Page:Works of Edmund Spenser - 1857.djvu/491

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Such Iiappines have they, that do embrace

The precepts of my heavenlie discipline ;

But shame and sorrow and accursed case

Have they, that seorne the sch^'OK- of arts divine,

And banish me, which do piofesse the slcill 5'il

To make men heavenly wise through humbled will.

However yet they mee despise and spight,
1 feede on sweet contentment of mv thought,
And please my selfe with mine owne selt'e delight,
In contemplation of things heavenlie wrought- D'26
So, loathina; earth, I looke up to the sky
And, being- driven hence, 1 thether fly.

Thence I behold the miserie of men, [breed,

Which want the bliss that wisedom would them
And lilce brute beasts doo lie in loathsome den 5ol
Of ghostly darkues, and of ghastlie dreed :
For whom I mourne, and for ray ffelfe complaine.
And for my sisters eake whom they disdaine. —

With that shee wept and waild so pityouslie, 535

As if her eyes had beene two springing wells;

And all ihe rest, her soirow to .supplie.

Did throw forth shriekes and cries and dreery yells.

So ended shee: and then the next in rew

Began her mournfull plaint, as doth ensew. 540

rOLVHYMNtA.

A DOLEFULL case desires a dolefull song,

Without vaine art oi curious complements;

And squallid Fortune, into basenes flong.

Doth seorne the pride of wonted ornaments.

Then fittest are these ragged rimes for mee, 545

To tell my sorrowes that exceeding bee.

For the sweet numbers and melodious measures,
With which 1 wont the winged words to tie,
And make a tuneful! diapase of pleasures.
Now being let to runne ut libenie 550

By those which have no skill to rule tht^m right.
Have now quite lost their naturall delight.

Heapes of huge words uphoorded hideously'.
With horrid sound though iiaving little sence.
They thinke to be chiete praise of poetry ; 555

And, thereby wanting due intelligence,
Have mard the lace of goodiy poesie,
And made a monster oi their lautasie.

457

560

W liilom Ml ages past none might professe
But princes and liigh priests that secret skill ;
The sacred lavves therein they wont expresse,
Ai>'j with dee])e oracles their verses fill :
I hen was shee hela in soveraigne digniiie,
And made the noursling of nobilitie.

But now nor prince nor priest doth her maintavne.

But suffer her proplianed for to bee 566

Of the base vulgar, that with liands uncleane

Dares to pollute her hidden mysterie ;

And treadeth underfoote hir holie things.

Which vi-as the care of Kesars and of kings. 570

One onelie lives, her ages ornament.

And myrrour of her Makers maiestie,

That with rich bountie, and deare cherishment.

Supports the praise of noble poesie ;

Ne onelie favours them which it professe, 375

But is her selfe a peereles poetesse.

Most peereles prince, most peereles poetesse.

The true Pandora of all heavenly graces.

Divine Elisa, sacred emperesse!

Live she for ever, and her royall p'laces 38C

I'e fild with praises of divinest wits.

That her eternize with their heavenlie writs !

Some few beside this sacred skill esteme.

Admirers of her glorious excellence;

Which, being lightned with her beawties heme, 585

Are thereby fild with hapjiie influence,

And lifted up above the worldL's gaze,

To sing with angels her immortall praize.

But all the rest, as borne of salvage brood,

And having beene wi;h acorns alwaies fed, 590

Can no whit savour this celestiall food,

But with base thoughts are into blindiiesse led.

And kept from looking on the lightsome nay :

For whome I waile and weepe all that I may. —

Eftsoones such store of teares shee forth did powre.
As if shee all to water would have gone ; 596

And all her sisters, seeing her sad stowre,
Did weep and waile, and made exceeding mone,
And all their learned instruments did breake :
1 'i lie rest untold no livii)g tfugue can speake.