Next came fresh April, full of lustyhed, 
And wanton as a kid whose home new buds; 
Upon a bull be rode, the same which led 
Europa floating thro’ th’ Argolick finds : 
His homes were gilden all with golden studs. 
And garnished with garlonds goodly dight 
Of all the fairest flowres and freshest buds 
Which tlr earth brings forth; and wet he seemed in sight 
With waves, thro’ which he w^aded, for his Love’s delight. 
Then came faire May, the fay rest Mayde on ground, 
Deckt with all dainties of her season’s pryde. 
And throwing flowres out of her lap ai’ound. 
Upon two brethren’s shoulders she did ride. 
The twinnes of Leda; which, on eyther side. 
Supported her like to their soveraine queene : 
Lord! how all creatures laught when her they spide, 
And leapt and daunced as they had ravisht beene! 
And Cupid self about her fluttred all in greene. 
These allegorical stanzas are quite in the “ Faery Queen” 
spirit. In that great poem Spenser displays infinite gi'andeur, 
loftiness, and luxuriant imagery ; but when we peruse or listen 
to it, we are no longer in the world of reality—the world of 
Chaucer; we are at once witched away to Faery Land, where 
nature is aiTayed in such gorgeous hues, that, much as the 
imagination may be fascinated and dazzled by the splendid 
dreams before us, we cannot walk in fancy side by side with the 
poet through his maze of enchantment, as we may, and do, with 
the poets of this Avorld, our cheerful, simple-minded Chaucer 
especially, whose flowers, and trees, and arbours, and nightin¬ 
gales, are realities that seem to rise in social companionship 
around us, while listening to his truth-invested verse. 
