore the arms of a knight, and his spear in the dwarf's hand. She, falling before the Queene of Faeries, complained that her father and mother, an ancient king and queen, had been by an huge dragon many years shut up in a brazen castle, who thence suffered them not to issue: and therefore besought the Faerie Queene to assign her some one of her knights, to take on him that exploit. Presently that clownish person upstarting, desired that adventure : whereat the Queene much wondering, and the lady much gainsaying, yet he earnestly importuned his desire. In the end the lady told him, that unless that armour, which she brought, would serve him (that is, the armour of a Christian man, specified by St Paul, vi. Ephes.) that he could not succeed in that enterprise; which being forthwith put upon him with due furnitures thereunto, he seemed the goodliest man in all that company, and was well liked of the lady. And eftesoones 1 taking on him knighthood, and mounting on that strange courser, he went forth with her on that adventure; where beginneth the first book, viz. A gentle knight was pricking on the plain, &c. The second day there came in a palmer, bearing an infant with bloody hands, whose parents he complained to have been slain by an enchantress called Acrasia: and therefore craved of the Faery Queene, to appoint him some knight, to perform that adventure; which being assigned to Sir Guyon, he presently went forth with that same palmer which is the beginning of the second book and the whole subject thereof. The third day there came in a groom, who complained before the Faery Queene, that a vile enchanter, called Busirane, had in hand a most fair 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 took on him that adventure. But being unable to perform it by reason of the hard enchantments, after long sorrow, in the end met with Britomartis, who succoured him, and rescued his love. 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 virtuousness of Belphœbe, the lasciviousness of Hellenora, and many the like. This much, Sir, I have briefly overrun to direct your understanding to the well-head of the history, that from thence gathering the whole intention of the conceit, ye may as in a handful gripe all the discourse, which otherwise may happily seem tedious and confused. So humbly craving the continuance of your honourable favour towards me, and the eternal establishment of your happiness, I humbly take leave. Yours most humbly affectionate, Jan. 23, 1589 1 'Eftesoones:' immediately. ED. SPENSER. VERSES ADDRESSED BY AUTHOR TO NOBLEMEN, ETC. VERSES ADDRESSED, BY THE AUTHOR OF THE FAERIE QUEENE, 7 * To the Right Honourable Sir Christopher Hatton,* THOSE prudent heads, that with their counsels wise So Maro oft did Cæsar's cares allay. So you, great Lord, that with your counsel sway With like delights sometimes may eke2 delay3 E. S. To the Right Honourable the Lord Burleigh, Lord To you, right noble Lord, whose careful breast 'Hatton:' made Chancellor in 1587, died in 1591. (As the wide compass of the firmament The labour of lost time, and wit unstay'd: To the Right Honourable the Earl of Oxenford, Favour. RECEIVE, most noble Lord, in gentle gree,1 * Since. $ Also. • The Muses. 5 Supply • him.' Which, by thy countenance, doth crave to be And also for the love* which thou dost bear That loves and honours thee; as doth behove. E. S. *The love,' &c.: Oxenford wrote verses; for instance, a Dialogue be ween Fancy and Desire. |