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The Faerie Queene (1590/1596)/Books 1 to 3 (1590)/Book II

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The Faerie Queen
by Edmund Spenser
The Faerie Queene. Book II.
3907547The Faerie Queen — The Faerie Queene. Book II.Edmund Spenser
Fleuron from 'The Faerie Queene' by Edmund Spenser, printed in 1590
Fleuron from 'The Faerie Queene' by Edmund Spenser, printed in 1590

The second Booke

of the Faerie Queene.

Contayning

The Legend of Sir Guyon.

OR

Of Temperaunce.

Right well I wote most mighty Soueraine,That all this famous antique history,Of some th'aboundance of an ydle braineWill iudged be, and painted forgery,Rather then matter of iust memory,Sith none, that breatheth liuing aire, does know,Where is that happy land of Faery,Which I so much doe vaunt, yet no where show,But vouch antiquities, which no body can know.
But let that man with better sence aduize,That of the world least part to vs is red:And daily how through hardy enterprize,Many great Regions are discouered, Which to late age were neuer mentioned,Who euer heard of th'Indian PeruOr who in venturous vessell measuredThe Amarons huge riuer now found trewOr fruitfullest Virginia who did euer vew.
Yet all these were when no man did them knowYet haue from wisest ages hidden beeneAnd later times thinges more vnknowne shall showWhy then should witlesse man so much misweeneThat nothing is but that which he hath seene?What if within the Moones fayre shining spheareWhat if in euery other starre vnseeneOf other worldes he happily should heareHe wõder would much more, yet such to some appeare
Of faery lond yet if he more inquyreBy certein signes here sett in sondrie placeHe may it fynd; ne let him then admyreBut yield his sence to bee too blunt and baceThat no'te without an hound fine footing traceAnd then O fayrest Princesse vnder skyIn this fayre mirrhour maist behold thy faceAnd thine owne realmes in lond of FaeryAnd in this antique ymage thy great auncestry.
The which O pardon me thus to enfoldIn couert vele and wrap in shadowes lightThat feeble eyes your glory may beholdWhich elles could not endure those beames brightBut would bee dazled with exceeding lightO pardon and vouchsafe with patient eareThe braue aduentures of this faery knightThe good Sir Guyon gratiously to heareIn whom great rule of Temp'raunce goodly doth appeare.