To the right worshipfull, my singular good frend, Master Gabriell Harvey, Doctor of the Lawes.
HARVEY, the happy above happiest men
I read: that, sitting like a looker-on
Of this worldes stage, doest note with critique pen
The sharpe dislikes of each condition:
And, as one carelesse of suspition, 5
Ne fawnest for the favour of the great;
Ne fearest foolish reprehension
Of faulty men, which daunger to thee threat;
But freely doest of what thee list entreat,
Like a great lord of peerelesse liberty; 10
Lifting the good up to high Honours seat,
And the evill damning evermore to dy.
For life and death is in thy doomeful writing:
So thy renowme lives ever by endighting.
Dublin, this xviij. of July, 1586.
Your devoted friend, during life,
EDMUND SPENCER.
WHO SO WIL SEEKE BY RIGHT DESERTS T’ ATTAINE
WHO so wil seeke by right deserts t’ attaine 15
Unto the type of true nobility,
And not by painted shewes, and titles vaine
Derived farre from famous auncestrie,
Behold them both in their right visnomy
Here truly pourtray’d as they ought to be, 20
And striving both for termes of dignitie,
To be advanced highest in degree.
And when thou doost with equall insight see
The ods twixt both, of both then deem aright,
And chuse the better of them both to thee: 25
But thanks to him that it deserves behight;
To Nenna first, that first this worke created,
And next to Jones, that truely it translated.
ED. SPENSER.
WHEREFORE DOTH VAINE ANTIQUITIE SO VAUNT
Upon the Historie of George Castriot, alias Scanderbeg, King of the Epirots, translated into English.
WHEREFORE doth vaine Antiquitie so vaunt
Her ancient monuments of mightie peeres, 30
And old heröes, which their world did daunt
With their great deedes, and fild their childrens eares?
Who, rapt with wonder of their famous praise,
Admire their statues, their colossoes great,
Their rich triumphall arcks which they did raise, 35
Their huge pyramids, which do heaven threat.
Lo! one, whom later age hath brought to light,
Matchable to the greatest of those great:
Great both by name, and great in power and might,
And meriting a meere triumphant seate. 40
The scourge of Turkes, and plague of infidels,
Thy acts, O Scanderbeg, this volume tels.
ED. SPENSER.
THE ANTIQUE BABEL, EMPRESSE OF THE EAST
THE ANTIQUE Babel, empresse of the East,
Upreard her buildinges to the threatned skie:
And second Babell, tyrant of the West, 45
Her ayry towers upraised much more high.
But, with the weight of their own surquedry,
They both are fallen, that all the earth did feare,
And buried now in their own ashes ly;
Yet shewing by their heapes how great they were. 50
But in their place doth now a third appeare,
Fayre Venice, flower of the last worlds delight;
And next to them in beauty draweth neare,
But farre exceedes in policie of right.
Yet not so fayre her buildinges to behold 55
As Lewkenors stile, that hath her beautie told.
EDM. SPENSER.
The Poems
Merchant Taylors’ school, Middlesex, where Spenser was educated as a boy
The school in Spenser’s time
List of Poems in Chronological Order
THE GENERALL ARGUMENT OF THE WHOLE BOOKE
JANUARYE
FEBRUARIE
MARCH
APRILL
MAYE
JUNE
JULYE
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
FAERIE QUEENE: COMMENDATORY VERSES
FAERIE QUEENE: DEDICATORY SONNETS
FAERIE QUEENE: BOOK I. THE LEGEND OF THE KNIGHT OF THE RED CROSSE.
