Edmund Spenser Quotes

1550–1599 England

Edmund Spenser (c. 1552 – 13 January 1599) was an English poet, who wrote such pastorals as The Shepheardes Calendar, Astrophell and Colin Clouts Come Home Againe, but is most famous for the multi-layered allegorical romance, The Faerie Queene.

England
Poets

Also known as: Spenser

Random Edmund Spenser quote

107 quotes

Through thicke and thin, both over banke and bush
In hope her to attaine by hooke or crooke.

The Faerie Queene (1589)

And with unwearied fingers drawing out
The lines of life, from living knowledge hid.

Who will not mercie unto others show,
How can he mercy ever hope to have?

The Faerie Queene (1589)

Death is an equall doome
To good and bad, the common In of rest.

And painefull pleasure turnes to pleasing paine.

I was promised on a time
To have reason for my rhyme;
From that time unto this season,
I received nor rhyme nor reason.

His rawbone cheekes, through penurie and pine,
Were shronke into his jawes, as he did never dyne.

Yet neither spinnes, nor cards, ne cares nor fretts,
But to her mother Nature all her care she letts.

Through thick and thin, both over banck and bush,
In hope her to attaine by hooke or crooke.

Who will not mercy unto others show,
How can he mercy ever hope to have?

"Life is not lost," said she, "for which is bought
Endlesse renowne."

To be wise and eke to love,
Is granted scarce to gods above.

A Gentle Knight was pricking on the plaine.

The Faerie Queene (1589)

"Oh, but," quoth she, "great griefe will not be tould,
And can more easily be thought than said."

Of her there bred
A thousand yong ones, which she dayly fed,
Sucking upon her poisonous dugs.

Make hast therefore sweet love, whilest it is prime,
For none can call againe the passed time.

Amoretti (1595)

Man's wretched state,
That floures so fresh at morne, and fades at evening late.

Her brest like to a bowle of creame uncrudded,
Her paps lyke lyllies budded.

Epithalamion (1595)

I trow that countenance cannot lie,
Whose thoughts are legible in the eie.

Uncouthe, unkiste, sayde the olde famous poete Chaucer.

The Shepheardes Calender (1579)

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: Edmund Spenser (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.