Yet is he oft eclipsed by the way, And fills the darkned world with terror and dismay. $2 "Now Mars, that valiant man, is changed most; For he sometimes so far runs out of square, That he his way doth seem quite to have lost, And cleane without his usuall sphere to fare; That even these star-gazers stonisht are At sight thereof, and damne their lying bookes: So likewise grim Sir Saturne oft doth spare His sterne aspect, and calme his crabbed lookes: So many turning cranks1 these have, so many crookes. 53 "But you, Dan Iove, that only constant are, name, Others in Thebes, and others otherwhere; But, wheresoever they comment the same, They all consent that ye begotten were And borne here in this world; ne other can appeare. 64 "Then are ye mortall borne, and thrall to me; Unlesse the kingdome of the sky yee make Immortall and unchangeable to be: Besides, that power and vertue, which ye spake 1 Cranks, bends, devious courses. 2 Misfare, going astray: or, misfortune. That ye here worke, doth many changes take, Is checkt and changed from his nature trew, "Besides, the sundry motions of your spheares, Onely the starrie skie doth still remaine : But all that moveth doth Mutation love: Therefore both you and them to me I subiect prove. 66 "Then since within this wide great universe 17 So having ended, silence long ensewed; Ne Nature to or fro spake for a space, But, with firme eyes affixt, the ground still viewed. Meane while all creatures, looking in her face, 1 Obliquid, oblique. 2 Clerkes, learned men. 8 Wizards saine, wise ones say Addoom, adjudge. Expecting th' end of this so doubtfull case, Did hang in long suspence what would ensew, At length she, looking up with chearefull view, The silence brake, and gave her doome in speeches few: 8 "I well consider all that ye have sayd; 69 "Cease therefore, Daughter, further to aspire, For thy decay thou seekst by thy desire: So was the Titaness put downe and whist,2 1 Decay, destruction. a Whist, silenced. THE VIII. CANTO, UNPERFITE. 1 WHEN I bethinke me on that speech whyleare 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 beares the greatest sway: Which makes me loath this state of life so tickle, 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! 2 Then gin I thinke on that which Nature sayd, 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 Sabbaoth hight: O that great Sabbaoth God graunt me that Sabaoths sight! II. 9. Spenser confounds Sabaoth (hosts) with Sabbath (rest) He obviously means the latter only: all things are to "rest eter ally with him that is the God of Rest." (v. 7, 8). C. Page 5, st. 6, v. 9, fame, O. name. "15, st. 28, v. 6, ere he (ed. 1609), O. ere thou. "24, st. 8, v. 2, deed and word (ed. 1609), O. act and deed. "24, st. 3, v. 8, eares, O. eyes. "24, st. 8, v. 4, eyes, O. eares. "49, st. 24, v. 5, aloud to shew, O. aloud in vaine to shew. "51, st. 28, v. 6, soft footing, O. softing foot. "51, st. 30, v. 9, thorough (ed. 1609), O. through. 44 55, st. 42, v. 4, approve (ed. 1609), O. reprove. "75, Arg., v. 1, Serena, O. Matilda. "88, st. 39, v. 8, gree (ed. 1609), O. glee. "156, st. 36, v. 8, Oenone, O. Benone. "160, st. 46, v. 5, did dwell, O. did well. • Cited from Collier's reprint. |