Laurel · Edmund Spenser · The Faerie Queene, Book I

Canto VI

Edmund Spenser (c. 1552–1599) · 1590

iambic pentameter · ABABBCBCC · 431 lines · from The Faerie Queene, Book I

From lawlesse lust by wondrous gracefayre Una is releast:Whom salvage nation does adore,and learnes her wise beheast.

As when a ship, that flyes faire under saile,An hidden rocke escaped hath unwares,That lay in waite her wrack for to bewaile,The Marriner yet halfe amazed staresAt perill past, and yet in doubt ne daresTo joy at his foole-happie oversight:So doubly is distrest twixt joy and caresThe dreadlesse courage of this Elfin knight,Having escapt so sad ensamples in his sight.

Yet sad he was that his too hastie speedeThe faire Duess' had forst him leave behind;And yet more sad, that Una his deare dreedHer truth had staind with treason so unkind;Yet crime in her could never creature find,But for his love, and for her owne selfe sake,She wandred had from one to other Ynd,Him for to seeke, ne ever would forsake,Till her unwares the fiers Sansloy did overtake.

Who, after Archimagoes fowle defeat,Led her away into a forest wilde,And turning wrathfull fyre to lustfull heat,With beastly sin thought her to have defilde,And made the vassal of his pleasures wilde.Yet first he cast by treatie, and by traynes,Her to persuade that stubborne fort to yilde:For greater conquest of hard love he gaynes,That workes it to his will, then he that it constraines.

With fawning words he courted her awhile,And looking lovely, and oft sighing sore,Her constant hart did tempt with diverse guile,But wordes and lookes, and sighes she did abhore;As rocke of Diamond steadfast evermore,Yet for to feed his fyrie lustfull eye,He snatcht the vele that hong her face before;Then gan her beautie shyne, as brightest skyeAnd burnt his beastly hart t'efforce her chastitye.

So when he saw his flatt'ring artes to fayle,And subtile engines bett from batteree;With greedy force he gan the fort assayle,Whereof he weend possessed soone to bee,And with rich spoile of ransackt chastitee.Ah heavens! that do this hideous act behold,And heavenly virgin thus outraged see,How can ye vengeance just so long witholdAnd hurle not flashing flames upon that Paynim bold?

The pitteous maiden carefull comfortlesse,Does throw out thrilling shriekes, and shrieking cryes,The last vaine helpe of womens great distresse,And with loud plaints importuneth the skyes,That molten starres do drop like weeping eyes;And Phoebus flying so most shameful sight,His blushing face in foggy cloud implyes,And hides for shame. What wit of mortall wightCan now devise to quit a thrall from such a plight?

Eternal providence exceeding thought,Where none appeares can make herselfe a way:A wondrous way it for this Lady wrought,From Lyons clawes to pluck the griped pray.Her shrill outcryes and shriekes so loud did bray,That all the woodes and forestes did resownd;A troupe of Faunes and Satyres far awayWithin the wood were dauncing in a rownd,Whiles old Sylvanus slept in shady arber sownd:

Who when they heard that pitteous strained voice,In haste forsooke their rurall meriment,And ran towards the far rebownded noyce,To weet, what wight so loudly did lament.Unto the place they come incontinent:Whom when the raging Sarazin espide,A rude, mishapen, monstrous rablement,Whose like he never saw, he durst not bide,But got his ready steed, and fast away gan ride.

The wyld woodgods arrived in the place,There find the virgin dolefull desolate,With ruffled rayments, and faire blubbred face,As her outrageous foe had left her late;And trembling yet through feare of former hate:All stand amazed at so uncouth sight,And gin to pittie her unhappie state;All stand astonied at her beautie bright,In their rude eyes unworthy of so wofull plight.

She more amaz'd, in double dread doth dwell;And every tender part for feare doth shake:As when a greedie Wolfe, through hunger fell,A seely Lambe farre from the flocke does take,Of whom he meanes his bloudie feast to make,A Lyon spyes fast running towards him,The innocent pray in hast he does forsake,Which quit from death yet quakes in every limWith chaunge of feare, to see the Lyon looke so grim.

Such fearefull fit assaid her trembling hart,Ne word to speake, ne joynt to move she had:The salvage nation feele her secret smart,And read her sorrow in her count'nance sad;Their frowning forheads with rough hornes yclad,And rustick horror all a side doe lay;And gently grenning, show a semblance gladTo comfort her, and feare to put away,Their backward bent knees teach her humbly to obay.

The doubtfull Damzell dare not yet commitHer single person to their barbarous truth;But still twixt feare and hope amazd does sit,Late learnd what harme to hasty trust ensu'th:They in compassion of her tender youth,And wonder of her beautie soveraine,Are wonne with pitty and unwonted ruth,And all prostrate upon the lowly plaine,Do kisse her feete, and fawne on her with count'nance faine.

Their harts she ghesseth by their humble guise,And yieldes her to extremitie of time;So from the ground she fearlesse doth arise,And walketh forth without suspect of crime:They all as glad, as birdes of joyous Prime,Thence lead her forth, about her dauncing round,Shouting, and singing all a shepheards ryme,And with greene braunches strowing all the ground,Do worship her, as Queene, with olive girlond cround.

And all the way their merry pipes they sound,That all the woods with doubled Eccho ring,And with their horned feet do weare the ground,Leaping like wanton kids in pleasant Spring.So towards old Sylvanus they her bring;Who with the noyse awaked commeth outTo weet the cause, his weake steps governing,And aged limbs on Cypresse stadle stout;And with an yvie twyne his wast is girt about.

Far off he wonders, what them makes so glad,Or Bacchus merry fruit they did invent,Or Cybeles franticke rites have made them mad,They drawing nigh, unto their God presentThat flowre of faith and beautie excellent.The God himselfe, vewing that mirrhour rare,Stood long amazd, and burnt in his intent;His owne faire Dryope now he thinkes not faire,And Pholoe fowle when her to this he doth compaire.

The woodborne people fall before her flat,And worship her as Goddesse of the wood;And old Sylvanus selfe bethinkes not, whatTo thinke of wight so faire, but gazing stood,In doubt to deeme her borne of earthly brood;Sometimes Dame Venus selfe he seemes to see,But Venus never had so sober mood;Sometimes Diana he her takes to bee,But misseth bow, and shaftes, and buskins to her knee.

By vew of her he ginneth to reviveHis ancient love, and dearest Cyparisse,And calles to mind his pourtraiture alive,How faire he was, and yet not faire to this,And how he slew with glauncing dart amisseA gentle Hynd, the which the lovely boyDid love as life, above all worldly blisse;For griefe whereof the lad n'ould after joy,But pynd away in anguish and selfe-wild annoy.

The wooddy Nymphes, faire Hamadryades,Her to behold do thither runne apace,And all the troupe of light-foot NaiadesFlocke all about to see her lovely face:But when they vewed have her heavenly grace,They envy her in their malitious mind,And fly away for feare of fowle disgrace:But all the Satyres scorne their woody kind,And henceforth nothing faire but her on earth they find.

Glad of such lucke, the luckelesse lucky maid,Did her content to please their feeble eyes,And long time with that salvage people staid,To gather breath in many miseries.During which time her gentle wit she plyes,To teach them truth, which worshipt her in vaine,And made her th' Image of Idolatryes;But when their bootlesse zeale she did restraineFrom her own worship, they her Asse would worship fayn.

It fortuned a noble warlike knightBy just occasion to that forrest came,To seeke his kindred, and the lignage right,From whence he tooke his well deserved name:He had in armes abroad wonne muchell fame,And fild far lands with glorie of his might,Plaine, faithfull, true, and enimy of shame,And ever lov'd to fight for Ladies right:But in vaine glorious frayes he litle did delight.

A Satyres sonne yborne in forrest wyld,By straunge adventure as it did betyde,And there begotten of a Lady myld,Faire Thyamis the daughter of Labryde,That was in sacred bands of wedlocke tydeTo Therion, a loose unruly swayne;Who had more joy to raunge the forrest wyde,And chase the salvage beast with busie payne,Then serve his Ladies love, and wast in pleasures vayne.

