Edmund Spenser
FOWRE HYMNES
About the print version
Fowre Hymnes The Complete Works of Edmund Spenser
Edmund Spenser Introduction by William P. Trent
Thomas Y. Crowell Company
New York
1903
Published: 1596
MADE BY
EDM. SPENSER.
TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE AND MOST VERTUOUS LADIES,
THE LADIE MARGARET,
COUNTESSE OF CUMBERLAND, AND
THE LADIE MARIE,
COUNTESSE OF WARWICKE.
HAVING in the greener times of my youth, composed these former two Hymnes in
the praise of Love and Beautie, and finding that the same too much pleased those
of like age and disposition, which being too vehemently caried with that kind of
affection, do rather sucke out poyson to their strong passion, then hony to
their honest delight, I was moved by the one of you two most excellent Ladies,
to call in the same. But, being unable so to doe, by reason that many copies
thereof were formerly scattered abroad, I resolved at least to amend, and, by
way of retractation, to reforme them, making, in stead of those two Hymnes of
earthly or naturall love and beautie, two others of heavenly and celestiall. The
which I doe dedicate joyntly unto you two honorable sisters, as to the most
excellent and rare ornaments of all true love and beautie, both in the one and
the other kinde; humbly beseeching you to vouchsafe the patronage of them, and
to accept this my humble service, in lieu of the great graces and honourable
favours which ye dayly shew unto me, untill such time as I may, by better
meanes, yeeld you some more notable testimonie of my thankfull mind and dutifull
devotion. And even so I pray for your happinesse.
Greenwich this first of September, 1596.
Your Honors most bounden ever,
in all humble service,
ED. SP.
AN HYMNE IN HONOUR OF LOVE.
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