Till faint through yrkesome wearines, adowne
Upon the grassy ground her selfe she layd
To sleepe, the whiles a gentle slombring swowne
Upon her fell, all naked bare displayd.

The sunbeames bright upon her body playd,
Being through former bathing mollifide,

And pierst into her wombe; where they embayd With so sweet sence and secret powre unspide, That in her pregnant flesh they shortly fructifide. Miraculous may seeme to him that reades

So straunge ensample of conception;
But reason teacheth that the fruitfull seades
Of all things living, through impression
Of the sunbeames in moyst complexion,
Doe life conceive and quickned are by kynd:
So, after Nilus inundation,

Infinite shapes of creatures men doe fynd

7

Informed in the mud on which the Sunne hath shynd.

Great father he of generation

Is rightly cald, th' authour of life and light;
And his faire sister for creation

Ministreth matter fit, which, tempred right

9

With heate and humour, breedes the living wight.
So sprong these twinnes in womb of Chrysogone;
Yet wist she nought thereof, but sore affright,
Wondred to see her belly so upblone,

Which still increast till she her terme had full outgone.

Whereof conceiving shame and foule disgrace,
Albe her guiltlesse conscience her cleard,
She fled into the wildernesse a space,
Till that unweeldy burden she had reard,
And shund dishonor which as death she feard:
Where, wearie of long traveill, downe to rest
Her selfe she set, and comfortably cheard:
There a sad cloud of sleepe her overkest,
And seized every sence with sorrow sore opprest.

ΤΟ

THE ALDINE EDITION

OF THE BRITISH

POETS

THE POETICAL WORKS OF EDMUND SPENSER

IN FIVE VOLUMES

VOL. III

THE POETICAL WORKS OF

EDMUND SPENSER

EDITED BY J. PAYNE COLLIER

IN FIVE VOLUMES

VOL. III.

LONDON

GEORGE BELL AND SONS, YORK STREET

COVENT GARDEN

1891