725 E. S. 726 727 728 729 FINIS. 729 THE END
THE END > (These verses, and the letter to Raleigh, were originally placed at the end of Volume I)
=> THE FIRST 2 BOOKE OF THE FAERIE QVEENE. 4 Contayning THE LEGENDE OF THE 6 KNIGHT OF THE RED CROSSE, OR 8 OF HOLINESSE.
1 THE FIRST 2 BOOK OF THE 3 FAERY QUEEN 4 Containing 5 THE LEGEND OF THE 6 KNIGHT OF THE RED CROSS 7 or 8 OF HOLINESS
100.1
LO I the man, whose Muse whilome did maske,
2 As time her +taught+ in lowly Shepheards weeds,
Am now enforst a far vnfitter taske,
4 For trumpets sterne to chaunge mine Oaten reeds,
And sing of Knights and Ladies gentle deeds;
6 Whose prayses hauing slept in silence long,
Me, all too meane, the sacred Muse areeds
8 To blazon +broad emongst+ her learned throng:
Fierce warres and faithfull loues shall moralize my song.
2 taught > taught, 1590, 1609 8 broad emongst > 'broad, amongst 1609
1 Lo I, the man whose Muse whilom did mask,
Muse > (The nine Muses are usually represented as the daughters of Jupiter and Mnemosyne (Memory); each goddess presides over an area of the arts and sciences and gives inspiration to its practitioners) whilom > formerly mask > {Disguise [herself]; take part in a masque or masquerade}
2 As time her taught, in lowly shepherd's weeds,