Observations on the Faerie Queene of Spenser: By Thomas Warton, ...

SECT. II. Of Spenser's Imitations from old Romances.

ALthough Spenser formed his FAERIE QUEENE upon the fanciful plan of Ariosto, as I remark∣ed in the preceding section, yet it must be confessed, that the adventures of Spenser's knights are a more exact and immediate copy of those which we meet with in old romances, or books of chivalry, than they are of those of which the Orlando Furioso consists. Ariosto's knights exhibit very surprising instances of their prowess, and atchieve many heroic actions; but our author's knights are more particularly engaged in revenging injuries, and doing justice to the distressed; which was the proper business, and ultimate end of the antient knight-errantry. And thus though many of Spenser's incidents and expedients are to be found in Ariosto, such as that of blowing a horn, at the sound

of which the gates of a castle fly open, of the vanish∣ing of an enchanted palace or garden, after some knight has destroyed the enchanter, and the like, yet these are not more peculiarly the property of Ario∣sto, than they are common to all antient romances in general. Spenser's first book is, indeed, a regular and precise imitation of such a series of action as we frequently meet with in books of chivalry: For in∣stance, a king's daughter applies to a knight, that he would relieve her father and mother, who are closely confined to their castle, upon account of a vast and terrible dragon, that had ravaged their country, and perpetually laid in wait to destroy them. The knight sets forward with the lady, encounters a monster in the way, is plotted against by an enchanter, and after surmounting a variety of difficulties and obstacles, arrives at the country which is the scene of the dra∣gon's devastations, kills him, and is presented to the king and queen, whom he has just delivered; mar∣ries their daughter, but is soon obliged to leave her, on account of fulfilling a former vow. It may be likewise observed, that the circumstance of each of Spenser's twelve knights, setting out from one place, by a different way, to perform a different adventure, exactly resembles that of the seven knights proceed∣ing forwards to their several expeditions, in the well-known romance, entitled the Seven Champions of Christendom. In fact, these miraculous books were highly fashionable, and that chivalry, which was the subject of them, was still practiced, in the age of queen Elizabeth.* 1.1

Among others, there is one romance which Spen∣ser seems more particularly to have made use of: It is entitled MORTE ARTHUR, The Lyf of Kyng Arthur, of his noble Knyghtes of the round table, and in thende the dolorous deth of them all. This was translated into English from the French, by one Sir Thomas Maleory, Knight, and printed by W. Caxton, 1484* 1.2. From this fabulous history our author has borrow'd many of his names, viz. Sir Tristram, Placidas, Pelleas, Pellenore, Percivall, and others. As to Sir Tristram, he has copied from this book the circumstances of his birth and education with much exactness. Spenser in∣forms us that Sir Tristram was born in Cornwall, &c.

And Tristram is my name, the only heire Of good king Meliogras, which did raigne In Cornewaile.6. 2. 28.

And afterwards.

—The countrie wherein I was bred 83

The which the fertile Lionesse is hight.ibid. St. 30.

Which particulars are drawn from the romance abovemention'd.

"There was a knight Meliodas [Meliogras] and he was lord and king of the country of Lyones—and he wedded king Markes sister of Cornewale."

The issue of which mar∣riage, as we are afterwards told, was Sir Tristram† 1.3.

Mention is then made in our romance, of Sir Tri∣stram's banishment from Lyones into a distant country, by the advice, and under the conduct of a wise and learned counsellor named Governale. A circumstance alluded to by Spenser in these verses.

So taking counsel of a wise man red, She was by him adviz'd, to send me quight Out of the countrie, wherein I was bred, The which the fertile Lionesse is hight. 6. 2. 30.

Sir Tristram's education is thus describ'd below.

St. 31.

All which my dayes I have not lewdly spent, Nor spilt the blossom of my tender yeares In ydlesse, but as was convenient, Have trained bene with many noble feres In gentle thewes, and such like semely leres; 'Mongst which my most delight has always beene To hunt the savage chace among my peres Of all that raungeth in the forest greene, Of which none is to me unknowne that e'er was seene.

XXXII.

Ne is there hawke that mantleth her on pearch Whether high-towring, or accoasting lowe, But I the measure of her flight do search, And all her pray, and all her dyet knowe.

Which is agreeable to what is said in the romance. After mention being made of Tristram's having learn∣ed

the language of France, courtly behaviour, and skill in chivalry, we have the following passage.

"As he growed in might and strength, he laboured ever in hunting and hawking; so that we never read of no gentleman, more, that so used himselfe therein.—And he began good measures of blowing of blasts of ve∣nery [hunting] and chase, and of all manner of ver∣meins; and all these termes haves we yet of hawking and hunting: and therefore the booke of venery, of hawking and hunting, is called THE BOOKE OF SIR TRISTRAM* 1.4."

And in another place King Arthur thus addresses Sir Tristram.

