Time & Brevity

Visions of the Worlds Vanitie: IX

by Edmund Spenser 1552–1599

From Complaints (1591)

Time & Brevity

Looking far foorth into the ocean wide,
A goodly Ship with banners bravely dight,
And flag in her top-gallant, I espide
Through the maine sea making her merry flight.
Faire blewe the wind into her bosome right,
And th’heavens looked lovely all the while,
That she did seeme to daunce, as in delight,
And at her owne felicitie did smile.
All sodainely there clove unto her keele
A little fish that men call Remora,
Which stopt her course, and held her by the heele,
That winde nor tide could move her thence away.
Straunge thing me seemeth, that so small a thing
Should able be so great an one to wring.

MLA

Spenser, Edmund. “Visions of the Worlds Vanitie: IX.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/spenser/105/.

Chicago

Spenser, Edmund. “Visions of the Worlds Vanitie: IX.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/spenser/105/.

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