Page:An English Garner Ingatherings from Our History and Literature (Volume 1 1877).pdf/255

 [EDMUND SPENSER, the Countess of PEMBROKE]

ASTROPHEL.

[COLIN CLOUT's &c.]

This Collection of Elegies must be regarded as a literary monument raised by the family and friends of Sir PHILIP SIDNEY to his perpetual remembrance and fame. Our main purpose in inserting it, is on account of the information it affords in regard to the relations between Sir PHILIP and his only love; which he has himself immortalized in his Sonnets entitled ASTROPHEL and STELLA: which constitute the gem of this First Volume, and will be found at pages 467-600.

The Elegies, with much poetic setting, comprise three biographies of him; by E. SPENSER at pages 252-255, by M. ROYDON at pages 284-287, and by an anonymous writer at pages 292-293: together with analyses or summaries of his life and character from other pens.

We would simply note here their testimony to SIDNEY'S own self: merely pointing out, in passing, how appropriately his sister under the name of CLORINDA, makes no allusion to STELLA. Her praises are sung only by the stronger sex.

Note SPENSER'S remark of him—

In one thing only failing of the best; That he was not so happy as the rest.

And then his further testimony to his personal attractiveness—

He grew up fast in goodness and in grace; And doubly fair wox both in mind and face. Which daily more and more he did augment With gentle usage and demeanour mild; That all men's hearts with secret ravishment He stole away.