5 Where _Homers_ spright did tremble all for griefe,
236 And curst th'accesse of that celestiall theife.
237
216
217
218 COMMENDATORY VERSES
219
220 _A vision upon this conceit of the

conceit > conception

221 Faery Queen_
222
223 I thought I saw the grave where Laura lay,

Laura > (Immortalized by Petrarch in his odes and sonnets, _To Laura_)

224 Within that temple where the Vestal flame

Vestal flame > (The sacred fire brought by Aeneas from Troy; it was
kept burning by the Vestals, virgin priestesses officiating at the
temple at Rome dedicated to Vesta, goddess of the hearth and
domestic life. If the flame went out, it was believed that the
state would fall)

225 Was wont to burn; and, passing by that way

wont > accustomed

226 To see that buried dust of living fame,
227 Whose tomb fair love, and fairer virtue kept,
228 All suddenly I saw the Faery Queen:
229 At whose approach the soul of Petrarch wept,

Petrarch > (Francesco Petrarch, 1304-74, Italian poet and scholar)

230 And from thenceforth those graces were not seen.

those graces > [the Vestals]

231 For they this queen attended, in whose stead

stead > place

232 Oblivion laid him down on Laura's hearse:

hearse > bier, coffin; tomb

233 Hereat the hardest stones were seen to bleed,

Hereat > At this; as a result of this

234 And groans of buried ghosts the heavens did pierce,

ghosts > spirits

235 Where Homer's spirit did tremble all for grief,
236 And cursed the access of that celestial thief.

access > coming

237
238 Another of the same.
239
240 _THe prayse of meaner wits this worke like profit brings,
241 As doth the Cuckoes song delight when _Philumena_ sings.
242 If thou hast formed right true vertues face herein:
243 Vertue her selfe can best discerne, to whom they written bin.
244 If thou hast beautie praysd, let her sole lookes diuine
245 Iudge if ought therein be amis, and mend it by her eine.
246 If Chastitie want ought, or Temperaunce her dew,
247 Behold her Princely mind aright, and write thy Queene anew.
248 Meanewhile she shall perceiue, how farre her vertues sore
249 Aboue the reach of all that liue, or such as wrote of yore:
250 And thereby will excuse and fauour