34 posies: bouquets, garlands.
37 Swannes: here representing the two ladies, but more commonly an emblem of the poet. Cf. SC, October, [90] and note. The swan features in the insignia of the brides’ mother’s family.
38 Lee: the River Lea, a tributary of the Thames. Cf. FQ, 4. 11. 29.
39 fairer Birds: because ‘birds’ may also mean ‘ladies’ this anticipates the transformation to ‘faire brides’ at line 176.
40 Pindus: a mountain range in Thessaly often associated with Apollo or the Muses. Cf. FQ, 3. 4. 41.
42–3 Joue… Leda: Jove, assuming the form of a swan, ravished Leda and she laid the egg from which hatched the Dioscuri, Castor and Pollux, with whom the bridegrooms are compared at line 173. Like their ladies, the bridegrooms too are swanlike. Cf. Ovid, Metamorphoses, 6. 109; FQ, 3. 11. 32; RT, 386–9 and note.
48–9 spare / To wet: refrain from wetting.
49 least: lest.
50 Soyle… fayre: possibly denoting the ladies’ reluctance to sully their virginity through love. Cf. Berger (1965).
56 brood: offspring (particularly of birds).
57 Christal Flood: cf. the description of the Thames at FQ, 4. 11. 27.
63 Venus: for Venus’ swans cf. Horace, Odes, 4. 1. 10; Ovid, Metamorphoses, 10. 717–18; Vallans, A Tale of Two Swannes.
Teeme: strictly the chain or pole by which a harness was attached to a wagon but used poetically for the vehicle itself (as was the Latin temo).
65 Seede: origin, generation.
66 Angels… breede: alluding to the ‘donna angelica’ of the Petrarchan tradition. Cf. Amor, 1. 11; 61. 6 and notes.
67 Somers-heat: punning on the ladies’ surname of Somerset and supplying a clue, in traditional fashion, to the meaning of the vision.
74 honour… field: anticipating the description of Essex at line 150.
78–80 Peneus… Thessaly: the River Peneus rose on Mount Pindus (line 40) and ran through the vale of Tempe in Thessaly in north-eastern Greece. Cf. Catullus 64. 278–93. Peneus was the father of the nymph Daphne who fled from Apollo’s love and was transformed into a laurel tree (cf. Ovid, Metamorphoses, 1. 452–67). Cf. Epith, 308 and note.
82 Brydes… flore: cf. Epith, 45–7.
85 presenting: displaying, exhibiting.
trim Array: elegant order or arrangement.
92 glorie: adornment (something in which heaven itself glories).
93 blisfull bower: the bridal bower (cf. Epith, 47), with the erotic associations of a ‘bowre of blisse’. Cf. FQ, 2. 12. 42.
95 couplement: union, coupling.
96–106 let… redound: the traditional blessing. Cf. Catullus, 61. 228–31; Claudian, Epithalamium of Honorius, 190–281; Epith, 353–423.
97 quelling: vanquishing.
Sonne: Cupid.
smile: for its significance in love cf. Amor, 39, 40.
98 vertue: strength, power.
99 Loues dislike: dislike of love. Cf. HHL, 34.
faultie guile: blameworthy deceit (i.e. the sort of deceit that undermines friendship).
101–2 Peace… Plentie: cf. Amor, 62. 4. For Plenty as the parent of love cf. HL, 52–3 and note.
104 afford: provide, yield.
106 redound: overflow (but also resound or re-echo).
109 So… she: for this formula cf. TM, 113, 359 etc.
110 vndersong: refrain, burden. Cf. SC, August, 128. For its elegiac implications cf. Daph, 245.
112 Eccho: cf. Epith, 18 and note.
neighbour ground: cf. SC, Januarye, [50]; June, [52].
113 accents: voices.
115 Lee: cf. note to line 38 above.
118 making… slow: as the River Tiber did for Aeneas (cf. Virgil, Aeneid, 8. 86–9).
121–2 Cynthia… starres: Cynthia, goddess of the moon, is a common name for Queen Elizabeth (SC, Aprill, 82; Epith, 374). The imagery is classical (cf. Horace, Odes, 1. 12. 46–8) but also occurs in Vallans, A Tale of Two Swannes.
122 enranged: ranked, arranged in order.
