314 _R. S._

R. S. > (Not identifiable)

315 316 _GRaue Muses march in triumph and with prayses, Our Goddesse here hath giuen you leaue to land: And biddes this rare dispenser of your graces Bow downe his brow vnto her sacred hand. Desertes findes dew in that most princely doome, In whose sweete brest are all the Muses bredde: So did that great _Augustus_ erst in Roome With leaues of fame adorne his Poets hedde. Faire be the guerdon of your _Faery Queene_, Euen of the fairest that the world hath seene._ H. B. 328 316 Grave Muses, march in triumph and with praises: Our goddess here has given you leave to land,

Our goddess > [Elizabeth]

And bids this rare dispenser of your graces

dispenser > (Puns were a favourite literary device of the period: Spenser's own are usually subtler than this one)

Bow down his brow to her sacred hand.

sacred > {Commonly used (-1590) as an epithet of royalty; also, specifically, here, perhaps, because _FQ_ traces Elizabeth's lineage back to Aeneas, whose mother was the goddess Venus}

Deserts finds due in that most princely doom,

Deserts > {That which in conduct or character deserves reward or punishment} doom > judgement, opinion

In whose sweet breast are all the Muses bred: So did that great Augustus erst in Rome

Augustus > (Augustus Caesar, 63 BC-14 AD, Emperor of Rome, patron of Virgil: on whom he is not, incidentally, known to have bestowed the laurel crown) erst > of old, formerly

With leaves of fame adorn his poet's head. Fair be the guerdon of your _Faery Queen_,

guerdon > reward

Even of the fairest that the world has seen. _H. B._

H. B. > (Not identifiable)

328 329 WHen stout _Achilles_ heard of _Helens_ rape And what reuenge the States of Greece deuisd: Thinking by sleight the fatall warres to scape, In womans weedes him selfe he then disguisde: But this deuice _Vlysses_ soone did spy, And brought him forth, the chaunce of warre to try. 336 When _Spencer_ saw the fame was spredd so large, Through Faery land of their renowned Queene: Loth that his Muse should take so great a charge, As in such haughty matter to be seene, To seeme a shepeheard then he made his choice, But _Sydney_ heard him sing, and knew his voice. 343 And as _Vlysses_ brought faire _Thetis_ sonne From his retyred life to menage armes: So _Spencer_ was by _Sidneys_ speaches wonne, To blaze her fame not fearing future harmes: For well he knew, his Muse would soone be tyred In her high praise, that all the world admired. 350 Yet as _Achilles_ in those warlike frayes, Did win the palme from all the _Grecian_ Peeres: So _Spencer_ now to his immortall prayse, Hath wonne the Laurell quite from all his feres. What though his taske exceed a humaine witt, He is excus'd, sith _Sidney_ thought it fitt. W. L. 358 329 When stout Achilles heard of Helen's rape

stout > bold, brave Achilles > (See _Iliad_ 9.410 ff.)

And what revenge the states of Greece devised: Thinking by sleight the fatal wars to scape,

scape > escape

In woman's weeds himself he then disguised:

weeds > clothing

But this device Ulysses soon did spy, And brought him forth, the chance of war to try. 336 When Spenser saw the fame was spread so large, Through Faery Land of their renowned Queen: Loath that his Muse should take so great a charge, As in such haughty matter to be seen,

haughty > noble, high-minded

To seem a shepherd then he made his choice, But Sidney heard him sing, and knew his voice.

Sidney > (Sir Philip Sidney, 1554-86, poet, soldier, and statesman: one of the Queen's favourites. Close friend and mentor of Spenser. Killed in action at Zutphen in the Netherlands)

343 And, as Ulysses brought fair Thetis' son

Thetis' son > [Achilles]

From his retired life to manage arms,

manage > wield

So Spenser was by Sidney's speeches won

won > persuaded

To blaze her fame, not fearing future harms:

blaze > celebrate; portray

For well he knew, his Muse would soon be tired

tired > attired, adorned

In her high praise, that all the world admired. 350 Yet as Achilles, in those warlike frays, Did win the palm from all the Grecian peers:

palm > {Leaf or "branch" of palm tree: symbol of victory; hence: victory} peers > rivals; nobles

So Spenser now, to his immortal praise, Has won the laurel quite from all his feres.

laurel > {Crown of laurel leaves for supreme poet or victor} feres > companions, peers

What though his task exceed a human wit,

What though > Inasmuch as wit > mind; wit

He is excused, sith Sidney thought it fit.

sith > since