So them we gods doe rule, and in them also thee.
49 To whom, thus Mutability: The things
Which we see not how they are mov’d and swayd,
Ye may attribute to your selues as Kings,
And say they by your secret powre are made:
But what we see not, who shall vs perswade?
But were they so, as ye them faine to be,
Mov’d by your might, and ordred by your ayde;
Yet what if I can proue, that euen yee
Your selues are likewise chang’d, and subiect vnto mee?
50 And first, concerning her that is the first,
Euen you faire Cynthia, whom so much ye make
Ioues dearest darling, she was bred and nurst
On Cynthus hill, whence she her name did take:
Then is she mortall borne, how-so ye crake;
Besides, her face and countenance euery day
We changed see, and sundry forms partake,
Now homd, now round, now bright, now brown & gray:
So that as changefull as the Moone men vse to say.
51 Next, Mercury, who though he lesse appeare
To change his hew, and alwayes seeme as one;
Yet, he his course doth altar euery yeare,
And is of late far out of order gone:
So Venus eeke, that goodly Paragone,
Though faire all night, yet is she darke all day;
And Phœbus self, who lightsome is alone,
Yet is he oft eclipsed by the way,
And fills the darkned world with terror and dismay.
52 Now Mars that valiant man is changed most:
For, he some times so far runs out of square,
That he his way doth seem quite to haue lost,
And cleane without his vsuall sphere to fare;
That euen these Star-gazers stonisht are
At sight thereof, and damne their lying bookes:
So likewise, grim Sir Satume oft doth spare
His sterne aspect, and calme his crabbed lookes:
So many turning cranks these haue, so many crookes.
53 But you Dan Ioue, that only constant are,
And King of all the rest, as ye do clame,
Are you not subiect eeke to this misfare?
Then let me aske you this withouten blame,
Where were ye borne? some say in Crete by name,
Others in Thebes, and others other-where;
But wheresoeuer they comment the same,
They all consent that ye begotten were,
And borne here in this world, ne other can appeare.
54 Then are ye mortall borne, and thrall to me,
Vnlesse the kingdome of the sky yee make
Immortall, and vnchangeable to be;
Besides, that power and vertue which ye spake,
That ye here worke, doth many changes take,
And your owne natures change: for, each of you
That vertue haue, or this, or that to make,
Is checkt and changed from his nature trew,
By others opposition or obliquid view.
55 Besides, the sundry motions of your Spheares,
So sundry waies and fashions as clerkes faine,
Some in short space, and some in longer yeares;
What is the same but alteration plaine?
Onely the starrie skie doth still remaine:
Yet do the Starres and Signes therein still moue,
And euen itself is mov’d, as wizards saine.
But all that moueth, doth mutation loue:
Therefore both you and them to me I subiect proue.
56 Then since within this wide great Vniuerse
Nothing doth firme and permanent appeare,
Cut all things tost and turned by transuerse:
What then should let, but I aloft should reare
My Trophee, and from all, the triumph beare?
Now iudge then (ô thou greatest goddesse trew!)
According as thy selfe doest see and heare,
And vnto me addoom that is my dew;
That is the rule of all, all being rul’d by you.
57 So hauing ended, silence long ensewed,
Ne Nature to or fro spake for a space,
But with firme eyes affixt, the ground still viewed.
Meanewhile, all creatures, looking in her face,
Expecting th’end of this so doubtfull case,
Did hang in long suspence what would ensew,
To whether side should fall the soueraigne place:
At length, she looking vp with chearefull view,
The silence brake, and gaue her doome in speeches few.
58 I well consider all that ye haue sayd,
And find that all things stedfastnes doe hate
And changed be: yet being rightly wayd
They are not changed from their first estate;
But by their change their being doe dilate:
And turning to themselues at length againe,
Doe worke their owne perfection so by fate:
Then ouer them Change doth not rule and raigne;
But they raigne ouer change, and doe their states maintaine.
59 Cease therefore daughter further to aspire,
And thee content thus to be rul’d by me:
For thy decay thou seekst by thy desire;
But time shall come that all shall changed bee,
And from thenceforth, none no more change shall see.