FAERIE QUEENE: BOOK II. THE LEGEND OF SIR GUYON
FAERIE QUEENE: BOOK III. THE LEGEND OF BRITOMARTIS
FAERIE QUEENE: BOOK IV. THE LEGEND OF CAMBEL AND TRIAMOND
FAERIE QUEENE: BOOK V. THE LEGEND OF ARTEGALL
FAERIE QUEENE: BOOK VI. THE LEGEND OF SIR CALIDORE
FAERIE QUEENE: BOOK VII. TWO. CANTOS OF MUTABILITIE
THE RUINES OF TIME
THE TEARES OF THE MUSES
VIRGILS GNAT
PROSOPOPOIA, OR MOTHER HUBBERDS TALE
RUINES OF ROME: BY BELLAY
MUIOPOTMOS, OR THE FATE OF THE BUTTERFLIE
VISIONS OF THE WORLDS VANITIE
THE VISIONS OF BELLAY
THE VISIONS OF PETRARCH
DAPHNAÏDA
G. W. SENIOR, TO THE AUTHOR
AMORETTI I
AMORETTI II
AMORETTI III
AMORETTI IV
AMORETTI V
AMORETTI VI
AMORETTI VII
AMORETTI VIII
AMORETTI IX
AMORETTI X
AMORETTI XI
AMORETTI XII
AMORETTI XIII
AMORETTI XIV
AMORETTI XV
AMORETTI XVI
AMORETTI XVII
AMORETTI XVIII
AMORETTI XIX
AMORETTI XX
AMORETTI XXI
AMORETTI XXII
AMORETTI XXIII
AMORETTI XXIV
AMORETTI XXV
AMORETTI XXVI
AMORETTI XXVII
AMORETTI XXVIII
AMORETTI XXIX
AMORETTI XXX
AMORETTI XXXI
AMORETTI XXXII
AMORETTI XXXIII
AMORETTI XXXIV
AMORETTI XXXV
AMORETTI XXXVI
AMORETTI XXXVII
AMORETTI XXXVIII
AMORETTI XXXIX
AMORETTI XL
AMORETTI XLI
AMORETTI XLII
AMORETTI XLIII
AMORETTI XLIV
AMORETTI XLV
AMORETTI XLVI
AMORETTI XLVII
AMORETTI XLVIII
AMORETTI XLIX
AMORETTI L
AMORETTI LI
AMORETTI LII
AMORETTI LIII
AMORETTI LIV
AMORETTI LV
AMORETTI LVI
AMORETTI LVII
AMORETTI LVIII
AMORETTI LIX
AMORETTI LX
AMORETTI LXI
AMORETTI LXII
AMORETTI LXIII
AMORETTI LXIV
AMORETTI LXV
AMORETTI LXVI
AMORETTI LXVII
AMORETTI LXVIII
AMORETTI LXIX
AMORETTI LXX
AMORETTI LXXI
AMORETTI LXXII
AMORETTI LXXIII
AMORETTI LXXIV
AMORETTI LXXV
AMORETTI LXXVI
AMORETTI LXXVII
AMORETTI LXXVIII
AMORETTI LXXIX
AMORETTI LXXX
AMORETTI LXXXI
AMORETTI LXXXII
AMORETTI LXXXIII
AMORETTI LXXXIV
AMORETTI LXXXV
AMORETTI LXXXVI
AMORETTI LXXXVII
AMORETTI LXXXVIII
ANACREONTIC I
ANACREONTIC II
ANACREONTIC III
ANACREONTIC IV
ASTROPHEL
THE MOURNING MUSE OF THESTYLIS
A PASTORALL AEGLOGUE UPON THE DEATH OF SIR PHILLIP SIDNEY, KNIGHT, &C.
AN ELEGIE, OR FRIENDS PASSION, FOR HIS ASTROPHILL
AN EPITAPH UPON THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR PHILLIP SIDNEY, KNIGHT: LORD GOVERNOR OF FLUSHING
ANOTHER OF THE SAME
COLIN CLOUTS COME HOME AGAINE
AN HYMNE IN HONOUR OF LOVE
AN HYMNE IN HONOUR OF BEAUTIE
AN HYMNE OF HEAVENLY LOVE
AN HYMNE OF HEAVENLY BEAUTIE
PROTHALAMION
HARVEY, THE HAPPY ABOVE HAPPIEST MEN
WHO SO WIL SEEKE BY RIGHT DESERTS T’ ATTAINE
WHEREFORE DOTH VAINE ANTIQUITIE SO VAUNT
THE ANTIQUE BABEL, EMPRESSE OF THE EAST
List of Poems in Alphabetical Order
A-D E-H I-L M-O P-S T-V W-Z
A PASTORALL AEGLOGUE UPON THE DEATH OF SIR PHILLIP SIDNEY, KNIGHT, &C.
