Edmund Spenser Poems 斯宾塞诗歌全集.pdf

Classic Poetry Series
Edmund Spenser
- poems -
Publication Date:
2004
Publisher:
- The World's Poetry Archive
Edmund Spenser (1552-1599)
Edmund was the eldest son of John Spenser, a Lancastrian gentleman by
birth who had e a journeyman of the Merchant Taylors' Company.
Spencer attended the recently-founded Merchant Taylors' School and then
went to Pembroke Hall in Cambridge. While still at university he wrote some
verses in the style of Petrarch and Du Bellay, and these were published in
van der Noodt's "Theatre for Worldlings". On leaving Cambridge, Spenser
became secretary to John Young, the bishop of Rochester. In 1579 he
obtained a place in the Earl of Leicester's household where he made friends
with the Earl's nephew, Philip Sidney. He wrote the Shepheardes Calender at
this time. The following year he began work on The Faerie Queene though he
published none of it until 1589 when he entrusted the first three books to his
London publisher, Ponsonby. He also married his first wife, Machabyas
Chylde, at about this time. In 1580 Spenser was appointed secretary to Lord
Grey of Wilton and attended him on his trip to Ireland. Spenser returned to
settle in Ireland in 1591 and wrote Colin Clouts in this year. He became a
landowner and returned to London only to supervise the publication of his
poetry. He married again to Elizabeth Boyle in 1594 and his poems Amoretti
and Epithalamion celebrate the wooing and marriage.
During a local insurrection in 1598, Spenser's home an Castle was
burnt and Spenser had to flee to Cork along with his wife and children. It is
feared that some of his work was lost during this fire. Spenser died in
London, in some distress.
- The World's Poetry Archive 2
A Ditty
In praise of Eliza, Queen of the Shepherds
SEE where she sits upon the grassie greene,
(O seemely sight!)
Yclad in Scarlot, like a mayden Queene,
And ermines white:
Upon her head a Cremosin
With Damaske rose