Edmund Spenser (c.1552–99) was an English poet who produced some of the key poetic texts of the Elizabethan age. He is best known for his allegorical romance The Faerie Queene (1590–96) that celebrated Queen Elizabeth I and was written in the “Spenserian” stanza.
Born in London of humble origins, Spenser rose through a succession of administrative posts to become the colonial administrator in Ireland. His début volume was the pastoral The Shepheardes Calender (1579,) dedicated to his nephew, the Elizabethan poet Philip Sidney. Published anonymously, it consisted of twelve eclogues in imitation of Virgil, with dialogues between shepherds on such themes as love, poetry, and Queen Elizabeth I.
Spenser lived in his 3,000-acre estate of Kilcolman and its castle, and its surroundings inspired much of his most exquisite poetry. Extremely critical of the often- disorderly Irish, Spenser advocated harsh colonial measures in his last published work, A View of the Present State of Ireland (1596.) He died in London and was buried in Westminster Abbey, near his favorite poet Geoffrey Chaucer.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Edmund Spenser
Beauty is the bait which with delight allures man to enlarge his kind.
—Edmund Spenser
Topics: Beauty
What more felicity can fall to man than to enjoy delight with liberty?
—Edmund Spenser
The troubled blood through his pale face was seen to come and go with tidings from his heart, as it a running messenger had been.
—Edmund Spenser
Yet is there one more cursed than they all, that canker-worm, that monster, jealousy, which eats the heart and feeds upon the gall, turning all love’s delight to misery, through fear of losing his felicity.
—Edmund Spenser
Topics: Jealousy
A man may as easily fill a chest with grace as the heart with gold.—The air fills not the body, neither does money the covetous heart of man.
—Edmund Spenser
No place, no company, no age, no person is temptation-free; let no man boast that he was never tempted, let him not be high-minded, but fear, for he may be surprised in that very instance wherein he boasteth that he was never tempted at all.
—Edmund Spenser
Topics: Temptation
Pour out the wine without restraint or stay, Pour not by cups, but by the bellyful, pour out to all that wull.
—Edmund Spenser
Much more gracious and profitable is doctrine by ensample, than by rule.
—Edmund Spenser
Topics: Example
It is the mind that maketh good or ill, that maketh wretch or happy, rich or poor.
—Edmund Spenser
Topics: The Mind
O sacred hunger of ambitious minds!
—Edmund Spenser
Ill can he rule the great that cannot reach the small.
—Edmund Spenser
Topics: Power
Lovely concord and most sacred peace doth nourish virtue, and fast friendship breed.
—Edmund Spenser
Topics: Peace
Under thy mantle black, there hidden lie, light-shunning theft, and traitorous intent, abhorred bloodshed, and vile felony, shameful deceit, and danger imminent, foul horror, and eke hellish dreriment.
—Edmund Spenser
Topics: Night
Who will not mercy unto others show, how can he mercy ever hope to have?
—Edmund Spenser
He whose days in wilful woe are worn, the grace of his Creator doth despise, that will not use his gifts for thankless niggardise.
—Edmund Spenser
In vain he seeketh others to suppress who hath not learned himself first to subdue.
—Edmund Spenser
Topics: Self-Discovery
Base-minded they that lack intelligence; for God himself for wisdom most is praised, and men to God thereby are highest raised.
—Edmund Spenser
Topics: Knowledge
The noblest mind the best contentent has.
—Edmund Spenser
Topics: Contentment
Sluggish idleness—the nurse of sin.
—Edmund Spenser
Topics: Idleness
But Justice, though her dome doom she doe prolong,
Yet at the last she will her owne cause right.
—Edmund Spenser
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