So was the Titaness put downe and whist,
And Ioue confirm’d in his imperiall see.
Then was that whole assembly quite dismist,
And Natur’s selfe did vanish, whither no man wist
1 When I bethinke me on that speech whyleare,
Of Mutability, and well it way:
Me seemes, that though she all vnworthy were
Of the Heav’ns Rule; yet very sooth to say,
In all things else she beares the greatest sway.
Which makes me loath this state of life so tickle,
And loue of things so vaine to cast away;
Whose flowring pride, so fading and so fickle,
Short Time shall soon cut down with his consuming sickle.
2 Then gin I thinke on that which Nature sayd,
Of that same time when no more Change shall be,
But stedfast rest of all things firmely stayd
Vpon the pillours of Eternity,
That is contrayr to Mutabilitie:
For, all that moueth, doth in Change delight:
But thence-forth all shall rest eternally
With Him that is the God of Sabbaoth bight:
O that great Sabbaoth God, graunt me that Sabaoths sight.
FINIS
TEXTUAL APPENDIX
TEXTUAL CORRECTIONS:
Code: a 1590 edition of Faerie Queene, I-III
b 1596 edition of Faerie Queene, I-VI
c 1609 edition of Faerie Queene, I-VII
d 1611 edition of Works
FE ‘Faults Escaped’, erratum page in a
The four columns are stanza and line, corrected reading, source of correction, and rejected reading from b if unspecified. The inclusion of a code letter instead of date of edition as source of corrected reading is to follow the practice established by the Variorum Edition of Spenser.
BOOK I
Canto 1
10.4 They a The
12.5 stroke FE hardy stroke a
20.7 loathly frogs ac
loathlyfrogs
21.5 spring FE ebbe
25.7 wound a wound
31.2 euill a euill euill
34.8 gently a genlty
35.8 euermore a euemore
42.4 thrust a trust
48.9 her with Yuie a her Yuie
Canto 2
17.5 cruel spies FE cruelties
29.2 shade him thither a shade thither
29.3 ymounted FE that mounted
32.9 guiltlesse a gu
itlesse
40.1 Thensforth FE Thenforth
41.5 Thensforth FE Thenforth
Canto 3
3.9 brought, a brought,
11.1 whom a Whom
34.5 feare a fea
36.7 mourning acd morning
38.7 that FE the
43.5 field a fied
Canto 4
11.3 worth a wroth
12.2 selfe a Queene a selfe Queene
13.1 El1 fin a Elfing
16.9 glitterand a glitter and
20.3 From a For
32.9 fifte FE first
45.5 of my new FE of new
Canto 5
1.9 did he wake a did wake
2.1 gate a gate,
2.5 hurld FE hurls
24.9 for a and
30.9 filthey a filtey
38.6 cliffs FE clifts
41.2 nigh a high
51.5 that FE the
Canto 6
1.5 in FE it
5.5 win a with
15.2 Or 11 Of
26.9 as a tyrans a as tyrans
47.2 fate a fete
Canto 7
5.5 her a be
32.6 Selinis a Selinis
43.9 Gehons a Gebons
47.3 hands FE hand [so corrected in copy text]
Canto 8
Arg. 3 the FE that
11.9 murmur ring FE murmuring
15.3 nigh d night
29.4 forcibly, a forcibly.
30.2 An a And
33.5 sits a fits
40.8 beare, a beare.
41.7 and helmets a helmets
43.2 haue a kaue
Canto 9
11.4 vnawares a vnwares
12.9 on FE at
14.8 night; a night,
18.9 as a the
26.5 nye. [editorial conjecture] nye? abc
31.5 subtile tong
a subtilltongue
34.6 cliffs FE clifts
35.9 Were a Where
38.8 liuing a liniug
53.1 feeble a seely
Canto 10
10.5 [line moved to right]
16.8 her FE be
31.6 faire, a faire.
