His song was all a lamentable lay Of great unkindnesse and of usage hard, Of Cynthia the ladie of the sea, Which from her presence faultlesse him debard, And ever and anon, with singults rife, He cryed out, to make his undersong: Ah! my loves queene and goddesse of my life, Who shall me pittie when thou doest me wrong? After they had made an end of singing, the shepherd of the ocean Gan to cast great lyking to my lore, And great dislyking to my lucklesse lot That banisht had my selfe, like wight forlore, Into that waste where I was quite forgot, and presently persuaded him to accompany him 'his Cinthia to see.' It has been seen from one of Harvey's letters that the _Faerie Queene_ was already begun in 1580; and from what Bryskett says, and what Spenser says himself in his sonnets to Lord Grey, and to Lord Ormond, that it was proceeded with after the poet had passed over to Ireland. By the close of the year 1589 at least three books were completely finished. Probably enough parts of other books had been written; but only three were entirely ready for publication. No doubt part of the conversation that passed between Spenser and Raleigh· related to Spenser's work. It may be believed that what was finished was submitted to Raleigh's judgment, and certainly concluded that it elicited his warmest approval.{8} One great object that Spenser proposed to himself when he assented to Raleigh's persuasion to visit England, was the publication of the first three books of his _Faerie Queene_. Footnotes --------- {1} One might quote of these poets, and those of a like spirit, Wordsworth's lines on 'the Characteristics of a Child three years old,' for in the respect therein mentioned, as in others, these poets are 'as little children:' As a faggot sparkles on the hearth, Not less if unattended and alone, Than when both young and old sit gathered round, And take delight in its activity; _Even so this happy creature of herself Is all-sufficient; Solitude to her Is blithe society, who fills the air With gladness and involuntary songs.