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THE

FAERIE QUEENE.

DISPOSED INTO TWELVE BOOKES,

FASHIONING

XII. MORALL VERTUES.

17

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This is the Dedication of the Edition of 1596. To the Edition of 1590 the following brief compliment only is prefixed. "To the moft mightie and magnificent Empreffe Elizabeth by the Grace of God Queene of England France and Ireland Defender of the Faith &c. Her moft humble fervant Ed. Spenfer." TODD.

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I

A LETTER OF THE AUTHORS,

expounding his whole intention in the course of this worke; which, for that it giveth great light to the Reader, for the better understanding is hereunto annexed.

TO THE RIGHT NOBLE AND VALOROUS

SIR WALTER RALEIGH, knight.

LO. WARDEIN OF THE STANNERYES AND HER MAIESTIES LIEFTEN AUNT OF THE COUNTY OF CORNEWAYLL.

SIR, knowing how doubtfully all Allegories may be conftrued, and this Booke of mine, which I haue entituled the Faery Queene, being a continued Allegory, or darke Conceit, I haue thought good as well for auoyding of gealous opinions and misconftructions, as alfo for your better light in reading thereof, (being fo by you commanded,) to difcouer unto you the general intention and meaning, which in the whole courfe thereof I haue fashioned, with out expreffing of any particular purposes, or by accidents, therein occafioned. The general end therefore of all the Booke is to fashion a gentleman or noble perfon in vertuous and gentle difcipline: which for that I conceiued fhoulde be most plaufible and pleafing, being coloured with an hiftorical fiction, the which the moft part of men delight to read, rather for variety of matter then for profite of the enfample, I chofe the Hiftorye of King Ar

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