"For of all manner of hunting thou bearest the prise; and of all measures of blowing thou art the beginner; and of all the termes of hunting and hawking ye are the begin∣ner.** 1.5"

From this romance our author also took the hint of his BLATANT BEAST; which is there call'd the QUESTING BEAST.

"Therewithall the King saw comming towards him the strangest beast that ever he saw, or heard tell off.—And the noyse was in the beasts belly like unto the Questyn of thirtie couple of houndes."

The QUESTING BEAST is afterwards more particularly described.

"That had in shap an head like a serpent's head, and a body like a liberd, buttocks like a lyon, and footed like a hart; and in his body there was such a noyse, as it had been the noyse of thirtie couple of houndes Questyn, and such a noyse that beast made where∣soever he went."† 1.6

Spenser has made him a much

more monstrous animal than he is here represented to be, and in general has varied from this description; though there is one circumstance in Spenser's repre∣sentation, in which there is a resemblance, viz.—speaking of his mouth,

And therein were a thousand tongues empight, Of sundry kindes, and sundry qualities, Some were of dogs that barked night and day. And some, &c.— 6. 12. 27.

So dreadfully his hundred tongues did bray, 5. 12. 41.

By what has been hitherto said, perhaps the reader may not be persuaded, that Spenser, in his BLATANT BEAST, had the QUESTING BEAST of our romance in his eye; but the poet has himself taken care to in∣form us of this: for we learn, from the romance, that certain knights of the round table were destined to pursue the QUESTING BEAST perpetually without success: which Spenser hints at in these lines.

Albe that long time after Calidore, The good Sir Pelleas him tooke in hand, And after him Sir Lamoracke of yore, And all his brethren borne in Britaine land, Yet none of these could ever bring him into band. 6. 12.

Sir Lamoracke, and Sir Pelleas are two very valour∣ous champions of Arthur's round table.

This romance likewise supplied our author with the story of the mantle made of the beards of knights, and locks of ladies; which last circumstance is added by Spenser.

For may no knight or ladie passe along That way (and yet they needs must passe that way) By reason of the streight and rocks among, But they that ladies lockes do shave away, And that knights berd for toll, which they for passage pay.6. 1. 13.

Afterwards,

His name is Crudor, who through high disdaine, And proud despyght of his selfe-pleasing mynd, Refused hath to yeald her love againe, Untill a mantle she for him do find, With berds of knights, and lockes of ladies lynd. 6. 3. 15.

Thus in MORTE ARTHUR.

"Came a messenger—saying, that king Ryence had discomfited, and overcomen eleaven knights, and everiche of them did him homage; and that was this; they gave him their beards cleane flayne of as much as there was: wherefore the messenger came for king Ar∣thur's berd: for king Ryence had purfeled a man∣tell with king's beards, and there lacked for one place of the mantell. Wherefore he sent for his berd; or else hee would enter into his lands, and brenn and sley, and never leave, till he have thy

head and beard."* 1.7

After this passage we have an † 1.8 antient ballad, the subject of which is this insolent demand of king Ryence. Drayton, in his Poly∣olbion, speaks of a coat composed of the beards of kings: he is celebrating king Arthur.

As how great Rithout's self, he slew in his repair And ravisht Howel's niece, young Helena the fair, And for a trophie brought the giant's coat away, Made of the beards of kings.—* * 1.9

But Drayton, in these lines, manifestly alludes to a passage in Geoffrey of Monmouth; who informs us, that a Spanish giant, named Ritho, having forcibly conveyed away from her guard Helena the niece of duke Hoel, possessed himself of St. Michael's Mount in Cornwall, from whence he made frequent sallies, and committed various outrages; that, at last, king Arthur conquered this giant, and took from him a certain coat, which he had been composing of the beards of kings, a vacant place being left for king Arthur's beard.(†) 1.10

As Spenser has copied many other fictions from MORTE ARTHUR, I apprehend that he drew this from thence, and not from Geoffrey of Monmouth; not to mention, that Spenser's circumstances tally more exactly with those in the romance.

There is great reason to conclude, not only from what has already been mention'd concerning Spenser's imitations from this romantic history of king Arthur and his knights, but from some circum∣stances which I shall now produce, that it was a favo∣rite and reigning romance about the age of queen Elizabeth; or at least one very well known and much read at that time. Spenser in the Shepherd's Calen∣dar has the following passage.

And whither rennes this bevie of ladies bright Raunged in a row? They been all LADIES OF THE LAKE behight, That unto her go.* 1.11

Upon the words LADIES OF THE LAKE, E. K. the old commentator on the pastorals has the follow∣ing remark.

"LADIES OF THE LAKE be nymphes: for it was an old opinion among the antient Hea∣thens, that of every spring and fountaine was a goddesse the soveraine; which opinion stucke in the minds of men not many years since by meanes of certain fine fablers, or loose lyers; such as were the authors of KING ARTHUR the great.—Who tell many an unlawfull leesing of the LADIES OF THE LAKE."

