THE VIIITH CANTO, UNPERFITE.

I.

WHEN I bethinke me on that speech whyleare1
Of Mutability, and well it way ;

Me seemes, that though she all unworthy were
Of the heav'ns rule; yet, very sooth to say,
In all things else she bears the greatest sway:
Which makes me loath this state of life so tickle,2

And love of things so vaine to cast away;
Whose flowring pride, so fading and so fickle,

Short Time shall soon cut down with his consuming sickle!

II.

Then gin I thinke on that which Nature sayd,

Of that same time when no more change shall be,

But stedfast rest of all things, firmely stayd

Upon the pillours of Eternity,

That is contrayr to Mutabilitie:

For all that moveth doth in change delight:

But thenceforth all shall rest eternally
With Him that is the God of Sabaoth hight:

O! that great Sabaoth God, grant me that Sabbaths sight!*

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2 Tickle, uncertain.

1 Whyleare, formerly.

* CC "By what means this unfinished canto and the two preceding cantoes were preserved, the first editor of them has left no particulars. They are usually termed the Seventh Book of the poem. The fragment exhibits a very fine specimen of Spenser's sublime invention." - TODD.

MISCELLANEOUS

POEMS.

THE

SHEPHEARDS CALENDER:

CONTEINING

TWELVE AEGLOGUES,

PROPORTIONABLE TO THE TWELVE MONETHES.

ENTITLED TO THE NOBLE AND VERTUOUS GENTLEMAN, MOST WORTHIE OF ALL TITLES BOTH OF LEARNING AND CHIVALRY,

MAISTER PHILIP SIDNEY.