127 mery: delightful, pleasant.
128 kyndly Nurse: benevolent or native hometown, Spenser’s sole reference to his birthplace.
129 sourse: origin (maintaining the river imagery).
130–31 place… fame: Spenser claimed kinship to the Spencers of Althorp who claimed descent from the ancient family of Despencers. Cf. the dedications to TM, MHT, Muiop, and CCH, 537–9.
135 There… byde: the Inner Temple, one of the Inns of Court, had originally been in the possession of the Knights Templars until their suppression by Edward II. The Earl of Worcester and the two bridegrooms were affiliated to the Inns of Court. Cf. Wilkin (1990).
137 stately place: Essex House, formerly known as Leicester House.
138 goodly grace: kind favour.
139 great Lord: the Earl of Leicester who died in 1588. Cf. SC, October, [47]; RT, 184; VG, ‘Dedication’ and notes.
140 Whose… case: my friendless state feels his loss all too well.
141 fits… well: is not fitting or appropriate.
145 lodge: live.
noble Peer: Robert Devereux, second Earl of Essex (1567–1601), Leicester’s stepson. Cf. SC, March, [20] and note.
148 Hercules… pillors: the two promontories of the Straits of Gibraltar, said to have been erected by Hercules to mark the boundary of his travels.
150 flower of Cheualrie: probably with specific allusion to the Knights of the Garter. Worcester, the brides’ father, was also a member of the order.
152 noble victorie: alluding to his famous raid on Cadiz in June 1596 which impaired Spanish preparations for a second Armada.
153 happinesse… name: punning on the name of Devereux as devenir heureux, ‘to become happy’.
157 Elisaes: Queen Elizabeth’s. Cf. SC, Aprill, [33].
158 Alarmes: calls to arms (or warlike warnings to her enemies).
159 braue muse: possibly Spenser’s own, cf. SC, October, 43–8.
164–5 Hesper… Bathed: cf. Virgil, Aeneid, 8. 589–91 where Hesperus, the evening star, is called Lucifer. Spenser’s alteration is tactful: Essex’s enemies were later to dub him ‘Lucifer’. Cf. Epith, 95 and note.
168 goodly: handsome.
169 Two… Knights: the prospective bridegrooms.
173–4 twins… bright: Castor and Pollux (cf. note to lines 42–3) were transformed into the constellation of Gemini. Cf. Ovid, Fasti, 5. 693–720.
173 in sight: in appearance.
174 Bauldricke: (baldric) a sword belt worn diagonally across the chest, here used figuratively of the Zodiac. Cf. FQ, 5. 1. 11. The constellation Cygnus (the Swan) might represent the ladies.
176 Brides: finally converting the signifier (birds) into the signified.
177 tyde: time or occasion (continuing the river imagery).
COMMENDATORY SONNETS
To Harvey
This sonnet was first published in Gabriel Harvey’s Foure Letters, and certaine Sonnets (1592). For Harvey’s relationship with Spenser cf. SC, ‘Epistle’, 8; June, 9–16; September, [176] and notes. The form of the sonnet is Spenserian (rhyming ababbcbccdcdee).
3 critique: critical, judicious.
4 dislikes: discontentments.
condition: station, rank.
7 reprehension: censure.
9 entreat: handle, write about.
13 doomefull: in the dual sense of judgemental and determining the ‘doom’ or fate of those considered.
14 endighting: writing.
Prefixed to Nennio
This sonnet, along with three others by Samuel Daniel, George Chapman, and Angel Day, was prefixed to Nennio, or A Treatise of Nobility: Wherein is discoursed what true Nobilitie is, with such qualities as are required in a perfect Gentleman (1595). The work is a translation of Giovanni Battista Nenna’s Nennio (1542) by Sir William Jones a
nd is dedicated to the Earl of Essex. The form of the sonnet is Spenserian (rhyming ababbcbccdcdee).
2 type: pattern, summit.
5 visnomy: physiognomy (i.e. form or character).
7 for… dignitie: in terms of dignity, i.e. they both contest the supreme position. Nenna decides in favour of merit over birth.
9 equall insight: impartial or balanced perception.
11 to thee: for yourself.
12 behight: express, grant.
