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A Fruitful-Headed Beast?: Rhyme in The Faerie Queene

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Edmund Spenser and Animal Life

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Animals and Literature ((PSAAL))

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Abstract

This chapter explores The Faerie Queene’s Hydran beasts in analogy with its regenerating, stanza-outrunning rhymes. While the only actual hydras in The Faerie Queene are the ‘Spring-headed Hydres’ of the Idle Lake, a number of the poem’s monstrous beasts are compared directly to the Hydra, or are otherwise drawn into its imagistic ecology. This chapter shows how Spenser connects the threat of snaky generativity not just to the Hydra’s regenerative power, but also to the scourge of unruly writing and, in The Teares of the Muses, rhyme in particular. In The Teares of the Muses, Spenser’s metaphor of rhymes as ‘fruitfull spawne’ suggests a likeness between the proliferation of ‘vulgar’ rhyme in English verse and the generation of snaky beings in ‘ranke’ environments. Moving between The Faerie Queene’s snaky creatures, its ‘fruitfull’ rhymes, and the early modern contexts for each, this chapter tracks a structural homology between the poem’s rhymes and its Hydran beasts. It introduces new data on rhyme’s repetitions in The Faerie Queene (the Table of Run-on Rhymes in the appendix), revealing the poem’s rhyme to be not only ‘fruitfull-headed’, but recurrently in excess of the poem’s more consciously ‘artificial’ metrics.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    All quotations from The Faerie Queene refer to Spenser (2013).

  2. 2.

    For detailed analysis of Errour’s connections to the anxious early modern ‘typographic imaginary’, see Stenner (2019).

  3. 3.

    All line numbers for The Teares of the Muses (abbr. ‘TM’) refer to McCabe, ed. (1999).

  4. 4.

    See also Todd Borlik’s chapter in this volume.

  5. 5.

    Francis Meres similarly observes: ‘water is the cause of moorish groundes, fens, myres, and muddy places, where nothing engendreth but Toades, Frogs, Snakes, and such like foule vermine’ (Meres 1598, 301). See also, George Gascoigne: ‘you are not ignoraunt (welbeloued) what groweth in Fens: for […] therein breede Serpentes & sundrie kinds of Worms […]’ (Gascoigne 1576, A9r-v); John Skelton: ‘By the venemous Serpent, / That in hel is neuer brente / In Lerna the Grekes fen / That was engendred then’ (Skelton 1568, U4r).

  6. 6.

    With irony, Jonson rhymes about rhyme ‘Wresting words, from their true calling / […] / Joynting Syllabes, drowning Letters / […]’ (Jonson 1641, 196). More seriously, Dudley North contends: ‘It cannot bee good in limited lines […] to dismember an innocent word, that every child according to nature, and use, in spelling would put together’ (North 1645, 3).

  7. 7.

    This average reflects a total run-on count of 600, adjusted lower so as not to double count those instances in which consecutive stanzas are linked by two distinct run-ons (e.g., III.ii.5–6; II.ix.43–44), nor those instances in which more than one rhyme cluster collaborates in the same run-on between consecutive stanzas (e.g., I.v.7–8; IV.vi.20–21).

  8. 8.

    This phenomenon recurs, perhaps even more intensely, in The Faerie Queene (see Dubow 2022).

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Correspondence to Bethany Dubow .

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Appendix

Appendix

The following Table of Run-on Rhymes (divided into sections A1–A9) gives details of The Faerie Queene’s run-on rhymes (Books I–VI), using the text of Hamilton’s revised 2013 Longman edition. This table excludes run-ons that bridge distinct books, and excludes the rhymes of the Arguments. Run-ons which change orthography between stanzas are italicised. Where a rhyme terminal is spelled differently within a stanza, / indicates an equal mix between two different spellings and [ ] indicates a single exception to an otherwise dominant spelling. Where [ ] is shown around a book, canto and stanza reference, this indicates a run-on that appears only in the 1590 ending to Book III. An * preceding a book, canto and stanza reference indicates a stanza in which the same rhyme terminal is used for more than one rhyme (e.g. both the a-rhyme and b-rhyme are on -ight).