AMORETTI I
AMORETTI II
AMORETTI III
AMORETTI IV
AMORETTI IX
AMORETTI L
AMORETTI LI
AMORETTI LII
AMORETTI LIII
AMORETTI LIV
AMORETTI LIX
AMORETTI LV
AMORETTI LVI
AMORETTI LVII
AMORETTI LVIII
AMORETTI LX
AMORETTI LXI
AMORETTI LXII
AMORETTI LXIII
AMORETTI LXIV
AMORETTI LXIX
AMORETTI LXV
AMORETTI LXVI
AMORETTI LXVII
AMORETTI LXVIII
AMORETTI LXX
AMORETTI LXXI
AMORETTI LXXII
AMORETTI LXXIII
AMORETTI LXXIV
AMORETTI LXXIX
AMORETTI LXXV
AMORETTI LXXVI
AMORETTI LXXVII
AMORETTI LXXVIII
AMORETTI LXXX
AMORETTI LXXXI
AMORETTI LXXXII
AMORETTI LXXXIII
AMORETTI LXXXIV
AMORETTI LXXXV
AMORETTI LXXXVI
AMORETTI LXXXVII
AMORETTI LXXXVIII
AMORETTI V
AMORETTI VI
AMORETTI VII
AMORETTI VIII
AMORETTI X
AMORETTI XI
AMORETTI XII
AMORETTI XIII
AMORETTI XIV
AMORETTI XIX
AMORETTI XL
AMORETTI XLI
AMORETTI XLII
AMORETTI XLIII
AMORETTI XLIV
AMORETTI XLIX
AMORETTI XLV
AMORETTI XLVI
AMORETTI XLVII
AMORETTI XLVIII
AMORETTI XV
AMORETTI XVI
AMORETTI XVII
AMORETTI XVIII
AMORETTI XX
AMORETTI XXI
AMORETTI XXII
AMORETTI XXIII
AMORETTI XXIV
AMORETTI XXIX
AMORETTI XXV
AMORETTI XXVI
AMORETTI XXVII
AMORETTI XXVIII
AMORETTI XXX
AMORETTI XXXI
AMORETTI XXXII
AMORETTI XXXIII
AMORETTI XXXIV
AMORETTI XXXIX
AMORETTI XXXV
AMORETTI XXXVI
AMORETTI XXXVII
AMORETTI XXXVIII
AN ELEGIE, OR FRIENDS PASSION, FOR HIS ASTROPHILL
AN EPITAPH UPON THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR PHILLIP SIDNEY, KNIGHT: LORD GOVERNOR OF FLUSHING
AN HYMNE IN HONOUR OF BEAUTIE
AN HYMNE IN HONOUR OF LOVE
AN HYMNE OF HEAVENLY BEAUTIE
AN HYMNE OF HEAVENLY LOVE
ANACREONTIC I
ANACREONTIC II
ANACREONTIC III
ANACREONTIC IV
ANOTHER OF THE SAME
APRILL
ASTROPHEL
AUGUST
COLIN CLOUTS COME HOME AGAINE
DAPHNAÏDA
DECEMBER
FAERIE QUEENE: BOOK I. THE LEGEND OF THE KNIGHT OF THE RED CROSSE.
FAERIE QUEENE: BOOK II. THE LEGEND OF SIR GUYON
FAERIE QUEENE: BOOK III. THE LEGEND OF BRITOMARTIS
FAERIE QUEENE: BOOK IV. THE LEGEND OF CAMBEL AND TRIAMOND
FAERIE QUEENE: BOOK V. THE LEGEND OF ARTEGALL
FAERIE QUEENE: BOOK VI. THE LEGEND OF SIR CALIDORE
FAERIE QUEENE: BOOK VII. TWO. CANTOS OF MUTABILITIE
FAERIE QUEENE: COMMENDATORY VERSES
FAERIE QUEENE: DEDICATORY SONNETS
FEBRUARIE
G. W. SENIOR, TO THE AUTHOR
HARVEY, THE HAPPY ABOVE HAPPIEST MEN
JANUARYE
JULYE
JUNE
MARCH
MAYE
MUIOPOTMOS, OR THE FATE OF THE BUTTERFLIE
NOVEMBER
OCTOBER
PROSOPOPOIA, OR MOTHER HUBBERDS TALE
PROTHALAMION
RUINES OF ROME: BY BELLAY
SEPTEMBER
THE ANTIQUE BABEL, EMPRESSE OF THE EAST
THE GENERALL ARGUMENT OF THE WHOLE BOOKE
THE MOURNING MUSE OF THESTYLIS
THE RUINES OF TIME
THE TEARES OF THE MUSES
THE VISIONS OF BELLAY
THE VISIONS OF PETRARCH
VIRGILS GNAT
VISIONS OF THE WORLDS VANITIE
WHEREFORE DOTH VAINE ANTIQUITIE SO VAUNT
WHO SO WIL SEEKE BY RIGHT DESERTS T’ ATTAINE
The Prose
Doneraile Park and House, in County Cork, Ireland, was once Spenser’s estate. In July 1580 the poet went to Ireland in the service of the newly appointed Lord Deputy, Arthur Grey, 14th Baron Grey de Wilton, serving with the English forces during the Second Desmond Rebellion. After the defeat of the Irish he was awarded lands in County Cork that had been confiscated in the Munster Plantation during the conquest of Ireland.
