141–7 Ficino noted that ‘seed’ or matter might be ‘not well adapted’ to the influence of the soul and so frustrate the production of physical beauty (Commentary, 6. 6). Cf. Castiglione, Courtier, 332.
141 falles: occurs, happens.
144 vnaptnesse: inaptitude.
substance: matter.
147 perform’d: made up, constituted.
152 bait… scorne: in Castiglione ‘suggestive immodesty’ is considered to be unworthy of the ‘sacred name’ of beauty (Courtier, 333).
153 sew: plead (by wooing or courtship).
155–8 ‘I shall not deny that we can find… beautiful women who are unchaste. But it is… not their beauty that makes them so’ (Castiglione, Courtier, 332).
157–8 Nothing… will: cf. CCH, 324–7.
158 corrupt: corrupted.
will: evil will (effectively evil desire).
161 things… take: cf. 1 Corinthians 15: 42, 53–4. It was generally agreed, however, that the soul could be corrupted by sin.
164 disparagements: dishonours, disgraces.
166 first countries: heaven’s. Life was traditionally regarded as a pilgrimage home. Cf. Hebrews 11 : 13–16.
167 informed: imparted or instilled.
168 shadow: in the sense of reflected image.
170 blame: fault.
171 bland: flatter, blandish.
173 defame: slander or disgrace.
179–82 light… impression: ‘a lover imprints a likeness of the loved one upon his soul, and so the soul of the lover becomes a mirror in which is reflected the image of the loved one’ (Ficino, Commentary, 2. 8). Cf. Plato, Phaedrus, 255d. Spenser’s notion is that the double reflection of two mirrors corrects the distortion that a single mirror produces and thereby reveals the lady’s true image, i.e. the image of the lady in the lover’s soul is reflected back on to the mirror of her own soul. The two ‘fires’ of love provide the light necessary for reflection. The idea owes more to witty conceit than to logical argument.
186 fountaine: source (i.e. divine beauty).
190–203 Ficino asserts that ‘likeness generates love’. Those who are born under the same star, and are therefore endowed with similar virtues, have souls which are naturally sympathetic (Commentary, 2. 8; 6. 6).
190 aduize: consider, reflect upon.
194 loosely: wantonly, promiscuously.
respect: discrimination.
198 likely: similar.
composd of: made up of, constituted by.
concent: concord, alluding to the harmonious music of the spheres and the compatibility of the lovers’ guiding planets or stars.
202–3 bowres… bee: Ficino explains that for lovers born under the same star (and therefore of similar nature) ‘the image of the more beautiful corresponds to and agrees completely with a like image formed from its very generation… in the inner part of the soul’ (Commentary, 6. 6).
204–6 twaine… ordaine: cf. Matthew 19: 5–6.
207–9 mould… loue: ‘It happens that a man loves, not always those who are most beautiful, but his own, that is, those who have a like birth [i.e. being ‘made out of one mould’ or pattern], even though they may be less beautiful than many others’ (Ficino, Commentary, 6. 6).
214–17 forme… infection: the lover ‘should contemplate beauty… in its own simplicity and purity, create it in his imagination as an abstraction distinct from any material form… and by the power of his imagination he will make [the lady’s] beauty far more lovely than it is in reality’ (Castiglione, Courtier, 338). Here, however, the ‘image’ never becomes free of the body. Cf. HL, 193–4 and note.
218 conforming: bring into accord with, or fashioning in accordance with. Cf. note to lines 202–3 above.
220 first Sunne: cf. note to line 111 above.
223 entyre: completely or sincerely.
224 mirrour: i.e. the image or reflection.
228 fantasie: imaginative faculty, but with suggestions of potential self-delusion. The lover has not transcended carnal desire.
229 setteth: locates, establishes.
232–59 For the function of ‘eyes’ generally cf. HL, 122–6 and note.
237 faire: beauty.
240 Armies of loues: amoretti or Cupids. Cf. Amor, 16. 6; Epith, 357–9.
247 conceipt: conception, but with potential connotations of ‘fancy’ and hence of self-delusion.
249 Nectar: cf. SC, November, [195].
bankets free: lavish or plentiful banquets.
250–51 lookes… words: sight and hearing were regarded as the two higher faculties ‘which have little to do with corporeal things’ (Castiglione, Courtier, 334). Cf. Amor, 39. 12–14 and note.
250 Cordials: restorative medicines, good for the heart (Latin cor).
251 embassade: on an embassy, as ambassadors.
254 Graces: cf. SC, Aprill, [109]; Amor, 40. 4; FQ, 2. 3. 25.
masking: dancing in a masque.