A1

c-rhyme to a-rhyme run-ons

A2

c-rhyme to b-rhyme run-ons

A3

b-rhyme to a-rhyme run-ons

Book, canto and stanza numbers

c-rhyme ending

a-rhyme ending

Book, canto and stanza numbers

c-rhyme ending

b-rhyme ending

Book, canto and stanza numbers

b-rhyme ending

a-rhyme ending

I.i.30–31

-ell

-ell

I.ii.9–10

-ake

-ake

I.ii.42–43

-ight

-ight

I.ii.14–15

-ide

-ide

I.iv.17–18

-ide

-yde

I.iv.24–25

-eare

-aire/-are

I.iii.31–32

-ound

-ound

I.iv.40–41

-ight

-ight

I.ix.25–26

-ee [-ie]

-e/-ee/-y

I.iv.20–21

-y

-y

*I.v.7–8

-ight

-ight

*I.x.23–24

-ight

-ight

*I.v.7–8

-ight

-ight

*I.v.15–16

-ie

-ee

I.x.62–63

-aine

-aine

*I.v.8–9

-ight

-ight

I.vi.4–5

-ye

-ee

I.xi.52–53

-ide/-yde

-yde

I.v.10–11

-ake

-ake

I.vii.14–15

-ake

-ake

I.xii.28–29

-ead

-ed

I.vi.13–14

-ound

-ound

I.vii.22–23

-yde [-ide]

-yde

II.v.15–16

-arre

-arre

I.vii.3–4

-eet

-eat

I.vii.46–47

-ight

-ight

II.v.25–26

-ight

-ight

I.vii.43–44

-y

-y

I.x.27–28

-ore

-ore

II.vii.38–39

-ee

-ee

I.viii.47–48

-ind

-ind

I.x.49–50

-ight

-ight

II.viii.47–48

-ye/-y 

-ye

I.ix.6–7

-ight

-ight

I.xi.49–50

-ight

-ight

II.ix.14–15

-aine

-aine

I.ix.43–44

-ay

-ay

I.xii.36–37

-yde [-ide]

-ide

II.x.14–15

-art

-art

I.ix.52–53

-ight

-ight

I.xii.38–39

-y

-y [-ye]

II.xi.16–17

-ight

-ight

I.x.11–12

-yse [-ise]

-ise

II.i.17–18

-ight

-ight

II.xi.27–28

-ew

-ew

I.x.12–13

-ight

-ite/-ight

II.iv.15–16

-yre

-yre

II.xii.2–3

-ight

-ight

I.xi.15–16

-eare

-eare

II.iv.41–42

-ight

-ight

II.xii.31–32

-y

-y

I.xi.43–44

-ight

-ight

II.v.11–12

-ee

-ye [-y]

II.xii.46–47

-all

-all

I.xi.45–46

-ide

-ide

II.v.18–19

-ee

-ee

III.i.53–54

-iefe

-iefe

II.i.8–9

-ake

-ake

II.viii.9–10

-y

-ie

III.i.63–64

-ownd

-ownd

II.i.20–21

-aine

-aine

II.ix.49–50

-it

-it

III.ii.18–19

-ight

-ight

II.i.47–48

-ee [-e]

-ee

II.xii.26–27

-ye

-y

III.ii.34–35

-y

-y/-ye

II.i.58–59

-ome

-ome

II.xii.59–60

-y

-ee

III.ii.40–41

-inde

-ynd

II.ii.2–3

-ee [-e]

-ee

III.i.29–30

-ight

-ight

III.iii.7–8

-ay

-ay

II.iii.39–40

-ee [-e]

-ee / -e

III.iii.39–40

-y [-ye]

-y [-ye]

III.iv.20–21

-ame

-ame

II.v.37–38

-ight

-ight

III.iv.23–24

-eare

-eare

III.iv.38–39

-ye [-y]

-ie

II.vi.34–35

-y [-I]

-y

III.iv.43–44

-ight

-ight

III.v.51–52

-owre

-owre

II.vi.43–44

-yde

-yde

III.iv.49–50

-ent

-ent

III.vi.8–9

-ion

-ion

II.vii.46–47

-y

-ee

III.v.5–6

-ow

-o / -oe

III.vi.25–26

-ent

-ent

II.vii.59–60

-ee

-e /-ee

III.v.38–39

-ayd

-ade [-aide]

III.vii.19–20

-ent

-ent

II.ix.2–3

-ead

-ead

III.vi.1–2

-y

-ee

III.viii.39–40

-est

-est

II.ix.43–44

-ee

-ee

III.viii.47–48

-ee

-ee

III.ix.32–33

-ame

-ame

II.x.51–52

-yde

-ide

III.viii.49–50

-ay

-ay

III.x.18–19

-ore

-ore

II.xi.17–18

-ye [-y]

