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Fretting grief the enemy of life.

Edmund Spenser

For that which all men then did virtue call, Is now called vice; and that which vice was hight, Is now hight virtue, and so used of all: Right now is wrong, and wrong that was is right.
EDMUND SPENSER

Call Man Myself Right Virtue Wrong
Through knowledge we behold the world’s creation, How in his cradle first he fostered was; And judge of Nature’s cunning operation, How things she formed of a formless mass.
EDMUND SPENSER

Creation Form Herself Judgement Knowledge Nature Operation World
Laws ought to be fashioned unto the manners and conditions of the people whom they are meant to benefit, and not imposed upon them according to the simple rule of right.
EDMUND SPENSER

Fashion Law Manner Right Rule Simplicity
In vain he seeketh others to suppress, Who hath not learn’d himself first to subdue.
EDMUND SPENSER

Himself Learning Wasted
Her angel’s face, As the great eye of heaven shined bright, And made a sunshine in the shady place.
EDMUND SPENSER

Angel Eyes Face Greatness Place Sunshine
Ah! when will this long weary day have end, And lende me leave to come unto my love? – Epithalamion
EDMUND SPENSER

Leaving Love Myself
But times do change and move continually.
EDMUND SPENSER

Change Move Time
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
All love is sweet Given or returned And its familiar voice wearies not ever.
EDMUND SPENSER

Love Sweet Voice
The man whom nature’s self had made to mock herself, and truth to imitate.
EDMUND SPENSER

Herself Imitation Man Nature Truth
Like as the culver on the bared bough Sits mourning for the absence of her mate.
EDMUND SPENSER

Absence Cry Friendship Herself Loss
How many perils doe enfold The righteous man to make him daily fall.
EDMUND SPENSER

Adversity Fall Flower Right
Ill can he rule the great that cannot reach the small.
EDMUND SPENSER

Greatness Myself Reach Rule
For easy things, that may be got at will, Most sorts of men do set but little store.
EDMUND SPENSER

Easy Man Willing
Who will not mercy unto others show, How can he mercy ever hope to have?
EDMUND SPENSER

Himself Hope Kindness Mercy
Man’s wretched state, That floures so fresh at morne, and fades at evening late.
EDMUND SPENSER

Evening Fade Fresh Man Morning Taste

Fretting grief the enemy of life.

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Fretting grief the enemy of life.

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