The second book of Edmund Spenser's The Fairie Queene (an allegorical epic poem in praise of Elizabeth I, and published in 1590) begins with references to England's recent colonial enterprises. Read the passage and think how the rhetoric of discovery and knowledge serves here Spenser's purposes and how the expansion of the empire was celebrated in the literature of the period. You might also want to read more on Spenser, his friendship to Sir Walter Ralegh, and his colonial endeavours in Ireland.
But let that man with better sence aduize,
That of the world least part to vs is red:
And dayly how through hardy enterprize,
Many great Regions are discouered,
Which to late age were neuer mentioned.
Who euer heard of th'Indian Peru?
Or who in venturous vessell measured
The Amazon huge riuer now found trew?
Or fruitfullest Virginia who did euer vew?
Yet all these were, when no man did them know;
Yet haue from wisest ages hidden beene:
And later times things more vnknowne shall show.
Why then should witlesse man so much misweene
That nothing is, but that which he hath seene?
Full preface and Book 2 here: http://www.luminarium.org/renascence-editions/queene2.html
But let that man with better sence aduize,
That of the world least part to vs is red:
And dayly how through hardy enterprize,
Many great Regions are discouered,
Which to late age were neuer mentioned.
Who euer heard of th'Indian Peru?
Or who in venturous vessell measured
The Amazon huge riuer now found trew?
Or fruitfullest Virginia who did euer vew?
Yet all these were, when no man did them know;
Yet haue from wisest ages hidden beene:
And later times things more vnknowne shall show.
Why then should witlesse man so much misweene
That nothing is, but that which he hath seene?
Full preface and Book 2 here: http://www.luminarium.org/renascence-editions/queene2.html
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