and the genius of the author of The Faerie Queene,' have respectively produced on the fortune and language of England. The fancy might even be pardoned for a momentary superstition, that the genius of their country hovered, unseen, over their meeting, casting her first look of regard on the poet that was destined to inspire her future Milton, and the other on the maritime hero who paved the way for colonizing distant regions of the earth, where the language of England was to be spoken, and the poetry of Spenser to be admired." In 1590 Spenser published the first three books of "The Faerie Queene," and in 1591, he received a pension of £50 a year from Queen Elizabeth, The favorable manner in which "The Faerie Queene" was received, induced the publisher to collect and print the author's minor poems, which may be found in the editions of his works. In 1595 the second part of "The Faerie Queene," consisting of three more books, appeared. The poet intended to complete the work in twelve books, and it is said that the last six were lost on his way from Ireland to England. But of this there is no proof, and scarcely any probability. "It is much more likely," says Mr. Hillard, "that the sorrows and misfortunes which clouded the last three years of the poet's life, deprived him of both the will and the power to engage in poetical composition." In September, 1598, the rebellion of O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, drove him and his family from Kilcolman. In the confusion of flight, one of the poet's children was unfortunately left behind, and perished in the house, which was burnt by the rebels. He arrived in England, harassed by these misfortunes, and died in London on the 16th of January, 1599, at the age of forty-five, and was buried in Westminster Abbey But how little is there of delight, to charm, to in Thus died Spenser, at the early age of forty-five. the great and good that can die! He still lives, to struct mankind. He still lives, and, as far as his writings are read, lives to exert the most salutary influence in inspiring a love for the just, the beautiful, the true; in purging the soul from the grovelling propensities and ppetites that continually clog it here, and in filling it with ardent aspirations for those high and holy things that claim kindred with its origin. Had Spenser never written «The Faerie Queene," many of his minor poems, and especially his "Divine Hymns," would have given him a high, a very high rank in English literature. But "The Faerie Queene," from its unequalled richness and beauty, has thrown the rest of his writings comparatively into the shade. Two things, however, have prevented its being generally read; one is its antiquated diction, and the other its allegorical character. The latter "has been" (remarks Mr. Hillard) "a kind of bugbear-a vague image of terror brooding over it, and deterring many from ever attempting its perusal. To borrow a lively expression of Hazlitt's, they are afraid of the allegory, as if they thought it would bite them.' But though it be an allegorical poem, it is only so to a certain extent and to a limited degree. The interest which the reader feels is a warm, flesh-and-blood interest, not in the delineation of a virtue, but in the adventures of a knight or lady. It is Una-the trembling, tearful woman-for whom our hearts are moved with pity, and not forsaken Truth. We may fairly doff the allegory aside, and let it pass, and 1 I would earnestly recommend to the reader's attention the "Introductory Observations on the Faerie Queen," by Mr. Hillard, prefixed to the edition just spoken of. They are written with that discriminating taste, justness of thought, and felicity of style, which characterize all his writings. Read, also, an excellent article on Spenser in the 2d vol. of D'Israeli's "Amenities of Literature:" also, some very just critical remarks in Hallam's "Literature of Europe the poem will lose little or nothing of its charm. The grand procession of stately and beautiful forms, the chivalrous glow, the stirring adventures, the noble sentiments, the picturesque descriptions, the delicious poetry, would all be left unimpaired." The poet, in a letter to Sir Walter Raleigh, gives the plan of his work. The general end of all the book," he says, "is to fashion a gentleman or noble person in virtuous and gentle discipline." He takes the history of King Arthur, "as most fit for the excellency of his person," whom he conceives to have seen in a vision the Faerie Queene, "with