The complete poetical works and letters of John Keats/Spenserian Stanza, written at the Close of Canto II., Book V., of 'The Faerie Queene'

by John Keats

For other versions of this work, see Spenserian Stanza, written at the Close of Canto II., Book V., of 'The Faerie Queene'.

SPENSERIAN STANZA

WRITTEN AT THE CLOSE OF CANTO II. BOOK V. OF 'THE FAERIE QUEENE'

Given by Lord Houghton in Life, Letters and Literary Remains, who comments as follows: 'His sympathies were very much on the side of the revolutionary Giant, who "undertook for to repair" the "realms and nations run awry," and to suppress "tyrants that make men subject to their law," "and lordings curbe that commons over-aw," while he grudged the legitimate victory, as he rejected the conservative philosophy, of the "righteous Artegall" and his comrade, the fierce defender of privilege and order. And he expressed in this ex post facto prophecy, his conviction of the ultimate triumph of freedom and equality by the power of transmitted knowledge.' No date is assigned, and the verse may as well be placed in the early period of Keats's acquaintance with Spenser and friendship with Leigh Hunt.

In after-time, a sage of mickle lore
Yclep'd Typographus, the Giant took,
And did refit his limbs as heretofore,
And made him read in many a learned book,
And into many a lively legend look;
Thereby in goodly themes so training him,
That all his brutishness he quite forsook,
When, meeting Artegall and Talus grim,
The one he struck stone-blind, the other's eyes wox dim.