{
 "id": "edmund-spenser/dedicatory-sonnets",
 "title": "Dedicatory Sonnets",
 "ordinal": null,
 "subtitle": null,
 "poet": "Edmund Spenser",
 "poet_slug": "edmund-spenser",
 "language": "en",
 "book": "The Faerie Queene",
 "book_slug": "the-faerie-queene",
 "book_kind": "volume",
 "sequence": 1,
 "container": null,
 "epigraph": null,
 "first_published": {
  "year": 1596,
  "venue": "The Faerie Queene (1596)",
  "note": "First located printing is this volume; an earlier periodical printing has not been established.",
  "uncertain": false,
  "sources": [
   "https://archive.org/details/spensersfaeriequ01spenuoft",
   "https://archive.org/details/spensersfaeriequ02spenuoft",
   "https://archive.org/details/spensersfaeriequ03spenuoft",
   "https://archive.org/details/spensersfaeriequ04spenuoft",
   "https://archive.org/details/spensersfaeriequ05spenuoft",
   "https://archive.org/details/spensersfaeriequ06spenuoft",
   "https://github.com/standardebooks/edmund-spenser_the-faerie-queene"
  ]
 },
 "source": {
  "kind": "standard-ebooks",
  "repo": "standardebooks/edmund-spenser_the-faerie-queene",
  "file": "dedication-3.xhtml",
  "upstream": [
   "https://archive.org/details/spensersfaeriequ01spenuoft",
   "https://archive.org/details/spensersfaeriequ02spenuoft",
   "https://archive.org/details/spensersfaeriequ03spenuoft",
   "https://archive.org/details/spensersfaeriequ04spenuoft",
   "https://archive.org/details/spensersfaeriequ05spenuoft",
   "https://archive.org/details/spensersfaeriequ06spenuoft"
  ],
  "rights": "public domain (SE dedication; underlying text pre-1931)"
 },
 "verification": {
  "level": "structural-only",
  "last_checked": "2026-08-20"
 },
 "stats": {
  "n_lines": 238,
  "n_stanzas": 17,
  "n_parts": 0,
  "longest_line_chars": 57,
  "max_indent": 1
 },
 "site_ready": true,
 "parts": [],
 "stanzas": [
  [
   {
    "text": "Those prudent heads, that with their counsels wise",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Whylom the pillours of th’earth did sustaine,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And taught ambitious Rome to tyrannise",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And in the neck of all the world to rayne;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Oft from those grave affaires were wont abstaine,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With the sweet Lady Muses for to play:",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "So Ennius the elder Africane,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "So Maro oft did Caesars cares allay.",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "So you, great Lord, that with your counsell sway",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The burdeine of this kingdom mightily,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "With like delightes sometimes may eke delay",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "The rugged brow of carefull Policy;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And to these ydle rymes lend litle space,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Which for their titles sake may find more grace.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "To you, right noble Lord, whose carefull brest",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To menage of most grave affaires is bent;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And on whose mightie shoulders most doth rest",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "The burdein of this kingdomes governement,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "As the wide compasse of the firmament",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "On Atlas mighty shoulders is upstayd,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Unfitly I these ydle rimes present,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "The labor of lost time, and wit unstayd:",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Yet if their deeper sence be inly wayd,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And the dim vele, with which from commune vew",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Their fairer parts are hid, aside be layd,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Perhaps not vaine they may appeare to you.",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Such as they be, vouchsafe them to receave,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And wipe their faults out of your censure grave.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Receive, most Noble Lord, in gentle gree,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The unripe fruit of an unready wit;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Which by thy countenaunce doth crave to bee",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Defended from foule Envies poisnous bit.",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Which so to doe may thee right well besit,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Sith th’antique glory of thine auncestry",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Under a shady vele is therein writ,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And eke thine owne long living memory,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Succeeding them in true nobility:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And also for the love which thou doest beare",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "To th’ Heliconian ymps, and they to thee;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "They unto thee, and thou to them, most deare.",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Deare as thou art unto thy selfe, so love",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That loves and honours thee, as doth behove.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "The sacred Muses have made alwaies clame",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To be the Nourses of nobility,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And Registres of everlasting fame,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "To all that armes professe and chevalry.",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Then, by like right the noble Progeny,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Which them succeed in fame and worth, are tyde",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "T’embrace the service of sweete Poetry,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "By whose endevours they are glorifide;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And eke from all, of whom it is envide,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To patronize the authour of their praise,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Which gives them life, that els would soone have dide,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And crownes their ashes with immortall baies.",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "To thee, therefore, right noble Lord, I send",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "This present of my paines, it to defend.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Redoubted Lord, in whose corageous mind",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The flowre of chevalry, now bloosming faire,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Doth promise fruite worthy the noble kind",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Which of their praises have left you the haire;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "To you this humble present I prepare,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For love of vertue and of Martial praise;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "To which though nobly ye inclined are,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "As goodlie well ye shew’d in late assaies,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Yet brave ensample of long passed daies,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In which trew honor yee may fashiond see,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "To like desire of honor may ye raise,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And fill your mind with magnanimitee.",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Receive it, Lord, therefore, as it was ment,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For honor of your name and high descent.