I agree with most of what Andy Green says, but I don't think Spenser can be
accused of believing that divine fury can be switched on and off at will
because one of the points of the vision of the Graces on Mt. Acidale (VI.x)
is that no one can bring them in place but those "they list" to grace; and
Cuddie, for what he's worth, complains that his courage cools ere it be
warm ("Oct.").At 12:01 AM 10/19/00 +0100, you wrote:
>Shirley Sharon-Zisser wrote:
>
>> I believe in risks as much as in the real thing, and believe dreams are
>> part of the real thing; I'm presently editing a volume on rhetoric and
>> dream in the Renaissance. What do you think were the reasons for the high
>> occurrence of the concern with dream in texts of the period, including
>> Spenser's *Rvines of Time* and *Rvines of Rome*?
>
>I too would be very interested in taking advantage of Peter Zenner's
>expertise in this area.
>
>I think we're beginning to talk of what Ficino called "divine frenzy". That
>which in SC is "a certaine enthousiasmos". Something we have all
>(hopefully) experienced. Something which is perfectly natural - and
>certainly necessary for poets.
>
>But from the time of Ficino, through to the early 17th century, "divine
>frenzy" was turned into what passed as an exact science. Something to be
>switched on and off at will. (For example see E.K.s glosse on "sence
>bereaue").
>
>This side of Ficino is too often played down by modern scholars - and Ficino
>remains well-respected. Not so Cornelius Agrippa - with whom Marlowe, for
>instance, was quite familiar. Cornelius was explicit about what Ficino
>actually did. We know that music, images, poetry, (not to mention
>fumigations and coloured lights) all have an effect - that's why we do them.
>Bring them all together and the effects can be great. Add to that a
>willing, and intellectually prepared, subject and the effects could be even
>greater.
>
>If one could induce an almost perpetual state of "divine frenzy" then where
>lies the borderline of reality? Try to imagine being thrown back to London
>in 1579. Look around you. Would you choose reality?
>
>Andy
>
>
>
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