semper cum
paupertate conflictatus est_, saith the reverend _Cambden_; so that it
fared little better with him, (than with _Churchyard_ or _Tusser_
before him) or with _William Xiliander_ the _German_, (a most excellent
Linguist, Antiquary, Philosopher, and Mathematician) who was so poor,
that (as _Thuanus_ writes) he was thought, _Fami non famae scribere_.

Thriving so bad in that boggy Country, to add to his misery, he was
robb'd by the Rebels of that little he had left; whereupon, in great
grief, he returns into _England_, and falling into want, which to a
noble spirit is most killing, being heartbroken, he died _Anno_ 1598.
and was honourably buried at the sole charge of _Robert_, first of that
name Earl of _Essex_, on whose Monument is written this Epitaph.

Edmundus Spencer, _Londinensis, Anglicorum Poetarum nostri seculi
fuit Princeps, quod ejus Poemata, faventibus Musis, & victuro genio
conscripta comprobant. Obiit immatura morte, Anno salutis_,
1598. _& prope_ Galfredum Chaucerum _conditur, qui
scoelisissime Poesin Anglicis literis primus illustravit. In quem
haec scripta sunt Epitaphia._

_Hic prope_ Chaucerum _situs est_ Spenserius, _illi
Proximus ingenio, proximus ut tumulo.
Hic prope_ Chaucerum Spensere _poeta poetam
Conderis, & versu! quam tumulo proprior,
Anglica te vivo vixit, plausitque Poesis;
Nunc moritura timet, te moriente, mori_.

These two last lines, for the worthiness of the Poet, are thus
translated by Dr. _Fuller_.

Whilest thou didst live, liv'd English Poetry,
Which fears, now thou art dead, that she shall die.

A modern Author writes, that the Lord _Cecil_ owed Mr. _Spenser_ a
grudge for some Reflections of his in _Mother Hubbard's Tale_, and
therefore when the Queen had order'd him that Money, the Lord Treasurer
said, What all this for a Song? And this he is said to have taken so
much to heart, that he contracted a deep Melancholy, which soon after
brought his life to a period: so apt is an ingenious spirit to resent a
slighting even from the greatest persons. And thus much I must needs
say of the Merit of so great a Poet, from so great a Monarch, that it
is incident to the best of Poets sometimes to flatter some Royal or
Noble Patron, never did any do it more to the height, or with greater
art and elegance, if the highest of praises attributed to so Heroick a
Princess can justly be termed flattery.

*