Edmund Spenser

Britomart Edmund Spenser

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1903 Excerpt: ... Of minstrels making goodly merriment, With wanton bards, and rhymers impudent; All which together sang full cheerfully A lay of love's delight with sweet concent1: After whom marched a jolly company, In manner of a mask,2 enranged3 orderly. 6 The whiles a most delicious harmony In full strange notes was sweetly heard to sound, That the rare sweetness of the melody The feeble senses wholly did confound, And the frail soul in deep delight nigh drowned: And, when it ceased, shrill trumpets loud did bray, That their report did far away rebound; And, when they ceased, it gan again to play, The whiles the maskers marched forth in trim array. 7 The first was Fancy,4 like a lovely boy Of rare aspect and beauty without peer, Matchable either to that imp 6 of Troy, Whom Jove did love and chose his cup to bear6; Or that same dainty lad, which was so dear To great Alcides,7 that, whenas he died, He wailed womanlike with many a tear, And every wood and every valley wide He filled with Hylas' name; the nymphs eke8 "Hylas" cried. 4 Fancy, capricious love. 1 Concent, harmony. 6 Imp, child, youth. 2 Mask, a dramatic and musical 6 That imp of Troy, etc., Ganyproduction, such as Milton's mede. "Comus." 7 Alcides. Hercules. 8 Enranged, arranged. 8 Eke, likewise. 8 His garment nether was of silk nor say,1 But painted plumes in goodly order dight,2 Like as the sunburnt Indians do array Their tawny bodies, in their proudest plight: As those same plumes, so seemed he vain and light, That by his gait might easily appear; For still he fared 3 as dancing in delight, And in his hand a windy fan did bear, That in the idle air he moved, still here and there. 9 And him beside marched amorous Desire, Who seemed of riper years than th' other swain, Yet was that other swain this elder's si...