The Canterbury tales and Faerie queene &c., &c., &c., ed. for popular perusal with current illustrations and explanatory notes, by D. Laing Purves.

604 POEMS OF EDMUND SPENSER.
Amongst the rest a gentle nymph was found, He casts 1 his glutton sense to satisfy;
Hight Asterie, excelling all the crew Now sucking of the sap of herb most meet,
In courteous usage and unstained hue. Or of the dew which yet on them does lie
Who, being nimbler jointed than the rest, Now in the same bathing his tender feet:
And more industrious, gathered more store And then he perceth on some branch thereby,
Of the fields' honour than the others best; T weather him, and his moist wings to dry.
Which they in secret hearts envying sore, And then again he turneth to his play,
Told Venus, when her as the worthiest To spoil the pleasures of that Paradise;
She prais'd, that Cupid (as they heard before) The wholesome saulge,2 and lavender still gray,
Did lend her secret aid, in gathering Rank-smelling rue, and cummin good for eyes,
Into her lap the children of the Spring. The roses reigning in the pride of May,
Whereof the goddess gath'ring jealous fear- Sharp hyssop good for green wounds' remedies,
Not yet unmindful how not long ago Fair marigolds, and bees-alluring thyme,
Her son to Psyche secret love did bear, Sweet marjoram, and daisies decking Prime: 3
And long it close conceal'd, till mickle woe C v a o
0Cool violets, and orpine growing still,
Thereof arose, and many a rueful tear,- - ing l,
Embathnd balm, and cheerful galingale,
Reason with sudden rage did overg; Fresh costmary, and breathful camomill,
And, giving hasty credit to th' accuser,
Dull poppy, and drink-quick'ning setuale,
Was led away of them that did abuse her.
Vein-healing vervain, and head-purging dill,
Eftsoons that damsel, by her heav'nly might, Sound savory, and bazil hearty-hale,
She turn'd into a wingid butterfly, Fat colworts, and comforting perseline,
In the wide air to make her wand'ring flight; Cold lettuce, and refreshing rosmarine.
And all those flow'rs, with which so plenteously
Her lap she filled had, that bred her spite, And whatso else of virtue good or ill
She placed in her wings, for memory Grew in this garden, fetch'd from far away,
Of her pretendedcrime, thoughcrime none were: Of ev'ry one he takes, and tastes at will,
Since which that fly them in her wings doth bear. And on their pleasures greedily doth prey.
Then when he hath both play'd, and fed his fill,
Thus the fresh Clarion, being ready dight, In the warm sun he doth himself embay,4
Unto his journey did himself address, And there him rests in riotous suffisance 5
And with good speed began to take his flight: Of all his gladfulness, and kingly joyance.
Over the fields, in his frank lustiness,
And all the champaign o'er, he soared light; What more felicity can fall to creature
And all the country wide he did possess, Than to enjoy delight with liberty,
Feeding upon their pleasures bounteously, And to be lord of all the works of Nature,
That none gainsaid, nor none did him envy. To reign in th' air from th' earth to highest sky,
To feed on flow'rs and weeds of glorious feature,
The woods, the rivers, and the meadows green, To take whatever thing doth please the eye?
With his air-cutting wings he measur'd wide; Who rests not plea with such happiness
Nor did he leave the mountains bare unseen, Well worthy he to taste of wretchedness
Nor the rank grassy fens' delights untried.
But none of these, however sweet they be'n, But what on earth can long abide in state?
Might please his fancy, nor him cause t' abide: Or who can him assure of happy day?
His choiceful sense with ev'ry change doth flit; Since morning fair may bring foul ev'ning late,
No common things may please a wavering wit. And least mishap the most bliss alter may!
To the gay gardens his unstaid desire For thousand perils lie in close await
Him wholly carried, to refresh his sprites: t us daily to work our decay;
There lavish Nature, in her best attire, That none, except a god, or God him guide
Pours forth sweet odours and alluring sights; May them avoid, or remedy provide.
And Art, with her contending, doth aspire And whatso heavens in their secret doom
T' excel the natural with made delights: Ordained have, how can frail fleshly wight
And all, that fair or pleasant may be found, Forecast but it must needs to issue come?
In riotous excess doth there abound. The sea, the air, the fire, the day, the night,
There he arriving, round about doth fly, And th' armies of their creatures all and some,
From bed to bed, from one to other border; Do serve to them, and with imp6rtune might
And takes survey, with curious busy eye, War against us, the vassals of their will.
Of ev'ry flow'r and herb there set in order; Who then can save what they dispose to spill?
Now this, now that, he tasteth tenderly;
Now this, now that, he tasteth tenderl; Not thou, O Clarion, though fairest thou
Yet none of them he rudely doth disorder, Of all thy kind, unhappy happy y,
Nor with his feet their silken leaves deface; Whose cruel fate is woven even now
But pastures on the pleasures of each place. J o h
Of Jove's own hand, to work thy misery!
And evermore, with most variety Nor may thee help the many hearty vow
And change of sweetness (for all change is sweet), Which thine old sire, with sacred piety,
1 Contrives. 2 Sage. 3 Spring. 4 Bathe, bask. 5 Contentment. 6 Destroy.