Edmund Spenser - Faerie Queene Book IV: "It is the mind that maketh good of ill, that maketh wretch or happy, rich or poor."

Edmund Spenser, one of England's greatest poets, was born in 1552 and educated at Pembroke College, Cambridge. His notable works include "The Shepheardes Calender" and the epic "The Faerie Queene," considered his masterpiece. Spenser's poetry significantly influenced later poets, earning him the title of "Poet's Poet." His time in Ireland was marked by political turmoil, reflected in his works like "A View of the Present State of Ireland." He died in 1599, with fellow poets mourning his passing at his burial in Westminster Abbey.