Men call you fayre, and you doe credit it, For that your self ye daily such doe see: But the trew fayre, that is the gentle wit, And vertuous mind, is much more praysd of me. For all the rest, how ever fayre it be, Shall turne to nought and loose that glorious hew: But onely that is permanent and free From frayle corruption, that doth flesh ensew. That is true beautie: that doth argue you To be divine and borne of heavenly seed: Deriv'd from that fayre Spirit, from whom al true And perfect beauty did at first proceed. He onely fayre, and what he fayre hath made, All other fayre lyke flowres untymely fade.

Although it has been highly regarded as a polemical piece of prose and valued as a historical source on 16th century Ireland the View is seen today as genocidal in intent. Influences and influenced
Though Spenser was well read in classical literature scholars have noted that his poetry does not rehash tradition but rather is distinctly his. His castle at Kilcolman was burned and Ben Jonson (who may have had private information) asserted that one of his infant children died in the blaze.

Edmund Spenser (c. He is recognised as one of the premier craftsmen of Modern English verse in its infancy and is considered one of the greatest poets in the English language. 1552 – 13 January 1599) was an English poet best known for The Faerie Queene an epic poem and fantastical allegory celebrating the Tudor dynasty and Elizabeth I.