Edmund Spenser - Faerie Queene Book V: "Each goodly thing is hardest to begin."

Edmund Spenser, a pivotal figure in English poetry, was born in 1552 and educated at Pembroke College, Cambridge. His notable works include "The Shepheardes Calender" and the epic "The Faerie Queene," which solidified his reputation as a master poet. His experiences in Ireland, including the Siege of Smerwick, influenced his writings, such as the collection "Complaints" and the sonnet sequence "Amoretti." Spenser's legacy is marked by admiration from literary giants and culminated in his poignant burial in Westminster Abbey, honored by fellow poets.