whose excellent beauty ravished, he awaking resolved to seek her out." By this Faerie Queene, Gloriana, he means Glory in general, but in particular, her majesty, Queen Elizabeth; and by Faerie Land, her kingdom. So in Prince Arthur he sets forth Magnificence or Magnanimity, for "that is the perfection of all the rest, and containeth in it them all; therefore," he says, "in the whole course I mention the deeds of Arthur applicable to that virtue which I write of in that book." Of the twelve books he makes or intended to make twelve knights the patrons, each of twelve several virtues. The first, the knight of the Red Cross, expressing Holiness: the second, Sir Guyon, or Temperance: the third, Britomartis, a "Lady Knight," in whom he pictures Chastity: the fourth, Cambell and Triamond, or Friendship: the fifth, Artegal, or Justice: the sixth, Sir Calodore, or Courtesy: what the other six books would have been, we have no means of knowing. The first canto of the first book thus opens: THE KNIGHT AND THE LADY. I. A gentle Knight' was pricking on the plaine,, II. And on his brest a bloodie crosse he bore, The deare remembrance of his dying Lord, For whose sweete sake that glorious badge he wore, Upon his shield the like was also scor'd, For soveraine hope, which in his helpe he had. 1 A gentle Knight.-Spenser comes at once to the action of the poem, and describes the Red-cross knight as having already entered upon the adventure assigned him by the Faerie Queene, which was to slay the dragon which lald waste the kingdom of Una's father. The Red-cross knight is St. George the patron saint of England, and represents holiness or Christian purity, and is clothed in the "whole armor of God," described by St. Paul in the sixth chapter of the Epistle to the Ephesians. $ Ycladd-clad. • Cheere-air, or mien. 3 Iolly-handsome. 6 Ydrad--dreaded. Giusts-tournaments. Upon a great adventure he was bond, (That greatest glorious queene of Faerie lond,) IV. A lovely Ladie rode him faire beside, V. So pure and innocent, as that same lambe, Of ancient kinges and queenes, that had of yore Their scepters stretcht from east to westerne shore, Till that infernal Feend with foule uprore Whom to avenge, she had this Knight from far compeld. VI. Behind her farre away a Dwarfe did lag, That lasie seemd, in being ever last, Or wearied with bearing of her bag Of needments at his backe. Thus as they past, The day with cloudes was suddeine overcast, And angry love an hideous storme of raine Did poure into his lemans lap so fast, That everie wight to shrowd it did constrain; And this faire couple eke to shroud themselves were fain.4 VII. Enforst to seeke some covert nigh at hand, Earne-yearn. 2 Whimpled-gathered, or plaited. Forwasted-much wasted. The prefix for is an intensive, from the Saxon and German ver. • Fain-glad With footing worne, and leading inward farr: VIII. And foorth they passe, with pleasure forward led, IX. The laurell, meed of mightie conquerours X. Led with delight, they thus beguile the way, That, which of them to take, in diverse doubt they been. UNA FOLLOWED BY THE LION. I. Noughts is there under heaven's wide hollownesse II. And now it is empassioned so deepe, 1 Can they praise-Much they praised. This form of expression is frequently used by Spenser Some, however, consider can' to be put for 'gan,' or 'began. 2 Eugh-yew. * Nought, &c. In this canto the adventures of Una are resumed, from the ninth stanza of the pre ceding canto. ♦ Empassioned-moved. 1 That my frayle eies these lines with teares do steepe, Is from her Knight divorced in despayre, And her dew loves deryv'd2 to that vyle Witches shayre. III. Yet she, most faithfull Ladie, all this while Forsaken, wofull, solitarie mayd, Far from all peoples preace,3 as in exile, Through that late vision which th' Enchaunter wrought, Through woods and wastness wide him daily sought; IV. One day, nigh wearie of the yrkesome way, V. It fortuned, out of the thickest wood A ramping lyon5 rushed suddeinly, VI. Instead thereof he kist her wearie feet, And simple truth subdue avenging wrong! 1 True as touch-i, e. true as the touchstone by which other substances are tried. 3 Preace-press or throng. 4 Undight-took off. A ramping lyon.-Upton conjectures the lion to be the English monarch, the defender of the Cuth. He seems rather to represent a manly and courageous people, like the English, and the homage he pays to Una betokens the respect which would be felt by such a people to beauty and innocence. 6 A8-as i 7 Weet-understand. |