-y

III.x.13–14

-y

-y [-ye]

III.xi.4–5

-inde

-inde

II.xi.26–27

-ace

-ace

III.x.37–38

-ell

-ell

IV.ii.4–5

-ight

-ight

II.xi.35–36

-ay

-ay

III.x.43–44

-edd

-edd

IV.ii.27–28

-ard

-ard

II.xi.38–39

-ight

-ight

III.x.48–49

-ell

-ell

IV.iii.34–35

-ield

-eld/-ield

*II.xii.47–48

-ee

-y

III.x.56–57

-ight

-ight

IV.iv.41–42

-ame

-ame

*II.xii.74–75

-ay

-ay

III.xi.18–19

-y

-y/-I

IV.v.34–35

-ent

-ent

III.i.21–22

-ay

-ay

III.xi.48–49

-ye [-y]

-ee [-ie]

IV.viii.6–7

-ew

-ew

III.i.26–27

-oue

-oue

III.xii.34–35

-ee

-y

IV.viii.13–14

-ead

-ed

III.ii.9–10

-ame

-ame

*IV.i.26–27

-ed

-ed

IV.viii.46–47

-aine

-aine

III.ii.46–47

-ight

-ight

IV.ii.14–15

-end

-end

IV.x.31–32

-ood

-ood

III.iv.26–27

-y

-y

IV.ii.51–52

-ee

-ee

V.ii.3–4

-eare

-ere

III.v.8–9

-ight

-ight

IV.vi.1–2

-ide

-ide

V.ii.44–45

-ight

-ight

III.v.25–26

-owne

-owne

IV.vi.36–37

-eare

-eare

V.vi.18–19

-ide

-ide

III.v.45–46

-y

-ee

IV.vii.13–14

-one

-one [-owen]

V.vi.22–23

-est

-est

III.vi.4–5

-are

-are/-ore

IV.viii.10–11

-ay

-ay

V.vii.24–25

-ought

-ought

III.vii.20–21

-ight

-ight

IV.viii.61–62

-ay

-ay

V.viii.19–20

-ay

-ay / -ia

III.vii.36–37

-ay

-ay

IV.ix.10–11

-eare

-ere

V.ix.14–15

-ew

-ew

III.vii.44–45

-ake

-ake

IV.x.14–15

-ay

-ay

V.ix.28–29

-old

-old

III.vii.57–58

-ee

-ee

IV.xi.12–13

-ame

-ame

*V.x.29–30

-one

-one

III.ix.5–6

-ight

-ight

*IV.xii.10–11

-ee [-e]

-ee/-e

V.xi.26–27

-ight

-ight

III.ix.52–53

-y [-ye]

-y

IV.xii.24–25

-ought

-ought

V.xii.25–26

-ayne

-aine

III.xi.38–39

-ame

-ame

V.ii.22–23

-ought

-ought [-aught]

VI.Proem.4–5

-ie

-ie

III.xii.5–6

-y

-y

V.ii.40–41

-ie

-y

VI.i.46–47

-aine

-aine

IV.iii.1–2

-ayne

-aine

V.iii.39–40

-ights

-ights

VI.ii.18–19

-ight

-ight

IV.iii.10–11

-ake

-ake

V.iv.26–27

-ay

-ay

VI.iii.3–4

-ight

-ight

IV.v.7–8

-ight

-ight

V.v.18–19

-ed

-ed

VI.iii.26–27

-ight

-ight

*IV.vi.20–21

-ere [-eare]

-eare

V.vii.33–34

-aine

-aine

VI.iii.28–29

-aine

-aine

IV.vi.28–29

-all

-all

V.viii.17–18

-y

-y

VI.v.8–9

-are [-eare]

-ayre

IV.vii.28–29

-eare [-ere]

-ere / -eare

V.ix.3–4

-ay

-ay

VI.vii.1–2

-ight

-ight

IV.vii.34–35

-ate

-ate

V.x.31–32

-ight

-ight [-ite]

VI.vii.6–7

-yde

-yde

IV.x.42–43

-ay

-ay

V.xi.20–21

-ay

-ay

VI.vii.7–8

-ight

-ite

IV.xi.49–50

-ea

-ea

V.xi.24–25

-ight

-ight

*VI.vii.27–28

-ee

-ie

V.i.16–17

-ie [-y]

