both by Arifto and Taffo, but improved by Spenfer, with the addition of a line more in the clofe, of the length of our alexandrines. The defect of it, in long or narrative poems is apparent. The fame measure, clofed always by a full ftop, in the fame place, by which every ftanza is made as it were a diftinct paragraph, grows tiresom by continual repetition, and frequently breaks the fenfe, when it ought to be carryed on without interruption. With this exception, the reader will however find it harmonious, full of well-founding epithets, and of fuch elegant turns on the thought and words, that Dryden himself owns he learned thefe graces of verse chiefly from our author; and does not fcruple to say, that in this particular only Virgil furpaffed him among the Romans, and only Waller among the English.

Dedication to Juvenal,

3

THE

FIRST BOOK

OF THE

FAIRY QUEEN:

CONTAINING,

The legend of the Knight of the RED CROSS, or of HOLINESS.

L

I.

OI the man, whofe mufe whylome did mafk,
As time her taught, in lowly Shepherds weeds,
Am now enforct a far unfitter tank,

For trumpets ftern to change mine oaten reeds,
And fing of Knights, and Ladies gentle deeds;
Whose praises having flept in filence long,
Me, all too mean, the facred mufe areeds

To blazon 'broad, amongst her learned throng: Fierce wars, and faithful loves, fhall moralize my fong.

II.

Help then, O holy Virgin, chief of nine,
Thy weaker novice to perform thy will:
Lay forth out of thine everlafting fcrine
The antique rolis which there lie hidden still,
Of Fairy Knights, and fairest Tanaquil,
Whom that most noble Briton Prince fo long
Sought through the world, and fuffred fo much ill,
That I must rue his undeferved wrong:

O! help thou my weak wit, and fharpen my dull tong.
VOL. I.

B

III.

And thou moft dreaded imp of higheft Jove,
Fair Venus fon, that with thy cruel dart
At that good Knight fo cunningly didst rove,
That glorious fire it kindled in his heart,
Lay now thy deadly heben bowe apart,
And with thy mother mild come to mine ayd:
Come both, and with you bring triumphant Mart,
In loves and gentle jollities arrayd,

After his murdrous fpoils and bloody rage allayd.
IV.

And with them eke, O Goddess heavenly bright,
Mirrour of grace and majefty divine,

Great Lady of the greatest ifle, whose light

Like Phabus lamp throughout the world doth fhine, Shed thy fair beams into my feeble eyne,

And raife my thoughts, too humble, and too vile, To think of that true glorious type of thine,

The argument of mine afflicted ftile:

The which to hear, vouchsafe, O dearest dread a-while.

A gentle Knight was pricking on the plain,

Yclad in mighty arms and filver shield,
Wherein old dints of deep wounds did remain,
The cruel marks of many a bloody field;
Yet arms till that time did he never wield:
His angry fteed did chide his foaming bit;
As, much difdaining to the curb to yield:
Full jolly Knight he feem'd, and fair did fit,
As one for knightly giufts and fierce encounters fit.