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. 235 Where _Homers_ spright did tremble all for griefe, 236 And curst th'accesse of that celestiall theife. 237 216 217 218 COMMENDATORY VERSES 219 220 _A vision upon this conceit of the conceit > conception 221 Faery Queen_ 222 223 I thought I saw the grave where Laura lay, Laura > (Immortalized by Petrarch in his odes and sonnets, _To Laura_) 224 Within that temple where the Vestal flame Vestal flame > (The sacred fire brought by Aeneas from Troy; it was kept burning by the Vestals, virgin priestesses officiating at the temple at Rome dedicated to Vesta, goddess of the hearth and domestic life. If the flame went out, it was believed that the state would fall) 225 Was wont to burn; and, passing by that way wont > accustomed 226 To see that buried dust of living fame, 227 Whose tomb fair love, and fairer virtue kept, 228 All suddenly I saw the Faery Queen: 229 At whose approach the soul of Petrarch wept, Petrarch > (Francesco Petrarch, 1304-74, Italian poet and scholar) 230 And from thenceforth those graces were not seen. those graces > [the Vestals] 231 For they this queen attended, in whose stead stead > place 232 Oblivion laid him down on Laura's hearse: hearse > bier, coffin; tomb 233 Hereat the hardest stones were seen to bleed, Hereat > At this; as a result of this 234 And groans of buried ghosts the heavens did pierce, ghosts > spirits 235 Where Homer's spirit did tremble all for grief, 236 And cursed the access of that celestial thief. access > coming