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Magnificke Lord, whose vertues excellent,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Doe merit a most famous Poets witt",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "To be thy living praises instrument,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Yet doe not sdeigne to let thy name be writt",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "In this base Poeme, for thee far unfitt:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Nought is thy worth disparaged thereby;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "But when my Muse, whose fethers, nothing flitt,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Doe yet but flagg, and lowly learne to fly,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "With bolder wing shall dare alofte to sty",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To the last praises of this Faery Queene;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Then shall it make more famous memory",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Of thine Heroicke parts, such as they beene:",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Till then, vouchsafe thy noble countenaunce",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To these first labours needed furtheraunce.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Receive, most noble Lord, a simple taste",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of the wilde fruit which salvage soyl hath bred;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Which, being through long wars left almost waste,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "With brutish barbarisme is overspredd:",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And, in so faire a land as may be redd,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Not one Parnassus, nor one Helicone,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Left for sweete Muses to be harboured,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "But where thy selfe hast thy brave mansione:",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "There, in deede, dwel faire Graces many one,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And gentle Nymphes, delights of learned wits;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And in thy person, without paragone,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "All goodly bountie and true honour sits.",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Such, therefore, as that wasted soyl doth yield,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Receive, dear Lord, in worth, the fruit of barren field.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And ye, brave Lord, whose goodly personage",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And noble deeds, each other garnishing,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Make you ensample to the present age",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Of th’old Heroes, whose famous ofspring",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "The antique Poets wont so much to sing;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In this same Pageaunt have a worthy place,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Sith those huge castles of Castilian King,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "That vainly threatned kingdomes to displace,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Like flying doves ye did before you chace;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And that proud people, woxen insolent",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Through many victories, didst first deface:",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Thy praises everlasting monument",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Is in this verse engraven semblably,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That it may live to all posterity.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Renowmed Lord, that, for your worthinesse",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And noble deeds, have your deserved place",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "High in the favour of that Emperesse,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "The worlds sole glory and her sexes grace;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Here eke of right have you a worthie place,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Both for your nearnes to that Faerie Queene,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And for your owne high merit in like cace:",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Of which, apparaunt proofe was to be scene,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "When that tumultuous rage and fearfull deene",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of Northerne rebels ye did pacify,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And their disloiall powre defaced clene,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "The record of enduring memory.",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Live, Lord, for ever in this lasting verse,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That all posteritie thy honor may reherse.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Most Noble Lord, the pillor of my life,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And Patrone of my Muses pupillage;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Through whose large bountie, poured on me rife",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "In the first season of my feeble age,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "I now doe live, bound yours by vassalage;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Sith nothing ever may redeeme, nor reave",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Out of your endlesse debt, so sure a gage,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Vouchsafe in worth this small guift to receave,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Which in your noble hands for pledge I leave",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of all the rest that I am tyde t’account:",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Rude rymes, the which a rustick Muse did weave",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "In savadge soyle, far from Parnasso Mount,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And roughly wrought in an unlearned Loome:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The which vouchsafe, dear Lord, your favorable doome.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "In vain I thinke, right honourable Lord,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "By this rude ryme to memorize thy name,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Whose learned Muse hath writ her owne record",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "In golden verse, worthy immortal fame:",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Thou much more fit (were leasure to the same)",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Thy gracious Soverains praises to compile,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And her imperiall Majestic to frame",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "In loftie numbers and heroicke stile.",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "But, sith thou maist not so, give leave a while",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To baser wit his power therein to spend,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Whose grosse defaults thy daintie pen may file,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And unadvised oversights amend.",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "But evermore vouchsafe it to maintaine",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Against vile Zoilus backbitings vaine.