The Faerie Queene Leir: Spenser Author Edmund Spenser Editor Andrew Griffin Conversion and Remediation LEMDO Team Queen’s Men EditionsQME

The Queen’s Men Editions anthology is led by Helen Ostovich, General Editor; Peter Cockett, General Editor (Performance); Andrew Griffin, General Editor (Text; until 2026); and Janelle Jenstad, General Editor (Text; 2026–)

 Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada McMaster University Poculi Ludique Societas University of Waterloo University of Toronto Centre for Drama, Theatre & Performance Studies University of Victoria Friends of the ISE

Released with Queen’s Men Editions 2.0

 University of Victoria on the Linked Early Modern Drama Online Platform

Intellectual copyright in this edition is held by the editor, Andrew Griffin. The critical paratexts, including this Faerie Queene, are licensed under a CC BY-NC_ND 4.0 license, which means that they are freely downloadable without permission under the following conditions: (1) credit must be given to the editor, QME, and LEMDO in any subsequent use of the files and/or data; (2) the content cannot be adapted or repurposed (except for quotations for the purposes of academic review and citation); and (3) commercial uses are not permitted without the knowledge and consent of QME, the editor, and LEMDO. This license allows for pedagogical use of the critical paratexts in the classroom.

Production photographs and videos on this site may not be downloaded. They appear freely on this site with the permission of the actors and the ACTRA union. They may be used within the context of university courses, within the classroom, and for reference within research contexts, including conferences, when credit is given to the producing company and to the actors. Commercial use of videos and photographs is forbidden.

Queen’s Men Editions

Born-digital, peer-reviewed document written by Andrew Griffin. First published in the QME 1.0 anthology on the ISE platform. Converted to TEI-XML and remediated by the LEMDO Team for republication in the QME 2.0 anthology on the LEMDO platform.

Encoded in TEI P5 according to the LEMDO Customization and Encoding Guidelines

Edited according to the ISE Editorial Guidelines

 Published file. Updated metadata Updated metadata, proofread. Remediated. Created TEI from IML file. Peer review arranged by QME Editorial Board From Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene (London: William Ponsonbie, 1590)
Book 2, Canto 10 A chronicle of Briton kings, From Brute to Uthers rayne. And rolles of Elfin Emperours, Till time of Gloriane. Next him king Leyr in happie peace long raynd, But had no issue male him to succeed, But three faire daughters, which were well uptraind, In all that seemed fitt for kingly seed: Mongst whom his realme he equally decreed To have divided. Tho when feeble age Nigh to his utmost date he saw proceed, He cald his daughters; and with speeches sage Inquyrd, which of them most did love her parentage. The eldest Gonorill gan to protest, That she much more then her owne life him lov’d: And Regan greater love to him profest, Then all the world, when ever it were proov’d; But Cordeill said she lov’d him, as behoov’d: Whose simple answere, wanting colours fayre To paint it forth, him to displeasance moov’d, That in his crowne he counted her no hayre, But twixt the other twaine his kingdome whole did shayre. So wedded th’ one to Maglan king of Scottes, And thother to the king of Cambria, And twixt them shayrd his realme by equall lottes: But without dowre the wise Cordelia Was sent to Aggannip of Celtica. Their aged Syre, thus eased of his crowne, A priuate life ledd in Albania, With Gonorill, long had in great renowne, That nought him griev’d to beene from rule deposed downe. But true it is, that when the oyle is spent, The light goes out, and weeke is throwne away; So when he had resignd his regiment, His daughter gan despise his drouping day, And wearie wax of his continuall stay. Tho to his daughter Regan he repayrd, Who him at first well used every way; But when of his departure she despayrd, Her bountie she abated, and his cheare empayrd. The wretched man gan then avise to late, That love is not, where most it is profest, Too truely tryde in his extremest state; At last resolv’d likewise to prove the rest, He to Cordelia him selfe addrest, Who with entyre affection him receav’d, As for her Syre and king her seemed best; And after all an army strong she leav’d, To war on those, which him had of his realme bereav’d. So to his crowne she him restord againe, In which he dyde, made ripe for death by eld, And after wild, it should to her remaine: Who peaceably the same long time did weld: And all mens harts in dew obedience held: Till that her sisters children, woxen strong Through proud ambition, against her rebeld, And overcommen kept in prison long, Till weary of that wretched life, her selfe she hong. Then gan the bloudie brethren both to raine: But fierce Cundah gan shortly to envy His brother Morgan, prickt with proud disdaine, To have a pere in part of soverainty, And kindling coles of cruell enmity, Raisd warre, and him in battell overthrew: Whence as he to those woodie hilles did flie, Which hight of him Glamorgan, there him slew: Then did he raigne alone, when he none equall knew.