The
Harmonization of Neo-Platonism with Cath olic theology had been a commonplace since Ficino, not to say Origen; Spenser's idea was to harmonize Neo-Platonism with Puritan theology. His method can be seen in the
Spenser's problem was to express this eclec tic system through a romanic narrative itself constructed from many sources — Classic, Me dimval, Renaissance— the personages of which should represent its categories, and their or dered adventures its dialectic; and, at the same time, also to "shadow forth," as through a double veil, the religious, political and contem porary social history of England. No other European poet except Dante had essayed so prodigious a task; and Spenser may have been emulating Dante. But the English poet was infinitely less happy in his medium : the cloudily shifting scenes, monotonous ill-motivated ex ploits, vaguely or externally differentiated characters of popular chivalric fiction offered but a poor substitute for the Tuscan's accu rately symbolic, yet localizable and tangible other world of nicely discriminated human realities.
The curiously protean poem, however, even in its weakness, was nicely calculated to con temporary taste. It had something for all,— high if vague doctrine for thinkers,— classical learning and Italianate elegance for scholar and dilettante,— romantic story, graphic picture, piquant gossip for courtier or fine lady; and the cultivated Elizabethan often united in himself all these moods. Spenser was at once ac claimed supreme poet of his generation. Excep tion may have been taken by some, as by Jonson, to the artificially archaic diction — at tempt on Pleiadiste principles, to dam up current speech at its Chaucerian "well of English un defyled," or to the complicated stanza itself probably also from Chaucer—the English poet, unless Chaucer, has been in his Tale) stanza capped by an Alexandrine; but no lifetime so undissentingly lauded.
In February 1591 an annual pension of f50 was allotted, a stipend — if paid !— worth eral times that of the present Laureate. Spenser was probably disappointed, however, for another reason. On his own testimony (especially, F. Q. VI, xii, 41) and that of contemporaries, his writings had angered all-powerful Burghley. Puritan Leicester's partisan and protégé, Spenser had lost no opportunity to attack the policy, as well as by innuendo to insult the character of Leicester's lifelong opponent. No contemporary could have failed to find ley among the "bigge Bulles of Basan" of the "September" eclogue (1, 124), or in the arraign- ment of official "graft° of Hubberds Tale) (II. 515 ff.), or in the libel of "counsellor" Fox (ib. 11. 1127 ff.), or in the jealously spirited minister of the 'Ruines of Time' (11. 447 ff.). From a hostile viewpoint, the cap fitted. Even loyal Harvey later (°Fowre ters," ed. Grosart, I, pp. 164-165), regretted that "Mother Hubberd, in heat of Choller, ting the pure sanguine of her sweete Faerie Queene, wilfully overshot her malcontented selfe." Apparently both Hub ds Tale) and (The Ruins of Time' were sup ed or acald in againe" (cf. Pref., ub bards Tales,' 1604; John Weever : (Epigrams,) 1599). Burghley, long-suffering with Leicester himself, may well have blocked preferment in England for Leicester's "man." Such seems to be the veiledgrievance of (Virgil's Gnat,' Spenser ("Gnat") for serving Leicester ("Shep hercP) against Burghley ("Snake") is sent off to Ireland ("waste wilderness. . . Cimmerian)).