by some mending it may
receiue in the perusing, as all writings else may do by the
often examination of the same. Neither let it trouble him that
I so turne ouer to him againe the taske he wold haue put me
to; for it falleth out fit for him to verifie the principall
of all this Apologie, euen now made for himselfe; because
thereby it will appeare that he hath not withdrawne himselfe
from seruice of the state to liue idle or wholly priuate to
himselfe, but hath spent some time in doing that which may
greatly benefit others, and hath serued not a little to the
bettering of his owne mind, and increasing of his knowledge;
though he for modesty pretend much ignorance, and pleade want
in wealth, much like some rich beggars, who either of custom,
or for couetousnes, go to begge of others those things whereof
they haue no want at home.

With this answer of _M. Spensers_ it seemed that all the
company were wel satisfied, for after some few speeches
whereby they had shewed an extreme longing after his worke of
the _Fairie Queene_, _whereof some parcels had been by some of
them seene_, they all began to presse me to produce my
translation mentioned by _M. Spenser_ that it might be perused
among them; or else that I should (as near as I could) deliuer
unto them the contents of the same, supposing that my memory
would not much faile me in a thing so studied and advisedly
set downe in writing as a translation must be."

A poet at this time still had to justify his employment by presenting
himself in the character of a professed teacher of morality, with a
purpose as definite and formal, though with a different method, as the
preacher in the pulpit. Even with this profession, he had to encounter
many prejudices, and men of gravity and wisdom shook their heads at what
they thought his idle trifling. But if he wished to be counted
respectable, and to separate himself from the crowd of foolish or
licentious rimers, he must intend distinctly, not merely to interest,
but to instruct, by his new and deep conceits. It was under the
influence of this persuasion that Spenser laid down the plan of the
_Faery Queen_. It was, so he proposed to himself, to be a work on moral,
and if time were given him, political philosophy, composed with as
serious a didactic aim, as any treatise or sermon in prose. He deems it
necessary to e