Part 5 (1/2)

He had already too well caught the trick of flattery--flattery in a degree almost inconceivable to us--which the fashi+ons of the tie self-deceit, exacted froh was only too apt a teacher Colin Clout, in his story of his recollections of the Court, lets us see hoas taught to think and to speak there:--

But if I her like ought on earth ht read, I would her lyken to a crowne of lillies, Upon a virgin brydes adorned head, With Roses dight and Goolds and Daffadillies; Or like the circlet of a Turtle true, In which all colours of the rainbow bee; Or like faire Phebes garlond shi+ning new, In which all pure perfection one one Of earthly things, to judge of things divine: Her power, her mercy, her wisdome, none Can deeme, but who the Godhead can define

Why then do I, base shepheard, bold and blind, Presus so sacred to prophane?

More fit it is t' adore, with hue of the heavens in shape humane

The Queen, who heard herself thus celebrated, celebrated not only as a semi-divine person, but as herself unrivalled in the art of ”ranted Spenser a pension of 50_l_ a year, which, it is said, the prosaic and frugal Lord Treasurer, always hard-driven forBut the new poeisters of the Stationers' Co entry:--

Primo die Decembris [1589]

Mr Ponsonbye--Entered for his Copye, a book intytuled the _fayrye Queene_ dysposed into xij bookes &c, authorysed under thandes of the Archbishop of Canterbery and bothe the Wardens

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Thus, between pamphlets of the hour,--an account of the Arms of the City Companies on one side, and the last news frolish poems was licensed to make its appearance It appeared soon after, with the date of 1590 It was not the twelve books, but only the first three It was accoreat host of co personages at Elizabeth's court were appealed to; according to their several tastes or their relations to the poet, they are humbly asked to befriend, or excuse, or welco:--Sir Christopher Hatton, then Lord Chancellor, the Earls of Essex, Oxford, Northuhah, the Earl of cuham, Sir John Norris, President of Munster He addresses Lady Pembroke, in relory of our days,”

Who first hts in lowly lays

And he finishes with a sonnet to Lady Carew, one of Sir John Spencer's daughters, and another to ”all the gracious and beautiful ladies of the Court,” in which ”the world's pride seeratulations and praises for hiant sonnet, in which he i for envy at the approval of the _Faery Queen_, while ”Oblivion laid him down on Laura's hearse,” and even Horet for less ambitious days in the past, cheered on his friend in his noble enterprise Gabriel Harvey has been so hed at, and yet his verses welco the _Faery Queen_ are so full of true and warrace, that it is but just to cite thee: but Spenser saw in hienerous and siot the better in them of pedantry and false taste

Collyn, I see, by thy new taken taske, Some sacred fury hath enricht thy braynes, That leades thy s to loaynes; That lifts thy notes froes: So like the lively Larke that es

Thy lovely Rosolinde seeht: Thy chaunged hart now holdes thy pypes in scorne, Those prety pypes that did thy ht; Those trusty av'st ave thee the bell

Yet, as thou earst with thy sweete roundelayes Didst stirre to glee our laddes in hoht the daintie eares of higher powers: And so race our Collyns flowing quyll

And faire befall that _Faery Queene_ of thine, In whose faire eyes love linckt with vertue sittes; Enfusing, by those bewties fyers devyne, Such high conceites into thy humble wittes, As raised hath poore pastors oaten reedes Froht 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 shi+eldes her friendes, and warres her htie foes, Yet still with people, peace, and plentie flowes

But (jolly shepheard) though with pleasing style Thou feast the humour of the Courtly trayne, Let not conceipt thy setled sence beguile, Ne daunted be through envy or disdaine

Subject thy doht, Froht

HOBYNOLL

And to the Queen herself Spenser presented his work, in one of the boldest dedications perhaps ever penned:--

To The Most High, Mightie, and Magnificent Eovernland, Fravnce, and Ireland, and of Virginia, Defendovr of the Faith, &c

Her most hvmble Servavnt EDMVND SPENSER, Doth, in all hvmilitie, Dedicate, present, and consecrate These his labovrs, To live with the eternitie of her fame

”To live with the eternity of her fame,”--the claim was a proud one, but it has proved a prophecy The publication of the _Faery Queen_ placed hilish poets The world of his day ied the charm and perfection of the neork of art which had taken it by surprise As far as appears, it elcoenerously Spenser speaks in places of envy and detraction, and he, like others, had no doubt his rivals and enemies But little trace of censure appears, except in the stories about Burghley's dislike of him, as an idle rimer, and perhaps as a friend of his opponents But his brother poets, h in quaint phrases, to the learned Colin, the reverend Colin, the excellent and cunning Colin A greater than they, if we may trust his editors, takes him as the representative of poetry, which is so dear to hiree, As they must needs, the sister and the brother, Then reat 'twixt thee and me, Because thou lov'st the one, and I the other

_Dowland_ to thee is dear, whose heavenly touch Upon the lute doth ravish human sense; _Spenser_ toall conceit, needs no defence