These fine fablers or loose lyers, are the authors of the romance above-mention'd, viz. MORTE ARTHUR, where many miracles are brought about, and much enchantment is carried on by the means and interposition of the LADY OF THE LAKE. Now

it should be observed, that the LADY OF THE LAKE was introduc'd to make part of queen Elizabeth's en∣tertainment at Kenelworth; as an evidence of which I shall produce a passage from an antient book entit∣led

"A letter, wherein part of the entertainment un∣too the queens majesty at Killingworth-castl in Warwick-sheer in this soomers progress, 1575, is signified."

The passage is this.

"Her highness all along this tilt-yard rode unto the inner gate, next the baze coourt of the castle: whear the LADIE OF THE LAKE (famous in KING ARTHUR'S BOOK) with too nymphes wayting upon her, ar∣rayed all in sylkes, attended her highnes comming, from the midst of the pool, whear upon a move∣able island bright-blazing with torches she floting to land, met her majesty with a well-penned meter, and matter, after this sorte; first of the auncientee of the castl; who had been owners of the same e'en till this day, most allways in the handes of the earles of Leycester; how she had kept this lake syns king Arthur's dayes, and now understand∣ing of her highnes hither comming, thought it both offis and duety; to discover, in humble wise, her, and her estate, offring up the same, hir lake, and power thearin; with promis of repair to the court. It pleas'd her highnes to thank this lady, &c."

Gascoyne * 1.12 in a little narrative called the

"Prince∣ly Pleasures of Kenelworth Castle,"

gives us some of the above-mention'd metre, written by Ferrers,

one of the contributors to the mirror of magistrates, of which these may serve as a specimen.

I am the lady of this pleasant lake, Who since the time of great king Arthur's reigne, That here with royall court aboade did make, Have led a lowring life in restless paine; 'Till now that this your third arrival here, Doth cause me come abroad, and boldly thus appeare.

For after him such stormes this castle shook, By swarming Saxons first, who scourgde this land As forth of this my poole I neer durst looke, &c.

She is afterwards introduc'd complaining to the queen, that sir Bruse had insulted her for doing an injury to Merlin, (an incident related in MORTE ARTHUR); and that he would have put her to death had not Neptune deliver'd her, by concealing her in that lake; from which confinement the queen is after∣wards suppos'd to deliver her, &c.

Without expatiating upon the nature of such a royal entertainment as this, I shall observe from it that the LADY OF THE LAKE (and consequently the romance which supply'd this fiction) was a very po∣pular character in the reign of queen Elizabeth; and we may add, that it is not improbable that Spenser might allude in the above-cited verses to some of the circumstances in this part of the queen's entertainment; for queen Elisabeth, the Fayre Elisa, is the lady whom the LADIES OF LAKE are represented as repairing to,

in that eclogue* 1.13. Nor is it improbable that this lady was often exhibited upon other occasions. Nor is it improper to remark in this place that Ben. Johnson has introduced her, together with king Arthur and Mer∣lin, in an entertainment before the court of James I. called PRINCE HENRIES BARRIERS.

The above antient letter acquaints us, that the queen was entertain'd with a song from this romance, which is another proof of it's popularity at that time.

"A minstrall came forth with a sollem song warrant∣ed for story out of king Arthur's acts the first book, 24. whereof I gat a copy, and that is this, "So it fell out on a pentecost day "When king Arthur, &c."

This is the song above hinted at, where mention is made of king Rience demanding the beard of king Arthur. In the same letter a gentleman who shew'd some particular feats of activity before the queen, is said to be

"very cunning in fens, and hardy as Gawen."

Which Gawen was king Arthur's ne∣phew, and whose atchievements are highly celebrat∣ed in MORTE ARTHUR.

We find Spenser in another place alluding to the fable of the lady of the lake so much spoken of in this romance.

—A little while Before that Merlin dyde, he did intend

A brasen wall in compas to compyle About Cairmardin, and did it commend Unto these sprights to bring to perfect end; During which time, the LADIE OF THE LAKE, Whom long he lov'd, for him in haste did send, Who therefore forst his workmen to forsake, Them bound till his returne, their labour not to slake.

3. 3. 9.

X.

In the meane time thro' that false ladies traine He was surpris'd and buried under beare, Ne ever to his worke return'd againe.

These verses are obscure, unless we consider the fol∣lowing relation in MORTE ARTHUR.

