A

SIR,

KNOWING how doubtfully all Allegories may be construed, and this booke of mine, which I have entituled The Faery Queene, being a continued Allegory, or darke Conceit, I have thought good, as well for avoyding of gealous opinions and misconstructions, as also for your better light in reading thereof, (being so by you commanded,) to discover unto you the general intention and meaning, which in the whole course thereof I have fashioned, without expressing of any particular purposes, or by-accidents, therein occasioned. The general end, therefore, of all the booke, is to fashion a gentleman or noble person in vertuous and gentle discipline; which for that I conceived shoulde be most plausible and pleasing, being coloured with an historical fiction, the which the most part of men delight to read, rather for variety of matter then for profite of the ensample, I chose the Historye of King Arthure, as most fitte for the excellency of his person, being made famous by many mens former workes, and also furthest from the daunger of envy, and suspition present time. In which I have followed all the antique poets historicall; first Homere, who in the persons of Agamemnon and Ulysses hath ensampled a good governour and a vertuous man, the one in his Ilias, the other in his Odysseis; then Virgil, whose like intention was to doe in the person of Eneas; 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 Vertues of a private man, coloured in his Rianaldo; the other

of

named Politice, in his Godfredo. By ensample of which excellente poets, I labour to pourtraict in Arthure, before he was king, the image of a bra knight, perfected in the twelve private Morall Vertues, as Aristotle hath devised; the which is the purpose of these first twelve bookes: which if I finde to be well accepted, I may be perhaps encoraged to frame the other part of Polliticke Vertues in his person, after that hee came to be king. To some I know this methode will seem displeasaunt, which had rather have good discipline delivered plainly in way of precepts, or sermoned at large, as they use, then thus clowdily enwrapped in allegorical devises. But such, me seeme, should be satisfide with the use of these days, seeing all things accounted by their showes, and nothing esteemed of, that is not delightfull and pleasing to commune sence. For this cause is Xenophon preferred before Plato, for that the one, in the exquisite depth of his iudgement, formed a commune welth, 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 gratious is doctrine by ensample then by rule. So have I laboured to do in the person of Arthure whom I conceive, after his long education by Timon, to whom he was by Merlin delivered to be brought up, so soone as he was borne of the Lady Igrayne, to have seene in a dream or vision the Faery Queene, with whose excellent beauty ravished, he awaking resolved to seeke her out, and so being by Merlin armed, and by Timon throughly instructed, he went to seeke her forth in Faerye Land. In that Faery Queene I meane Glor

in my generall 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 els, I do otherwise shadow her. For considering she beareth two persons, the one of a most royal Queene or Empresse, the other of a most vertuous and beautifull lady, this latter part in some places I doe express in Belphoebe, fashioning her name according to your owne excellent conceipt of Cynthia: Phoebe and Cynthia being both names of Diana. So in the person of Prince Arthure I sette forth Magnificence in particular; which Vertue for that (according to Aristotle and the rest) it is the perfection of all the rest, and conteineth in it them all, therefore in the whole course I mention the deeds of Arthure applyable to that Vertue, which I write of in that booke. But of the xii. other Vertues, I make xii. other knights the patrones, for the more variety of the history: of which these three bookes contayn three.

The first, of the Knight of the Redcrosse, in whom I expresse Holynes: the seconde of Sir Guyon, in whome I sette forth Temperaunce: the third of Britomartis a lady-knight, in whom I picture Chastity. But, because the beginning of the whole worke seemeth abrupte and as depending upon other antecedents, it needs that ye know the occasion of these three knights severall adventures. For the methode of a poet historical is not such, as of an historiographer. For an historiographer discourseth of affavres orderly as they were donne, accounting as well the times as the actions; but a poet thrusteth into the middest, even where it most concerneth him, and there recoursing to the thinges forepaste, and divining of thinges to come; maketh a pleasing analysis of all.

