Edmund Spenser

1552 - 1599 *

English poet of the sixteenth century

Although Edmund Spenser wrote much of his poetry in the Elizabethan era, it relates clearly and passionately the medieval past.

          Source: LiteratureClassics.com Editorial Team

SPENSER, EDMUND (c. 1552—1599), English poet, author of the Faery Queen, was born in London about the year 1552. The received date of his birth rests on a passage in sonnet lx. of the A moretti. He speaks there of having lived forty-one years; the Atnoretti was published in 1595, and described on the titlepage as “written not long since “; this would make the ye~r of his birth 1552 or 1553. We know from the Prot/zalamion that London was his birthplace. This at least seems the most natural interpretation of the words— “‘Merry London, my most kindly nurse,
That to me gave this life’s firs... [read entire biography]

          Source: External Publication

SPENSER, EDMUND (c. 1552—1599), English poet, author of the Faery Queen, was born in London about the year 1552. The received date of his birth rests on a passage in sonnet lx. of the A moretti. He speaks there of having lived forty-one years; the Atnoretti was published in 1595, and described on the titlepage as “written not long since “; this would make the ye~r of his birth 1552 or 1553. We know from the Prot/zalamion that London was his birthplace. This at least seems the most natural interp... [read entire biography]

          Source: Public Domain

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Fierce warres and faithful loves shall moralize my song. -- Faerie Queene. Introduction. St. 1.

Edmund Spenser

A gentle knight was pricking on the plaine. -- Faerie Queene. Book i. Canto i. St. 1.

Edmund Spenser

O happy earth,
Whereon thy innocent feet doe ever tread! -- Faerie Queene. Book i. Canto i. St. 9.

Edmund Spenser

The noblest mind the best contentment has. -- Faerie Queene. Book i. Canto i. St. 35.

Edmund Spenser

A bold bad man. -- Faerie Queene. Book i. Canto i. St. 37.

Edmund Spenser

Her angels face,
As the great eye of heaven, shyned bright,
And made a sunshine in the shady place. -- Faerie Queene. Book i. Canto iii. St. 4.

Edmund Spenser

Ay me, how many perils doe enfold
The righteous man, to make him daily fall! -- Faerie Queene. Book i. Canto viii. St. 1.

Edmund Spenser

As when in Cymbrian plaine
An heard of bulles, whom kindly rage doth sting,
Doe for the milky mothers want complaine,
And fill the fieldes with troublous bellowing. -- Faerie Queene. Book i. Canto viii. St. 11.

Edmund Spenser

Entire affection hateth nicer hands. -- Faerie Queene. Book i. Canto viii. St. 40.

Edmund Spenser

That darksome cave they enter, where they find
That cursed man, low sitting on the ground,
Musing full sadly in his sullein mind. -- Faerie Queene. Book i. Canto ix. St. 35.

Edmund Spenser

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Spenser at Encarta Encyclopedia

Spenser at Britannica Encyclopedia

Spenser at Xrefer.com

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* Some dates of birth and death are approximated. If this is the case, see note at the end of biography, above. Dates of birth and death are AD, unless otherwise specified.