lady, presently took on him
196 that adventure. But being unable to perform it by reason of
197 the hard enchantments, after long sorrow, in the end met
198 with Britomartis, who succoured him, and rescued his love.
199 But by occasion hereof, many other adventures are
200 intermeddled, but rather as accidents than intendments. As

intermeddled > mixed in
intendments > intentions (i.e. episodes which have an intentional
bearing on the allegory)
As > [For example,]

201 the love of Britomart, the overthrow of Marinell, the misery
202 of Florimell, the virtuousness of Belphoebe, the
203 lasciviousness of Hellenore, and many the like.
204 Thus much, sir, I have briefly overrun to direct your
205 understanding to the well-head of the history, that from

well-head > source
history > story
that > [so that]

206 thence, gathering the whole intention of the conceit, you may,

conceit > conception, idea, scheme

207 as in a handful, grip all the discourse, which otherwise may

grip > grasp, understand

208 haply seem tedious and confused. So, humbly craving the

haply > perhaps

209 continuance of your honourable favour towards me, and the
210 eternal establishment of your happiness, I humbly take leave.
211 23 January, 1590

1590 > (New Style: before the Gregorian calendar was adopted in
England and Scotland in 1751, the new year began not on 1 January
but on 25 March)

212
213 Yours most humbly affectionate,
214 _Edmund Spenser_
215
216
217
218
219
220 A Vision vpon this conceipt of the
221 _Faery Queene_.
222
223 ME thought I saw the graue, where _Laura_ lay,
224 Within that Temple, where the vestall flame
225 Was wont to burne, and passing by that way,
226 To see that buried dust of liuing fame,
227 Whose tombe faire loue, and fairer vertue kept,
228 All suddenly I saw the Faery Queene:
229 At whose approch the soule of _Petrarke_ wept,
230 And from thenceforth those graces were not seene.
231 For they this Queene attended, in whose steed
232 Obliuion laid him downe on _Lauras_ herse:
233 Hereat the hardest stones were seene to bleed,
234 And grones of buried ghostes the heauens did perse.
23