MUIOPOTMOS: OR THE FATE OF THE BUTTERFLIE. BY ED. SP. DEDICATED TO THE MOST FAIRE AND VERTUOUS LADIE, THE LADIE CAREY. 1590. TO THE RIGHT WORTHY AND VERTUOUS LADIE, THE LA: CAREY. MOST brave and bountifull La: for so excellent favours as I have received at your sweet handes, to offer these fewe leaves as in recompence, should be as to offer flowers to the gods for their divine benefites. Therefore I have determined to give my selfe wholy to you, as quite abandoned from my selfe, and absolutely vowed to your services: which in all right is ever held for full recompence of debt or damage, to have the person yeelded. My person I wot' wel how little worth it is. But the faithfull minde and humble zeale which I bear unto your La: may perhaps be more of price, as may please you to account and use the poore service thereof; which taketh glory to advance your excellent partes and noble vertues, and to spend it selfe in honouring you; not so much for your great bounty to my self, which yet may not be unminded; nor for name or kindreds sake by you vouchsafed; being also regardable; as for that honorable name, which yee have by your brave deserts purchast to your selfe, and spred in the mouths of all men with which I have also presumed to grace my verses; and, under your Name, to commend to the world this small Poëme. The which beseeching your La: to take in worth, and of all things therin according to your wonted graciousnes to make a milde construction, I humbly pray for your happines. * Your La ever humbly; E. S. 1 Wot, know. "This lady was Elizabeth, one of the six daughters of Sir John Spenser, of Althorpe, in Northamptonshire, and was married to Sir George Carey, who became Lord Hunsdon on the death of his father, in 1596."-TODD. MUIOPOTMOS:* OR THE FATE OF THE BUTTERFLIE. I SING of deadly dolorous debate, Stir'd up through wrathfull Nemesis despight, The roote whereof and tragicall effect, Vouchsafe, O thou the mournfulst Muse of nyne, 1 Tyne, loss, affliction. 5 10 15 * This is one of the most pleasing and graceful of Spenser's minor poems, and has more than any other of that rich power of description so conspicuous in the "Faerie Queene." Of all the race of silver-winged Flies 20 With fruitfull hope his aged breast he fed 25 Of future good, which his young toward yeares, Full of brave courage and bold hardyhed Above th' ensample of his equall Peares, Did largely promise, and to him fore-red, The fresh young Flie, in whom the kindly fire For he so swift and nimble was of flight, That from this lower tract he dar'd to stie 2 Up to the clowdes, and thence with pineons light To view the workmanship of heavens hight: So on a summers day, when season milde After his guize did cast abroad to fare; And thereto gan his furnitures prepare. His breast-plate first, that was of substance pure, That mought his life from yron death assure, 45 50 55 And ward his gentle corps from cruell wound: For it by arte was framed, to endure 60 The bit of balefull steele and bitter stownd,1 No lesse then that which Vulcane made to shield And then about his shoulders broad he threw 65 An hairie hide of some wild beast, whom hee In salvage forrest by adventure slew, And reft the spoyle his ornament to bee; Which, spredding all his backe with dreadfull view, Thinke him Alcides with the Lyons skin, 1 Stownd, blow. 70 |