t to us. We have but a fragment more, the last fragment of his
poetry. It expresses the great commonplace which so impressed itself on
the men of that time, and of which his works are full. No words could be
more appropriate to be the last words of one who was so soon to be in
his own person such an instance of their truth. They are fit closing
words to mark his tragic and pathetic disappearance from the high and
animated scene in which his imagination worked. And they record, too,
the yearning hope of rest not extinguished by terrible and fatal
disaster:--

When I bethinke me on that speech whyleare
Of Mutabilitie, and well it way,
Me seemes, that though she all unworthy 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 love 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.

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
Upon the pillours of Eternity,
That is contrayr to Mutabilitie;
For all that moveth doth in Change delight:
But thence-forth all shall rest eternally
With Him that is the God of Sabaoth hight:
O! that great Sabaoth God, grant me that Sabaoths sight.

THE END.

FOOTNOTES:

[166:1] Who is _Edmondus Spenser, Prebendary of Effin_ (Elphin)? in a
list of arrears of first fruits; Calendar of State Papers, _Ireland_,
Dec. 8, 1586, p. 222. Church preferments were under special
circumstances allowed to be held by laymen. See the Queen's
"Instructions," 1579; in Preface to Calendar of Carew MSS. 1589-1600, p.
ci.

[168:2] "In these kind of historical allusions Spenser usually perplexes
the subject: he leads you on, and then designedly misleads you."--Upton,
quoted by Craik, iii. 92.

[177:3] I am indebted for this reference to Mr. Hans Claude Hamilton.
See also his Preface to Calendar of Irish Papers, 1574-85, p. lxxvi.

LONDON:
GILBERT AND RIVINGTON, PRINTERS,
ST. JOHN'S SQUARE.

ENGLISH MEN OF LETTERS.

EDITED BY JOHN MORLEY.

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to stirring and satisfying an inte