The forlorne mayd did with loves longing burneAnd could not lacke her lovers company,But to the wood she goes, to serve her turne,And seeke her spouse that from her still does fly,And followes other game and venery:A Satyre chaunst her wandring for to finde,And made her person thrall unto his beastly kind.

So long in secret cabin there he heldThen home he suffred her for to retyre,For ransome leaving him the late borne childe;Whom till to ryper yeares he gan aspire,He noursled up in life and manners wilde,Emongst wild beasts and woods, from lawes of men exilde.

For all he taught the tender ymp, was butTo banish cowardize and bastard feare;His trembling hand he would him force to putUpon the Lyon and the rugged Beare;And from the she Beares teats her whelps to teare;And eke wyld roaring Buls he would him makeTo tame, and ryde their backes not made to beare;And the Robuckes in flight to overtake,That every beast for feare of him did fly and quake.

Thereby so fearlesse, and so fell he grew,That his owne sire and maister of his guiseDid often tremble at his horrid vew,And oft for dread of hurt would him advise,The angry beasts not rashly to despise,Nor too much to provoke; for he would learneThe Lyon stoup to him in lowly wise,(A lesson hard) and make the Libbard sterneLeave roaring, when in rage he for revenge did earne.

And for to make his powre approved more,Wyld beasts in yron yokes he would compell;The spotted Panther, and the tusked Bore,The Pardale swift, and the tigre cruell,The Antelope, and Wolfe both fierce and fell;And them constraine in equall teme to draw.Such joy he had, their stubborne harts to quell,And sturdie courage tame with dreadfull aw,That his beheast they feared, as a tyrans law.

His loving mother came upon a dayUnto the woods, to see her little sonne;And chaunst unwares to meet him in the way,After his sportes, and cruell pastime donne;When after him a Lyonesse did runne,That roaring all with rage, did lowd requereHer children deare, whom he away had wonne:The Lyon whelpes she saw how he did beare,And lull in rugged armes, withouten childish feare.

The fearefull Dame all quaked at the sight,And turning backe, gan fast to fly away,Untill with love revokt from vaine affright,She hardly yet perswaded was to stay,And then to him these womanish words gan say;Ah Satyrane, my dearling, and my joy,For love of me leave off this dreadfull play;To dally thus with death is no fit toy,Go find some other play-fellowes, mine own sweet boy.

In these and like delights of bloudy gameHe trayned was, till ryper yeares he raught;And there abode, whilst any beast of nameWalkt in that forest, whom he had not taughtTo feare his force: and then his courage haughtDesird of forreine foemen to be knowne,And far abroad for straunge adventures sought;In which his might was never overthrowne;But through all Faery lond his famous worth was blown.

Yet evermore it was his manner faire,After long labours and adventures spent,Unto those native woods for to repaire,To see his sire and offspring auncient.And now he thither came for like intent;Where he unwares the fairest Una found,Straunge Lady, in so straunge habiliment,Teaching the Satyres, which her sat around,Trew sacred lore, which from her sweet lips did redound.

He wondred at her wisedome heavenly rare,Whose like in womens wit he never knew;And when her curteous deeds he did compare,Gan her admire, and her sad sorrowes rew,Blaming of Fortune, which such troubles threw,And joyd to make proofe of her crueltie,On gentle Dame, so hurtlesse, and so trew:Thenceforth he kept her goodly company,And learnd her discipline of faith and veritie.

But she all vowd unto the Redcrosse knight,His wandring perill closely did lament,Ne in this new acquaintaunce could delight,But her deare heart with anguish did torment,And all her wit in secret counsels spent,How to escape. At last in privie wiseTo Satyrane she shewed her intent;Who glad to gain such favour, gan deviseHow with that pensive Maid he best might thence arise.

So on a day when Satyres all were goneTo do their service to Sylvanus old,The gentle virgin left behind aloneHe led away with courage stout and bold.Too late it was, to Satyres to be told,Or ever hope recover her againe:In vaine he seekes that having cannot hold.So fast he carried her with carefull paine,That they the woods are past, and come now to the plaine.

The better part now of the lingring day,They traveild had, whenas they farre espideA weary wight forwandring by the way,And towards him they gan in haste to ride,To weete of newes, that did abroad betide,Or tydings of her knight of the Redcrosse.But he them spying, gan to turne aside,For feare as seemd, or for some feigned losse;More greedy they of newes, fast towards him do crosse.

A silly man, in simple weedes forworne,And soild with dust of the long dried way;His sandales were with toilsome travell torne,And face all tand with scorching sunny ray,As he had traveild many a sommers day,Through boyling sands of Arabie and Ynde;And in his hand a Jacobs staffe, to stayHis wearie limbes upon: and eke behind,His scrip did hang, in which his needments he did bind.

The knight approaching nigh, of him inquerdTidings of warre, and of adventures new;But warres, nor new adventures none he herd.Then Una gan to aske, if ought he knew,Or heard abroad of that her champion trew,That in his armour bare a croslet red.Aye me, Deare dame (quoth he) well may I rewTo tell the sad sight which mine eies have red.These eies did see that knight both living and eke ded.

That cruell word her tender hart so thrild,That suddein cold did runne through every vaine,And stony horrour all her sences fildWith dying fit, that downe she fell for paine.The knight her lightly reared up againe,And comforted with curteous kind reliefe:Then, wonne from death, she bad him tellen plaineThe further processe of her hidden griefe:The lesser pangs can beare, who hath endur'd the chiefe.

Then gan the Pilgrim thus, I chaunst this day,This fatall day, that shall I ever rew,To see two knights in travell on my way(A sory sight) arraung'd in battell new,Both breathing vengeaunce, both of wrathfull hew:My fearefull flesh did tremble at their strife,To see their blades so greedily imbrew,That drunke with bloud, yet thristed after life:What more? the Redcrosse knight was slaine with Paynim knife.

Ah dearest Lord (quoth she) how might that bee,And he the stoughtest knight, that ever wonne?Ah dearest dame (quoth he) how might I seeThe thing, that might not be, and yet was donne?Where is (said Satyrane) that Paynims sonne,That him of life, and us of joy hath reft?Not far away (quoth he) he hence doth wonneForeby a fountaine, where I late him leftWashing his bloudy wounds, that through the steele were cleft.

Therewith the knight thence marched forth in hast,Whiles Una with huge heavinesse opprest,Could not for sorrow follow him so fast;And soone he came, as he the place had ghest,Whereas that Pagan proud him selfe did rest,In secret shadow by a fountaine side:Even he it was, that earst would have supprestFaire Una: whom when Satyrane espide,With fowle reprochfull words he boldly him defide.

And said, Arise thou cursed Miscreaunt,That hast with knightlesse guile and trecherous trainFaire knighthood fowly shamed, and doest vauntThat good knight of the Redcrosse to have slain:Arise, and with like treason now maintainThy guilty wrong, or els thee guilty yield.The Sarazin this hearing, rose amain,And catching up in hast his three-square shield,And shining helmet, soone him buckled to the field.

And drawing nigh him said, Ah misborne Elfe,In evill houre thy foes thee hither sent,Anothers wrongs to wreake upon thy selfe:Yet ill thou blamest me, for having blentMy name with guile and traiterous intent:That Redcrosse knight, perdie, I never slew,But had he beene, where earst his arms were lent,Th' enchaunter vaine his errour should not rew:But thou his errour shalt, I hope, now proven trew.

Therewith they gan, both furious and fell,To thunder blowes, and fiersly to assaileEach other bent his enimy to quell,That with their force they perst both plate and maile,And made wide furrowes in their fleshes fraile,That it would pitty any living eie.Large floods of bloud adowne their sides did raile;But floods of bloud could not them satisfie:Both hungred after death: both chose to win, or die.

So long they fight, and fell revenge pursue,That fainting each, themselves to breathen let,And oft refreshed, battell oft renue:As when two Bores with rancling malice met,Their gory sides fresh bleeding fiercely fret,Til breathlesse both them selves aside retire,Where foming wrath, their cruell tuskes they whet,And trample th' earth, the whiles they may respire;Then backe to fight againe, new breathed and entire.

So fiersly, when these knights had breathed once,They gan to fight returne, increasing moreTheir puissant force, and cruell rage attonce.With heaped strokes more hugely then before,That with their drerie wounds and bloudy goreThey both deformed, scarsely could be known.By this, sad Una fraught with anguish sore,Led with their noise, which through the aire was thrown:Arriv'd, wher they in erth their fruitles bloud had sown.