256 belgards: loving looks.
257 twinckling… night: cf. Chaucer, General Prologue, 267–8.
260 Cytherea: Venus, born off the Aegean island of Cythera. Cf. TM, 397 and note.
267 Iö tryumph: chanted at the triumph of Cupid in Ovid, Amores, 1. 2. 34 and serving to link the conclusion of HB to that of HL.
270 fealtie: fidelity, loyalty (specifically of vassal to lord).
272 Hymne: cf. HL, 41, 302.
273 liegeman: vassal, follower.
274 In… whereof: in return for which.
277 grace: favour, but with pseudo-theological connotations in anticipation of line 287.
279 reaued: robbed.
281 deare dread: cf. Amor, 33. 2 and note.
282 flowre of grace: but cf. HHL, 169
An Hymne of Heavenly Love
1 golden wings: cf. HL, 20, 178; HHB, 92–3 and notes. Plato asserts that ‘as soon as [the true lover] beholds the beauty of this world, he is reminded of true beauty, and his wings begin to grow, then is he fain to lift his wings and fly upward; yet he has not the power’ (Phaedrus, 249e). Remembering that ‘God is love’ (1 John 4: 8), Spenser seeks the requisite power by invoking God not Cupid, replacing the promised hymn to Venus (HB, 272) with a Christian hymn (HHL, 6).
3 admirable things: as promised by St Paul at 1 Corinthians 2: 9.
7 god… king: the Christian God, not the Cupid of HL, 305.
8–21 This is in the Petrarchan tradition of recantation, or ‘retractation’ as the dedication to FH terms it (cf. Rime Sparse, 364). Cf. HHB, 288–94.
8 lewd: combining the senses of ignorant and lascivious.
12 reproue: reject.
13 turned… string: i.e. have changed the pitch or key by turning the pegs that tune the strings of his instrument.
24 flitting: fleeting. Time is traditionally depicted with wings. Plato regarded it as ‘the moving image of eternity’ created simultaneously with the heavens (Timaeus, 37d-38b).
eyas: fledgeling, youthful (like those of an eyas, or young hawk).
25–6 mightie… space: the primum mobile, the outermost sphere which set the others in motion, was spatially divided into twenty-four ‘hours’ which were used to calculate sidereal time as the sky was perceived to rotate around the earth.
29–30 lou’d… begot: the idea originates in Plato (cf. Symposium, 206c–e; Timaeus, 28–9) but had become part of orthodox Christian theology.
31 eldest… heire: Christ was ‘the only begotten Son’ of God (John 1: 18).
34 dislike: antipathy or aversion.
36 prescribed: preordained.
38–9 third… Spright: the Holy Spirit was usually held to proceed from the reciprocal love of Father and Son by ‘spiration’ (breathing out) not generation. According to St Augustine, he ‘inflames man to the love of God and of his neighbour, and is Himself love’ (De Trinitate, 15. 17).
42 equall: adequate.
44 wisedome: the particular gift of the Holy Spirit (Ecclesiasticus 39: 6; Wisdom 7: 7; 9: 17). The passage anticip
ates the role of wisdom in HHB.
47 sweet… embrew: saturate with sweet infusion.
50 pregnant: prolific, abounding.
51 get: beget.
53 second brood: not strictly orthodox since they were created not begotten (cf. Hebrews 1: 4–8). The metaphor of pregnancy has distorted the theology.
55 increase: proliferation, multiplying.
57 heauens… hight: the empyrean heaven beyond the primum mobile.
64 trinall triplicities: Pseudo-Dionysius (long believed to be the Dionysius of Acts 17: 34) divided the angels into three hierarchies, each of which contained three orders (or choirs): (1) Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones; (2) Dominations, Virtues, Powers; (3) Principalities, Archangels, Angels. Cf. FQ, 1. 12. 39.
66–7 nimble… send: only archangels and angels officiated in this way. Cf. FQ, 2. 8. 1–2.
71–3 day… none: cf. Revelation 21: 23–5; 22: 5; HHB, 69–70.
75 termelesse: limitless. They enjoyed perpetuity rather than eternity. Cf. McCabe (1989), 133–4.
78–91 pride… fell: cf. 2 Peter 2: 4; Jude 6; Revelation 12: 7–9; 20: 2–3.
82 commission: authority.
83 Child of light: Lucifer. Cf. Isaiah 14: 12.
89 lake… fyre: cf. Revelation 21: 8.
94 Degendering: degenerating.
97 it… assure: make or think itself secure.
