Faery Queene Volume 2 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1899 edition. Excerpt: ...note.) It is worthy of remark that whereas Spenser set out with declaring that he would display 'the twelve private morall vertues, as Aristotle hath devised; the which is the purpose of these first twelve bookes, ' we soon find that he wanders very far from the Aristotelian series. The first Book pourtrays Holiness, the second Temperance. But the first is really the triumph of Faith and Truth, and is far more intellectual and spiritual than moral; while the second covers almost the whole ground of the Aristotelian moral virtues. 2. one syre by mothers three;--connected, yet very different. An allusion to the theory laid out by Plato, Rep. Bk. 4. p. 439, and Bk. 9. p. 580. The three mothers will be koyiOriKf), im0vfirjrtK)i, and Sv/jijtikt), the reasonable, the appetitive, the passionate or high-spirited elements of our nature: the 'one syre' is probably the human reason (6yoi). 4. in equall fee;--with equal right of holding or tenure. 'To hold in fee is a feudal term, meaning 10 hold upon the tenure of a feud (Jee-od, fee-good, that is, property held in fee). Ste Glossary, Fee. 6. in partes;--a Latinism, in partes, ' i. e. on different sides or parties. 14, 5, soher;--an adverb in this place (=soberly), 'sober sad' balancing comely courteous.' 15, 6. Above the reason, &c.;--'ultra rationem'--beyond the proportion one would have expected from so young a person. 17, 2. Sir Huddibras;--i. e. rashness, the Greek Bvjibs, or Spaairnt its development. There is also in him the element of morose joylessness, which makes one think that Spenser intended to shadow forth the Puritans, who were already a strong party. It will be remembered that Samuel Butler gives this name to the hero of his burlesque on Puritanism. 18,1. Sans-loy;--unbridled...