Whom all so soone as that proud SarazinEspide, he gan revive the memoryOf his lewd lusts, and late attempted sin,And left the doubtfull battell hastily,To catch her, newly offred to his eie:But Satyrane with strokes him turning, staid,And sternely bad him other businesse plie,Then hunt the steps of pure unspotted Maid:Wherewith he all enrag'd, these bitter speaches said.

O foolish faeries son, what fury madHath thee incenst, to hast thy doefull fate?Were it not better I that Lady had,Then that thou hadst repented it too late?Most senseless man he, that himselfe doth hateTo love another. Lo then for thine aydHere take thy lovers token on thy pate.So they two fight; the whiles the royall MaydFledd farre away, of that proud Paynim sore afrayd.

But that false Pilgrim, which that leasing told,Being in deed old Archimage, did stayIn secret shadow, all this to behold,And much rejoiced in their bloudy fray:But when he saw the Damsell passe away,He left his stond, and her pursewd apace,In hope to bring her to her last decay,But for to tell her lamentable cace,And eke this battels end, will need another place.

Words in this poem 130

lust v. i.: To list; to like. [AS. lystan. See Lust, n., and cf. List to choose.]
wondrous adv.: In a wonderful or surprising manner or degree; wonderfully. [OE. wonders, adv. (later also adj.). See Wonder, n., and cf. -wards.]
salvage n.: The act of saving a vessel, goods, or life, goods, or life, from perils of the sea. [F. salvage, OF. salver to save, F. sauver, fr. L. salvare. See Save.]
adore v. t.: To worship with profound reverence; to pay divine honors to; to honor as deity or as divine. [OE. aouren, anouren, adoren, OF. aorer, adorer, F. adorer, fr. L. adorare; ad + orare to speak, pray, os, oris, mouth. In OE. confused with honor, the French pr]
unwares adv.: Unawares; unexpectedly; -- sometimes preceded by at.
wrack n.: Wreck; ruin; destruction. [OE. wrak wreck. See Wreck.]
perill v. i.: To be in danger.
elfin a.: Relating to elves.
deare: variant of Dere, v. t. & n.
unkind a.: Having no race or kindred; childless. [See Kin kindred.]
defeat v. t.: To undo; to disfigure; to destroy. [From F. défait, OF. desfait, p. p. ofe défaire, OF. desfaire, to undo; L. dis- + facere to do. See Feat, Fact, and cf. Disfashion.]
wrathfull a.: Full of wrath; very angry; greatly incensed; ireful; passionate; as, a wrathful man.
lustfull a.: Full of lust; excited by lust Spenser. Tillotson.
beastly a.: Pertaining to, or having the form, nature, or habits of, a beast.
awhile adv.: For a while; for some time; for a short time. [Adj. a + while time, interval.]
evermore adv.: During eternity; always; forever; for an indefinite period; at all times; -- often used substantively with for.
bett a.: An early form of Better. To go bet, to go fast; to hurry.
whereof adv.: Of which; of whom; formerly, also, with which; -- used relatively.
carefull a.: Full of care; anxious; solicitous [AS. cearful.]
thrilling a.: Causing a thrill; causing tremulous excitement; deeply moving; as, a thrilling romance.
phoebus n.: Apollo; the sun god.
mortall a.: Subject to death; destined to die; as, man is mortal. [F. mortel, L. mortalis, from mors, mortis, death, fr. moriri 8die; akin to E. murder. See Murder, and cf. Filemot, Mere a lake, Mortgage.]
wight n.: A whit; a bit; a jot. [OE. wight, wiht, a wight, a whit, AS. wiht, wuht, a creature, a thing; skin to D. wicht a child, OS. & OHG. wiht a creature, thing, G. wicht a creature, Icel. v]
plight v. t.: To weave; to braid; to fold; to plait. [OE. pliten; probably through Old French, fr. LL. plectare, L. plectere. See Plait, Ply.]
bray v. t.: To pound, beat, rub, or grind small or fine. [OE. brayen, OF. breier, F. broyer to pound, grind, fr. OHG. brehhan to break. See Break.]
troupe n.: A company or troop, especially the company pf performers in a play or an opera. [F., troop. See Troop.]
whiles conj.: During the time that; while. Chaucer. Fuller.
rurall a.: Of or pertaining to the country, as distinguished from a city or town; living in the country; suitable for, or resembling, the country; rustic; as, rural scenes; a rural prospect. [F., fr. L.ruralis, fr. rus, ruris, the country. Cf. Room space, Rustic.]
weet v. i.: To know; to wit. Tyndale. [See Wit to know.]
bide v. i.: To dwell; to inhabit; to abide; to stay. [OE. biden, AS. bidan; akin to OHG. bitan, Goth. beidan, Icel. bi; perh. orig., to wait with trust, and akin to bid. See Bid, v. t., and cf. Abide.]
steed n.: A horse, especially a spirited horse for state of war; -- used chiefly in poetry or stately prose. [OE. stede, AS. steda a stud-horse, war horse, fr. stod a stud of breeding steeds; akin to G. stute a mare, Icel. stedda, sto, a stud. *163. See Stud of horses.]
dolefull a.: Full of dole or grief; expressing or exciting sorrow; sorrowful; sad; dismal.
outrageous a.: Of the nature of an outrage; exceeding the limits of right, reason, or decency; involving or doing an outrage; furious; violent; atrocious. [OF. outrageus, F. outrageux. See Outrage, n.]
astonied p. p.: Stunned; astonished. See Astony.
wofull a.: Full of woe; sorrowful; distressed with grief or calamity; afflicted; wretched; unhappy; sad.
dwell v. i.: To delay; to linger. [OE. dwellen, dwelien, to err, linger, AS. dwellan to deceive, hinder, delay, dwelian to err; akin to Icel. dvelja to delay, tarry, Sw. dväljas to dwell, Dan. dv]
farre n.: A young pig, or a litter of pigs. [See Farrow.]
hast: , 2d pers. sing. pres. of. Fave, contr. of havest.
humbly adv.: With humility; lowly.
wonne v. i.: To dwell or abide. [See 1st Wone.]
unwonted a.: Not wonted; unaccustomed; unused; not made familiar by practice; as, a child unwonted to strangers.
ruth n.: Sorrow for the misery of another; pity; tenderness. [From Rue, v.: cf. Icel. hryggedh, hrygedh.]
girlond n.: A garland; a prize. Chapman. [See Garland, n.]
cypresse n.: A rule for construing written instruments so as to conform as nearly to the intention of the parties as is consistent with law. [OF., nearly.]
wast: The second person singular of the verb be, in the indicative mood, imperfect tense; -- now used only in solemn or poetical style.
girt v. t.: To gird; to encircle; to invest by means of a girdle; to measure the girth of; as, to girt a tree. [From Girt, n., cf. Girth, v.]
invent v. t.: To come or light upon; to meet; to find. [L. inventus, p. p. of invenire to come upon, to find, invent; pref. in- in + venire to come, akin to E. come: cf. F. inventer. See Come.]
flowre n.: In the popular sense, the bloom or blossom of a plant; the showy portion, usually of a different color, shape, and texture from the foliage. [OE. flour, OF. flour, flur, flor, F. fleur, fr. L. flos, floris. Cf. Blossom, Effloresce, Floret, Florid, Florin, Flour, Flourish.]
dame n.: A mistress of a family, who is a lady; a womam in authority; especially, a lady. [F. dame, LL. domna, fr. L. domina mistress, lady, fem. of dominus master, ruler, lord; akin to domare to tame, subdue. See Tame, and cf. Dam mother, Dan, Danger]
diana n.: The daughter of Jupiter and Latona; a virgin goddess who presided over hunting, chastity, and marriage; -- identified with the Greek goddess Artemis. [L. Diana.]
apace adv.: With a quick pace; quick; fast; speedily. [Pref. a- + pace. OE. a pas at a walk, in which a is the article. See Pace.]
henceforth adv.: From this time forward; henceforward.
asse n.: A small foxlike animal (Vulpes cama) of South Africa, valued for its fur.
faithfull a.: Full of faith, or having faith; disposed to believe, especially in the declarations and promises of God.
glorious a.: Exhibiting attributes, qualities, or acts that are worthy of or receive glory; noble; praiseworthy; excellent; splendid; illustrious; inspiring admiration; as, glorious deeds. [OF. glorios, glorious, F. glorieux, fr. L. gloriosus. See Glory, n.]
sonne n.: A male child; the male issue, or offspring, of a parent, father or mother. [OE. sone, sune, AS. sunu; akin to D. zoon, OS., OFries., & OHG. sunu, G. sohn, Icel. sonr, Sw. son, Dan. sön, Goth. sunus, Lith. sunus, Russ. suin', Skr. sunu (]
spouse v. t.: To wed; to espouse. [See Espouse, and Spouse, n.]
childe n.: A cognomen formerly prefixed to his name by the oldest son, until he succeeded to his ancestral titles, or was knighted; as, Childe Roland.
aspire v. t.: To aspire to; to long for; to try to reach; to mount to.
emongst: , (prep. Among.
cowardize v. t.: To render cowardly.
sire n.: A lord, master, or other person in authority. See Sir. [F. sire, originally, an older person. See Sir.]