"The LADY OF THE LAKE and Merlin departed; and by the way as they went, Merlin shewed to her many wonders, and came into Cornewaile. And alwaies Merlin lay about the ladie for to have her favour; and she was ever passing wery of him, and faine would have been deliver'd of him; for she was afraid of him, because he was a divells son, and she could not put him away by no meanes. And so upon a time it hapned that Merlin shewed to her in a roche [rock] whereas was a great wonder, and wrought by enchauntment, which went under a stone, so by her subtile craft and working she made Merlin to go under that stone, to let him wit of the marvailes there. But she wrought so

there for him, that he came never out, for all the craft that he could doe."* 1.14

Our author has taken notice of a superstitious tra∣dition, which is related at large in this romance.

—Good Lucius That first received christianitie, The sacred pledge of Christs evangelie: Yet true it is that long before that day Hither came Joseph of Arimathie, Who brought with him the HOLY GRAYLE, they say, And preacht the truth; but since it greatly did decay. 2. 10. 53.

The HOLY GRAYLE, that is the real blood of our blessed Saviour. What Spenser here writes GRALE, is often written SANGREAL, or St. grale in MORTE AR∣THUR, and is there said to have been brought into England by Joseph of Arimathea. Many of king Arthur's knights are there represented as going in quest, or in search of the SANGREAL, or SANGUIS REALIS. This expedition was one of the first subjects of the old romance.

This romance seems to have extended its reputation beyond the reign of queen Elizabeth. B. Johnson, besides his allusion to it in the LADY OF THE LAKE mention'd above, hints at it more than once:

Had I compil'd from Amadis de Gaule, Th'Esplandians, ARTHURS, Palmerins, &c.(†) 1.15

And afterwards, in the same poem,

—The whole summe Of errant knighthood; with the dames and dwarfes, The charmed boates, and the enchanted wharfes, The TRISTRAMS, LANC'LOTTS, &c.

And Camden * 1.16 refers to this history of king Arthur, as to a book familiarly known to the readers of his age. Speaking of the name TRISTRAM, he observes,

"I know not whether the first of this name was christned by king Arthur's fabler."

Again, of LAUNCELOT he speaks,

"Some think it to be no ancient name, but forged by the writer of king Arthur's history, for one of his douty knights:"

and of GAWEN,

"A name devised by the author of king Arthur's table."

To this we may add, that Milton manifestly hints at it in the following lines,

—Damsels met in forrests wide By knights of Logris, or of Lyones, Lancelot, Pelleas, or Pellenore.† 1.17

These are Sir Lancelot (or Sir Meliot) of Logris; Sir Tristram of Lyones, and king Pellenore, who are

often mention'd in MORTE ARTHUR, and repre∣sented as meeting beautiful damsels in desolate for∣rests: and probably he might have it in his eye when he wrote the following, as the round table is express∣ly hinted at.

Siquando indigenas revocabo in carmina reges, Arturumque etiam sub terris bella moventem, Aut dicam INVICTAE sociali faedere MENSAE Magnanimos Heroas.—(†) 1.18

To which we may subjoin,

—What resounds In fable, or romance, of Uther's son, Begirt with British, and Armoric knights.* 1.19

Before I leave this romance, I must observe, that Ariosto has been indebted to it; I do not mean, to the old translation, which Spenser made use of. He has drawn his enchanter Merlin from it, and in these verses refers to a particular story concerning him, quoted above. Bradamante is suppos'd to visit the tomb of Merlin.

Questa è l'antica, e memorabil grotta, Ch' edificò Merlino il savio mago, Che forse recordare odi tal'hotta, Dove inganollo la DONNA DEL LAGO, Il sepolcro è qui giu, dove corotta

Di satisfare a lei, che gliel suase, Giace la carne sua, dove egli vago Vivo corcossi, e morto ci rimase.* 1.20

Thus translated by Harrington,

Heere is the tombe that Merlin erst did make By force of secret skill, and hidden art, In which sometimes the lady of the lake (That with her beauty had bewitcht his hart) Did force him enter fondly for her sake; And he was by a woman over-reached That unto others prophesied, and preached.

XII.

His carkas dead within this stone is bound.

This description of Merlin's tomb (says Harrington in a marginal note) is out of the BOOK OF KING AR∣THUR. Ariosto has transferr'd the tomb from Wales into France. He afterwards feigns, that the prophe∣tical sculpture in Malagigi's cave was perform'd by Merlin's enchantment.

Merlino il savio incantator Britanno Fe for la fonte, al tempo dil re Arturo, E di cose, ch'al mondo hanno a venire La fe da buoni artefici scolpire.† 1.21

XXXV.

—These whose names appear In marble pure, did never live as yet,

But long time hence, after six hundred yeare, To their great praise in princely throne shall sit; Merlin the English prophet plast them here In Arthurs time.

Harrington.

He also mentions some of the names of the knights of our romance; when Renaldo comes into Great-Bri∣tain, the poet celebrates that island for its atchieve∣ments in chivalry, and as having produc'd many brave knights,

—Tristano Lancillotto, Galasso, Artu, e Galuano.(†) 1.22

Afterwards, in b. 32. Tristram makes a great figure. From this romance is also borrow'd Ariosto's tale* 1.23 of the enchanted cup; which, in Caxton's old transla∣tion, is as follows.

