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xxvi INTRODUCTION
dialogue, it casts a vivid light upon the character of the society into
which Spenser was thrown, and upon the part he played in it
' Yet is there a gentleman in this company,' says Bryskett, * whom I have
had often a purpose to intreate, that as his liesure might serue him, he would
vouchsafe to spend some time with me to instruct me in some hard points
which I cannot of myselfe understand, knowing him to be not onely perfect
in the Greek tongue, but also very well read in Philosophic, both morall and
naturall Neuertheless such is my bashfulnes, as I neuer yet durst open my
mouth to disclose this my desire unto him, though I have not wanted some
hartning thereunto from himselfe Tor of loue and kindnes to me, he encouraged
me long sithens to follow the reading of the Greeke tongue, and offered me his
helpe to make me understand it. But now that so good an oportunitie 13
offered vnto me, to satisfie in some sort my desire, I thinke I should commit
a great fault, not to myselfe alone, but to all this company, if I should not
enter my request thus farre, as to moue him to spend this time which we have
now destined to familiar discourse and conuersation, in declaring unto us the
great benefits which men obtame by the knowledge of Morall Philosophic, and
in making us to know what the same is, what be the parts thereof, whereby
vertues are to be distinguished from vices , and finally that he will be pleased
to run ouer in such order as he shall thinke good, such and so many principles
and rules thereof, as shall serue not only for my better instruction, but also
for the contentment and satisfaction of you al For I nothing doubt, but that
every one of you will be glad to heare so profitable a discourse and thinke
the time very wel spent wher in so excellent a knowledge shal be reuealed unto
you, from which euery one may be assured to gather some fruit is wel as myselfe
Therefore (said I) turning myselfe to M Spenser, It is you sir, to whom it pertameth
to shew yourselfe courteous now unto us all and to make us all beholding
unto you for the pleasure and profit which we shall gather from your speeches,
if you shall vouchsafe to open unto us the goodly cabinet, in which this excellent
treasure of vertues lieth locked up from the vulgar sort And thereof in the
behalfe of all as for myselfe, I do most earnestly intreate you not to say us nay
unto which wordes of mine euery man applauding most with like words of
request and the rest with gesture and countenances expressing as much,
M Spenser answered in this manner Though it may seeme hard for me, to
refuse the request made by you all, whom euery one alone, I should for many
respects be willing to gratifie, yet as the case standeth, I doubt not but with
the consent of the most part of you, I shall be excused at this time of this taske
which would be laid upon me, for sure I am, that it is not unknowne unto you,
that I haue alreedy undertaken a work tending to the same effect, which is in
heroical verse under the title of a Faerie Queene to represent all the moral vertues,
assigning to euery vertue a Knight to be the patron and defender of the same,
in whose actions and feates of arms and chiualry the operations of that vertue
whereof he is the protector, are to be expressed, and the vices and unruly
appetites that oppose themselves against the same, to be beaten down and
ouercome Which work, as I haue already well entred into, if God shall please
to spare me life that I may finish it according to my mind, your wish {M Bryskett)
will be in some sort accomplished, though perhaps not so effectually as you
could desire And the same may very well serue for my excuse, if at this time
I craue to be forborne in this your request, since any discourse, that I might
make thus on the sudden in such a subject would be but simple, and little to
your satisfactions For it would require good aduisement and premeditation