maister n.: Master. Chaucer.
horrid a.: Rough; rugged; bristling. [L. horridus. See Horror, and cf. Ordure.]
angry a.: Troublesome; vexatious; rigorous. [See Anger.]
despise v. t.: To look down upon with disfavor or contempt; to contemn; to scorn; to disdain; to have a low opinion or contemptuous dislike of. [OF. despis-, in some forms of despire to despise, fr. L. despicere, despectum, to look down upon, despise; de- + spicere, specere, to look. See Spy, and cf. Des]
stoup n.: A flagon; a vessel or measure for liquids. [See Stoop a vessel.]
libbard n.: A leopard. Spenser. Keats. [See Leopard.]
compell v. t.: To drive or urge with force, or irresistibly; to force; to constrain; to oblige; to necessitate, either by physical or moral force. [L. compellere, compilstum, to drive together, to compel, urge; com- + pellere to drive: cf. OF. compellir. See Pulse.]
tusked a.: Furnished with tusks.
cruell a.: Disposed to give pain to others; willing or pleased to hurt, torment, or afflict; destitute of sympathetic kindness and pity; savage; inhuman; hard-hearted; merciless. [F. cruel, fr. L. crudelis, fr. crudus. See Crude.]
quell v. t.: To take the life of; to kill. [OE. quellen to kill, AS. cwellan, causative of cwelan to die; akin to OHG. quellen to torment, Icel. kvelja. See Quail to cower.]
dreadfull a.: Full of dread or terror; fearful.
pastime n.: That which amuses, and serves to make time pass agreeably; sport; amusement; diversion. [Pass + time: cf. F. passetemps.]
lull v. t.: To cause to rest by soothing influences; to compose; to calm; to soothe; to quiet. [Akin to OD. lullen to sing to sleep, G. lullen, Dan. lulle, Sw. lulla; all of imitative origin. Cf. Loll, Lollard.]
untill prep.: To; unto; towards; -- used of material objects. [OE. until, ontil; un- (as in unto) + til till; cf. Dan. indtil, Sw. intill. See Unto, and Till, prep.]
dally v. i.: To waste time in effeminate or voluptuous pleasures, or in idleness; to fool away time; to delay unnecessarily; to tarry; to trifle. [OE. , dailien; cf. Icel. pylja to talk, G. dallen, dalen, dahlen, to trifle, talk nonsense, OSw. tule a droll or funny man; or AS. dol foolish, E. dull.]
abode n.: Act of waiting; delay. [OE. abad, abood, fr. abiden to abide. See Abide. For the change of vowel, cf. abode, imp. of abide.]
haught a.: High; elevated; hence, haughty; proud. [See Haughty.]
habiliment n.: A garment; an article of clothing. Camden. [F. habillement, fr. habiller to dress, clothe, orig., to make fit, make ready, fr. habile apt, skillful, L. habilis. See Habile.]
redound v. i.: To roll back, as a wave or flood; to be sent or driven back; to flow back, as a consequence or effect; to conduce; to contribute; to result. [F. redonder, L. redundare; pref. red-, re-, re- + undare to rise in waves or surges, fr. unda a wave. See Undulate, and cf. Redundant.]
admire v. t.: To regard with wonder or astonishment; to view with surprise; to marvel at. [F. admirer, fr. L. admirari; ad + mirari to wonder, for smirari, akin to Gr. smi, and E. smile.]
thenceforth adv.: From that time; thereafter.
goodly a.: Pleasant; agreeable; desirable. [OE. godlich, AS. g. See Good, and Like.]
favour n.: Kind regard; propitious aspect; countenance; friendly disposition; kindness; good will. [Written also favour.]
betide v. t.: To happen to; to befall; to come to ; as, woe betide the wanderer. [OE. bitiden; pref. bi-, be- + tiden, fr. AS. tidan, to happen, fr. tid time. See Tide.]
losse n.: Praise. See Loos.
crosse n.: The implement with which the ball is thrown and caught in the game of lacrosse.
travell v. i.: To labor; to travail. Hooker. [Properly, to labor, and the same word as travail.]
scorching a.: Burning; parching or shriveling with heat.
sunny a.: Of or pertaining to the sun; proceeding from, or resembling the sun; hence, shining; bright; brilliant; radiant.
scrip n.: A small bag; a wallet; a satchel. [OE. scrippe, probably of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. & OSw. skreppa, and also LL. scrippum, OF. esquerpe, escrepe, F. écharpe scarf. Cf. Scarp, Scarf a piece of dr]
ought p. p.: Was or were under obligation to pay; owed. [Orig. the preterit of the verb to owe. OE. oughte, aughte, ahte, AS. ahte. sq. root110. See Owe.]
armour n.: Defensive arms for the body; any clothing or covering worn to protect one's person in battle. [OE. armure, fr. F. armure, OF. armeure, fr. L. armatura. See Armature.]
quoth v. t.: Said; spoke; uttered; -- used only in the first and third persons in the past tenses, and always followed by its nominative, the word or words said being the object; as, quoth I. quoth he. [AS.cweedhan, imp cwæedh, pl. cwædon; akin to OS. queedhan, OHG. quethan, quedan, Icel. kveedha, Goth. qiþan. sq. root22. Cf. Bequeath.]
horrour n.: A bristling up; a rising into roughness; tumultuous movement. [Formerly written horrour.]
tellen n.: Any species of Tellina.
fatall a.: Proceeding from, or appointed by, fate or destiny; necessary; inevitable. [L. fatalis, fr. fatum: cf. F. fatal. See Fate.]
shall v. i.: To owe; to be under obligation for. [OE. shal, schal, imp. sholde, scholde, AS. scal, sceal, I am obliged, imp. scolde, sceolde, inf. sculan; akin to OS. skulan, pres. skal, imp. skolda, D. zullen,]
sory n.: Green vitriol, or some earth imregnated with it.
battell n.: A single combat; as, trial by battel. See Wager of battel, under Wager. [Obs. form. of Battle.]
strife n.: The act of striving; earnest endeavor. [OF. estrif. See Strive.]
reft n.: A chink; a rift. See Rift. Rom. of R.
foreby prep.: Near; hard by; along; past. See Forby. [Fore + by.]
therewith adv.: With that or this.
whereas adv.: At which place; where.
boldly adv.: In a bold manner. [AS. bealdlice.]
cursed a.: Deserving a curse; execrable; hateful; detestable; abominable.
amain adv.: With might; with full force; vigorously; violently; exceedingly. [Pref. a- + main. See 2d Main, n.]
blent p. p.: Blinded. Also (Chaucer), 3d sing. pres. Blindeth.
errour n.: A wandering; a roving or irregular course. [OF. error, errur, F. erreur, L. error, fr. errare to err. See Err.]
shalt: 2d per. sing. of Shall.
hungred a.: Hungered; hungry.
gory a.: Covered with gore or clotted blood. [From Gore.]
whet v. t.: To rub or on with some substance, as a piece of stone, for the purpose of sharpening; to sharpen by attrition; as, to whet a knife. [AS. hwettan; akin to D. wetten, G. wetzen, OHG. wezzen, Icel. hvetja, Sw. vättja, and AS. hwæt vigorous, brave, OS. hwat, OHG. waz, was, sharp, Icel. hvatr, bol]
respire v. i.: To take breath again; hence, to take rest or refreshment. [L. respirare, respiratum; pref. re- re- + spirare to breathe: cf. F. respirer. See Spirit.]
puissant a.: Powerful; strong; mighty; forcible; as, a puissant prince or empire. [F., originally, a p. pr. formed fr. L. posse to be able: cf. L. potens powerful. See Potent.]
attonce adv.: At once; together. [At + once.]
fraught n.: A freight; a cargo. [OE.fraight, fraght; akin to Dan. fragt, Sw. frakt, D. vracht, G. fracht, cf. OHG. fr merit, reward; perh. from corresponding to E. for + The root of E. own. Cf.]
wher pron.: Whether. [Sometimes written whe'r.] Piers Plowman. [See Whether.]
lewd a.: Not clerical; laic; laical; hence, unlearned; simple. [OE.lewed, lewd, lay, ignorant, vile, AS. l laical, belonging to the laity.]
unspotted a.: Not spotted; free from spot or stain; especially, free from moral stain; unblemished; immaculate; as, an unspotted reputation.
wherewith adv.: With which; -- used relatively.
pate n.: A pie. See Patty. [F. pâté.]
royall a.: Kingly; pertaining to the crown or the sovereign; suitable for a king or queen; regal; as, royal power or prerogative; royal domains; the royal family; royal state. [OE. roial, riall, real, OF. roial. reial, F. royal, fr. L. regalis, fr. rex, regis, king. See Rich, and cf. regal, real a coin, Rial.]
leasing n.: The act of lying; falsehood; a lie or lies. [AS. leásung, fr. leás loose, false, deceitful. See -less, Loose, a.]
archimage n.: The high priest of the Persian Magi, or worshipers of fire.
damsell n.: A young person, either male or female, of noble or gentle extraction; as, Damsel Pepin; Damsel Richard, Prince of Wales. [OE. damosel, damesel, damisel, damsel, fr. OF. damoisele, damisele, gentlewoman, F. demoiselle young lady; cf. OF. damoisel young nobleman, F. damoiseau; fr. LL]
passe a.: Past; gone by; hence, past one's prime; worn; faded; as, a passée belle. Ld. Lytton. [F.]
stond n.: Stop; halt; hindrance. [For stand.]

