Tell her the joyous time will not be staid, unlesse she doe him by the forelock take

Tell her the joyous time will not be staid, unlesse she doe him by the forelock take

In Edmund Spenser's epic poem "The Faerie Queene," the line "Tell her the joyous time will not be staid, unlesse she doe him by the forelock take" is a powerful message about seizing opportunities and taking control of one's destiny. This line is spoken by the character of Una, who is on a quest to find and rescue her betrothed, the Redcrosse Knight. The message is directed towards the character of Duessa, who represents falsehood and deceit.

The phrase "by the forelock" is a metaphorical reference to taking control of a situation before it slips away. In medieval times, grabbing someone by the forelock was a sign of dominance and control. By using this imagery, Spenser is emphasizing the importance of seizing the moment and not letting opportunities pass by.