The beginning therefore of my history, if it were to be told by an historiographer, should be the twelfth booke, which is the last; where I devise that the Faery Queene kept her annual feaste xii. days; uppon which xii. severall dayes, the occasions of the xii, severall adventures hapned, which, being undertaken by xii. severall knights, are in these xii. books severally handled and discoursed. The first was this. In the beginning of the feast, there presented himselfe a tall clownishe young man, who falling before the Queene of Faeries desired a boone (as the manner then was) which during that feast she might not refuse; which was that hee might have the atchivement of any adventure, which during that feaste should happen. That being graunted, he rested him on the floore, unfitte through his rusticity for a better place. Soone after entred a faire ladye in mourning weedes, riding on a white asse, with a dwarfe behind her leading a warlike steed, that bore the arms of a knight, and his speare in the dwarfes band. Shee, falling before the Queene of Faeries, complayned that her father and mother, an ancient

king and queene, had bene by an huge dragon many years shut up in a brasen castle, who thence suffred them not to yssew; and therefore besought the Faerie Queene to assygne her some one of her knights to take on him that exployt. Presently that clownish person, upstarting, desired that adventure; whereat the Queene much wondering, and the lady much gainesaying, yet he earnestly importuned bis desire. In the end the lady told him, that unlesse that armour which she brought, would serve him (that is, the armour of a Christian man specified by St. Paul, v. Ephes.) that he could not succeed in that enterprise: which being forthwith put upon him with dew furnitures thereunto, he seemed the goodliest man in al that company, and was well liked of the lady. And eftesoones taking on him knighthood, and mounting on that straunge courser, he went forth with her on that adventure; where beginneth the first booke, viz.

A gentle knight was pricking on the playne, &c.

The second day there came in a palmer bearing an infant with bloody hands, whose parents he complayned to have bene slayn by an enchauntresse called Acrasia; and therefore craved of the Faery Queene, to appoint him some knight to performe that adventure; which being assigned to Sir Guyon, he presently went forth with that same palmer: which is the beginning of the second booke, and the whole subiect thereof. The third day there came in a groome, who complained before the Faery Queene, that a vile enchaunter, called Busirane, had in hand a most faire lady, called Amoretta, whom be 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 tooke on him that adventure. But being unable to performe it by reason of the hard enchauntments, after long sorrow, in the end met with Britomartis, who succoured him, and reskewed 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 vertuousnes of Belphabe, the lasciviousness of Hellenora; and many the like.

Thus much, Sir, I have briefly overronne to direct your understanding to the wel-head of the history; that, from thence gathering the whole intention of the conceit, ye may as in a handful gripe al the discourse, which otherwise may happily seem tedious and confused. So, humbly craving the continuance of your honourable favour towards me, and th' eteruall establishment of your happines, I humbly take leave.

Yours most humbly affectionate,
ED. SPENSER

23, Ianuary 1569.

A VISION UPON THE CONCEIPT OF THE FAERY QUEENE.

Me thought I saw the grave where Laura lay,
Within that temple where the vestall flame
Was wont to burne; and passing by that way
To see that buried dust of living fame,
Whose tomb faire Love, and fairer Virtue kept;
All suddenly I saw the Faery Queene:
At whose approch the soule of Petrarke wept,
And from thenceforth those Graces were not seene;
(For they this Queene attended ;) in whose steed
Oblivion laid him down on Lauras herse:
Hereat the hardest stones were seene to bleed,
And grones of buried ghostes the hevens did perse:
Where Homers spright did tremble all for griefe,
And curst th' accesse of that celestiall theife.

ANOTHER OF THE SAME.

W. R.

THE prayse of meaner wits this Worke like profit
brings,
[sings.
As doth the cuckoes song delight when Philumena
If thou hast formed right true Vertues face herein,
Vertue herselfe can best discerne to whom they
written bir.

If thou hast Beauty praysd, let her sole lookes divine
Judge if ought therein be amis, and mend it by her eine.
If Chastitie want ought, or Temperaunce her dew,
Behold her princely mind aright, and write thy
Queene anew.
[sore

Meane while she shall perceive, how far her vertues
Above the reach of all that live, or such as wrote of

Thy lovely Rosalinde seemes now forlorne;
And all thy gentle flockes forgotten quight;

Thy chaunged bart now holdes thy pypes in scorne,
Those prety pypes that did thy mates delight;
Those trusty mates, that loved thee so well;
Whom thou gav'st mirth, as they gave thee the bell.

