F. Qu. B. I. c. 3. st. 3.


2. Combined with this sweetness and fluency, the scientific construction
of the metre of the 'Faery Queene' is very noticeable. One of Spenser's
arts is that of alliteration, and he uses it with great effect in
doubling the impression of an image:--


In _w_ildernesse and _w_astful deserts,--
Through _w_oods and _w_astnes _w_ilde,--
They passe the bitter _w_aves of Acheron,
Where many soules sit _w_ailing _w_oefully,
And come to _fi_ery _fl_ood of _Ph_legeton,
Whereas the damned ghosts in torments _f_ry,
And with _sh_arp _sh_rilling _sh_rieks doth bootlesse cry,--&c.


He is particularly given to an alternate alliteration, which is,
perhaps, when well used, a great secret in melody:--


A _r_amping lyon _r_ushed suddenly,--
And _s_ad to _s_ee her _s_orrowful constraint,--
And on the grasse her _d_aintie _l_imbes _d_id _l_ay,--&c.


You cannot read a page of the Faery Queene, if you read for that
purpose, without perceiving the intentional alliterativeness of the