CANTO XII Faire Una to the Redcrosse knight,betrouthed is with joy:Though false Duessa it to barreher false sleights doe imploy. I BEHOLD I see the haven nigh at hand,To which I meane my wearie course to bend;Vere the maine shete,[*] and beare up with the land,The which afore is fairely to be kend,And seemeth safe […]

CANTO II The guilefull great Enchaunter partsthe Redcrosse Knight from truth,Into whose stead faire Falshood steps,and workes him wofull ruth. I By this the Northerne wagoner[*] had setHis sevenfold teme[*] behind the stedfast starre,[*]That was in Ocean waves yet never wet,But firme is fixt, and sendeth light from farreTo all that in the wide deepe […]

CANTO III Forsaken Truth long seekes her love,and makes the Lyon mylde,Marres blind Devotions mart, and falsin hand of leachour vylde. I Nought is there under heav’ns wide hollownesse,That moves more deare compassion of mind,Then beautie brought t’ unworthy wretchednesseThrough envies snares, or fortunes freakes unkind.I, whether lately through her brightnesse blind, 5Or through alleageance […]

CANTO IV To sinfull house of Pride, Duessaguides the faithfull knight,Where brother’s death to wreak Sansjoydoth chalenge him to fight. I Young knight whatever that dost armes professe,And through long labours huntest after fame,Beware of fraud, beware of ficklenesse,In choice, and change of thy deare loved Dame,Least thou of her beleeve too lightly blame, 5And […]

CANTO V The faithfull knight in equall fieldsubdewes his faithlesse foe,Whom false Duessa saves, and forhis cure to hell does goe. I THE noble hart, that harbours vertuous thought,And is with child of glorious great intent,Can never rest, untill it forth have broughtTh’ eternall brood of glorie excellent.Such restlesse passion did all night torment 5The […]

CANTO VI From lawlesse lust by wondrous gracefayre Una is releast:Whom salvage nation does adore,and learnes her wise beheast. I As when a ship, that flyes faire under saile,An hidden rocke escaped hath unwares,That lay in waite her wrack for to bewaile,The Marriner yet halfe amazed staresAt perill past, and yet in doubt ne dares […]

TOTHE MOST HIGH, MIGHTIE, AND MAGNIFICENTEMPERESSERENOWNED FOR PIETIE, VERTVE, AND ALL GRATIOVS GOVERNMENT ELIZABETH BY THE GRACE OF GODQueen of England, Fraunce and Ireland, and of Virginia,Defender of the Faith etc. HER MOST HUMBLE SERVAUNTEDMVND SPENSERDOTH IN ALL HUMILITIEDEDICATE, PRESENT, AND CONSECRATE THESE HIS LABOVRSTO LIVE WITH THE ETERNITIE OF HER FAME. * * * […]

CANTO I The Patron of true Holinessefoule Errour doth defeate;Hypocrisie him to entrappedoth to his home entreate. I A GENTLE Knight[*] was pricking on the plaine,Ycladd in mightie armes and silver shielde,Wherein old dints of deepe wounds did remaine,The cruel markes of many’a bloudy fielde;Yet armes till that time did he never wield: 5His angry […]

LONDON: IMPRINTED FOR WILLIAM PONSONBIE, DWELLING IN PAULES CHURCHYARD AT THE SIGNE OF THE BISHOPS HEAD. 1591. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE THE LADIE STRANGE. Most brave and noble Ladie, the things that make ye so much honored of the world as ye bee are such as (without my simple lines testimonie) are throughlie knowen to […]

DEDICATED TO THE RIGHT NOBLE AND BEAUTIFULL LADIE, THE LA: MARIE, COUNTESSE OF PEMEBROOKE. Most honourable and bountifull Ladie, there bee long sithens deepe sowed in my brest the seede of most entire love and humble affection unto that most brave knight, your noble brother deceased; which, taking roote, began in his life time somewhat […]

And after him came next the chill December: Yet he, through merry feasting which he made, And great bonfires, did not the cold remember; His Saviour’s birth his mind so much did glad: Upon a shaggy-bearded goat he rode, The same wherewith Dan Jove in tender years, They say, was nourisht by th’ Idaean Mayd; […]