Yet, as thou earst with thy sweete roundelayes,
Didst stirre to glee our laddes in homely bowers;
So moughtst thou now in these refyned layes
Delight the daintie eares of higher powers.
And so mought they, in their deepe skanning skill,
Alow and grace our Collyns flowing quill.

And faire befall that Faery Queene of thine!
In whose faire eyes Love linckt with Vertue sittes
Enfusing, by those bewties fyers divine,
Such high conceites into thy humble wittes,
As raised hath poore pastors oaten reedes
From rusticke tunes, to chaunt heroique deedes.

So mought thy Redcrosse knight with happy hand
Victorious be in that faire ilands right,
(Which thou dost vayle in type of Faery Land,)
Elizas blessed field, that Albion hight:
That shieldes her friendes, and warres her mightie foes,
Yet still with people, peace, and plentie, flowes.

But, iolly shepheard, though with pleasing stile
Thou feast the humour of the courtly trayne;
Let not conceipt thy settled sence beguile,
Ne daunted be through envy or disdaine.
Subiect thy doome to her empyring spright,
From whence thy Muse, and all the world, takes light.
HOBYNOLL.

FAYRE Thamis streame, that from Ludds stately
Runst paying tribute to the ocean seas, [towne
Let all thy nymphes and syrens of renowne
Be silent, whyle this Bryttane Orpheus playes;
Nere thy sweet banks there lives that sacred Crowne,
Whose hand strowes palme and never-dying bayes:
Let all at once, with thy soft murmuring sowne,
Present her with this worthy poets prayes:
For he hath taught hye drifts in shepherdes weedes,
And deepe conceites now singes in Faeries deedes.
R. S.

GRAVE Muses, march in triumph and with prayses; Our Goddesse here hath given you leave to land;

And biddes this rare dispenser of your graces
Bow downe his brow unto her sacred hand.
Deserte findes dew in that most princely doome,
In whose sweete brest are all the Muses bredde;
So did that great Augustus erst in Roome
With leaves of fame adorne his poets hedde.
Faire be the guerdon of your Faery Queene,
Eren of the fairest that the world hath seene!

H. B.

WHEN Stout Achilles heard of Helens rape,
And what revenge the states of Greece devis'd;
Thinking by sleight the fatall warres to scape,
In womans weedes himselfe he then disguis'd:
But this devise Ulysses soone did spy,

And brought him forth, the chaunce of warre to try.

When Spenser saw the fame was spredd so large
Through Faery land, of their renowned Queene;
Loth that his Muse should take so great a charge,
As in such haughty matter to be seene;
To seeme a shepheard, then he made his choice;
But Sidney heard him sing, and knew his voice.

And as Ulysses brought faire Thetis sonne
From his retyred life to menage armes :
So Spenser was, by Sidneys speaches, wonne
To blaze her fame, not fearing future harmes :
For well he knew, his muse would soone be
tyred

In her high praise, that all the world admired.

Yet as Achilles, in those warlike frayes,
Did win the palme from all the Grecian peeres
So Spenser now, to his immortal prayse,
Hath wonne the laurell quite from all his feeres.
What though his taske exceed a humaine witt;
He is excus'd, sith Sidney thought it fitt.

W.L

To looke upon a worke of rare devise
The which a workman setteth out to view,
And not to yield it the deserved prise
That unto such a workmanship is dew,
Doth either prove the iudgement to be naught,
Or els doth shew a mind with envy fraught.

To labour to commend a peece of worke,
Which no man goes about to discommend,
Would raise a jealous doubt, that there did lurke
Some secret doubt whereto the prayse did tend:

For when men know the goodnes of the wyne, 'Tis needless for the hoast to have a sygne.