Prefixed to The Historie of George Castriot
This sonnet was prefixed to The Historie of George Castriot, surnamed Scanderbeg, King of Albanie. Containing his famous actes, his noble deedes of Armes, and memorable victories against the Turkes, for the Faith of Christ. Comprised in twelue Bookes: By Iaques de Lavardin, Lord of Plessis Bourrot, a Nobleman of France. Newly translated out of French into English by Z. I. Gentleman (1596). The translator is usually identified as Zachary Jones and the work is dedicated to Sir George Carey, later Lord Hunsdon, to whose wife Spenser dedicated Muiop. Scanderbeg was George Kastrioti (1403-67), the ‘Dragon of Albania’, widely credited with preserving Christianity from Turkish incursion. The form of the sonnet is English or Shakespearean (rhyming ababcdcdefefgg).
3 daunt: intimidate, put in awe.
6 Colossoes: for the Colossus of Rhodes cf. RR, 23–4 and note.
8 threat: threaten, menace. Cf. RR, 50.
11 name: repute, fame.
12 meere: wholly, totally.
Prefixed to The Commonwealth of Venice
This sonnet was prefixed to The Commonwealth and Gouernment of Venice (1599), a translation by Lewis Lewkenor of Cardinal Gasparo Contarini’s De Magistratibus et Republica Venetorum (1543). The work is dedicated to Anne Russell, widow of Ambrose Dudley, Earl of Warwick, and one of the dedicatees of FW. The form of the sonnet is Spenserian (rhyming ababbcbccdcdee).
1 antique Babel: i.e. Babylon. Cf. RR, 15–16 and note.
2 threatned skie: cf. Genesis 11: 4; RR, 50.
3 Second Babell: Rome. Cf. TW, sonnet 13. 14 and note.
4. ayry: lofty.
6 feare: was afraid of, or terrify, i.e. either all the world feared Babylon and Rome or they terrified all the world.
10 last worlds: alluding to the belief that the world was in its last phase prior to the millennium. Cf. VW, 7 and note.
12 policie of right: political justice.
ATTRIBUTED VERSES
From The Historie of Ireland
Sir James Ware (1594–1666), antiquarian and auditor-general of Ireland, included the first edition of Spenser’s A Vewe of the Present State of Irelande in his Historie of Ireland (1633). Richard Boyle (1566–1643), who arrived in Ireland in 1588, acquired Sir Walter Ralegh’s estates at Youghal and became the first Earl of Cork. Cf. D. L. Miller (1996), 146–71.
From Fuller’s Worthies of England
Fuller relates the following anecdote: ‘There passeth a story commonly told and believed, that Spencer presenting his Poems to Queen Elizabeth: She highly affected therewith, commanded the Lord Cecil Her Treasurer, to give him an hundred pound; and when the Treasurer (a good Steward of the Queens money) alledged that sum was too much, then give him (quoth the Queen) what is reason; to which the Lord consented, but was so busied, belike, about matters of higher concernment, that Spencer received no reward; Whereupon he presented this petition in a small piece of paper to the Queen in her Progress… Hereupon the Queen gave strict order (not without some check to her Treasurer) for the present payment of the hundred pounds, she first intended unto him’ [cf. The History of the Worthies of England (1662), ‘London’, 220]. For the earliest allusion to this alleged incident (1602), cf. The Diary of John Manningham, edited by John Bruce, Camden Society, vol. 99 (1868), 43. Manningham supplies a variant reading of the lines as follows:
It pleased your Grace vpon a tyme
To graunt me reason for my ryme,
But from that tyme untill this season
I heard of neither ryme nor reason.
