I am not sure how widely you want to set your net when it comes to
translations of The Song of Songs available to Spenser. Would it be useful
also to look at any commentaries which might also have been part of the mix?
In a way these too offer "translations." At least 5 partial or complete
commentaries on the Song appear in STC2 between 1575 and 1592, on my count.
Jude Smith A Misticall Device 1575 STC2 22805
Bartimaeus Andrewes Certaine Verie Worthie...Sermons Upon the Fifth Chapiter
of the Song 1583 STC2 565
Thomas Wilcox An Exposition Uppon the Booke of Canticles 1585 STC2 25622
Thomas Beza Sermons Upon the Three First Chapters of the Canticles 1587
STC2 2025
Hieronymus Zanchius An Excellent Treatise, Of the Spiritual Mariage Between
Christ and the Church 1592 STC2 26119.5
I am not saying Spenser actually turned to any of these, though it is easy to
think that any one interested in reading the Bible would also have some
interest in looking into relevant commentary as well and this might also play
a role in shaping the reading. I have no idea whether these commentaries were
accessible to Spenser before or during the time he was working on any
particular poem.
Arthur Upham
Ph D McGill 1996
"Chastity, The Reformation Context, and Spenser's Faerie Queene, Book 3"
Program Developer, Grant Writer
United Refugee Services of WI
Madison, WI
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