THE

CLASS BOOK OF POETRY.

LONDON:

PUBLISHED BY THE NATIONAL SOCIETY,

AND SOLD AT THE

DEPOSITORY, SANCTUARY, WESTMINSTER.

1852.

280.5.91.

LONDON:

PRINTED BY LEVEY, ROBSON, AND FRANKLYN, Great New Street, Fetter Lane.

THE

CLASS-BOOK OF POETRY.

EDMUND SPENSER.

Born A.D. 1553, died A.D. 1598.

From the "Faerie Queene."

Ambition.

A ROUTE of people there assembled were,
Of every sort and nation under skye,
Which with great uprore preaced1 to draw nere
To th' upper part, where was advaunced hye
A stately siege of soveraine maiestye;
And thereon satt a woman gorgeous gay,
And richly cladd in robes of royaltye,
That never earthly prince in such array
His glory did enhaunce, and pompous pryde display.

Her face right wondrous faire did seeme to bee,
That her broad beauties beam great brightnes threw
Through the dim shade, that all men might it see;
Yet was not that same her owne native hew,
But wrought by art and counterfetted shew,
Thereby more lovers unto her to call:
Nath'lesse2 most hevenly faire in deed and vew
She by creation was, till she did fall;

Thenceforth she sought for helps to cloke her crime withall.

I pressed.

2 nevertheless.