36.9 in commers-by c in-commers by ab
50.1 she a he
52.6 Brings FE Bring ab
57.5 pretious FE piteous
59.2 frame FE fame
61.3 thy a to thy
62.9 they’are a are
64.7 doen a doen then
Canto 11
1.1 faire, c faire, ab
4.5 stretcht a stretch
5.1 his FE this
5.2 withdraw d with draw
6.9 scared FE feared
8.7 vaste d wast
11.5 as FE all
18.5 vnsound a vnfound
25.1 wroth a wrath
25.6 [line moved to right]
27.2 vaunt a daunt
30.5 one FE it
30.6 [line moved to right]
35–1spy, a spy.
39.4 sting a string
39.7 string a sting
51.2 the a her
Canto 12
2.9 fall, c fall, ab
9.7 monstrous a monstrous
11.5 talants FE talents
16.1 pleasure a pleasures
18.8 Paynim a Pynin
21.7 To tell that dawning day is drawing neare, a To tell the dawning day is dawning neare,
22.4 heauenly a heaunnly
27.7 of yore a and yore
32.5 t’ FE to
34.9 who FE wo
40.9 His a Her
BOOK II
Canto 1
2.7 natiue a natiues
4.1 lay, c lay. ab
4.6–7[Lines 6 and 7 should be transposed as in a.]
8.7 spoile, a ‘spoile.
11.7 he a be
16.7 torment? – torment
31.2 handling a hanfling
33.8 thrise FE these
39.4 dolour a labour
40.4 gore a gold
44.9 speake: help a speake:help
45.7 started a started
56.2 off c off, ab
59.1 equall a euill
59.6 bury all teene [editorial conjecture] buriall teene abc
Canto 2
9.1 whose a those
9.8 be a he
28.2 champions a champion
30.1 there c their ab
37.1 Fast FE First
41.4 eye, c eye. ab
Canto 3
9.7 From a For
Canto 4
10.4 not FE no
10.9 and a aud
41.2 Pyrochles FE Pyrrhocles
44.8 sits a fits
45.4 might a migbt
45.8 Pyrochles FE Pyrrhocles
Canto 5
1.9 Pyrochles FE Pyrrhocles
4.4 broad ac braod
8.2 Pyrochles FE Pyrrhocles
8.7 hurtle a hurle,
10.8 releast, a relast,
16.1 Pyrochles FE Pyrrhocles
16.8 aread a a read
19.4 Pyrochles FE Pyrrhocles she chee a6
20.2 Pyrochles FE Pyrrhocles
20.6 Pyrochles FE Pyrrhocles
21.2 Pyrochles FE Pyrrhocles
24.8 agayne, a agayne.
25.4 Pyrochles FE Pyrrhocles
27.3 her a his
36.6 Pyrochles FE Pyrrhocles
38.7 Pyrochles FE Pyrrhocles
Canto 6
29.2 importune a importance
34.7 sweet alarmes c sweet Alarmes, a sweetalarms,
39.2 Pyrochles FE Pyrrhocles
43.4 Pyrochles FE Pyrrhocles
43.9 Pyrochles, ô Pyrochles FE Pyrrhocles, ô Pyrrhocles
44.6 Pyrochles FE Pyrrhocles
45.3 Burning a But
48.7 Pyrochles FE Pyrrhocles
49.1 Pyrochles FE Pyrrhodes
Canto 7
4.9 And a A
16.3 glad thankes a gladthankes
17.2 Grandmother ac Gandmother
18.2 of that antique a of antique
37.1 earthly wight ac earthlywight
39.8 mesprise a mespise
40.5 As if that a FE As the
41.3 his a to
48.6 my deare, my c my deare my aft
53.1 Gardin a Gordin
Canto 8
12.1 Pyrochles FE Pyrrhocles
19.1 Pyrochles FE Pyrrhocles
21.7 Pyrochles FE Pyrrhocles
25.1 his cruell FE those same
30.1 Pyrochles FE Pyrrhocles
41.4 Pyrochles FE Pyrrhocles
43.1 Pyrochles FE Pyrrhocles
44.2 guiltie a gulty
46.8 Harrow FE Horrow
48.8 Prince Arthur c Sir Guyon ab
48.9 Pyrochles FE Pyrrhocles
53.6 Had a Hast
55.3 bowing FE with bowing
Canto 9
Arg. 4 flight a fight
5.7 amenatmce A amenatice
9.1 weete, [editorial conjecture] wote, abc
14.7 Sheepe – Speepe b
16.8 wind with blustring a wind blustring
17.5 conflict a comflict
21.3 feasible a sensible
22.9 Diapase PE Dyapase
34.2 Ladies sate a Ladiessate
37.8 you loue c your loue ab
40.6 about her a abouther
41.7 Castory PE lastery
Canto 10
4.3 Who FE Whom
9.7 Assaracs a Assaraos
20.2 rule to sway a rule of sway
26.6 their FE her
36.3 felicitie; a felicitie?
