Complete Works of Edmund Spenser

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by Edmund Spenser

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.

 

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