Where "this delightful land of Faery" lies, it were as idle to seek as for Oberon's realm of Mommur, the island of Calypso, or the kingdom of Lilliput. Though it shadow forth England, it is distinct from it; for Cleopolis excels Troynovant in greatness and splendour, and Elfin, the first Fairy king, ruled over India and America. To the curious the poet says, Of Faery-lond yet if he more inquire, By certain signes here sett in sondrie place, He may it fynd, ne let him then admyre, But yield his sence to be too blunt and bace, That no'te without an hound fine footing trace. The idea of making a queen sole regnante of Fairy-land was the necessary result of the plan of making "the fayrest princesse under sky" view her "owne realmes in lond of faery." Yet there may have been sage authority for this settlement of the fairy throne. Some old romancers may have spoken only of a queen; and the gallant Sir Thopas does not seem to apprehend that he is in pursuit of the wedded wife of another. This doughty champion's dream was evidently the original of Arthur's. Forwearied with my sportes, I did alight From loftie steede, and downe to sleepe me layd; The verdant grass my couch did goodly dight, And pillow was my helmett fayre displayd; Whiles every sence the humour sweet embayd, Me seemed by my side a royall mayd Her dainty limbes full softly down did lay, So faire a creature yet saw never sunny day. Most goodly glee and lovely blandishment She to me made, and badd me love her deare, For dearly, sure, her love was to me bent, As, when iust time expired, should appeare: But whether dreames delude, or true it were, Was never hart so ravisht with delight, Ne living man such wordes did never heare As she to me delivered all that night, And at her parting said, she queen of Faries hight. * * * * * From that day forth I cast in carefull mynd To seek her out with labor and long tyne, And never vow to rest till her I fynd-- Nyne months I seek in vain, yet n'ill that vow unbynd, B. i. c. 9. st. xiii., xiv., xv. The names given by Spenser to these beings are Fays (_Feés_), Farys or Fairies, Elfes and Elfins, of which last words the former had been already employed by Chaucer, and in one passage it is difficult to say what class of beings is intended. Spenser's account of the origin of his Fairies is evidently mere invention, as nothing in the least resembling it is to be found in any preceding writer. It bears, indeed, some slight and distant analogy to that of the origin of the inhabitants of Jinnestân, as narrated by the Orientals. According to the usual practice of Spenser, it is mixed up with the fables of antiquity.