GLOSSARY OF COMMON TERMS
abie, aby atone for, pay the penalty for, suffer, endure
abusion abuse, misdoing, deception
accord (vb) agree, harmonize, unite; (n) harmony, unity
accordance harmony, union
address prepare, make ready
admiration wonder
adrad afraid
advance extol, praise, lift up, raise up, promote
affect feeling, passion
affection desire, lust, passion
affray(e) (vb) frighten, terrify; (n) assault
albe(e) although
algate(s) at all events, anyway
als also
amaze (vb) astonish, stun, bewilder; (n) astonishment
amazement astonishment, distraction
annoy (vb) trouble, hurt; (n) annoyance, tribulation, distress
appall make pale, dismay, daunt, shock
arck arch
aread(e), areed(e) declare, tell, recite, counsel, adjudge, decide
array(e) clothe, dress
aslake assuage, lessen
aspect appearance, look, glance, perception
assay (vb) attempt, try, test; (n) trial, attempt, tribulation, assault
assoile, assoyle discharge, release, remove
assurance security (often excessive)
astonied stunned, astonished
aswage, asswage allay, abate, mitigate, slake
aswagement alleviation
at earst at once, already, at length
attonce, attones at the same time, all at once, together
avail(e) profit, benefit
availe, avale bring down, lower, abase, humble
awful! awesome, awe-inspiring, full of awe
aye ever
bale misery, suffering, mischief, evil
balefull noxious, deadly, grievous, wretched
balefulness anguish, distress
band bond, link, fetter
bandogs mastiffs, bloodhounds
bane destruction, destroyer, evil, mischief
banefull pernicious, injurious
base simple, lowly, plain
bedeawed, bedewed besprinkled, moistened
bedight adorned, bedecked, arrayed
befalls occurs, happens (to be)
beheast bidding, command
behight, behote named, called, decreed
behoves, behooves befits, is proper for
bene (been) are
beseme, beseeme befit, suit, become
besprent, besprint besprinkled
betided, betyded befell, occurred
bewray reveal, disclose, divulge, expose
bide abide, endure
blasted blighted
blaze, blazon proclaim, describe in heraldic terms
boot(e) avail, profit
borowe, borrowe surety, pledge
bowre chamber, esp. bedchamber
brackish salty
brave fine, excellent, handsome
braverie bravado, finery, ostentation, splendour
brent burnt
brunt blow, onslaught
brust burst
carefull anxious, full of cares, dutiful
carelesse carefree, uncaring, heedless, uncared for, untended
caroling singing
caroll sing
case predicament, plight
cast decide, resolve, consider, conceive
casualtye mischance, accident, mishap
caytive (n) caitiff, villain; (adj) base, abject
certes certainly
chaunce mischance, misfortune
chauncefull risky, perilous
cheare face, countenance, (cheerful) expression or disposition
close (adj) secret, hidden; (adv) secretly
closely secretly, covertly
clout rag, bandage
clownish rustic
colour(e) (vb) disguise, excuse; (n) pretence, disguise
colourable deceitful, specious, plausible
coloured, colowred disguised, fair-seeming, plausible
compas, compasse (vb) attain, achieve, plan, encompass; (n) expanse, extent, circumference
compast encircled, encompassed, surrounded, arched, circular
con(ne), kon learn, know
conceipt notion, understanding, intelligence, poetic image or device
confound overthrow, defeat, discomfit
confusion destruction, overthrow
conning, cunning (n) skill, craft; (adj) skilful, knowledgeable
conningly skilfully, deftly
concent, consent harmony, accord
conspire, conspyre contrive, collude, agree
constrainte distress, affliction, duress
corage courage, strength of heart
corpes, corpse, corse body (Latin corpus)
countenance appearance, façade
couth could, knew how (to)
crew(e) company, entourage
crudled curdled, congealed
culver dove
curious ingenious, intricate
curiously deftly, ingeniously
daintie, dainty delicate, refined
deck(e) attire, clothe, adorn
deem(e) judge, consider, comprehend
deface destroy, spoil, mar, defame (pret. defast)
degree rank, station, order, extent
depend hang down
deplore lament, grieve for
descry discover, disclose, perceive
despight malice, scorn, contempt, anger
detect divulge, uncover
devicefull ingenious, cunning
devise (vb) conceive, compose, fashion, invent; (n) composition, devising
dight (vb) order, adorn, fashion, compose, prepare, put on or don (of clothes); (adj) adorned, dressed, prepared, designed
dint (vb) strikes, dents; (n) blow, stroke
disaray, disarray strip, unclothe
dismay (vb) debilitate, weaken, rout, daunt; (n) discouragement, faint-heartedness
display spread out, unfold, expound, disclose
dispread spread out, display
dole, doole grief, sorrow
doom(e) judgment, sentence
dowre dowry
dreade, drede, dreed (n) fear, danger; (adj) dreaded, dreadful
dreadful terrible, fearsome
dreeriment, dreriment gloom, despondency
drent drowned