Un-Quiz Poems: Are these Sonnets?; Are they by Spenser?; What Other Authors Has their Author Read?

LONG-WHILE I sought to what I might compare
    those powrefull eies, which lighten my dark spright,
    yet find I nought on earth to which I dare
    resemble th' ymage of their goodly light.
Not to the Sun: for they doo shine by night;
    nor to the Moone: for they are changed neuer;
    nor to the Starres: for they haue purer sight;
    nor to the fire: for they consume not euer;
Nor to the lightning: for they still perseuer;
    nor to the Diamond: for they are more tender;
    nor vnto Christall: for nought may them seuer;
    nor vnto glasse: such basenesse mought offend her;
Then to the Maker selfe they likest be,
    whose light doth lighten all that here we see.

YE tradefull Merchants that with weary toyle,
    do seeke most pretious things to make your gain:
    and both the Indias of their treasures spoile,
    what needeth you to seeke so farre in vaine?
For loe my loue doth in her selfe containe
    all this worlds riches that may farre be found;
    if Saphyres, loe her eies be Saphyres plaine,
    if Rubies, loe hir lips be Rubies found;
If Pearles, hir teeth be pearles both pure and round;
    if Yuorie, her forhead yuory weene;
    if Gold, her locks are finest gold on ground;
    if siluer, her faire hands are siluer sheene,
But that which fairest is, but few behold,
    her mind adornd with vertues manifold.

FAIRE proud now tell me, why should faire be proud,
    sith all worlds glorie is but drosse vncleane:
    and in the shade of death it selfe shall shroud,
    how euer now thereof ye little weene.
That goodly Idoll, now so gay beseene,
    shall doffe her fleshes borowd fayre attyre:
    and be forgot as it had neuer beene,
    that many now much worship and admire.
Ne any then shall after it inquire,
    ne any mention shall thereof remaine:
    but what this verse, that neuer shall expyre,
    shall to you purchas with her thankles paine.
Faire be no lenger proud of that shall perish,
    but that which shal you make immortall, cherish.