EDMUND, the poet, was born in London in the year 1553, and defended from an ancient family of the Spencers in Northamptonshire. All we know concerning his education is, that he was admitted a sizer of Pembroke-hall in Cambridge, and matriculated in 1569. At this time began his intimacy with Mr Gabriel Harvey, a man of genius and a poet. In 1576, having completed his degrees in arts, he left the university, as it is conjectured, for want of subsistence, and retired to the north of England. Here he had the misfortune to become enamoured of his Rosalind, who, after flattering his passion for a time, at length preferred his happier rival. Spenser continued in the country till the year 1578, when at the persuasion of his friend Mr Harvey he removed to London, where that gentleman introduced him to Mr Sidney (afterwards Sir Philip Sidney). Concerning his first introduction to Sir Philip, there is indeed a different story, which was first told by the writer of his life, prefixed to his works in 1679, and transcribed by Hughes, Cibber, and several others; which, nevertheless, is certainly not true. The purport of it is, that Spenser, being unknown to this Mecenas of the age, went to Leicester-house, and sent in the 9th canto of the first book of the Fairy Queen; that, on reading part of it, Sir Philip ordered his steward to give the bearer 50l.; on reading a little farther 50l. more; then 200l.; bidding him to make haste and pay the money, left he should give the poet his whole estate. The story tells prettily enough; but it is very certain, that the Fairy Queen was begun long after his acquaintance with Sir Philip. By this universal patron of genius, however, he was presented to Queen Elizabeth, who honoured him with the place of poet-laureat. About this time he finished his Shepherd's Calendar, which was first printed in 1579; and in the following year, being recommended by his patron to the earl of Leicester, he went to Ireland as secretary to the lord Grey of Wilton, then appointed lord-lieutenant of that kingdom. Lord Grey was recalled in 1582, and with him Spenser returned to London, where he continued till after the death of Sir Philip Sidney in 1586; a loss which he bewailed to the end of his life. The following year, our poet, having obtained a royal grant of 3000 acres of forfeited lands in the county of Cork in Ireland, set out for that kingdom, took possession of his estate, and fixed his residence in the castle of Kilcolman, which had belonged to the earl of Desmond. In this retirement he resumed his great work of the Fairy Queen; and continued in Ireland till, being visited by his old friend Sir Walter Raleigh in 1589, he came over with him to England, but returned to Ireland the year following, where he fell in love with a country girl, and married her. Soon after his marriage, he paid another visit to his native country, where we also find him in 1596. In the following year he returned once more to Kilcolman; but on the rebellion of Lord Tyrone, who ravaged the whole county of Cork, he was obliged to fly for safety with his family to England, where, in the year 1599, he died in extreme poverty (a). He was buried in Westminster Abbey, according to his request, near Chaucer. A monument was erected to his memory by Ann countess of Dorset. We know but little of his character as a man; as a poet, considering the age in which he lived, he deserves our utmost veneration. He wrote various pieces besides those above mentioned. His whole works, with his life by Hughes, were published in six volumes 12mo, in 1715 and 1750.