100 flowing: pouring.
106–19 These stanzas deftly combine biblical (cf. Genesis 1: 26–7) and Platonic material (cf. Timaeus, 28b-30a) by conflating the notion of creation in accordance with a perfect idea or ‘pattern’ with that of creation in the image of a benign God.
109 wise foresight: i.e. divine providence.
112 Endewd: endowed.
118–19 loue… bee: cf. HB, 202–3 and note.
123 dew: due.
128 meere: pure, sheer.
130 despeyred: desperate, hopeless.
133 all… extreeme: although his debt was extremely great. Cf. 1 Corinthians 6: 20; 7: 23.
134–5 bosome… syre: by contrast with HL, 61–3.
136–7 descended… attyre: cf. John 1: 14; Philippians 2: 7–8.
136 demisse: humble, base.
138 pay… hyre: cf. ‘the wages of sin is death’ (Romans 6: 23).
141–5 flesh… himselfe: cf. Romans 8: 3; 1 Corinthians 15: 21.
144 misguyde: misguided behaviour, sin.
145 slyde: slip (in the moral sense).
149 reprochfull: shameful, disgraceful.
151 despightfull shame: spiteful opprobrium.
152 Reuyling: reviling, cf. Matthew 27: 39.
that… became: that ill or vilely became them or suited them.
153 gallow: gallows.
154 the iust: Christ. Cf. Acts 5: 30–31; 7: 52.
157 entyre: complete, sincere.
164–8 bleeding… slyme: cf. ‘the blood of Jesus Christ… cleanseth us from all sin’ (1 John 1: 7). For the imagery cf. John 19: 34; Revelation 7: 14.
165 redound: spill over, overflow.
167 infected: corrupting, contaminating.
169–73 A series of invocations modelled upon the liturgical litany.
169 well of loue: cf. John 4: 14.
floure of grace: supplanting or sublimating the Venus of HB, 282.
170 Morning starre: cf. Revelation 22: 16.
lampe of light: contrast with HB, 59. Cf. 2 Samuel 22: 29.
171 image… face: cf. Hebrews 1: 3.
172 King of glorie: cf. Psalms 24: 7–10.
Lord of might: cf. Ephesians 6: 10.
173 lambe of God: cf. John 1: 29, 36.
behight: promised or ordained.
175 prize: equal in value, recompense.
176 lieu: return.
177 loue… guerdon: i.e. our love by way of reward.
180 gaine: profit, interest.
183–9 life… wrought: cf. Galatians 5: 13–14.
184 band: cursed (banned).
187 band: bond (playing on the notion of freedom and bondage).
188–99 loue… we: cf. Matthew 22: 37–9.
189 to… image: i.e. in his image.
190–91 first… gaue: cf. 1 John 4: 19.
193 second death: damnation. Cf. Revelation 21: 8.
194–5 food… sacrament: the Eucharist. Cf. John 6: 35.
196 feede: by contrast with the feeding of HL, 198, 268.
lent: gave.
197 loue… brethren: cf. John 13: 34.
199 That we: that we were made of (and by).
to… fade: as dust to dust. Cf. Genesis 3: 19.
200 heritage of land: the meagre space of earth needed for burial.
201 how… stand: however much higher we are now in social terms.
203 That we: that we were redeemed.
205–7 Commaunded… spake: cf. John 15: 17.
207 last bequest: his final will or command (before the ascension).
208 needs partake: i.e. relieve their needs by sharing our possessions.
209–10 Knowing… liue: cf. Matthew 25: 35–40.
211–17 For this doctrine of mercy cf. Luke 6: 36.
212 approue: prove.
218–24 Compare the effects of love at HL, 176–89.
218 earth: i.e. man considered as a purely physical creature. Cf. Genesis 2: 7; 1 Corinthians 15: 47.
soyle: mire or muddy bog in which boars wallow.
219 filthy swyne: cf. 2 Peter 2: 22; and ‘Grille’ at FQ, 2. 12. 86–7.
220 moyle: defile.
226 cratch: manger (‘cratch’ is used in the Geneva version of Luke 2: 7).
wad: bundle.
233 carriage: demeanour, bearing.
234 cancred: malignant, spiteful.
235 sharpe assayes: keen afflictions.
238 malist: regarded or treated with malice.
239–45 Cf. Matthew 26–7; Mark 14–15; Luke 22–3; John 18–19.
241 fell despights: cruel insults.
242 reuyld… abused: reviled. Cf. Matthew 27: 26–44; John 19: 1–35.
