From the Fairie Queene Edmund Spenser
Milton looked back with respect to “our sage and serious poet, Spenser”, as he called him; and Spenser’s Queen of the months shares with Milton’s May the characteristics of the classical goddess, Flora:
Milton looked back with respect to “our sage and serious poet, Spenser”, as he called him; and Spenser’s Queen of the months shares with Milton’s May the characteristics of the classical goddess, Flora:
Then came fair May, the fairest maid on ground,
Decked all with dainties of her season’s pride,
And throwing flowers out of her lap around:
Upon two bretheren’s shoulders she did ride,
The twins of Leda; which on every side
Supported her, like to their sovereign Queen:
Lord! how all creatures laughed when her they spied
And leaped and danced as they had ravished been!
And Cupid self about her fluttered all in green.
Decked all with dainties of her season’s pride,
And throwing flowers out of her lap around:
Upon two bretheren’s shoulders she did ride,
The twins of Leda; which on every side
Supported her, like to their sovereign Queen:
Lord! how all creatures laughed when her they spied
And leaped and danced as they had ravished been!
And Cupid self about her fluttered all in green.
Borne upon the shoulders of the heavenly twins, she passes on amid laughter and jollity.
(We may note in passing Spenser’s graceful compliment to Queen Elizabeth 1.)
(We may note in passing Spenser’s graceful compliment to Queen Elizabeth 1.)
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