# Sonnet XVI explained — The Faerie Queene

> Chapter companion for The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser.

## What happens

The poet addresses the most virtuous and beautiful Lady Carew, acknowledging that he cannot omit her from his work without incurring endless blame. He offers a humble tribute, recognizing that his simple verses cannot fully capture her glorious ornaments of heavenly grace and the tyranny she exercises over subdued hearts. He promises a more ample display of his good will when timely means permit.

## Key lines

> Ne may I, without blot of endlesse blame, You, fairest Lady, leave out of this place; But with remembraunce of your gracious name, Wherewith that courtly garlond most ye grace And deck the world, adorne these verses base.

I cannot, without the stain of eternal reproach, omit you, fairest Lady, from this work; instead, I will remember your gracious name, which adorns the courtly garland and beautifies the world, and thus embellish these humble verses.

_The poet justifies including the lady in his poem, framing it as a necessary act to avoid disgrace._

> Not that these few lines can in them comprise Those glorious ornaments of hevenly grace, Wherewith ye triumph over feeble eyes, And in subdued harts do tyranyse;

Not that these few lines can contain those glorious ornaments of heavenly grace with which you triumph over weak eyes and tyrannize over conquered hearts.

_The poet acknowledges the inadequacy of his verse to capture the lady's divine beauty and power._

> For thereunto doth need a golden quill, And silver leaves, them rightly to devise; But to make humble present of good will: Which, whenas timely meanes it purchase may, In ampler wise it selfe will forth display.

To properly describe them would require a golden pen and silver pages; but for now, I offer only a humble gift of good will, which, when timely means allow, will display itself more fully.

_The poet promises a more elaborate tribute in the future, constrained by present limitations._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/sonnet-xvi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_faerie_queene_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters