I. The Plot: The death of the dragon is
announced by the watchman on the tower of the city,
and Una’s parents, the King and Queen, accompanied
by a great throng, come forth rejoicing at their deliverance.
The Knight and Una are conducted with great honors
into the palace. On the eve of their betrothal,
Archimago suddenly appears as Duessa’s messenger
and claims the Knight. Their wicked attempt is
frustrated, and the pair are happily betrothed.
After a long time spent in Una’s society, the
Knight sets out to engage in the further service of
the Faerie Queene.
II. The Allegory: Holiness, by conquering
the devil, frees the whole human race from the tyranny
of sin. It is embarrassed by the unexpected appearance
of the consequences of its past sins, but makes a manly
confession. In spite of hypocritical intrigues
(Archimago) and false slanders (Duessa), Holiness
is united to Truth, thus forming a perfect character.
The champion of the church militant responds cheerfully
to the calls of duty and honor.
2. Reformed England, having destroyed the brutal
power of Rome, is firmly united to the truth in spite
of the intrigues of the Pope to win it back to allegiance.
It then goes forth against the King of Spain in obedience
to the command of Queen Elizabeth.
3. VERE THE MAINE SHETE, shift the mainsail,
BEARE UP WITH THE LAND, direct the ship toward land.
25. OUT OF HOND, at once.
43. OF TALL YOUNG MEN. An allusion to Queen
Elizabeth’s Pensioners, a band of the tallest
and handsomest young men, of the best families and
fortunes, that could be found (Warton). ALL HABLE
ARMES TO SOWND, all proper to wield armes.
57. TO THE MAYDENS, to the accompaniment of the
maidens’ timbrels.
71. IN HER SELF-RESEMBLANCE WELL BESEENE, looking
well in her resemblance to her proper self, i.e.
a king’s daughter.
73. THE RASKALL MANY, the crowd of common people.
116. OF GREAT NAME, of great celebrity, i.e.
value.
117. FITTING PURPOSE FRAME, held fitting conversation.
xiv. Kitchin and Percival think this whole passage
a clever compliment to the parsimony of the Queen’s
court.
161. THAT PROUD PAYNIM KING, probably a reference
to Philip of Spain.
168. NOR DOEN UNDO, nor undo what has been done.
173. IN SORT AS, even as.
205. ALL WERE SHE, although she had been.
IN PLACE, in various places.
313. BAIT. In Spenser’s time bear-baiting
was a favorite pastime of the people and received
royal patronage.
328. THE HOUSLING FIRE, the sacramental fire.
Spenser seems here to have in mind, not the Christian
housel or Eucharist, but the Roman marriage
rites with their symbolic fire and water.
347. TRINALL TRIPLICITIES, the threefold three
orders of the celestial hierarchy according to the
scholastic theologians. They were as follows:
(1) Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones; (2) Dominations, Virtues,
Powers; (3) Princedoms, Archangels, and Angels.
Cf. Dante’s Paradiso, xxviii, Tasso’s
Jerusalem Delivered, xviii, 96, and Milton’s
Paradise Lost, v, 748.