-ye

VI.ii.11–12

-aine

-aine

VI.viii.26–27

-all

-all

V.i.22–23

-all

-all

VI.v.38–39

-aine

-aine

VI.ix.17–18

-ell

-ell

V.iii.3–4

-ee [-e]

-ie

VI.x.23–24

-ie [-y]

-ee [-e]

VI.ix.30–31

-ore

-ore

V.iv.21–22

-ight

-ight

VI.xi.41–42

-est

-est

VI.x.24–25

-ee [-e]

-ee

V.iv.38–39

-ide

-ide

VI.xii.31–32

-ew

-ew

VI.xii.14–15

-are

-aire

V.v.13–14

-ye [-ie]

-y

      

V.vii.40–41

-ought

-ought

      

V.x.10–11

-ight

-ight

      

V.x.20–21

-ight

-ight

      

V.xi.9–10

-y

-ie

      

*V.xi.49–50

-ight

-ight

      

V.xii.30–31

-y

-y

      

VI.i.29–30

-ight

-ight

      

VI.ii.42–43

-ight

-ight

      

VI.iii.33–34

-ight

-ight

      

VI.iii.43–44

-ee

-y

      

VI.iv.1–2

-ight

-ight

      

VI.iv.3–4

-ight

-ight

      

VI.iv.22–23

-aine

-aine

      

VI.v.22–23

-ew

-ew

      

VI.v.29–30

-ynd

-inde

      

VI.vi.3–4

-ight

-ight

      

VI.vi.6–7

-ie

-ie

      

VI.vi.30–31

-yte

-ight

      

VI.ix.25–26

-eare [-ere]

-eare

      

VI.x.31–32

-aine

-aine

      

VI.xi.45–46

-ore

-ore

      

VI.xii.13–14

-ell

-ell

      

VI.xii.37–38

-ight

-ight

      

A4

b-rhyme to b-rhyme run-ons

A5

c-rhyme to c-rhyme run-ons

A6

a-rhyme to a-rhyme run-ons

Book, canto and stanza numbers

b-rhyme ending

b-rhyme ending

Book, canto and stanza numbers

c-rhyme ending

c-rhyme ending

Book, canto and stanza numbers

a-rhyme ending

a-rhyme ending

I.iii.34–35

-eare

-eare

I.Proem.1–2

-ong

-ong

I.i.42–43

-ake

-ake

I.iv.9–10

-ayne

-ayne

I.i.18–19

-aine

-aine

I.ii.15–16

-ide

-ide

I.iv.29–30

-ore

-aw

I.iii.13–14

-ay

-ay

I.ii.33–34

-e/-ee

-ee

I.iv.43–44

-y

-ye/-y

I.v.52–53

-yde

-yde

I.ii.43–44

-ight

-ight

I.v.3–4

-y [-ye]

-y [-ye]

I.vi.46–47

-aid

-ayd

*I.v.8–9

-ight

-ight

I.v.29–30

-ay

-ay

I.vii.10–11

-ayde [-ade]

-ade [-ayde]

I.vi.30–31

-aire

-are

I.viii.48–49

-ight

-ight

I.viii.28–29

-all

-all

I.viii.7–8

-ight

-ight

I.ix.25–26

-ee [-ie]

-ye [-y]

      

I.ix.26–27

-ye [-y]

-ee

      

I.x.6–7

-ee

-ee

I.x.9–10

-ay

-ay

I.viii.10–11

-ownd

-ound/ -ownd

II.i.15–16

-ent

-ent

I.xi.1–2

-ake

-ake

I.x.13–14

-ite/ight

-ight

II.iv.19–20

-ee

-ee [-ie]

I.xi.30–31

-ell

-ell

I.x.64–65

-ace

-ace

II.iv.27–28

-ayd

-ayd [-ade]

I.xii.33–34

-esse

-esse

II.i.31–32

-ame

-ame

II.iv.39–40

-ee

-y [-ye]

II.i.34–35

-ay

-ay

II.i.57–58

-yre

-ire/-yre

II.iv.42–43

-ight

-ight

II.iii.8–9

-ee

-y

II.ii.16–17

-ame

-ame

II.iv.45–46

-ight

-ight

II.v.17–18

-ee

-ee

II.iii.32–33

-ew

-ew

II.vi.7–8

-ight

-ight

II.vii.52–53

-y

-ee

II.iv.1–2

-eede/-eed

-eed

II.vi.25–26

-art

-art

II.vii.61–62

-y [-ye]