"By the way they met with a knight, that was sent from Morgan le Faye to king Arthur; and this knight had a faire horne all gar∣nished with gold; and the horne had such a virtue, that there might no ladie or gentlewoman drink of that horne, but if shee were true to her husband; and if shee were false, shee should spill all the drinke; and if shee were true unto her lord, shee might drink peaceably, &c."† 1.24

Afterwards many tryals are made with this cup. The inimitable Fon∣taine has new-moulded this story from Ariosto, under the title of La coupe enchanteé. As it is manifest, from a comparison of passages, that Ariosto was very con∣versant

in this romance; so I think it may be granted, that he drew the idea of his Orlando running mad with jealousy from it. In MORTE ARTHUR, Sir Lancelot, out of a jealous fit, is driven to madness, in which state he continues for the space of two years, perform∣ing a thousand ridiculous pranks, no less extravagant than those of Orlando; and, like him, at length he recovers his senses.

I had forgot to remark before, that our author has borrow'd the name of Materasta's castle from that of Lancelot in MORTE ARTHUR.

—the goodly frame And stately port of CASTLE JOYEOUS.3. 1. 31.

Lancelot's castle is styl'd JOYOUS GARD, or castle.

There is another antient romance (for so it may be called, though it is written in verse) which Spenser apparently copies, in prince Arthur's combat with the dragon: it will be necessary to transcribe the whole passage.

It fortuned (as faire it then befell) Behind his back (vnweeting) where he stood Of auncient time there was a springing well, From which fast trickled forth a siluer flood, Full of great vertues, and for med'cine good. Whylome, before that cursed dragon got That happy land, and all with innocent blood, Defil'd those sacred waves, it rightly hot The well of life: ne yet his vertues had forgot.

For, unto life the dead it could restore, And guilt of sinful crimes cleane wash away; Those that with sicknesse were infected sore, It could recure, and ages long decay Renew, as it were borne that very day. Both Silo this, and Iordan did excell, And th'English bath, and eke the German Spau, Ne can Cephise, nor Hebrus match this well: Into the same, the knight (backe overthrowen) fell.

Now gan the golden Phoebus for to steepe His fierie face in billowes of the west, And his faint steeds watred in Ocean deep, Whiles from their iournall labours they did rest; When that infernall monster, hauing kest His weary foe into that liuing well, Gan high advaunce his broad discoloured brest Aboue his wonted pitch, with countenance fell, And clapt his iron wings, as victor he did dwell.

Which when his pensiue lady saw from farre, Great woe and sorrow did her soule assay; As weening that, the sad end of the warre, And gan to highest God entirely pray, That feared chance from her to turne away; With folded hands and knees full lowely bent All night she watcht, ne once adowne would lay Her dainty limbs in her sad dreriment, But praying still did wake, and waking did lament.

The morrow next gan early to appeare, That Titan rose to runne his daily race: But early ere the morrow next gan reare Out of the sea faire Titans deawy face. Vp rose the gentle virgin from her place, And looked all about, if she might spy Her loued knight to moue his manly pase: For, shee had great doubt of his safety, Since late she saw him fall before his enemy.

At last she saw, where he vpstarted braue Out of the well, wherein he drenched lay; As Eagle fresh out of the Ocean waue, Where he hath left his plumes all hoary gray, And deckt himselfe with feathers youthly gay, Like eyas hauke vp mounts vnto the skies, His newly-budded pineons to assay, And marvailes at himself, still as he flies: So new, this new-borne knight to battell new did rise.

Whom, when the damned fiend so fresh did spy, No wonder if he wondred at the sight, And doubted, whether his late enemy It were, or other new supplied knight. He, now to prove his late renewed might, High brandishing his bright deaw-burning blade, Vpon his crested scalpe so sore did smite, That to the scull a yawning wound it made: The deadly dint his dulled senses all dismaid.

I wote not, whether the reuenging steele Were hardned with that holy water dew Wherein he fell, or sharper edge did feele, Or his baptized hands now greater grew; Or other secret vertue did ensew; Else, never could the force of fleshly arme, Ne molten metall in his bloud embrew: For, till that stound could never wight him harme, By subtiltie, nor sleight, nor might, nor mighty charme.

1. 11. 29.

This miraculous manner of healing our author drew from an old poem, entitled, Sir Bevis of Southampton, viz.

