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In vain he seeketh others to suppress, Who hath not learn’d himself first to subdue.

Edmund Spenser

My Love is like to ice, and I to fire: How comes it then that this her cold so great Is not dissolved through my so hot desire, But harder grows the more I her entreat?
EDMUND SPENSER

Cold Desire Fire Greatness Growth Hard Love Myself
Who will not mercy unto others show, How can he mercy ever hope to have?
EDMUND SPENSER

Himself Hope Kindness Mercy
But angels come to lead frail minds to rest in chaste desires, on heavenly beauty bound. You frame my thoughts, and fashion me within; you stop my tongue, and teach my heart to speak.
EDMUND SPENSER

Angel Desire Fashion Heart Leadership Stop Talk Teaching
From good to bad, and from bad to worse, From worse unto that is worst of all, And then return to his former fall.
EDMUND SPENSER

Bad Fall Goodness Himself Return Worst
To be wise and eke to love, Is granted scarce to gods above.
EDMUND SPENSER

God Grant Love Wisdom
Ill can he rule the great that cannot reach the small.
EDMUND SPENSER

Greatness Myself Reach Rule
Man’s wretched state, That floures so fresh at morne, and fades at evening late.
EDMUND SPENSER

Evening Fade Fresh Man Morning Taste
Full little knowest thou that hast not tried, What hell it is in suing long to bide: To loose good dayes, that might be better spent; To waste long nights in pensive discontent; To speed to-day, to be put back to-morrow; To feed on hope, to pine with feare and sorrow.
EDMUND SPENSER

Day Fear Feed Goodness Hell Hope Night Sorrow Speed Unknown Wasted
Who would ever care to do brave deed, Or strive in virtue others to excel, If none should yield him his deserved meed Due praise, that is the spur of doing well? For if good were not praised more than ill, None would choose goodness of his own free will.
EDMUND SPENSER

Action Brave Care Deserve Excellence Freedom Goodness Praise Virtue Willing
And painful pleasure turns to pleasing pain.
EDMUND SPENSER

Happiness Pain Pleasure
And he that strives to touch the stars Oft stumbles at a straw.
EDMUND SPENSER

Fall Stars Strike Touch
Such is the power of love in gentle mind, That it can alter all the course of kind.
EDMUND SPENSER

Inspirational Love Power
Thankfulness is the tune of angels.
EDMUND SPENSER

Angel Gratitude Music One Liner Thankful
For deeds to die, however nobly done, And thoughts of men to as themselves decay, But wise words taught in numbers for to run, Recorded by the Muses, live for ay.
EDMUND SPENSER

Action Death Live Man Thinking Wisdom Word
So much more profitable and gracious is doctrine by example than by rule.
EDMUND SPENSER

Grace Profit Rule
Sweet breathing Zephyrus did softly play, A gentle spirit, that lightly did delay Hot Titan’s beams, which then did glister fair.
EDMUND SPENSER

Breathe Fair Light Play Soft Spirit Sweet

In vain he seeketh others to suppress, Who hath not learn’d himself first to subdue.

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In vain he seeketh others to suppress, Who hath not learn’d himself first to subdue.

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