This Poem being writ in the manner of Spenser, the obso lete words, and a simplicity of diction in some of the lines, which borders on the ludicrous, were necessary to make the imitation more perfect. And the style of that admirable poet, as well as the measure in which he wrote, are, as it were, appropriated by custom to all allegorical Poems writ in our language; just as in French, the style of Marot, who lived under Francis the First, has been used in tales, and familiar epistles, by the politest writers of the age of Louis the Fourteenth. GLOSSARY. ARCHIMAGE-The chief, Fays-fairies. or greatest of magicians Gear or Geer-furniture, Ay-always. or enchanters. Bale-sorrow, trouble, equipage, dress. Hight-named, called; and sometimes it is dis-Idless-Idleness. Carol-to sing songs of joy. Caucus-the north-east wind. Certes-certainly. Kest-for cast. Lad-for led. Lea-a piece of land, or meadow. Dan-a word prefixed to Libbard-leopard. names. Deftly-skilfully. Lig-to lie. Losel-a loose idle fellow. Louting-bowing, bend drowsy- ing. Muchel or Mochel Ween-to think, be of much, great. Nathless-nevertheless. opinion. Weet-to know ; to weet, to wit. Needments-necessaries. Whilom-ere-while, for Ne-nor. Noursling-a child that is merly. Wight-man. nursed. Noyance-harm. Prankt-coloured, adorn- old oath. Wis, for Wist-to know, Wonne ling. N. B. The letter Y is frequently placed in the beginning of a word, by Spenser, to lengthen it a syllable, and en at the end of a word, for the same reason, as withouten, casten, &c. Sweltry-sultry, consum-Yborn-born. ing with heat. Yblent, or blent-blend Swink-to labour. Smackt-savoured. ed, mingled. Yclad-clad. Thrall-slave. Ycleped-called, named. Transmew'd-tranform-Yfere-together. ed. Vild-vile. Unkempt (Lat. incomptus) unadorned. Ymolten-melted. Yode, (preter tense of yede) went. |