A Vewe of the Present State of Irelande
A PROSE TREATISE ON THE REFORMATION OF IRELAND
This non-fiction work was first published in James Ware’s Ancient Irish Chronicles in 1598. Writing in the form of a dialogue, Spenser explains his view of the issues of the nation of Ireland, heavily influenced by the work of his predecessor, Lord Arthur Grey de Wilton, who was appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland in 1580. The objective of the piece was to illustrate how Ireland was in need of reform. Spenser believed that, “Ireland is a diseased portion of the State, it must first be cured and reformed, before it could be in a position to appreciate the good sound laws and blessings of the nation”. Spenser groups the “evils” of the Irish people into three prominent categories: laws, customs, and religion. These three elements work together, he argues, in creating the disruptive and degraded people.
Although highly regarded as a polemical piece of prose and valued as a historical source on 16th century Ireland, the work is now seen as malevolent in its intent. Spenser did express praise for the Gaelic poetic tradition, but he also makes many unfounded and prejudiced claims as to the Irish heredity, causing many modern scholars to dismiss the work as unreliable.
A View of the Present State of Ireland Discoursed by way of a Dialogue betwene Eudoxus and Irenius.
EUDOXUS But if that country of Ireland whence you lately came, be so goodly and commodious a soyle as you report, I wounder that no course is taken for the tourning therof to good uses, and reducing that salvage nation to better goverment and civillity.
IRENIUS Mary, so ther have bin divers good plotts devised, and wise counsells cast alredy about reformation of that realme, but they say it is the fatall destiny of that land, that no purposes, whatsoever are meant for her good, wil prosper and take good effect: which, whether it proceede from the very genius of the soyle, or influence of the starrs, or that Almighty god hath not yet appoynted the time of her reformacion, or that he reservet
h her in this unquiet state still, for some secret scourge, which shall by her come unto England, it is hard to be knowne, but yet much to be feared.
EUDOXUS Surely I suppose this but a vaine conceipt of simple men, which judge things by ther effects, and not by ther causes; for I would rather thinck the cause of this evel, which hangeth upon that country, to proceede rather upon the unsoundnesse of the counsell, and plotts, which you say have bin oftentimes layd for her reformacon, or of fayntnesse in following and effecting the same, then of any such fatall course or appoyntment of god, as you misdeme; but it is the manner of men, that when they are fallen into any absurdity, or theyre actions succeede not as they would, they are ready alwayes to impute the blame therof unto the heavens, so to excuse ther own folly and imperfections: so have I also heard it often wished, (even of some whos great wisedome in [my] opinion should seme to judg more soundly of so weighty a consideracon) that all that land weare a sea-poole; which kind of speach, is the manner rather of desperate men far driven, to wish the utter ruine of that which they cannot redresse, then of grave counsellors, which ought to thinck nothing so hard, but that through wisdome it may be maistered and subdued; since the poet sayth, that the wiseman shall rule even over the starrs, much more over the earth: for were it not the part of a desperate physition to wish his diseased patient dead, rather then to imploy the best indevours of his skill for his recovery: but since we are so far entred, let us I pray you, devise of those evills, by which that country is held in this wretched case, that it cannot, as you say, be recured. And if it be not painfull to you, to tell us what things during your late continuance ther, you observed, to be most offensive, and impeachfull unto the good rule and government therof.
IRENIUS Surely, Eudox, the evills which you desire to be recounted are very many, and almost countable with those which were hidden in the basket of Pandora: but since you so please, I will out of that infinit number, reckone but some that are most capitall, and commonly occurrent both in the life and condicions of private men, and also in the manage of publique affaires and pollicie. The which you shall understand to be of divers natures, as I observed them: for some of them are of very great antiquity and long continuance; others more late and of lesse endurance; others dayly growing and increasing continually, as the evill occasions are every day offred.
EUDOXUS Tell them, I pray you, in the same order that you have now rehearsed them; for ther can be no better methode then this which the very matter itself offreth. And when you have reckoned all the evills, let us heare your opinion for redressing of them. After which ther will perhaps of it self appere some reasonable way to settle a sound and perfect rule of government by shunning the former evills, and following the offred good. The which methode we may learne of the wise Physitions, which first require that the malady be knowne throughly and discovered: afterwards do teach how to cure and redresse it: and lastly do prescribe a diet with streight rules and orders to be dayly observed, for fear of relaps into the former disease, or falling into some other more dangerous then it.
Complete Works of Edmund Spenser Page 161