Page:A View of the State of Ireland - 1809.djvu/14

THE PREFACE. & bonis spoliatus. He deceased at Westminsterin the yeare 1599. (others have it wrongly 1598.) soone after his returne into England, and was buried according to his owne desire, in the collegiat Church there, neere unto Chaucer, whom he worthily imitated, (at the costes of Robert Earle of Essex,') whereupon this Epitaph was framed,

Hic prope Chaucerum situs est Spenserius, illi proximus ingenio, proximus ut tumulo. Hic prope Chaucerum Spensere poeta poetam conderis, & versu quàm tumulo propior. Anglica te vivo vixit plausitq poesis, nunc moritura timet te moriente mori.

As for his worke now published, although it sufficiently testifieth his learning and deepe judgement, yet we may wish that in some passages it had bin tempered with more moderation. The troubles and miseries of the time when he wrote it, doe partly excuse him, And surely wee may conceive, that if hee had lived to see these times, and the good effects which the last 30 yeares peace have produced in this