Edmund Spenser

“I was promised on a time - to have reason for my rhyme; 

From that time unto this season,

                                         I received nor rhyme nor reason”

Edmund Spenser (c. 1552 – 13 January 1599) was an English poet best known for The Faerie Queene, an Epic Poem and fantastical allegory* celebrating the Tudor Dynasty and Elizabeth I.  

He is recognised as one of the premier craftsmen of Modern English verse in its infancy, and one of the greatest poets in the English language.  

*Allegory : Symobilic.

The Wiki description above I thought needed no tinkering. 

 

Some pretty lines from his works. 

"Sleep after toil, 

port after stormy seas, 

Ease after war, 

..death after life 

             does greatly please..."

"For take thy balance if thou be so wise 

And weigh the wind that under heaven doth blow; 

Or weigh the light that in the east doth rise; 

Or weigh the thought that from man's mind doth flow."

“The blazing brightnesse of her beauties beame, 

And glorious light of her sunshyny face 

To tell, were as to strive against the streame.”