706 _E. S._ 707 708 709 To all the gratious and beautifull Ladies in the Court. 710 711 _THe Chian Peincter, when he was requirde 712 To pourtraict _Venus_ in her perfect hew, 713 To make his worke more absolute, desird 714 Of all the fairest Maides to haue the vew. 715 Much more me needs to draw the semblant trew 716 Of beauties Queene, the worlds sole wonderment, 717 To sharp my sence with sundry beauties vew, 718 And steale from each some part of ornament. 719 If all the world to seeke I ouerwent, 720 A fairer crew yet no where could I see 721 Then that braue court doth to mine eie present, 722 That the worlds pride seemes gathered there to bee. 723 Of each a part I stole by cunning thefte: 724 Forgiue it me faire Dames, sith lesse ye haue not lefte_. 725 E. S. 726 727 728 708 709 To All the Gracious and Beautiful Ladies in the Court 710 711 The Chian Painter, when he was required Chian Painter > (The artist from Chios (Scio), in the Aegean, who built a composite image of beauty from various sitters) 712 To portray Venus in her perfect hue, Venus > (Goddess of love and beauty) hue > colours, appearance 713 To make his work more absolute, desired 714 Of all the fairest maids to have the view. 715 Much more me needs to draw the semblance true me needs > [do I need] 716 Of beauty's Queen, the world's sole wonderment, 717 To sharpen my sense with sundry beauties' view, 718 And steal from each some part of ornament. 719 If all the world to seek I overwent, 720 A fairer crew yet nowhere could I see 721 Than that brave court does to my eye present, that > [that which that] brave > splendid 722 That the world's pride seems gathered there to be. That > [Such that] 723 Of each a part I stole by cunning theft: 724 Forgive it me, fair dames, sith less you have not left. sith > since 725 _E. S._ 726 727 728 729 FINIS. 729 THE END THE END > (These verses, and the letter to Raleigh, were originally placed at the end of Volume I) => THE FIRST 2 BOOKE OF THE FAERIE QVEENE. 4 _Contayning_ THE LEGENDE OF THE 6 KNIGHT OF THE RED CROSSE, _OR_ 8 OF HOLINESSE. 1 THE FIRST 2 BOOK OF _THE 3 FAERY QUEEN_ 4 Containing 5 THE LEGEND OF THE 6 KNIGHT OF THE RED CROSS 7 or 8 OF HOLINESS 100.1