ld to seek I overwent,
720 A fairer crew yet nowhere could I see
721 Than that brave court does to my eye present,

that > [that which that]
brave > splendid

722 That the world's pride seems gathered there to be.

That > [Such that]

723 Of each a part I stole by cunning theft:
724 Forgive it me, fair dames, sith less you have not left.

sith > since

725 _E. S._
726
727
728
729 FINIS.
729 THE END

THE END > (These verses, and the letter to Raleigh, were originally
placed at the end of Volume I)

=>
THE FIRST
2 BOOKE OF THE
FAERIE QVEENE.
4 _Contayning_
THE LEGENDE OF THE
6 KNIGHT OF THE RED CROSSE,
_OR_
8 OF HOLINESSE.

1 THE FIRST
2 BOOK OF _THE
3 FAERY QUEEN_
4 Containing
5 THE LEGEND OF THE
6 KNIGHT OF THE RED CROSS
7 or
8 OF HOLINESS

100.1

LO I the man, whose Muse whilome did maske,
2 As time her +taught+ in lowly Shepheards weeds,
Am now enforst a far vnfitter taske,
4 For trumpets sterne to chaunge mine Oaten reeds,
And sing of Knights and Ladies gentle deeds;
6 Whose prayses hauing slept in silence long,
Me, all too meane, the sacred Muse areeds
8 To blazon +broad emongst+ her learned throng:
Fierce warres and faithfull loues shall moralize my song.

2 taught > taught, _1590, 1609_
8 broad emongst > 'broad, amongst _1609_

1 Lo I, the man whose Muse whilom did mask,

Muse > (The nine Muses are usually represented as the daughters of
Jupiter and Mnemosyne (Memory); each goddess presides over an
area of the arts and sciences and gives inspiration to its
practitioners)
whilom > formerly
mask > {Disguise [herself]; take part in a masque or masquerade}

2 As time her taught, in lowly shepherd's weeds,

time > [her] term of apprenticeship
shepherd > (Spenser's _The Shepheardes Calender_, a work of pastoral
poetry, was published in 1579)
weeds > clothes, garb

3 Am now enforced, a far un