Definitions and etymologies from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913.

About this text

Canto VI is in the public domain. This text is taken from The Faerie Queene, Book I, Project Gutenberg ebook #15272; the transcription's header, footer and licence were removed and nothing else was changed. You may copy, print and reuse it freely.

Cite as: Edmund Spenser, Canto VI, in The Faerie Queene, Book I (1590), text of Project Gutenberg ebook #15272, Laurel, https://laurelpoetry.com/poem/faerie-queene/canto-vi.html, id L15821.

Form and metre

Canto VI is 431 lines in 49 stanzas. The rhyme scheme is ABABBCBCC, complete in 46 of its 49 stanzas. The metre is iambic pentameter, measured from the stress the words themselves fix (confidence 89%). 96% of its stressed syllables fall where the metre puts the beat. The lines average 10.2 syllables. 15 lines end on an unstressed syllable, a feminine ending. 15% of the lines run on without a stop at the line end. Rhymes that have moved apart since the poem was written: blood / good, mood / stood, powre / stowre.

See other poems in iambic pentameter.

Measured by Laurel's pipeline, not copied from a handbook: how stress and metre are counted, how rhyme is lettered, how a drifted rhyme is found. Where the dictionary cannot confirm a rhyme the letter is withheld, not guessed.

Rhyme words, stanza by stanza

The word that ends each line, lettered by the rhyme it makes; a dash is a line whose rhyme the dictionary could not confirm.

1 -A-A grace · releast^A · adore · beheast^A
2 ABABBCBCC saile^A · unwares^B · bewaile^A · stares^B · dares^B · oversight^C · cares^B · knight^C · sight^C
3 ABABBCBCC speede^A · behind^B · dreed^A · unkind^B · find^B · sake^C · ynd^B · forsake^C · overtake^C
4 ABABBCBCC defeat^A · wilde^B · heat^A · defilde^B · wilde^B · traynes^C · yilde^B · gaynes^C · constraines^C
5 ABABBCBCC awhile^A · sore^B · guile^A · abhore^B · evermore^B · eye^C · before^B · skye^C · chastitye^C
6 ABABBCBCC fayle^A · batteree^B · assayle^A · bee^B · chastitee^B · behold^C · see^B · withold^C · bold^C
7 ABABBCBCC comfortlesse^A · cryes^B · distresse^A · skyes^B · eyes^B · sight^C · implyes^B · wight^C · plight^C
8 ABABBCBCC thought^A · way^B · wrought^A · pray^B · bray^B · resownd^C · away^B · rownd^C · sownd^C
9 ABABBCBCC voice^A · meriment^B · noyce^A · lament^B · incontinent^B · espide^C · rablement^B · bide^C · ride^C
10 ABABBCBCC place^A · desolate^B · face^A · late^B · hate^B · sight^C · state^B · bright^C · plight^C
11 ABABBCBCC dwell^A · shake^B · fell^A · take^B · make^B · him^C · forsake^B · lim^C · grim^C
12 ABABBCBCC hart^A · had^B · smart^A · sad^B · yclad^B · lay^C · glad^B · away^C · obay^C
13 ABABBCBCC commit^A · truth^B · sit^A · ensu'th^B · youth^B · soveraine^C · ruth^B · plaine^C · faine^C
14 ABABBCBCC guise^A · time^B · arise^A · crime^B · prime^B · round^C · ryme^B · ground^C · cround^C
15 ABABBCBCC sound^A · ring^B · ground^A · spring^B · bring^B · out^C · governing^B · stout^C · about^C
16 ABABBCBCC glad^A · invent^B · mad^A · present^B · excellent^B · rare^C · intent^B · faire^C · compaire^C
17 ABABBCBCC flat^A · wood^B · what^A · stood^B · brood^B · see^C · mood^B · bee^C · knee^C
18 ABABBCBCC revive^A · cyparisse^B · alive^A · this^B · amisse^B · boy^C · blisse^B · joy^C · annoy^C
19 ABABBCBCC hamadryades^A · apace^B · naiades^A · face^B · grace^B · mind^C · disgrace^B · kind^C · find^C
20 ABABBCBCC maid^A · eyes^B · staid^A · miseries^B · plyes^B · vaine^C · idolatryes^B · restraine^C · fayn^C
21 ABABBCBCC knight^A · came^B · right^A · name^B · fame^B · might^C · shame^B · right^C · delight^C
22 ABABBCBCC wyld^A · betyde^B · myld^A · labryde^B · tyde^B · swayne^C · wyde^B · payne^C · vayne^C
23 A-A--BB burne^A · company · turne^A · fly · venery · finde^B · kind^B
24 -ABABB held · retyre^A · childe^B · aspire^A · wilde^B · exilde^B
25 ABABBCBCC but^A · feare^B · put^A · beare^B · teare^B · make^C · beare^B · overtake^C · quake^C
26 ABABBCBCC grew^A · guise^B · vew^A · advise^B · despise^B · learne^C · wise^B · sterne^C · earne^C
27 ABABBCBCC more^A · compell^B · bore^A · cruell^B · fell^B · draw^C · quell^B · aw^C · law^C
28 ABABBCBCC day^A · sonne^B · way^A · donne^B · runne^B · requere^C · wonne^B · beare^C · feare^C
29 ABABBCBCC sight^A · away^B · affright^A · stay^B · say^B · joy^C · play^B · toy^C · boy^C
30 ABABBCBCC game^A · raught^B · name^A · taught^B · haught^B · knowne^C · sought^B · overthrowne^C · blown^C
31 ABABBCBCC faire^A · spent^B · repaire^A · auncient^B · intent^B · found^C · habiliment^B · around^C · redound^C
32 ABABBCBCC rare^A · knew^B · compare^A · rew^B · threw^B · crueltie^C · trew^B · company^C · veritie^C
33 ABABBCBCC knight^A · lament^B · delight^A · torment^B · spent^B · wise^C · intent^B · devise^C · arise^C
34 ABABBCBCC gone^A · old^B · alone^A · bold^B · told^B · againe^C · hold^B · paine^C · plaine^C
35 ABABBCBCC day^A · espide^B · way^A · ride^B · betide^B · redcrosse^C · aside^B · losse^C · crosse^C
36 ABABBCBCC forworne^A · way^B · torne^A · ray^B · day^B · ynde^C · stay^B · behind^C · bind^C
37 ABABBCBCC inquerd^A · new^B · herd^A · knew^B · trew^B · red^C · rew^B · red^C · ded^C
38 ABABBCBCC thrild^A · vaine^B · fild^A · paine^B · againe^B · reliefe^C · plaine^B · griefe^C · chiefe^C
39 ABABBCBCC day^A · rew^B · way^A · new^B · hew^B · strife^C · imbrew^B · life^C · knife^C
40 ABABBCBCC bee^A · wonne^B · see^A · donne^B · sonne^B · reft^C · wonne^B · left^C · cleft^C
41 ABABBCBCC hast^A · opprest^B · fast^A · ghest^B · rest^B · side^C · supprest^B · espide^C · defide^C
42 ABABBCBCC miscreaunt^A · train^B · vaunt^A · slain^B · maintain^B · yield^C · amain^B · shield^C · field^C
43 ABABBCBCC elfe^A · sent^B · selfe^A · blent^B · intent^B · slew^C · lent^B · rew^C · trew^C
44 ABABBCBCC fell^A · assaile^B · quell^A · maile^B · fraile^B · eie^C · raile^B · satisfie^C · die^C
45 ABABBCBCC pursue^A · let^B · renue^A · met^B · fret^B · retire^C · whet^B · respire^C · entire^C
46 ABABBCBCC once^A · more^B · attonce^A · before^B · gore^B · known^C · sore^B · thrown^C · sown^C
47 ABABBCBCC sarazin^A · memory^B · sin^A · hastily^B · eie^B · staid^C · plie^B · maid^C · said^C
48 ABABBCBCC mad^A · fate^B · had^A · late^B · hate^B · ayd^C · pate^B · mayd^C · afrayd^C
49 ABABBCBCC told^A · stay^B · behold^A · fray^B · away^B · apace^C · decay^B · cace^C · place^C

