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The Works of Edmund Spenser

A Variorum Edition: Edited by Edwin Greenlaw: Charles Grosvenor Osgood: Frederick Morgan Padelford: Ray Heffner
Spenser, Edmund (1552?-1599)

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VOLUME ONE THE MINOR POEMS
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VOLUME TWO THE MINOR POEMS
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[VOLUMES THREE–SIX]
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THE FAERIE QVEENE.
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COMMENDATORY VERSES AND DEDICATORY SONNETS
  
A Vision vpon this conceipt of the Faery Queene.
  
Another of the same.
  
To the learned Shepheard.
  
[Fayre Thamis streame, that from Ludds stately towne]
  
[Graue Muses march in triumph and with prayses]
  
[When stout Achilles heard of Helens rape]
  
[To looke vpon a worke of rare deuise]
  
To the right honourable Sir Christopher Hatton, Lord high Chauncelor of England. &c.
  
To the right honourable the Lo. Burleigh Lo. high Threasurer of England.
  
To the right Honourable the Earle of Oxenford, Lord high Chamberlayne of England. &c.
  
To the right honourable the Earle of Northumberland.
  
To the right honourable the Earle of Cumberland.
  
To the most honourable and excellent Lo. the Earle of Essex. Great Maister of the Horse to her Highnesse, and knight of the Noble order of the Garter. &c.
  
To the right Honourable the Earle of Ormond and Ossory.
  
To the right honourable the Lo. Ch. Howard, Lo. high Admiral of England, knight of the noble order of the Garter, and one of her Maiesties priuie Counsel. &c.
  
To the right honourable the Lord of Hunsdon, high Chamberlaine to her Maiesty.
  
To the most renowmed and valiant Lord, the Lord Grey of Wilton, knight of the Noble order of the Garter, &c.
  
To the right honourable the Lord of Buckhurst, one of her Maiesties priuie Counsell.
  
To the right honourable Sir Fr. Walsingham knight, principall Secretary to her Maiesty, and of her honourable priuy Counsell.
  
To the right noble Lord and most valiaunt Captaine, Sir Iohn Norris knight, Lord president of Mounster.
  
To the right noble and valorous knight, Sir Walter Raleigh, Lo. Wardein of the Stanneryes, and lieftenaunt of Cornewaile.
  
To the right honourable and most vertuous Lady, the Countesse of Penbroke.
  
To the most vertuous, and beautifull Lady, the Lady Carew.
  
To all the gratious and beautifull Ladies in the Court.

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185

A Vision vpon this conceipt of the Faery Queene.

Me thought I saw the graue, where Laura lay,
Within that Temple, where the vestall flame
Was wont to burne, and passing by that way,
To see that buried dust of liuing fame,
Whose tombe faire loue, and fairer vertue kept,
All suddenly I saw the Faery Queene:
At whose approch the soule of Petrarke wept,
And from thenceforth those graces were not seene.
For they this Queene attended, in whose steed
Obliuion laid him downe on Lauras herse:
Hereat the hardest stones were seene to bleed,
And grones of buried ghostes the heauens did perse.
Where Homers spright did tremble all for griefe,
And curst th'accesse of that celestiall theife.
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