and by Timon thoroughly instructed,
114 went to seek her forth in Faery Land. In that Faery Queen I
115 mean glory in my general intention, but in my particular I
116 conceive the most excellent and glorious person of our
117 sovereign the Queen, and her kingdom in Faery Land. And
118 yet, in some places else, I do otherwise shadow her. For,

else > elsewhere
shadow > symbolize, depict

119 considering she bears two persons, the one of a most royal
120 queen or empress, the other of a most virtuous and beautiful
121 lady, this latter part in some places I do express in Belphoebe,
122 fashioning her name according to your own excellent
123 conceit of Cynthia (Phoebe and Cynthia being both names

conceit > conception, idea
Cynthia > (Raleigh's poem in praise of Queen Elizabeth is called _The
Ocean's Love to Cynthia_; of this, only one book has survived)

124 of Diana). So in the person of Prince Arthur I set forth

Diana > (Virgin goddess of hunting and of the moon)

125 magnificence in particular, which virtue (according to
126 Aristotle and the rest) is the perfection of all the rest, and
127 contains in it them all: therefore in the whole course I

contains in it > [encompasses]

128 mention the deeds of Arthur appliable to that virtue, which

appliable > {Having reference, applicable}

129 I write of in that book. But of the twelve other virtues, I
130 make twelve other knights the patrons, for the more variety

patrons > patterns, exemplars; _also:_ champions
more > greater

131 of the history: of which these three books contain three. The

history > story
these three books > (Books I-III, first published in 1590, with which
this letter was included)

132 first of the Knight of the Redcross, in whom I express
133 Holiness; the second of Sir Guyon, in whom I set forth
134 Temperance; the third of Britomart, a lady knight, in
135 whom I picture Chastity. But because the beginning of the
136 whole work seems abrupt and as depending upon other

as > [as though]

137 antecedents, it needs that you know the occasion of these

needs > is necessary

138 three knights' several adventures. For the method of a poet

several > different, individual

139 historical is not such as of a historiographer. For a

historical > [writing historical or epic works