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "That Mantuane Poets incompared spirit,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Whose girland now is set in highest place,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Had not Mecaenas, for his worthy merit,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "It first advaunst to great Augustus grace,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Might long perhaps have lien in silence bace,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Ne bene so much admir’d of later age.",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "This lowly Muse, that learns like steps to trace,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Flies for like aide unto your Patronage,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "That are the great Mecaenas of this age,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "As wel to al that civil artes professe,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "As those that are inspir’d with Martial rage,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And craves protection of her feeblenesse:",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Which if ye yield, perhaps ye may her rayse",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In bigger tunes to sound your living prayse.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Who ever gave more honourable prize",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To the sweet Muse then did the Martiall crew,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "That their brave deeds she might immortalise",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "In her shril tromp, and sound their praises dew?",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Who then ought more to favour her then you,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Moste noble Lord, the honor of this age,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And Precedent of all that armes ensue?",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Whose warlike prowesse and manly courage,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Tempred with reason and advizement sage,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Hath fild sad Belgicke with victorious spoile;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "In Fraunce and Ireland left a famous gage;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And lately shakt the Lusitanian soile.",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Sith, then, each where thou hast dispredd thy fame,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Love him that hath eternized your name.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "To thee, that art the sommers Nightingale,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Thy soveraine Qoddesses most deare delight,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Why doe I send this rusticke Madrigale,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "That may thy tunefull eare unseason quite?",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Thou onely fit this Argument to write,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In whose high thoughts Pleasure hath built her bowre,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And dainty love learnd sweetly to endite.",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "My rimes I know unsavory and sowre,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "To tast the streames that, like a golden showre,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Flow from thy fruitfull head, of thy love’s praise;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Fitter, perhaps, to thonder Martiall stowre,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "When so thee list thy lofty Muse to raise:",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Yet, till that thou thy Poeme wilt make knowne,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Let thy faire Cinthias praises be thus rudely showne.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Remembraunce of that most Heroicke spirit,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The hevens pride, the glory of our daies,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Which now triumpheth, through immortall merit",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Of his brave vertues, crown’d with lasting baies",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Of hevenlie blis and everlasting praies;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Who first my Muse did lift out of the flore,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "To sing his sweet delights in lowlie laies;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Bids me, most noble Lady, to adore",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "His goodly image, living evermore",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In the divine resemblaunce of your face;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Which with your vertues ye embellish more,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And native beauty deck with heavenlie grace:",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "For his, and for your owne especial sake,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Vouchsafe from him this toke in good worth to take.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Ne may I, without blot of endlesse blame,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "You, fairest Lady, leave out of this place;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "But with remembraunce of your gracious name,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Wherewith that courtly garlond most ye grace",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And deck the world, adorne these verses base.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Not that these few lines can in them comprise",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Those glorious ornaments of hevenly grace,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Wherewith ye triumph over feeble eyes,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And in subdued harts do tyranyse;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For thereunto doth need a golden quill,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And silver leaves, them rightly to devise;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "But to make humble present of good will:",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Which, whenas timely meanes it purchase may,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In ampler wise it selfe will forth display.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "The Chian Peinter, when he was requirde",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To pourtraift Venus in her perfect hew,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "To make his worke more absolute, desird",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Of all the fairest Maides to have the vew.",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Much more me needs, to draw the semblant trew",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of beauties Queene, the worlds sole wonderment,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "To sharpe my sence with sundry beauties vew,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And steale from each some part of ornament.",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "If all the world to seeke I overwent,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A fairer crew yet no where could I see",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Then that brave court doth to mine eie present;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "That the worlds pride seemes gathered there to bee.",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Of each a part I stole by cunning thefte:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Forgive it me, faire Dames, sith lesse ye have not lefte.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ]
 ]
}