The Poetical Works of Edmund Spenser, Volume 5

The Poetical Works of Edmund Spenser, Volume 5

The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Poetical Works of Edmund Spenser,
Volume 5, by Edmund Spenser, Edited by Francis J. Child This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net
Title: The Poetical Works of Edmund Spenser, Volume 5
Author: Edmund Spenser
Release Date: January 5, 2004 [EBook #10602]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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THE
POETICAL WORKS
OF
EDMUND SPENSER.
VOLUME V.
M.DCCC.LX.
CONTENTS
OF THE FIFTH VOLUME.
* * * * *
MISCELLANIES.
Complaints
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
Daphnaida
Amoretti
Epithalamion
Prothalamion
Fowre Hymnes
Epigrams
Sonnets
APPENDIX.
I. Variations from the Original Editions
II. Two Letters from Spenser to Harvey
III. Index of Proper Names
* * * * *
MISCELLANIES.

COMPLAINTS.
CONTAINING SUNDRIE SMALL POEMES OF THE WORLDS VANITIE:
WHEREOF THE NEXT PAGE MAKETH MENTION.
BY ED. SP.
* * * * *
LONDON:
IMPRINTED FOR WILLIAM PONSONBIE, DWELLING IN PAULES CHURCHYARD AT THE SIGNE OF THE BISHOPS HEAD.
1591.
* * * * *
A NOTE OF THE SUNDRIE POEMES CONTAINED IN THIS VOLUME.
1. The Ruines of Time.
2. The Teares of the Muses.
3. Virgils Gnat.
4. Prosopopoia, or Mother Hubberds Tale.
5. The Ruines of Rome: by Bellay.
6. Muiopotmos, or The Tale of the Butterflie.
7. Visions of the Worlds Vanitie.
8. Bellayes Visions.
9. Petrarches Visions.
* * * * *
THE PRINTER TO THE GENTLE READER.
Since my late setting foorth of the Faerie Queene, finding that it hath found a favourable passage amongst you, I have sithence endevoured by all good meanes, (for the better encrease and accomplishment of your delights,) to get into my handes such smale poemes of the same Authors as I heard were disperst abroad in sundrie hands, and not easie to bee come by by himselfe; some of them having bene diverslie imbeziled and purloyned from him, since his departure over sea. Of the which I have by good meanes gathered togeather these fewe parcels present, which I have caused to bee imprinted altogeather, for that they al seeme to containe like matter of argument in them, being all complaints and meditations of the worlds vanitie, verie grave and profitable. To which effect I understand that he besides wrote sundrie others, namelie: Ecclesiastes and Canticum Canticorum translated, _A Senights Slumber, The Hell of Lovers, his Purgatorie_, being all dedicated to ladies, so as it may seeme he ment them all to one volume: besides some other pamphlets looselie scattered abroad; as _The Dying Pellican, The Howers of the Lord, The Sacrifice of a Sinner, The Seven Psalmes_, &c., which, when I can either by himselfe or otherwise attaine too, I meane likewise for your favour sake to set foorth. In the meane time, praying you gentlie to accept of these, and graciouslie to entertaine the new Poet*, I take leave.
[* Spenser had printed nothing with his name before the Faerie Queene.--Ponsonby's account of the way in which this volume was collected is rather loose. The Ruins of Time and The Tears of the Muses were certainly written shortly before they were published, and there can be equally little doubt that Mother Hubberd's Tale was retouched about the same time. C.]

THE RUINES OF TIME.
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 to bud forth, and to shew themselves to him, as then in the weakenes of their first spring; and would in their riper strength (had it pleased High God till then to drawe out his daies) spired forth fruit of more perfection. But since God hath disdeigned the world of that most noble spirit which was the hope of all learned men, and the patron of my young Muses, togeather with him both their hope of anie further fruit was cut off, and also the tender delight of those their first blossoms nipped and quite dead. Yet, sithens my late cumming into England, some frends of mine, which might much prevaile with me, and indeede commaund me, knowing with howe straight bandes of duetie I was tied to him, as also bound unto that noble house, of which the chiefs hope then rested in him, have sought to revive them by upbraiding me, for that I have not shewed anie thankefull remembrance towards him or any of them, but suffer their names to sleep in