Edmund Spenser Quotes

The poet’s scrolls will outlive the monuments of stone. Genius survives; all else is claimed by death.

I was promised on a time To have reason for my rhyme; From that time unto this season, I receiv’d nor rhyme nor reason. (According to legend, Queen Elizabeth promised Spenser 100 pounds for a poem. When the Royal Treasurer, Lord Burghley, objected to the expense, the Queen replied, “Then give him what is reason.” […]

Painful pleasure turns to pleasing pain.

Tho, as she backward cast her busie eye To search each secrete of that goodly sted, Over the dore thus written she did spye, BEE BOLD: she oft and oft it over-red, yet could not find what sence it figured: But what so were therein or writ or ment, She was no whit thereby discouraged […]