SPENSER, AND HIS POETRY.

BY

GEO. L. CRAIK, M. A.

IN THREE VOLUMES.

VOL. III.

LONDON:

CHARLES KNIGHT & Co., LUDGATE STREET.

1845.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

SECTION III. (continued.)—THE FAIRY QUEEN

5

SECTION IV.-SPENSER'S REMAINING POETRY AND LIFE.

130

ERRATA.

Vol. I. p. 5, 1. 11, for "antiquarians," read " antiquaries."

p. 48, 1. 21, read "the seventh and eighth Cantos of the Sixth Book."

p. 189, l. 1, for "mind," read "maid." Vol. II. p. 260, 1. 17, for "turn," read "hour."

SPENSER AND HIS POETRY.

THE FAIRY QUEEN.

BOOK SIXTH.

WE now enter upon the last completed Book of the Fairy Queen, containing the legend of Sir Calidore, or of Courtesy. It is preceded by an introductory address of seven stanzas, of which the first five are as follow:

The ways through which my weary steps I guide
In this delightful land of Fairy,

Are so exceeding spacious and wide,
And sprinkled with such sweet variety
Of all that pleasant is to ear or eye,

That I, nigh ravished with rare thought's delight,
My tedious travel do forget thereby;

And, when I gin to feel decay of might,

It strength to mé supplies and cheers my dulled sprite.

Such secret comfort and such heavenly pleasures,
Ye sacred imps, that on Parnasso dwell,

And there the keeping have of learning's treasures
Which do all worldly riches far excel,

Into the minds of mortal men do well,a

And goodly fury into them infuse;

Guide ye my footing, and conduct me well,

In these strange ways, where never foot did use,
Ne none can find but who was taught them by the

muse:

Cause to flow.

VOL. III.

B