-y [-ye]

II.iv.4–5

-alke

-alke

II.vii.32–33

-end

-end

II.viii.15–16

-ight

-ight

II.iv.23–24

-y

-ee

II.viii.6–7

-ay

-ay

II.viii.40–41

-ond

-ond

II.iv.29–30

-ight

-ight

II.viii.24–25

-ight

-ight

*II.ix.51–52

-ies

-yes

*II.vii.49–50

-ight

-ight

II.viii.42–43

-ore

-ore

II.ix.53–54

-y

-ee

II.vii.53–54

-ight

-ight

II.viii.45–46

-ade

-ayd

II.x.49–50

-ayd [-ade]

-ayd

II.viii.9–10

-ace

-ace

   

II.xi.46–47

-ake

-ake

II.x.32–33

-aine

-aine

   

II.xii.6–7

-ent

-ent

II.x.39–40

-ay

-ay

II.x.41–42

-aise/-aies

-ayes [-aies/-aise]

II.xii.15–16

-ight

-ite [-ight]

II.x.54–55

-ide

-yde

II.xi.43–44

-ayne

-ayne

*II.xii.47–48

-ee

-ee

II.xii.3–4

-ight

-ight

II.xii.49–50

-ide

-ide

II.xii.54–55

-ed

-ed

II.xii.10–11 

-an

-an

III.i.66–67

-ayd

-ayd/-ade

III.i.11–12

-yde

-yde

II.xii.44–45

-y

-y

III.ii.29–30

-ight

-ight

III.ii.5–6

-ed

-ead

*II.xii.74–75

-ay

-ay

III.ii.38–39

-aw

-ore

III.ii.13–14

-ight

-ight

III.i.24–25

-ame

-ame

III.vi.46–47

-y

-ie [-ee]

III.ii.30–31

-ead

-ed

III.i.27–28

-oue

-oue

III.vii.28–29

-ight

-ight

III.ii.45–46

-ight

-ight

III.i.33–34

-ed

-ed

III.ix.24–25

-ee

-y [-ye]

III.iii.37–38

-y

-y [-ye]

III.ii.1–2

-ind

-inde/-ind

III.x.15–16

-ame

-ame

III.iii.40–41

-ent

-ent

III.ii.5–6

-owre

-owre

III.xii.19–20

-ight

-ight

III.iv.16–17

-ore

-ore

III.ii.29–30

-est

-est

[III.xii.45–46]

-ight

-ite

III.v.40–41

-ight

-ight

III.iii.43–44

-ed

-ed

IV.ii.22–23

-ell

-ell

III.ix.16–17

-ow

-oe

III.iii.49–50

-ade

-ayd

IV.ii.23–24

-ell

-ell

III.ix.21–22

-ee

-ye

III.iv.18–19

-ent

-ent

IV.iv.25–26

-aine

-aine [-ane]

III.ix.42–43

-ood

-oud

III.iv.28–29

-ownd

-ownd

IV.v.11–12

-eene

-eene

IV.i.22–23

-iue

-iue

III.v.33–34

-aine

-ayne

IV.v.16–17

-ame

-ame

*IV.i.26–27

-ed

-ed

III.vii.58–59

-ee

-ee

IV.ix.3–4

-aine

-ayne

IV.i.39–40

-ight

-ight

III.viii.48–49

-ew

-ew

IV.xi.32–33

-ye [-y]

-y

IV.iv.41–42

-ight

-ight

III.ix.42–43

-yue/-iue

-iue

V.i.8–9

-ight

-ight

IV.vi.35–36

-eare

-eare

III.x.16–17

-ere/-eare

-ere

V.viii.26–27

-ight

-ight

IV.viii.1–2

-ay

-ay

III.x.29–30

-ew

-ew

V.x.9–10

-ion [-on]

-on [-ion/-one]

