[274] Paradiso, XI. 4-12 Spenser was familiar with the "Divina
Commedia," though I do not remember that his commentators have
pointed out his chief obligations to it.
[275] His own words as reported by Lodowick Bryskett. (Todd's
Spenser, I. lx.) The whole passage is very interesting as giving us
the only glimpse we get of the living Spenser in actual contact with
his fellow-men. It shows him to us, as we could wish to see him,
surrounded with loving respect, companionable and helpful. Bryskett
tells us that he was "perfect in the Greek tongue," and "also very
well read in philosophy both moral and natural." He encouraged
Bryskett in the study of Greek, and offered to help him in it.
Comparing the last verse of the above citation of the "Faery Queen"
with other passages in Spenser, I cannot help thinking that he wrote,
"do not love amiss."
[276]
"And know, sweet prince, when you shall come to know,
That 'tis not in the power of kings to raise
A spirit for verse that is not born thereto;
Nor are they born in every prince's days"
_Daniel's Dedic Trag. of "Philotas."_
[277] Louis XIV. is commonly supposed in some miraculous way to have
created French literature.
Pages:
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278