The Poetical Works of Edmund Spenser, Volume 5 | Page 5

Appeared in their native propertis, And did enrich that noble breast of his 285 With treasure passing all this world?s worth, Worthie of heaven it selfe, which brought it forth:
"His blessed spirite, full of power divine And influence of all celestiall grace, Loathing this sinfull earth and earthlie slime, 290 Fled backe too soonc unto his native place; Too soone for all that did his love embrace, Too soone for all this wretched world, whom he Robd of all right and true nobilitie.
"Yet, ere his happie soule to heaven went 295 Out of this fleshlie goale, he did devise Unto his heavenlie Maker to present His bodie, as a spotles sacrifise, And chose that guiltie hands of enemies Should powre forth th'offring of his guiltles blood: So life exchanging for his countries good. 300
"O noble spirite, live there ever blessed, The worlds late wonder, and the heavens new ioy; Live ever there, and leave me here distressed With mortall cares and cumbrous worlds anoy! 305 But, where thou dost that happines enioy, Bid me, O bid me quicklie come to thee, That happie there I maie thee alwaies see!
"Yet, whilest the Fates affoord me vitall breath, I will it spend in speaking of thy praise, 310 And sing to thee, untill that timelie death By heavens doome doo ende my earthlie daies: Thereto doo thou my humble spirite raise, And into me that sacred breath inspire, Which thou there breathest perfect and entire. 315
"Then will I sing; but who can better sing Than thine owne sister, peerles ladie bright, Which to thee sings with deep harts sorrowing, Sorrowing tempered with deare delight, That her to heare I feele my feeble spright 320 Robbed of sense, and ravished with ioy; O sad ioy, made of mourning and anoy!
"Yet will I sing; but who can better sing Than thou thyselfe thine owne selfes valiance, That, whilest thou livedst, madest the forrests ring, 325 And fields resownd, and flockes to leap and daunce, And shepheards leave their lambs unto mischaunce, To runne thy shrill Arcadian pipe to heare: O happie were those dayes, thrice happie were!
"But now more happie thou, and wretched wee, 330 Which want the wonted sweetnes of thy voice, Whiles thou now in Elisian fields so free, With Orpheus, and with Linus, and the choice Of all that ever did in rimes reioyce, Conversest, and doost heare their heavenlie layes, 335 And they heare thine, and thine doo better praise.
"So there thou livest, singing evermore, And here thou livest, being ever song Of us, which living loved thee afore, And now thee worship mongst that blessed throng 340 Of heavenlie poets and hero?s strong. So thou both here and there immortall art, And everie where through excellent desart.
"But such as neither of themselves can sing, Nor yet are sung of others for reward, 345 Die in obscure oblivion, as the thing Which never was; ne ever with regard Their names shall of the later age be heard, But shall in rustic darknes ever lie, Unles they mentiond be with infamie. 350
"What booteth it to have been rich alive? What to be great? what to be gracious? When after death no token doth survive Of former being in this mortall hous, But sleepes in dust dead and inglorious, 355 Like beast, whose breath but in his nostrels is, And hath no hope of happinesse or blis.
"How manie great ones may remembred be, Which in their daies most famouslie did florish, Of whome no word we heare, nor signe now see, 360 But as things wipt out with a sponge to perishe, Because they living cared not to cherishe No gentle wits, through pride or covetize, Which might their names for ever memorize!
"Provide therefore, ye Princes, whilst ye live, 365 That of the Muses ye may friended bee, Which unto men eternitie do give; For they be daughters of Dame Memorie And love, the father of Eternitie, And do those men in golden thrones repose, 370 Whose merits they to glorifie do chose.
"The seven-fold yron gates of grislie Hell, And horrid house of sad Proserpina, They able are with power of mightie spell To breake, and thence the soules to bring awaie 375 Out of dread darkenesse to eternall day, And them immortall make which els would die In foule forgetfulnesse, and nameles lie.
"So whilome raised they the puissant brood Of golden-girt Alcmena, for great merite, 380 Out of the dust to which the Oetaean wood Had him consum'd, and spent his vitall spirite, To highest heaven, where now he doth inherite All happinesse in Hebes silver bowre, Chosen to be her dearest paramoure. 385
"So raisde they eke faire Ledaes warlick twinnes. And interchanged life unto them lent, That, when th'one di?s, th'other then beginnes To shew in heaven his brightnes orient;