Scansion, line by line

Each line with its syllable count and the stresses the words themselves fix: / stressed, ˘ unstressed, · a syllable the word leaves free and the metre decides. Read against iambic pentameter. How this is done.

Line	Syl.	Stress
From lawlesse lust by wondrous grace	8	·····/˘·
fayre Una is releast:	6	·/˘···
Whom salvage nation does adore,	8	·/˘/˘·˘/
and learnes her wise beheast.	6	······
As when a ship, that flyes faire under saile,	11	···········
An hidden rocke escaped hath unwares,	10	·/˘·˘/˘·˘/
That lay in waite her wrack for to bewaile,	11	···········
The Marriner yet halfe amazed stares	10	·/˘˘··˘/˘·
At perill past, and yet in doubt ne dares	10	·/˘·······
To joy at his foole-happie oversight:	11	········/˘·
So doubly is distrest twixt joy and cares	10	·/˘·······
The dreadlesse courage of this Elfin knight,	10	···/˘··/˘·
Having escapt so sad ensamples in his sight.	11	/˘·········
Yet sad he was that his too hastie speede	10	·······/˘·
The faire Duess' had forst him leave behind;	9	·········
And yet more sad, that Una his deare dreed	10	·····/˘···
Her truth had staind with treason so unkind;	10	·····/˘·˘/
Yet crime in her could never creature find,	10	·····/˘/˘·
But for his love, and for her owne selfe sake,	10	··········
She wandred had from one to other Ynd,	10	·/˘····/˘·
Him for to seeke, ne ever would forsake,	10	·····/˘·˘/
Till her unwares the fiers Sansloy did overtake.	12	··˘/·····/˘·
Who, after Archimagoes fowle defeat,	10	······/˘˘/
Led her away into a forest wilde,	10	··˘/···/˘·
And turning wrathfull fyre to lustfull heat,	10	·/˘····/˘·
With beastly sin thought her to have defilde,	10	·/˘·······
And made the vassal of his pleasures wilde.	10	···/˘··/˘·
Yet first he cast by treatie, and by traynes,	10	··········
Her to persuade that stubborne fort to yilde:	10	··˘/······
For greater conquest of hard love he gaynes,	10	·/˘/˘·····
That workes it to his will, then he that it constraines.	12	··········˘/
With fawning words he courted her awhile,	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
And looking lovely, and oft sighing sore,	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
Her constant hart did tempt with diverse guile,	10	·/˘····˘/·
But wordes and lookes, and sighes she did abhore;	10	··········
As rocke of Diamond steadfast evermore,	10	···/˘/·/˘·
Yet for to feed his fyrie lustfull eye,	10	·······/˘·
He snatcht the vele that hong her face before;	11	···········
Then gan her beautie shyne, as brightest skye	10	·······/˘·
And burnt his beastly hart t'efforce her chastitye.	12	···/˘·······
So when he saw his flatt'ring artes to fayle,	12	·······/˘···
And subtile engines bett from batteree;	10	·/˘/˘·····
With greedy force he gan the fort assayle,	11	·/˘········
Whereof he weend possessed soone to bee,	10	····˘/˘···
And with rich spoile of ransackt chastitee.	11	···········
Ah heavens! that do this hideous act behold,	11	·/˘···/˘·˘/
And heavenly virgin thus outraged see,	10	·/˘˘/˘·/··
How can ye vengeance just so long withold	10	···/˘·····
And hurle not flashing flames upon that Paynim bold?	13	····/˘····/˘·
The pitteous maiden carefull comfortlesse,	10	···/˘/˘···
Does throw out thrilling shriekes, and shrieking cryes,	10	···/˘··/˘·
The last vaine helpe of womens great distresse,	10	·····/˘···
And with loud plaints importuneth the skyes,	10	··········
That molten starres do drop like weeping eyes;	10	·/˘····/˘·
And Phoebus flying so most shameful sight,	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
His blushing face in foggy cloud implyes,	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
And hides for shame. What wit of mortall wight	10	·······/˘·
Can now devise to quit a thrall from such a plight?	12	··˘/········
Eternal providence exceeding thought,	10	˘/˘/˘˘˘/˘·
Where none appeares can make herselfe a way:	10	··˘/······
A wondrous way it for this Lady wrought,	10	·/˘····/˘·
From Lyons clawes to pluck the griped pray.	10	·/˘·····˘·
Her shrill outcryes and shriekes so loud did bray,	10	··/·······
That all the woodes and forestes did resownd;	10	·····/˘···
A troupe of Faunes and Satyres far away	10	········˘/
Within the wood were dauncing in a rownd,	10	··········
Whiles old Sylvanus slept in shady arber sownd:	11	··/˘··/˘···
Who when they heard that pitteous strained voice,	10	········˘·
In haste forsooke their rurall meriment,	10	·····/˘···
And ran towards the far rebownded noyce,	10	··········
To weet, what wight so loudly did lament.	10	·····/˘·˘/
Unto the place they come incontinent:	10	······˘/˘˘
Whom when the raging Sarazin espide,	10	···/˘˘˘/··
A rude, mishapen, monstrous rablement,	10	·····/˘···
Whose like he never saw, he durst not bide,	10	···/˘·····
But got his ready steed, and fast away gan ride.	12	···/˘···˘/··
The wyld woodgods arrived in the place,	10	····˘/˘···
There find the virgin dolefull desolate,	10	···/˘/˘/˘·
With ruffled rayments, and faire blubbred face,	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
As her outrageous foe had left her late;	10	··˘/˘·····
And trembling yet through feare of former hate:	10	·/˘····/˘·
All stand amazed at so uncouth sight,	10	··˘/˘··//·
And gin to pittie her unhappie state;	10	··········
All stand astonied at her beautie bright,	10	··˘/˘·····
In their rude eyes unworthy of so wofull plight.	12	····˘/˘·····
She more amaz'd, in double dread doth dwell;	10	··˘/·/˘···
And every tender part for feare doth shake:	10	·/˘/˘·····
As when a greedie Wolfe, through hunger fell,	10	·······/˘·
A seely Lambe farre from the flocke does take,	10	·/˘·······
Of whom he meanes his bloudie feast to make,	10	··········
A Lyon spyes fast running towards him,	10	·/˘··/˘···
The innocent pray in hast he does forsake,	10	·/˘·····˘/
Which quit from death yet quakes in every lim	10	·······/˘·
With chaunge of feare, to see the Lyon looke so grim.	12	·······/˘···
Such fearefull fit assaid her trembling hart,	11	········/˘·
Ne word to speake, ne joynt to move she had:	10	··········
The salvage nation feele her secret smart,	11	·/˘/˘···/˘·
And read her sorrow in her count'nance sad;	10	···/˘·····
Their frowning forheads with rough hornes yclad,	10	·/˘·······
And rustick horror all a side doe lay;	10	···/˘·····
And gently grenning, show a semblance glad	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
To comfort her, and feare to put away,	10	·/˘·····˘/
Their backward bent knees teach her humbly to obay.	12	·/˘····/˘···
The doubtfull Damzell dare not yet commit	10	·/˘·····˘/
Her single person to their barbarous truth;	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
But still twixt feare and hope amazd does sit,	10	··········
Late learnd what harme to hasty trust ensu'th:	10	·····/˘···