IV.viii.58–59

-ee

-ee

IV.iv.6–7

-ent

-ent

V.x.16–17

-ayre/-are

-are

V.Proem.2–3

-ed

-ed

IV.iv.29–30

-eare/-ere

-eare

V.x.36–37

-ay

-ay

V.i.26–27

-ead

-ead

IV.vi.15–16

-eat

-eat

V.xi.16–17

-ight

-ight

V.ii.17–18

-ight

-ight

*IV.vi.20–21

-eare

-eare

V.xi.25–26

-ight

-ight

V.iii.15–16

-ell

-ell

IV.vi.43–44

-ed

-ed

V.xi.35–36

-ent

-ent

V.iv.17–18

-eeme

-eeme

IV.vii.30–31

-ed

-ed

V.xi.51–52

-ay

-ay

V.iv.47–48

-ight

-ight

IV.viii.17–18

-ed

-ead

V.xi.55–56

-aine

-aine

V.vi.4–5

-eare

-eare [-ere]

IV.viii.44–45

-aine

-aine

V.xii.9–10

-aine/-ayne

-aine

V.vi.18–19

-ent

-ent

IV.ix.8–9

-eld

-eld

VI.ii.3–4

-ay

-ay

V.vi.37–38

-ight

-ight

IV.xi.4–5

-ell

-ell

VI.iii.20–21

-ight

-ight [-ite]

V.viii.3–4

-ent

-ent

V.iii.12–13

-aine

-aine

VI.iii.40–41

-ight

-ight [-ite]

*V.viii.16–17

-ie [-I]

-y

V.iv.17–18

-ayd

-ayd

VI.v.17–18

-ight

-ight/-ite

V.viii.37–38

-ew

-ew

V.v.15–16

-ight

-ight

VI.v.26–27

-ine [-yne/-aine]

-aine

V.ix.9–10

-ed

-ed

V.vi.26–27

-ight

-ight

VI.vi.3–4

-ayes [-ay]

-aies

V.ix.49–50

-all

-all

V.vi.28–29

-ore

-ore

VI.viii.41–42

-eare

-ere [-eare]

V.x.18–19

-y

-y

V.viii.2–3

-aine

-aine/-iane

*VI.x.21–22

-ee

-ee [-e]

V.xi.12–13

-ooke

-ooke

V.ix.45–46

-art

-art

   

V.xii.36–37

-ad

-ad

V.x.21–22

-ight

-ight

   

VI.i.14–15

-ight

-ight

V.x.23–24

-oe

-oe

   

VI.iii.28–29

-ide

-yde

*V.xi.49–50

-ight

-ight

   

VI.iii.29–30

-yde

-yde [-ide]

VI.Proem.5–6

-ie

-y/-ie

   

VI.iv.4–5

-eare [-eere]

-eare

VI.i.30–31

-ight

-ight

   

VI.vi.7–8

-aine

-aine [-ane]

VI.i.32–33

-ame

-ame

   

VI.vi.26–27

-ight

-ight [-ite]

VI.iii.17–18

-ent

-ent

   

VI.vii.4–5

-eed

-eed

VI.iii.31–32

-ame

-ame

   

VI.vii.8–9

-ore

-ore

VI.vi.41–42

-ayned

-ayned

   

VI.vii.29–30

-ight

-ight

VI.vii.8–9

-ite

-ight

   

VI.vii.30–31

-ight

-ight

VI.vii.12–13

-ie

-ie

   

VI.viii.8–9

-y

-y

*VI.vii.27–28

-ie/ee

-ie

   

*VI.x.22–23

-y

-ie [-y]

VI.xi.49–50

-ere

-eare

   

VI.xi.2–3

-ew

-ew

   
   

VI.xi.48–49

-ide

-ide

   
   

VI.xii.3–4

-eare [-ere]

-ere

   

A7

a-rhyme to b-rhyme run-ons

A8

b-rhyme to c-rhyme run-ons

A9

a-rhyme to c-rhyme run-ons

Book, canto and stanza numbers

a-rhyme ending

b-rhyme ending

Book, canto and stanza numbers

b-rhyme ending

c-rhyme ending

Book, canto and stanza numbers

a-rhyme ending

c-rhyme ending

I.i.34–35

-as

-as

I.i.39–40

-eepe

-eepe

I.i.38–39

-edd

-ed

I.ii.13–14

-ay

-ay

I.ii.2–3

-ight

-ight

I.vii.24–25

-ound/-ownd

-ound

I.ii.34–35

-ee

-ee

I.iv.12–13

-ie [e]