37.3 with a vp
38.2 of a or
43.1 sonne a sonnes
44.1 sonnes a sonne
50.8 warrayd a wrrayd
51.7 in his armes a in armes
65.1 Capitayns a Captains
67.2 Ambrose a Ambrise
67.5 slaine, ac slaine.
73.9 bee. a bee
77.5 gentle a geutle
77.9 nobl
e a nobles
Canto 11
2.9 and for delight a and delight
4.4 And he eftsoones a And eftsoones
9.5 withhault a with hault
23.8 support a disport
29.4 ayd a aye
30.9 suruiue PE reuiue
42.5 adowne a a downe
Canto 12
1.6 that FE this
27.3 pittifully a pittifuH
30.6 pleasaunt a peasaunt
50.4 greene a (first issue) grenee
52.9 Or Eden selfe, if a Of Eden, if
83.7 spoyle a spoyld
BOOK III
Canto 1
Arg. 3 Matecastaes FE Materastaes
30.6 mard FE shard
31.6 and of a and bc
41.8 lightly c highly ab
47.1 wight, c wight, ab
48.9 loathly a loathy sight, a sight,
53.3 inburning a in burning
55.9 steemd. a steemd,
58.7 fethered nest, a fetherednest
60.8 wary c weary ab
Canto 2
41.2 Nor FE Not
41.5 monstrous a mostrous
42.7 alablaster a akblasted
49.6 Camphora a Camphara
Canto 3
4.7 auncestrie a auncestie
4.8 protense a pretence
21.8 dore, a dore.
22.9 Greeke a Greece
29.1 With a Where
33.3 vnknowne a vnkowne
34.6 outrage a autrage
35.1 thy a the
37.7 their a the
43.9 from of the PB from th
44.5 yeares shalbe a shalbe
44.6 shalbee, c shalbee.
46.4 outronne a ouerronne
50.9 Hee PE She looks as earst c looks ab
51.9 disguise a deuise
53.3 teach) [editorial conjecture] teach
57.5 vnweeting a vnmeeting
58.2 conueniently a conuiently
58.5 dayes a dryes
60.9 fit. c fit
62.6 part: c part
Canto 4
2.5 Penthesike a Panthesilee
6.9 to the; tot he a to the b addrest. a addres.
7.8 deuouring a deuoring
8.4 Why a Who
13.9 did into a into
15.6 speare c speares ab
l5.7 Strongly a Srongly
30.4 gamesom c gameson ab
33.4 raines a traines
41.7 there c their ab
60.4 bright, c bright?
Canto 5
5.5 A a And
6.9 where? c where, ab
8.8 of many a of a many
12.6 doubt a douht
12.8 faithfull a faithfall
13.8 strong, a strong.
31.9 light. a light,
37.6 followed a follow
38.9 forth with a forthwith
44.7 reuew a renew
Canto 6
4.4 Belphabe c Beiphtebe ab
8.8 creatures a creature
25.5 Which as c From which ab
28.3 Phoebe e Phcebe ab
28.6 thence a hence
33.3 afresh a afresh
33.5 remaine a remaire
34.2 or a of
53.4 faithfull a fathfull
Canto 7
7.8 amaze, a amaze.
The Faerie Queene Page 108