They in compassion of her tender youth,	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
And wonder of her beautie soveraine,	10	·/˘·······
Are wonne with pitty and unwonted ruth,	10	······˘/˘·
And all prostrate upon the lowly plaine,	10	··/˘···/˘·
Do kisse her feete, and fawne on her with count'nance faine.	12	············
Their harts she ghesseth by their humble guise,	10	·······/˘·
And yieldes her to extremitie of time;	10	··········
So from the ground she fearlesse doth arise,	10	········˘/
And walketh forth without suspect of crime:	10	·/˘···˘/··
They all as glad, as birdes of joyous Prime,	10	·······/˘·
Thence lead her forth, about her dauncing round,	10	··········
Shouting, and singing all a shepheards ryme,	10	/˘·/˘··/˘·
And with greene braunches strowing all the ground,	10	·····/˘···
Do worship her, as Queene, with olive girlond cround.	12	·/˘····/˘/˘·
And all the way their merry pipes they sound,	10	·····/˘···
That all the woods with doubled Eccho ring,	10	·····/˘···
And with their horned feet do weare the ground,	10	····˘·····
Leaping like wanton kids in pleasant Spring.	10	/˘·/˘··/˘·
So towards old Sylvanus they her bring;	10	····/˘˘···
Who with the noyse awaked commeth out	10	····˘/˘/˘·
To weet the cause, his weake steps governing,	10	·······/˘˘
And aged limbs on Cypresse stadle stout;	9	·········
And with an yvie twyne his wast is girt about.	12	············
Far off he wonders, what them makes so glad,	10	···/˘·····
Or Bacchus merry fruit they did invent,	10	·/˘/˘···˘/
Or Cybeles franticke rites have made them mad,	10	··········
They drawing nigh, unto their God present	10	·/˘·····˘/
That flowre of faith and beautie excellent.	11	·/˘·····/˘˘
The God himselfe, vewing that mirrhour rare,	10	··········
Stood long amazd, and burnt in his intent;	10	········˘/
His owne faire Dryope now he thinkes not faire,	9	·········
And Pholoe fowle when her to this he doth compaire.	13	···/˘········
The woodborne people fall before her flat,	10	···/˘·····
And worship her as Goddesse of the wood;	10	·/˘·······
And old Sylvanus selfe bethinkes not, what	10	··/˘˘·····
To thinke of wight so faire, but gazing stood,	10	·······/˘·
In doubt to deeme her borne of earthly brood;	10	·······/˘·
Sometimes Dame Venus selfe he seemes to see,	10	˘/·/˘·····
But Venus never had so sober mood;	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
Sometimes Diana he her takes to bee,	10	˘/˘/˘·····
But misseth bow, and shaftes, and buskins to her knee.	12	·/˘·········
By vew of her he ginneth to revive	10	·····/˘·˘/
His ancient love, and dearest Cyparisse,	10	·/˘··/˘···
And calles to mind his pourtraiture alive,	10	········˘/
How faire he was, and yet not faire to this,	10	··········
And how he slew with glauncing dart amisse	10	········/˘
A gentle Hynd, the which the lovely boy	10	·/˘····/˘·
Did love as life, above all worldly blisse;	10	·······/˘·
For griefe whereof the lad n'ould after joy,	10	··········
But pynd away in anguish and selfe-wild annoy.	12	··˘/·/˘···˘/
The wooddy Nymphes, faire Hamadryades,	8	········
Her to behold do thither runne apace,	10	··˘/·/˘·˘/
And all the troupe of light-foot Naiades	8	········
Flocke all about to see her lovely face:	10	·······/˘·
But when they vewed have her heavenly grace,	10	······/˘˘·
They envy her in their malitious mind,	10	·/˘·······
And fly away for feare of fowle disgrace:	11	··˘/···/˘˘/
But all the Satyres scorne their woody kind,	10	·······/˘·
And henceforth nothing faire but her on earth they find.	12	·///˘·······
Glad of such lucke, the luckelesse lucky maid,	11	········/˘·
Did her content to please their feeble eyes,	10	··˘/···/˘·
And long time with that salvage people staid,	10	·····/˘/˘·
To gather breath in many miseries.	10	·/˘··/˘/˘˘
During which time her gentle wit she plyes,	10	/˘···/˘···
To teach them truth, which worshipt her in vaine,	10	··········
And made her th' Image of Idolatryes;	10	···/˘·˘/˘˘
But when their bootlesse zeale she did restraine	11	···········
From her own worship, they her Asse would worship fayn.	12	···/˘····/˘·
It fortuned a noble warlike knight	10	·/˘˘·/˘/··
By just occasion to that forrest came,	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
To seeke his kindred, and the lignage right,	10	···/˘·····
From whence he tooke his well deserved name:	10	······˘/˘·
He had in armes abroad wonne muchell fame,	10	····˘/····
And fild far lands with glorie of his might,	10	··········
Plaine, faithfull, true, and enimy of shame,	10	·/˘·······
And ever lov'd to fight for Ladies right:	10	·/˘····/˘·
But in vaine glorious frayes he litle did delight.	12	···/˘··/˘·˘/
A Satyres sonne yborne in forrest wyld,	10	·······/˘·
By straunge adventure as it did betyde,	10	··˘/˘·····
And there begotten of a Lady myld,	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
Faire Thyamis the daughter of Labryde,	9	····/˘···
That was in sacred bands of wedlocke tyde	10	···/˘·····
To Therion, a loose unruly swayne;	9	·····˘/˘·
Who had more joy to raunge the forrest wyde,	10	·······/˘·
And chase the salvage beast with busie payne,	10	···/˘·····
Then serve his Ladies love, and wast in pleasures vayne.	12	···/˘····/˘·
The forlorne mayd did with loves longing burne	10	·······/˘·
And could not lacke her lovers company,	10	·····/˘/˘˘
But to the wood she goes, to serve her turne,	10	··········
And seeke her spouse that from her still does fly,	10	··········
And followes other game and venery:	10	·/˘/˘··/˘˘
A Satyre chaunst her wandring for to finde,	10	·····/˘···
And made her person thrall unto his beastly kind.	12	···/˘····/˘·
So long in secret cabin there he held	10	···/˘/˘···
Then home he suffred her for to retyre,	10	···/˘·····
For ransome leaving him the late borne childe;	10	·/˘/˘·····
Whom till to ryper yeares he gan aspire,	10	········˘/
He noursled up in life and manners wilde,	10	··˘····/˘·
Emongst wild beasts and woods, from lawes of men exilde.	12	············
For all he taught the tender ymp, was but	10	·····/˘···
To banish cowardize and bastard feare;	10	·/˘/˘˘·/˘·
His trembling hand he would him force to put	10	·/˘·······
Upon the Lyon and the rugged Beare;	10	···/˘··/˘·
And from the she Beares teats her whelps to teare;	10	··········
And eke wyld roaring Buls he would him make	10	···/˘·····
To tame, and ryde their backes not made to beare;	10	··········
And the Robuckes in flight to overtake,	10	··/˘···/˘·
That every beast for feare of him did fly and quake.	12	·/˘·········
Thereby so fearlesse, and so fell he grew,	10	··········
That his owne sire and maister of his guise	10	···/·/˘···
Did often tremble at his horrid vew,	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
And oft for dread of hurt would him advise,	10	········˘/