"What for weary, and what for faint "Sir Bevis was neere attaint: "The dragon followed on Bevis so hard, "That as he would have fled backward, "There was a well as I weene, "And he stumbled right therein. "Then was Sir Bevis afraid and woe, "Lest the dragon should him sloe: "Or that he might away passe, "When that he in the well was. "Then was the well of such vertu "Through the might of Christ Jesu, "For sometime dwelled in that land "A virgin full of Christes sand,

"That had been bathed in that well, "That ever after, as men can tell, "Might no venomous worme come therein, "By the virtue of that virgin, "Nor nigh it seven foot and more: "Then Bevis was glad therefore, "When he saw the Dragon fell "Had no power to come to the well. "Then was he glad without faile, "And rested awhile for his availe, "And drank of the water of his fill, "And then he leapt out of the well, "And with Morglay, his brand "Assailed the Dragon, I understand: "On the Dragon he strucke so fast, &c.

After which the Dragon strikes the knight with such violence, that he falls into a swoon, and tumbles as it were lifeless into the well, by whose sovereign virtue he is reviv'd.

"When Bevis was at the ground "The water made him whole and sound, "And quenched all the venim away, "This well saved Bevis that day.

And afterwards,

"But ever when Bevis was hurt sore, "He went to the well and washed him thore;

"He was as whole as any man, "And ever as fresh as when he began.* 1.25

The circumstance of the Dragon not being able to approach within seven feet of this well, is imitated by our author St. 49. below, where another water is men∣tioned, which in like manner preserves the knight.

"But nigh thereto the ever-damned beast "Durst not approache, for he was mortal made, "And all that life preserved did detest, "Yet he it oft adventur'd to invade.

Tho' we feel somewhat of an ill-natur'd pride, and a disingenuous triumph, in having detected the latent and obscure source, from whence an admired and ori∣ginal author has drawn some favorite and celebrated description; yet it must be confess'd, that this is soon overwhelmed by a generous and exalted pleasure, which naturally flows from contemplating the chymi∣cal energy of true genius, which can produce so won∣derfull a transmutation, and whose virtues are not less potent, efficacious, and vivifying in their nature, than those of the miraculous water here described.

It should be mention'd in this place, that Spenser, in his Dragon-encounters, follows the incidents made use of by the romance-writers, with all the punctuality of a close copyist.

As to Spenser's original and genealogy of the Fairy nation, I am induc'd to believe, that part of it was supply'd by his own inexhaustible imagination, and part by some fabulous history. He tells us, B. ii. c. 10. S. 70. that man, as first made by Prometheus, was called ELFE, who wandring through the world, at last arriv'd at the gardens of Adonis, where he found a female, whom he called FAY; that the issue of these two were called Fairies, who soon grew to be a mighty people, and conquer'd all nations. That their eldest son Elfin govern'd America, and the next to him, named Elfinan, founded the city of Cleopo∣lis, which was enclos'd with a golden wall by Elfiline. That his son Elfine overcome the Gobbelines; but that, of all Fairies, Elfant was most renowned, who built Panthea of Crystall.—To these succeeded Elfar, who kill'd two brethren-giants; and to him Elfinor, who built a bridge of glass over the sea, the sound of which was like thunder. At length Elficleos rul'd the Fairy land with much wisdom, and highly en∣creas'd its honour: he left two sons, the eldest of which, fair Elferon, died an immature death, and whose place was supply'd by the mighty Oberon, whose wide memorial (continues our author) still re∣mains, and who dying, left Tanaquil to succeed him by will, who is likewise called Glorian, or GLORIANA.

In the circumstance of Elfinel, who overcame the Gobbelines, he plainly alludes to the faction of the Guelfes and Gibbelines in Italy; and his friend and commentator E. K. remarks,* 1.26 that our Elfes and

Goblins were deriv'd from those two parties Guelfes and Gibelines. But in the latter part of this relation, under the fictitious names of these ideal beings, he has adumbrated some of our English princes. Elficleos is king Henry VII, whose eldest son Arthur died at sixteen years of age; and whose youngest son Oberon, that is, Henry VIII, succeeded to the crown, marry∣ing, about the same time, his brother Arthur's wi∣dow, the princess Katherine; which is what Spenser more particularly hints at in these lines,

Whose emptie place the mighty Oberon, Doubly supply'd in SPOUSALL and DOMINION. St. 75.

The same of this king was very recent in our au∣thor's age.

It is remarkable that Spenser says nothing of Ed∣ward VI. and queen Mary, who reigned between Henry VIII. and queen Elizabeth, but that he passes immediately from Oberon to Tanaquill, or GLORI∣ANA, i. e. queen Elizabeth, who was excluded from her right by those two intermediate reigns.

He dying left the fairest Tanaquill, Him to succeed there by his last will: Fairer and nobler liveth none this howre.St. 75.

And the reader may observe, that there is much ad∣dress and art in the poet's manner of making this o∣mission. There is so much confusion in Spenser's

series of this fairy people, that it is difficult to deter∣mine, whether or no he has here allegorised any o∣ther English reign. However in Elfant who laid the foundation of Cleopolis, he may signify king Lud, as it appears, by another place, that Cleopolis is London,

Till now, said then the knight, I weened well, That great Cleopolis where I have been, In which the fairest FAERIE QUEENE doth dwell.

