'For the Poet thrusteth into the midst, even where it most concerneth him, and then recoursing to the things fore-past, and _divining of things to come_, he maketh a pleasing _analysis_ of ALL.' And it so happened that his Prince Arthur had dreamed the poet's dream, the hero's dream, the philosopher's dream, the dream that was dreamed of old under the Olive shades, the dream that all our Poets and inspired anticipators of man's perfection and felicity have always been dreaming; but this one '_awakening_,' determined that it should be a dream no longer. It was the hour in which the genius of antiquity was reviving; it was the hour in which the poetic inspiration of all the ages was reviving, and _arming_ itself with the knowledge of 'things not dreamt of' by old reformers--that knowledge of nature which is _power_, which is the true _magic_. For this new Poet had seen in a vision that same 'excellent beauty' which 'the divine' ones saw of old, and 'the New Atlantis,' the celestial vision of _her_ kingdom; and being also 'ravished with that excellence, and _awakening_, he determined to _seek her out_. And so being by _Merlin armed_, and by _Timon thoroughly instructed_, he went forth to seek her in _Fairy Land_.' There was a little band of heroes in that age, a little band of philosophers and poets, secretly bent on that same adventure, sworn to the service of that same Gloriana, though they were fain to wear then the scarf and the device of another Queen on _their_ armour. It is to the prince of this little band--'the prince and mirror of all chivalry'--that this Poet dedicates his poem. But it is Raleigh's device which he adopts in the names he uses, and it is Raleigh who thus shares with Sydney the honour of his dedication. 'In that Faery Queene, I mean,' he says, in his prose description of the Poem addressed to Raleigh, 'in that Faery Queene, I mean Glory in my general intention; but, in my particular, I conceive the most glorious person of our sovereign the Queen, and _her_ kingdom--in _Fairy Land_. 'And yet, in some places, I do otherwise shadow her. For considering she beareth _two persons, one_ of a most Royal _Queen_ or _Empress_, the other of a most VIRTUOUS and BEAUTIFUL lady--the _latter part_ I do express in BEL-PHEBE, fashioning her name according to your own _most excellent conceit_ of "_Cynthia_," Phebe and Cynthia being both names of _Diana_.' And thus he sings his poetic dedication:--