Thus then, to shew my iudgement to be such
As can discerne of colours blacke and white
As alls to free my minde from envies tuch,
That never gives to any man his right;

I here pronounce this workmanship is such
As that no pen can set it forth too much.
And thus I hang a garland at the dore;
(Not for to shew the goodness of the ware;
But such hath beene the custome heretofore,
And customes very hardly broken are ;)

And when your tast shall tell you this is trew,
Then looke you give your hoast his utmost dew.
IGNOTO

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARLE OF OXENFORD,
LORD HIGH CHAMBERLAYNE OF ENGLAND, ETC.
RECEIVE, most noble Lord, in gentle gree,
The unripe fruit of an unready wit;
Which, by thy countenaunce, doth crave to be
Defended from foule envies poisnous bit.
Which so to doe may thee right well befit.
Sith th' antique glory of thine auncestry
Under a shady vele is therein writ,
And eke thine owne long living memory,
Succeeding them in true nobility:

And also for the love which thou doest beare
To th' Heliconian ymps, and they to thee;
They unto thee, and thou to them, most deare:
Deare as thou art unto thyselfe, so love

That loves and honours thee; as doth behove.
E. S.

REDOUBTED Lord, in whose corageous mind
The flowre of chevalry, now bloosming faire,
Doth promise fruite worthy the noble kind
Which of their praises have left you the haire;
To you this humble present I prepare,
For love of vertue and of martial praise;
To which though nobly ye inclined are,
(As goodlie well ye shew'd in late assaies,)
Yet brave ensample of long passed daies,
In which trew honor ye may fashiond see
To like desire of honor may ye raise,
And fill your mind with magnanimitee.
Receive it, Lord, therefore, as it was ment,
For honor of your name and high descent.

E. S.

With bolder wing shall dare alofte to sty
To the last praises of this Faery Queene;
Then shall it make most famous memory
Of thine heroicke parts, such as they beene:
Till then, vouchsafe thy noble countenaunce
To their first labours needed furtheraunce.

E. S.

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARLE OF ORMOND
AND OSSORY.

RECEIVE, most noble Lord, a simple taste
Of the wilde fruit which salvage soyl hath bred :
Which, being through long wars left almost waste,
With brutish barbarisme is overspredd :
And, in so faire a land as may be redd,
Not one Parnassus, nor one Helicone,
Left for sweete Muses to be harboured,
But where thyselfe hast thy brave mansione:
There indeede dwel faire Graces many one,
And gentle Nymphes, delights of learned wits;
And in thy person, without paragone,

All goodly bountie and true honour sits.
Such therefore, as that wasted soyl doth yield,
Receive, dear Lord, in worth the fruit of barren field.
E. S

ΤΟ

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD CHARLES HOWARD, LORD HIGH ADMIRAL OF ENGLAND, KNIGHT OF THE NOBLE ORDER OF THE GARTER, AND ONE OF HER MAJESTIE'S PRIVIE COUNSEL, ETC.

AND ye, brave Lord, whose goodly personage
And noble deeds, each other garnishing,
Make you ensample, to the present age,
Of th' old heroes, whose famous offspring
The antique poets wont so much to sing;
In this same pageaunt have a worthy place,
Sith those huge castles of Castilian king,
That vainly threatned kingdomes to displace,
Like flying doves ye did before you chase;
And that proud people, woxen insolent
Through many victories, did first deface:
Thy praises everlasting monument
Is in this verse engraven semblably,
That it may live to all posterity.

E. S.

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD OF HUNSDON,
HIGH CHAMBERLAINE TO HER MAJESTY.

RENOWNED Lord, that for your worthinesse
And noble deeds, have your deserved place
High in the favour of that Emperesse,
The worlds sole glory and her sexes grace;
Here eke of right have you a worthie place,
Both for your nearnes to that Faerie Queene,
And for your owne high merit in like cace:
Of which, apparaunt proofe was to be seene,
When that tumultuous rage and fearfull deene
Of northerne rebels ye did pacify,
And their disloiall powre defaced clene,
The record of enduring memory.
Live, Lord, for ever in this lasting verse,
That all posteritie thy honor may reherse.

E. S.