Edmund Spenser Quotes

The merry cuckow, messenger of Spring, His trumpet shrill hath thrice already sounded.

Gather the rose of love whilst yet is time.

She bathed with roses red, And violets blew. And all the sweetest flowres That in the forrest grew.

So let us love, dear Love, like as we ought; Love is the lesson which the Lord us taught.

I was promised on a time To have reason for my rhyme; From that time unto this season, I received nor rhyme nor reason.

Thankfulness is the tune of angels.

All for love, and nothing for reward.

Be bold, and everywhere be bold.

For there is nothing lost, that may be found, if sought.

Men, when their actions succeed not as they would, are always ready to impute the blame thereof to heaven, so as to excuse their own follies.

For whatsoever from one place doth fall, Is with the tide unto an other brought: For there is nothing lost, that may be found, if sought.

Such is the power of love in gentle mind, That it can alter all the course of kind.

I hate the day, because it lendeth light To see all things, but not my love to see.

Her angel's face, As the great eye of heaven shined bright, And made a sunshine in the shady place.

And he that strives to touch the stars Oft stumbles at a straw.

Sluggish idleness--the nurse of sin.

The noblest mind the best contentment has

For deeds to die, however nobly done, And thoughts of men to as themselves decay, But wise words taught in numbers for to run, Recorded by the Muses, live for ay.

But times do change and move continually.

And thus of all my harvest-hope I have Nought reaped but a weedye crop of care.

Together linkt with adamantine chains.

All that in this delightful garden grows should happy be and have immortal bliss.

So much more profitable and gracious is doctrine by example than by rule.

Ill can he rule the great that cannot reach the small.

I trow that countenance cannot lie,Whose thoughts are legible in the eie.

Laws ought to be fashioned unto the manners and conditions of the people whom they are meant to benefit, and not imposed upon them according to the simple rule of right.

Gather therefore the Rose, whilst yet is prime, For soon comes age, that will her pride deflower: Gather the Rose of love, whilst yet is time.

So Orpheus did for his owne bride, So I unto my selfe alone will sing, The woods shall to me answer and my Eccho ring.

Through knowledge we behold the world's creation, How in his cradle first he fostered was; And judge of Nature's cunning operation, How things she formed of a formless mass.

No daintie flowre or herbe that growes on grownd, No arborett with painted blossoms drest And smelling sweete, but there it might be fownd To bud out faire, and throwe her sweete smels al arownd.

Hard it is to teach the old horse to amble anew.

Those that were up themselves, kept others low; Those that were low themselves, held others hard; He suffered them to ryse or greater grow; But every one did strive his fellow down to throw.

Vaine is the vaunt, and victory unjust, that more to mighty hands, then rightfull cause doth trust.

Rising glory occasions the greatest envy, as kindling fire the greatest smoke.

Nothing under heaven so strongly doth allure the sense of man, and all his mind possess, as beauty's love.

Ah! when will this long weary day have end, And lende me leave to come unto my love? - Epithalamion

For if good were not praised more than ill, None would chuse goodness of his own free will.

All love is sweet Given or returned And its familiar voice wearies not ever.

Foul jealousy! that turnest love divine to joyless dread, and makest the loving heart with hateful thoughts to languish and to pine.

There is no disputing about taste.

Ill seemes (sayd he) if he so valiant be, That he should be so sterne to stranger wight; For seldom yet did living creature see That courtesie and manhood ever disagree.

The poets scrolls will outlive the monuments of stone. Genius survives; all else is claimed by death.

Bright as does the morning star appear, Out of the east with flaming locks bedight, To tell the dawning day is drawing near.

Pour out the wine without restraint or stay, Pour not by cups, but by the bellyful, Pour out to all that wull.

For next to Death is Sleepe to be compared; Therefore his house is unto his annext: Here Sleepe, ther Richesse, and hel-gate them both betwext.

How many perils doe enfold The righteous man to make him daily fall.

Discord oft in music makes the sweeter lay.

What more felicity can fall to creature, than to enjoy delight with liberty?

In vain he seeketh others to suppress, Who hath not learn'd himself first to subdue.

Man's wretched state, That floures so fresh at morne, and fades at evening late.