The fairest FAERIE QUEENE is queen Elizabeth: and by the lines that immediately follow, it should seem that Panthea is the queen's palace,

—The fairest citie was that might be seene, And that bright towr all built of crystall cleene, PANTHEA.— 1. 10. 58.

But this idea of the crystall tower, and of the gold∣en wall, and bridge of glass, &c. mention'd above, seem to be some romantic tradition. As to his FAE∣RIE QUEENE, the notion of such a personage was very common; Chaucer in his Rime of Sir Thopas speaks of her, together with a fairy land; and Shake∣spere who was universally conversant in popular su∣perstition, has introduc'd her in his Midsummer∣night's Dream. She was suppos'd to have held her court in the highest magnificence in the days of king Arthur, a circumstance by which the happiness of that reign was originally represented in the romantic annals of it.

Thus Chaucer.

In the old dayis of the king Arthure, (Of which the Britons speken great honour) All was this lond fulfillid of Fayry, The Elf-QUENE with her jolly company Daunsid full oft in many a grene mede, This was the old opinion as I rede.* 1.27

Thus Spenser follow'd the popular tradition in sup∣posing his † 1.28 FAERIE QUEENE to exist in the age of

Arthur. In Chaucer we find that fairy land, and Fairies were us'd in a more general sense for an ideal place and people. Thus in the marchants tale.

Pluto that is king of FAYRIE.

And above,

Proserpine, and all her FAYRIE.

This fiction of the Fairies was undoubtedly brought with many other fantastic extravagancies of the like

nature from the Eastern nations, by the European Christians, who had been at the holy war; and those expeditions were some of the first subjects of romance; as an admirable judge of this matter observes; who farther informs us;

"Nor were the monstrous em∣bellishments of enchantments, &c. the invention of the romancers, but form'd upon Eastern tales, brought thence by travellers from their crusades and pil∣grimages; which indeed have a cast peculiar to the wild imagination of the Eastern people."* 1.29

The Persians call the Fairies Peri; and the Arabs Ginn; and they feign, that there is a certain country inhabited by them, called Ginnistian, which corresponds to our Fairy-land. Our old romantic history sup∣poses that Arthur still reigns in Fairy-land, from whence he will one day return to Britain, and re-esta∣blish the round table, &c. Thus Lydgate,

He is a king ycrounid in Fairie; With scepter, and sword, and with his regally, Shall resort as lord and soveraigne Out of Fairie and reigne in Britaine; And repaire again the old round table, By prophecy Merlin set the date, &c.† 1.30

Many other instances might be alledged, from which it would be more abundantly manifested, that the imagination of our author was deeply tinctur'd with that species of writing with which his age was so

intimately acquainted, and so generally delighted: but we have, perhaps, been already sufficiently prolix in a disquisition, which to the lovers of Spenser, cannot appear altogether unentertaining; a disquisition, af∣fording that kind of information, which, though it does not improve the judgment, will gratify the cu∣riosity. And if there should be any readers, who, disgusted with the ideas of knights, dragons, and en∣chanters, should, after perusing the FAERIE QUEENE, address the author of it, as cardinal d'Este did Ario∣sto, after reading his Orlando,

"Dove, Diavolo, Mes∣ser Lodovico, avete pigliate tante coglionerie? Where the Devil, and did you pick up all these lies?"

I beg those gentlemen will look upon this section as a sufficient answer to that question.

Notes

• * 1.1

  See Hollingshead's Chronicles, vol. iii. p. 1315.
• * 1.2

  This Book has been reprinted twice or thrice. The last Edition is dated 1634.
• † 1.3

  Book ii. chap. i.
• * 1.4

  Book ii. chap. 3.
• ** 1.5

  B. ii. c. 91.
• † 1.6

  B. ii. c. 53.
• * 1.7

  B. 1. c. 24.
• † 1.8

  This is also printed in P. Enderbury's CAM∣BRIA TRIUMPHANS, p. 197.
• * * 1.9

  Song 4.
• (†) 1.10

  Orig. & Gest. Reg. Brit. B. 10, 13.
• * 1.11

  Aprill.
• * 1.12

  Works, London, 1576.
• * 1.13

  Spenser's pastorals were published about four years after this entertainment.
• * 1.14

  B. i. c. 60.
• (†) 1.15

  An execration upon Vulcan, in the Underwood.
• * 1.16

  REMAINS, printed 1604. Artic. names.
• † 1.17

  Par. Reg. B. ii, v. 359.
• (†) 1.18

  MANSUS.
• * 1.19

  Parad. Lost, 1. v. 579.
• * 1.20

  C. 3. 10.
• † 1.21

  C. 26. 39.
• (†) 1.22

  C. 4. S. 52.
• * 1.23

  C. 42. 98.
• † 1.24

  B. 2. c, 34.
• * 1.25

  It may be observ'd, that this poem of Sir Bevis is written in that short measure, which was frequently sung to the harp in queen Elizabeth's time: a custom which descended from the antient bards. The author of the arte of English poesie, printed 1589, thus speaks of it.

