And thousand other ways to bait his fleshly hooks.
Inconstant man that loved all he saw,
And lusted after all that he did love;
Ne would his looser life be tied to law;
But joyed weak women’s hearts to tempt and prove,
If from their loyal loves he might them move.’
This is pretty plain-spoken. Mr. Southey says of Spenser:
‘——Yet not more sweet
Than pure was he, and not more pure than wise;
High priest of all the Muses’ mysteries!’