EDMUND SPENSER.

As a contributor to the RHAPSODY, the immortal SPENSER claims a place in these biographical sketches; but, like Raleigh and Sydney, his name is too generally known by the world, to justify any other account of him than a slight abstract of the principal events of his life.

Spenser is said to have been born in East Smithfield, London, about the year 1553. His pedigree is unknown, for though he claimed to be related to the ancient family of his name in Northamptonshire, the connexion has never been ascertained. He was educated at Pembroke Hall, Cambridge."

1573. January. Took his degree of A. B.

1578.

1579. 1580.

Proceeded M. A., and retired to the North, in consequence of being disappointed of a Fellowship.

About this period he became enamoured of his
Rosalind, and is presumed to have written
his SHEPHERD'S CALENDAR, and which
obtained the patronage of Sir Philip Sydney,
to whom it was dedicated.

Was sent abroad by the Earl of Leicester.
Became Secretary to Arthur Lord Grey of
Wilton, on that nobleman being appointed
Lord Deputy of Ireland.

Sir Egerton Brydges's edition of Philips's Theatrum Poe

larum.

1582.

Returned to England on Lord Grey being recalled; and is presumed from this time to 1586, to have been employed in the composition of the FAERIE QUEENE.

1586. June 27. Obtained a grant of 3000 acres in the county of Cork, in Ireland, part of the estate forfeited by the Earl of Desmond.

1587.

1588.

Took possession of his estate in Ireland, and seated himself at Kilcolman, near the river Mulla, where he continued until visited by Sir Walter Raleigh, when he was persuaded by him to prepare the three first books of the FAERIE QUEENE for publication. Accompanied Raleigh to London.

1590. January. The three first books of the FAERIE QUEENE appeared in 4to. About this period he mar

ried, and appears to have returned to Ireland, where he composed three additional books of the FAERIE QUEENE, and other Poems.

1591. February. Obtained a pension of 50l. a year from the

1595.

1596.

1597.

Queen.

Published his Colin Clout come Home again. He wrote A View of the State of Ireland; and in this year the fourth, fifth, and sixth books of the FAERIE QUEENE appeared, when he is presumed to have again come to London.

In this year Spenser has been supposed to have closed his mortal career, in Ireland; though Camden states, that being obliged to return to England in 1598, in consequence of Tyrone's rebellion, when his fortune was plundered, he died either in that or the fol

lowing year. His decease, it has been recently stated, occurred in London on the 16th of January, 1598-9. He was buried in Westminster Abbey, at the expense of the Earl of Essex. In the rebellion alluded to, Ben Jonson asserts that Spenser's goods were robbed; his house and little child burnt; that he and his wife narrowly escaped a similar fate; and that he refused twenty pieces sent him by the Earl of Essex, and gave this answer to the person who brought them-" That he was sure he had no time to spend them." Spenser is related to have left two sons, Sylvanus and Peregrine; and in the reign of Charles II., Hugolin Spenser, a great grandson of the poet, is recorded to have been restored to part of his father's lands.

Dr. Birch cites the following lines from Parnassus, or the Scourge of Simony, publiquely acted by the Students in St. John's College in Cambridge, printed in 1606, as evidence that Spenser died in a very destitute condition. After eulogizing the poet, it is observed, "And yet for all, this unregarding soil Unlac't the line of his desired life,

Denying maintenance for his deare reliefe,
Careless care to prevent his exequy,

Scarce deigning to shut up his dying eye."

Such are the only facts known of a man whose works will be coeval with the language in which they are

* Memoirs of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth.

written; and however much it is to be regretted that more minute particulars of his life and character have not been preserved, it is at least consoling to his admirer to reflect, that of all who have adorned the literature of their country, or who are identified with its fame, in none can the loss alluded to be, of less importance; for the mighty genius of Spenser was alone sufficient to render his name imperishable.

The only article from his pen which was introduced into the RHAPSODY, is an elegy entitled Love's Embassy, which will be found in p. 290.

JOSHUA SYLVESTER.

THE biography of this individual, who was known by the name of "silver-tongued Sylvester," and who is described by Sir Egerton Brydges as the most popular writer of King James's reign, is extremely scanty. He was educated by his uncle W. Plumb, Esq. and is said to have been a merchant adventurer.

Distinguished alike by his moral conduct, his piety, his patience in adversity, his talents, and his acquirements, he obtained the respect of Queen Elizabeth, of James the First, and of the amiable Henry Prince of Wales. In 1597 he was a candidate for the situation of secretary to the merchant adventurers of Stode; and the Earl of Essex in that year wrote two letters, the one of a private nature to Mr. Ferrars, the Deputy Governor, and the other a public one to the Company, strongly recommending him for the appointment ;† but whether the application was successful has not been ascertained.

Sylvester's chief production was a translation of Du Bartas' Poem on the Creation, ‡ to which some of

Preface to the Lee Priory edition of the Rhapsody, p. 70. + Birch's Memoirs of Queen Elizabeth, vol. ii. page 341.

This poem went through thirty-eight editions in five years, and was translated into Latin, English, German, Spanish, and Italian. Lee Priory edit. of the Rhapsody, p. 72.