246 flinty hart: hardness of heart was condemned by Christ (Mark 16: 14). Cf. Amor, 51. 6; 54. 12–14 and notes.
255 meditation: in the technical sense of a contemplative exercise designed to move from the literal facts of the Gospels to their spiritual significance.
256 weale: well-being.
259 image: cf. HL, 193–4; HB, 214–17 and notes. The ‘image’ of Christ, the mind’s apprehension of his spiritual being, has eclipsed the image of physical beauty. Cf. Amor, 22. 6 and note.
267–87 Expressing the transcendental rapture of Neoplatonic ascent. Cf. Plato, Symposium, 211a–e; Castiglione, Courtier, 342.
263 fancies: imaginations. Cf. HL, 198 and note.
271 part entire: inner part. Cf. Amor, 6. 11; 85. 9 and notes.
273 amiable: lovable.
276 pure sighted: clear-sighted.
277 blaze: radiance, brilliance.
280 Blinding… spright: articulating the spiritual paradox that the flesh becomes blind so that the spirit may see. Cf. HL, 226 and note.
lumining: illuminating, enlightening.
281–7 Alluding to the highest reaches of mystical ascent wherein the mind enjoys angelic vision. Cf. Ficino, Commentary, 6. 18–19; 7. 1.
284 Idee: employing the Platonic notion of ideas to signify the relationship between the incarnate Christ and his ‘idea’, the glorified Christ. Cf. Amor, 45. 7 and note.
286 enragement: rapture, ecstasy.
An Hymne of Heavenly Beavtie
1–14 Rapt… distraughted: Plato regards this as ‘the best of all forms of divine possession’ in which the lover ‘gazes upward like a bird, and cares nothing for the world beneath’ and is commonly considered to be ‘demented’ (Phaedrus, 249d). The ineffability of mystical vision is a traditional topos. Cf. Benivieni, Canzona della Amore, 1–18.
3 images: Christian versions of the Platonic ‘ideas’.
5 high conceipted: high-minded, intellectual.
7 fold: falter.
8 almightie Spright: the Holy Spirit.
9 all guifts: among the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit were understanding, here termed ‘wit’, and wisdom. Cf. Proverbs 2:6; John 14:26; Tuve (1966), 101–2.
10–12 light… beames: cf. Matthew 5: 14–16.
11 Truth: the Holy Spirit is ‘the Spirit of truth’ at John 14: 17.
13 immortall beautie: Psalms 90: 17.
14 distraughted: distracted (by love of divine beauty).
17 feed… delight: cf. HL, 198 and note.
19 faire formes: supplanting or sublimating the ‘fairer forme’ of HL, 193.
20 zealous: fervent.
22–105 This follows the ‘ladder of ascent’ from the created to the creator which formed an essential part of contemplative devotion. Cf. TM, 499–528; Wallerstein (1950), 204–24. For the Platonic equivalent cf. Symposium, 211c–d. Spenser employs the model of the Ptolemaic universe, ascending from earth through the celestial spheres to the empyrean heaven.
23 fleshly eye: Plato regarded sight as ‘the keenest mode of perception’ (Phaedrus, 250d).
25 contemplation: ‘through just this kind of contemplation we advance to beholding Him who shines forth from within His handiwork’ (Ficino, Commentary, 5. 4).
26 Of: from.
soare faulcon: a red hawk, i.e. a hawk in its first year before it has moulted its red plumage.
27 flags: flaps feebly.
wings: cf. note to HHL, 1.
28 breath: take breath.
29 gazefull: cf. HB, 12 and note.
31 reed: perceive or discern (by ‘reading’ the ‘book’ of creation).
33 aime: conjecture.
34 respect: consideration, care.
36 Earth… pillers: cf. 1 Samuel 2: 8.
adamantine: cf. note to HL, 89.
37 Sea… bands: cf. Job 26: 10–11.
engirt: encircled.
brasen bands: unbreakable (i.e. strong as brass) bounds or defences.
38 flitting: restless, ever-moving.
39 pyles… brands: the invisible ‘element of fire’ which was supposed to surround the earth just below the sphere of the moon.
41 christall wall: for the crystalline sphere cf. TM, 506 and note.
46 his: its.
49 heauen… pure: composed of ‘ether’, the ‘quintessence’ or fifth element. Cf. Amor, 55. 9 and note.
50–56 Cf. Wisdom 13: 1–5.
52 Gods: the planetary deities were commonly identified with the ‘intelligences’ supposed to guide the spheres. Cf. TM, 509 and note.
The Shorter Poems Page 88
