Searchable Texts
The following links lead to searchable transcriptions of the scenes surrounding Spenser's revision of the final stanzas of "The Legend of Chastitie."
Transcription 1 includes passages
from Book III, Cantos XI and XII and ends with Spenser's original stanzas. Transcription 2 adds
to this the opening of Book IV as it was published in 1596, thereby representing a composite edition
of The Faerie Queene that did not include his revised stanzas. Transcription 3 contains
the same scenes as Transcription 2, except that Spenser's original stanzas are replaced by his revised ones;
it represents a composite edition that includes the revision. I
have altered the language with minimalism in mind, eliminating long f's in order to
prevent presenting an imposition for modern readers that would not have arisen for
an early modern audience.
The final three links lead to versions of the first three transcriptions in which the spelling
has been modernized, at the expense of some of Spenser's word play. These
links are intended to provide an introduction to Spenser by eliminating some
of the difficulties imposed by his spelling.
Those portions of Spenser's poetry that have been skipped are briefly summarized in prose.
Transcriptions with Spenser's Spelling
Transcription 1-1590 Book III, Cantos XI and XIITranscription 2-1590 Book III, Cantos XI and XII, 1596 Book IV, Opening
Transcription 3-1596 Book III, Cantos XI and XII, Book IV, Opening
Transcriptions with Modernized Spelling
Transcription 4-1590 Book III, Cantos XI and XII with modernized spellingTranscription 5-1590 Book III, Cantos XI and XII with modernized spelling
Transcription 6-1590 Book III, Cantos XI and XII with modernized spelling