I.

Upon that famous river's further shore,

There stood a snowy Swan, of heavenly hue
And gentle kind, as ever fowl afore;

A fairer one in all the goodly crew

Of white Strimonian brood might no man view;
There he most sweetly sung the prophecy

Of his own death in doleful elegy.

At last, when all his mourning melody

590

595

He ended had, that both the shores resounded,
Feeling the fit that him forwarn'd to die,
With lofty flight about the earth he bounded,
And out of sight to highest heaven mounted,
Where now he is become an heavenly sign;
There now the joy is his, here sorrow mine.
II.

600

Whilst thus I looked, loe adown the lee

I saw an Harp, strung all with silver twine,
And made of gold and costly ivory,
Swimming, that whilom seemed to have been
The harp on which Dan Orpheus was seen
Wild beasts and forrests after him to lead,
But was th' Harp of Phillisides now dead.

605

610

At length out of the river it was rear'd,
And borne about the clouds to be divin'd,
Whilst all the way most heavenly noise was heard
Of the strings, stirred with the warbling wind,

That wrought both joy and sorrow in

my min

Sow now in heaven a sign it doth appear,

615

The Harp, well known beside the Northern Bear. III.

620

Soon after this I saw on th' other side-
A curious Coffer made of heben wood,
That in it did most precious treasure hide,
Exceeding all this baser worldes good;
Yet through the overflowing of the flood
It almost drowned was, and done to nought,
That sight thereof much griev'd my pensive thought.

At length, when most in peril it was brought,
Two angels down descending with swift flight, 625
Out of the swelling stream it lightly caught,
And 'twixt their blessed arms it carried quight
Above the reach of any living sight;

So now it is transform'd into that star
In which all heavenly treasures locked are.

IV.

Looking aside, I saw a stately Bed,
Adorned all with costly cloth of gold,

That might for any prince's couch be red,

And deckt with dainty flowres, as if it should

639

Be for some bride, her joyous night to hold; 635 Therein a goodly virgin sleeping lay,

A fairer wight saw never summer`s-day.

I heard a voice that called far away,
And her awaking, bad her quickly dight,
For loe her bridegroom was in ready ray

3

640

To come to her, and seek her love's delight:
With that she started up with cheerful sight,
When suddenly both Bed and all was gone,
And I in langour left there all alone.
V.

Still as I gazed, I beheld where stood
A Knight all arm'd upon a winged steed,
The same that bred was of Medusa's blood,
On which Dan Perseus, born of heavenly seed,
The fair Andromeda from peril freed;
Full mortally this Knight ywounded was,
That streams of blood forth flowed on the

645

650 grass.

Yet was he deckt (small joy to him, alas!)
With many garlands for his victories,
And with rich spoils, which late he did purchase
Through brave atchievements from his enemies ;
Fainting at last through long infirmities,
He smote his steed, that straight to heaven bore,
And left me here his loss for to deplore.

VI.

Lastly, I saw an Ark of purest gold
Upon a brazen pillour standing high,

666

660

Which th' ashes seemed of a great prince to hold,
Enclos'd therein for endless memory

Of him whom all the world did glorify;
Seemed the heavens with th' earth did disagree
Whether should of those ashes keeper be.

665

At last, me seem'd wing-footed Mercury,
From heaven descending to appease their strife,
The Ark did bear with him above the sky,
And to those ashes gave a second life,
To live in heaven, where happiness is rife ;
At which the earth did grieve exceedingly,
And I for dole was almost like to die.

L'ENVOY.

IMMORTAL Spirit of Phillisides!

670

Which now art made the heaven's ornament,
That whilom wast the world's chiefest riches, 675
Give leave to him that lov'd thee to lament
His loss, by lack of thee to heaven hent,
And with last duties of this broken verse,
Broken with sighs, to deck thy sable herse.

And ye,
fair Lady! th' honour of your days, 680
And glory of the world, your high thoughts scorn,
Vouchsafe this moniment of his last praise
With some few silver-dropping tears t' adorn;
And as ye be of heavenly off-spring born,
So unto heaven let your high mind aspire,

And loath this dross of sinful world's desire. 68

MUIOPOTMOS:

OR,

THE FATE OF THE BUTTERFLY.

To the right worthy and vertuous Lady,

THE LADY CAREY.

MOST brave and bountiful Lady! for so excellent favours as I have received at your sweet hands, to offer these few leaves as in recompence, should be as to offer flowers to the gods for their divine benefits; therefore I have determined to give my self wholly to you, as quite abandoned from my self, and absolutely vowed to your services, which in all right is ever held for full recompence of debt or damage to have the person yielded. My person Iwot well how little worth itis; but the faithful mind and humble zeal which I bear unto your Ladyship, may perhaps be more of price, as may please you to account and use the poor service thereof, which taketh glory to advance your excellent parts and noble vertues, and to spend it self in honouring you; not so much for your great bounty to my self, which yet may not be unminded, nor for name or kindred sake by you vouchsafed, being also regardable, as for that honourable name which ye have by your brave deserts purchast to your self, and spred in the mouths of all men; with which I have also presumed to grace my verses, and under your name to commend to the world this small Poem; the which beseeching your Ladyship to take inworth, and of all things therein according to your wonted graciousness to make a mild construction, I humbly pray for your happiness.

Your Ladyship's ever humbly,

EDMUND SPENSER.