THE VISIONS OF BELLAY I. IT was the time, when Reft, foft sliding downe The carefull thoughts of mortall miferies; Then did a Ghoft before mine eyes appeare, 5 On that great rivers banck, that runnes by Rome; Which, calling me by name, bad me to reare My lookes to heaven whence all good gifts do come, 10 And crying lowd, lo! now beholde (quoth hee) I. 1. It was the time, &c.] It is to be remarked, that most of these Visions, and the Visions of Petrarch which follow, appeared, with fome differences indeed from the present copies both in regard to the nature of the verse, to a few expreffions, and to the arrangement of them, in "A Theatre for World linges, &c. 12mo. 1569." At the clofe of the Vifions of Petrarch, I will fubjoin the early Vifions, together with fome remarks, for the reader's fatisfaction. Spenfer's own edition notices, that the Vifions of Petrarch were formerlie tranflated. He does not fay by whom. The tranflator might be himself, He was in 1569 entered a member of the University of Cambridge. TODD. Sith onely God furmounts all times decay, II. J.. 15 On high hills top I faw a stately frame, An earthquake hooke the hill from loweft feat, And overthrew this frame with ruine great. 2002 FAST 10 Bega Media. 4 3 20 baid Then did a fharped fpyre of diamond bright, Ten feete each way in square, appeare to mee, 30 Iuftly proportion'd up unto his hight, So far as archer might his level fee: sta cauti Did en stol not gatimbrubnud II. 4. after Dorick wize:] See the note on F. Q. iv. x. 6. T. WARTON. Fr. rayon. TODD. II. 9. 99 rayons] Beams or rays. 66. parget;] The varnish or plaster. See Cotgrave, in V. Purget. And calfo the verb, to newparget a wall," ibid. It is often ufed, as Mr. Steevens has remarked, by B. Jonfon. TODD. iafph Jasper ftone. Fr. juspe, Tondi The top thereof a pot did feeme to beare, Made of the mettall, which we moft do honour; And in this golden veffel couched weare The ashes of a mightie Emperour: 35 Upon foure corners of the base were pight, I faw a tempeft from the heaven defcend, 41 Which this brave monument with flash did rend. IV. I faw rayfde up on yvorie pillowes tall, Clad like a Nimph, that winges of filver weares, With fodain fall to duft confumed quight. V.T Then was the faire Dodonian tree far feene, |