  "So on the other side doth the over-busie and too speedy returne of one manner of tune, too much annoy, and, as it were, glut the eare, unless it be in small and popular musickes song by these cantabanqui upon benches and barrels heads, where they have none other audience than boyes, or country fellowes, that passe by them in the streete; or else by blind harpers, or such like taverne-minstrels, that give a fit of mirth for a groat; and their matters being, for the most part, stories of old time; as, the tale of Sir Topas, the Reportes of Bevis of Southampton, Guy of Warwicke, Adam Bell, and Clymme of the Clough, and such other old romances or historicall Rhymes, made purposely for re∣creation of the common people at Christmasse diners, and bri∣deales; and in tavernes, and alehouses, and such other places of base resort: also they be us'd in carols and rounds, and such light or lascivious poemes, which are commonly more commodiously uttered by these buffoons and VICES in plays, than by any other person: such were the rimes of Skelton (usurping the name of a poet laureate) being in deede but a rude rayling rimer, and all his doings ridiculous; he used both short distaunces and short measures, pleasing only the popular eare; in our courtly MAKER we banish them utterly." B. ii. c. 9.

  Hence it appears, that Chaucer was, at that time, sung to the harp; for the tale, or rime, of Sir Thopas is a poem of Chaucer now extant: so the Italians, at present, sing Tasso and Ariosto. Adam Bell and Clym of the Clough were two famous archers: the former of which is, on that account, alluded to by Shakespeare.

  The same author, in another place, speaks of this kind of enter∣tainment, by which one would think that it was not always confin'd to such a vulgar audience.

  "We ourselves, who compiled this treatise, have written for pleasure, a little brief romance, or histo∣rical ditty, in the English tong, of the isle of Great-Britaine, in short and long meeters; and by breaches or divisions to be more commodiously sung to the harpe in places of assembly, where the company shall be desirous to hear of old adventures, and va∣liaunces of noble knights in times past; as are those of king Ar∣thur, and his knights of the round table; Sir Bevys of Southamp∣ton, Guy of Warwicke, and such other like." B. i. c. 19.
• * 1.26

  Eclogue, June.
• * 1.27

  The wife of Bath's tale, 857. The reader is desir'd to take notice, that in numbering any passage from Chaucer's Cant. Tales, we have follow'd Urry's scheme.
• † 1.28

  It appears from John Marston's Satires, entitled, The SCOURGE OF VILLANIE, Three Bookes of Satyres, and printed in the year 1598, that our author's FAERIE QUEENE, occasioned many publications in which Fairies were the principal actors, viz.

  Go buy some ballad of the FAERY KING. In Lectores.

  And in another Place.

  —At length some wonted sleepe doth crowne His new-falne lids; dreams, straight tenne pound to one Out-steps some FAERY with quick motion, And tells him wonders of some flowrie vale— Awakes, straite, rubs his eyes, and prints his tale.B. 3. sat. 6.

  And I have seen a romance which seems to have been written soon after Spenser's poem, entitled, The RED-ROSE KNIGHT; where the knight, after the example of prince Arthur, goes in search of the Fairy Queen.

  The satires above-mention'd contain many well-drawn characters, and several good strokes of a satirical genius, but are not upon the whole so finished and classical as bishop Hall's, the first part of which were publish'd about a year before these. Among other passages the following struck me, as being a good deal in the strain of the beginning of Milton's L'Allegro.

  Sleepe, grim reproof; my jocond muse doth sing In other keyes to nimble fingering; Dull sprighted melancholy leave my braine, To hell, Cimmerian night! in lively vaine I strive to paint; then hence all darke intent, And sullen frowns; come sporting merriment, Cheeke-dimpling laughter, &c.B. 3. Sat. 10.

  From these satires we may learn also how popular a play Romeo and Juliet was in those days.

  He is speaking to a wit of the town.

  Luscus, what's playd to day?—faith now I know I sett thy lips abroach, from whence doth flow Nought but pure JULIET, and ROMEO.Ibid.

  Langbaine (Dram. Poets pag. 351.) informs us, that these sa∣tires (now forgotten) render'd Marston more eminent than his dra∣matic poetry. Two years after these, viz. 1600, another collecti∣on of satires appear'd written by W. Rowlands, which are by no means contemptible. These are entitled, The Letting of Hu∣mours Blood in the Head-vaine. So that bishop Hall was not with∣out some followers in the species of poetry which he had newly reviv'd.
• * 1.29

  Supplement to the translator's preface, before Jarvis's Don Quixote.
• † 1.30

  Fall of Princes. B. 8. Ch. 24.