-ee

I.viii.24–25

-ay

-ay

I.v.11–12

-ake

-ake

I.iv.41–42

-ight

-ight

I.viii.32–33

-ee

-ee

I.vi.27–28

-ay

-ay

I.iv.44–45

-y/-ye

-ye

II.vii.49–50

-ight

-ight

I.vi.34–35

-ay

-ay

I.v.16–17

-ee

-y

I.ix.13–14

-ight

-ight

I.viii.4–5

-ownd

-ownd

I.v.33–34

-y

-y

I.x.1–2

-ight

-ight

I.viii.44–45

-ight

-ight

I.v.44–45

-ay

-ay

I.xi.29–30

-ell

-ell

I.ix.26–27

-e/-ee/-y

-ee

I.viii.26–27

-ie

-ee

I.xi.51–52

-eare

-eare

I.x.26–27

-ay

-ay

*I.x.23–24

-ight

-ight

II.i.3–4

-ight

-ight [-yte]

I.x.42–43

-ead/-ed

-ead

I.x.30–31

-are

-ayre

II.ix.13–14

-y/-ye

-ye [-y]

I.xii.8–9

-ent

-ent

I.xi.16–17

-ight

-ight

II.ix.47–48

-ell

-ell

I.xii.17–18

-ise

-ize

I.xii.21–22

-eare

-eare

*II.ix.51–52

-yes

-yes

II.iv.3–4

-ay

-ay

II.ii.10–11

-ell

-ell

II.ix.57–58

-is

-is

II.vii.5–6

-ide

-ide

II.iv.25–26

-eare

-eare

II.xi.3–4

-ay

-ay

II.viii.35–36

-yde

-yde

II.v.5–6

-ent

-ent

II.xi.8–9

-ent

-ent

II.ix.43–44

-ame

-ame

II.v.19–20

-ee

-ight

II.xii.32–33

-y

-y

II.x.33–34

-aine

-ayne

II.v.22–23

-ight

-ight

III.i.47–48

-ight

-ight

II.x.43–44

-ayne

-ayne

II.v.36–37

-ight

-ight

III.ii.25–26

-ownd

-ound

II.xi.14–15

-ayn

-ayne/-aine

II.vii.59–60

-ye [-y]

-y [-ye]

III.iii.36–37

-y

-y

II.xi.24–25

-yde

-ide

II.viii.7–8

-ay

-ay

III.v.15–16

-ight

-ight

II.xi.39–40

-ight

-ight

II.viii.43–44

-ore

-ore

III.v.30–31

-ight

-ight

II.xi.46–47

-ands

-ands

II.ix.32–33

-ought

-ought

III.vii.2–3

-ent

-ent

II.xii.75–76

-ay

-ay

II.x.59–60

-ight

-ight

III.ix.5–6

-ay

-ay

II.xii.79–80

-ee/-e

-ee

II.xii.12–13

-ed

-ed

III.xi.16–17

-est

-est

III.i.58–59

-ight

-ight

II.xii.27–28

-y

-y

IV.i.12–13

-ight

-ight

III.ii.34–35

-aine

-aine

II.xii.30–31

-ill

-ill

IV.i.38–39

-ight

-ight

III.ii.35–36

-y/-ye

-y/-ye

III.i.30–31

-ight

-ight

IV.iii.51–52

-ere

-ere

III.iv.40–41

-ill

-ill

III.ii.1–2

-ee

-y

IV.iv.10–11

-y

-y

III.iv.45–46

-ew

-ew

III.iii.14–15

-end

-end

IV.vi.34–35

-eare

-eare

III.iv.60–61

-aine

-aine

III.iv.27–28

-ate

-ate

IV.xi.20–21

-ame

-ame

III.vii.6–7

-ound

-ound

III.v.7–8

-ight

-ight

V.i.5–6

-ought/-aught

-aught [-ought]

III.vii.32–33

-y

-y

III.v.19–20

-ite

-ight

V.ii.44–45

-ayd

-ayd

III.ix.33–34

-ame

-ame

III.viii.38–39

-ight

-ight

V.iii.10–11

-et

-et

III.x.6–7

-yde

-yde

III.x.23–24

-ere

-ere

V.iii.23–24

-ought

-ought

III.xi.6–7

-eare

-eare

III.x.44–45

-edd

-edd

V.iv.8–9

-ay

-ay

III.xii.16–17

-ere

-eare [-ere]

III.xii.7–8

-eare

-eare

V.viii.8–9

-ooke/-oke

-ooke

IV.ii.3–4

-ight

-ight

[III.xii.43–44]

-esse

-esse

VI.i.31–32

-ight

-ight

IV.iii.17–18

-ent

-ent

IV.ii.24–25

-ell

-ell

VI.ii.27–28

-e

-ee

IV.iv.1–2

-ell

-ell

IV.ii.45–46

-ood

-ood

VI.iii.19–20

-ee

-ee

IV.vii.1–2

-art/-arts

-art

IV.iv.9–10

-ight

-ight

VI.iii.34–35

-ight

-ight

IV.viii.38–39

-eed

-eede [-eed]

IV.iv.40–41

-ight

-ight

VI.iv.2–3

-ight

-ight

IV.viii.45–46

-aine

-aine

IV.vi.22–23

-ee

-ie

VI.vii.19–20

-ight

-ight

IV.viii.63–64

-ie

-ie

   

VI.vii.46–47

-orde

-orde

IV.x.6–7

-ong

-ong

IV.vii.27–28

-eare

-eare [-ere]

VI.viii.9–10

-aine

-aine

IV.xi.28–29

-ay

-ay

IV.viii.57–58

-ie [-y]

-ee

*V.viii.16–17

-ie

-y

*IV.xii.10–11

-e/-ee

-e/-ee

IV.ix.27–28

-onne

-onne

VI.x.10–11

-ight

-ight

IV.xii.29–30

-aine

-aine

V.ii.52–53

-ew

-ew

VI.x.38–39

-er

-er

V.Proem.7–8

-ight

-ight

V.iv.15–16

-and

-and

VI.xii.8–9

-ore

-ore

V.i.17–18

-ye

-ie [y]

V.iv.46–47

-ight

-ight

VI.xii.14–15

-ell

-ell

V.i.25–26

-ight

-ight

V.v.55–56

-ie [-ye]

-ye

   

V.ii.49–50

-ay

-ay

V.vi.36–37

-ight

-ight

   

V.iii.33–34

-ake

-ake

V.vii.10–11

-aine

-aine

   

V.v.8–9

-ay

-ay

V.viii.25–26

-ay

-ay

   

V.vii.26–27

-est

-est

V.viii.45–46

-ight

-ight

   

V.x.1–2

-art

-art

V.viii.46–47

-ere

-ere [-eare]

   

V.x.34–35

-yde

-yde

V.ix.33–34

-all

-all

   

V.xii.11–12

-ay

-ay

V.x.19–20

-ight

-ight

   

V.xii.19–20

-eare

-eare

*V.x.29–30

-one

-onne

   

VI.Proem.3–4

-y

-ie

V.x.30–31

-ight

-ight

   

VI.i.1–2

-all

-all

V.x.32–33

-ight [-ite]

-ight

   

VI.ii.6–7

-ayne

-aine

V.xii.12–13

-ay

-ay

   

VI.ii.29–30

-ight

-ight

V.xii.15–16

-ight

-ight

   

VI.ii.44–45

-ad

-ad

VI.i.16–17

-eare [-ere]

-eare

   

VI.iii.46–47

-ide

-yde

VI.iii.41–42

-ight

-ight

   

VI.iv.23–24

-aine

-aine [-ayme]

VI.x.33–34

-ate

-ate

   

VI.vii.9–10

-ight

-ight

*VI.x.21–22

-ee

-y

   

VI.viii.7–8

-ay

-ay

*VI.x.22–23

-e/-ee

-ie/-y

   

VI.x.17–18

-ight

-ight

VI.xii.24–25

-eare [-ere]

-eare [-ere]

   

VI.x.40–41

-ay

-ay

      

VI.xi.48–49

-ay

-ay

      
 

Total run-ons

c-a

94

c-b

70

b-a

70

b-b

61

c-c

77

a-a

74

a-b

71

b-c

68

a-c

50

Altogether

635

Degrees of Separation

0 lines intervening between c-a run-on

1 intervening line between c-b run-on

2 intervening lines between b-a run-on

3 intervening lines between b-b run-on

5 intervening lines between c-c run-on

6 intervening lines between a-a run-on

7 intervening lines between a-b run-on

7 intervening lines between b-c run-on

11 intervening lines between a-c run-on

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Dubow, B. (2024). A Fruitful-Headed Beast?: Rhyme in The Faerie Queene. In: Stenner, R., Shinn, A. (eds) Edmund Spenser and Animal Life . Palgrave Studies in Animals and Literature. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-42641-4_10

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