The angry beasts not rashly to despise,	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
Nor too much to provoke; for he would learne	10	····˘/····
The Lyon stoup to him in lowly wise,	10	·/˘····/˘·
(A lesson hard) and make the Libbard sterne	10	·/˘····/˘·
Leave roaring, when in rage he for revenge did earne.	12	·/˘·····˘/··
And for to make his powre approved more,	10	·····/˘˘/·
Wyld beasts in yron yokes he would compell;	10	········˘/
The spotted Panther, and the tusked Bore,	10	·/˘/˘···˘·
The Pardale swift, and the tigre cruell,	10	·/˘···/˘/˘
The Antelope, and Wolfe both fierce and fell;	10	·/˘·······
And them constraine in equall teme to draw.	10	·····/˘···
Such joy he had, their stubborne harts to quell,	10	··········
And sturdie courage tame with dreadfull aw,	10	···/˘··/˘·
That his beheast they feared, as a tyrans law.	11	···········
His loving mother came upon a day	10	·/˘/˘·····
Unto the woods, to see her little sonne;	10	·······/˘·
And chaunst unwares to meet him in the way,	10	··˘/······
After his sportes, and cruell pastime donne;	10	·····/˘/··
When after him a Lyonesse did runne,	9	·········
That roaring all with rage, did lowd requere	10	·/˘·····˘/
Her children deare, whom he away had wonne:	10	·/˘···˘/··
The Lyon whelpes she saw how he did beare,	10	·/˘·······
And lull in rugged armes, withouten childish feare.	12	···/˘·˘/˘/˘·
The fearefull Dame all quaked at the sight,	10	··········
And turning backe, gan fast to fly away,	10	·/˘·····˘/
Untill with love revokt from vaine affright,	10	˘/······˘/
She hardly yet perswaded was to stay,	10	·/˘·······
And then to him these womanish words gan say;	11	·····/˘˘···
Ah Satyrane, my dearling, and my joy,	10	·····/˘···
For love of me leave off this dreadfull play;	10	·······/˘·
To dally thus with death is no fit toy,	10	·/˘·······
Go find some other play-fellowes, mine own sweet boy.	12	···/˘·/·····
In these and like delights of bloudy game	10	····˘/····
He trayned was, till ryper yeares he raught;	10	··˘·······
And there abode, whilst any beast of name	10	··˘/·/˘···
Walkt in that forest, whom he had not taught	10	···/˘·····
To feare his force: and then his courage haught	10	·······/˘·
Desird of forreine foemen to be knowne,	10	··········
And far abroad for straunge adventures sought;	10	··˘/··˘/˘·
In which his might was never overthrowne;	10	·····/˘···
But through all Faery lond his famous worth was blown.	12	·······/˘···
Yet evermore it was his manner faire,	10	·/˘····/˘·
After long labours and adventures spent,	10	···/˘·˘/˘·
Unto those native woods for to repaire,	10	···/˘·····
To see his sire and offspring auncient.	10	···/˘·/···
And now he thither came for like intent;	10	···/˘···˘/
Where he unwares the fairest Una found,	10	··˘/·/˘/˘·
Straunge Lady, in so straunge habiliment,	10	·/˘···˘/˘˘
Teaching the Satyres, which her sat around,	10	/˘········
Trew sacred lore, which from her sweet lips did redound.	12	·/˘·······˘/
He wondred at her wisedome heavenly rare,	11	·/˘·····/˘·
Whose like in womens wit he never knew;	10	···/˘··/˘·
And when her curteous deeds he did compare,	10	········˘/
Gan her admire, and her sad sorrowes rew,	10	··˘/···/˘·
Blaming of Fortune, which such troubles threw,	10	/˘·/˘··/˘·
And joyd to make proofe of her crueltie,	9	·········
On gentle Dame, so hurtlesse, and so trew:	10	·/˘·······
Thenceforth he kept her goodly company,	10	·/···/˘/˘˘
And learnd her discipline of faith and veritie.	11	···/˘······
But she all vowd unto the Redcrosse knight,	10	··········
His wandring perill closely did lament,	10	·/˘/˘/˘·˘/
Ne in this new acquaintaunce could delight,	10	········˘/
But her deare heart with anguish did torment,	10	·····/˘·˘/
And all her wit in secret counsels spent,	10	·····/˘/˘·
How to escape. At last in privie wise	10	··˘/······
To Satyrane she shewed her intent;	10	······˘·˘/
Who glad to gain such favour, gan devise	10	·····/˘·˘/
How with that pensive Maid he best might thence arise.	12	···/˘·····˘/
So on a day when Satyres all were gone	10	··········
To do their service to Sylvanus old,	10	···/˘·/˘˘·
The gentle virgin left behind alone	10	·/˘/˘···˘/
He led away with courage stout and bold.	10	··˘/·/˘···
Too late it was, to Satyres to be told,	10	··········
Or ever hope recover her againe:	10	·/˘·˘/˘···
In vaine he seekes that having cannot hold.	10	·····/˘/˘·
So fast he carried her with carefull paine,	10	···/˘··/˘·
That they the woods are past, and come now to the plaine.	12	············
The better part now of the lingring day,	10	·/˘····/˘·
They traveild had, whenas they farre espide	10	····/˘····
A weary wight forwandring by the way,	10	·/˘·······
And towards him they gan in haste to ride,	10	··········
To weete of newes, that did abroad betide,	10	······˘/˘/
Or tydings of her knight of the Redcrosse.	10	·/˘·······
But he them spying, gan to turne aside,	10	···/˘···˘/
For feare as seemd, or for some feigned losse;	10	········˘·
More greedy they of newes, fast towards him do crosse.	11	·/˘········
A silly man, in simple weedes forworne,	10	·/˘··/˘···
And soild with dust of the long dried way;	9	·········
His sandales were with toilsome travell torne,	10	·/˘··/˘/˘·
And face all tand with scorching sunny ray,	10	·····/˘/˘·
As he had traveild many a sommers day,	10	·····/·/˘·
Through boyling sands of Arabie and Ynde;	10	·/˘··˘/˘··
And in his hand a Jacobs staffe, to stay	10	·····/˘···
His wearie limbes upon: and eke behind,	10	··········
His scrip did hang, in which his needments he did bind.	12	············
The knight approaching nigh, of him inquerd	10	··˘/˘·····
Tidings of warre, and of adventures new;	10	/˘····˘/˘·
But warres, nor new adventures none he herd.	10	····˘/˘···
Then Una gan to aske, if ought he knew,	10	·/˘·······
Or heard abroad of that her champion trew,	10	··˘/···/˘·
That in his armour bare a croslet red.	10	···/˘··/˘·
Aye me, Deare dame (quoth he) well may I rew	10	··········
To tell the sad sight which mine eies have red.	10	··········
These eies did see that knight both living and eke ded.	12	·······/˘···
That cruell word her tender hart so thrild,	10	·/˘··/˘···
That suddein cold did runne through every vaine,	10	·······/˘·
And stony horrour all her sences fild	10	·/˘/˘·····
With dying fit, that downe she fell for paine.	10	·/˘·······
The knight her lightly reared up againe,	10	···/˘·˘···
And comforted with curteous kind reliefe:	10	·/˘˘······
Then, wonne from death, she bad him tellen plaine	10	·······/˘·
The further processe of her hidden griefe:	10	·/˘····/˘·
The lesser pangs can beare, who hath endur'd the chiefe.	12	·/˘·····˘/··
Then gan the Pilgrim thus, I chaunst this day,	10	···/˘·····
This fatall day, that shall I ever rew,	10	·/˘····/˘·
To see two knights in travell on my way	10	·····/˘···
(A sory sight) arraung'd in battell new,	10	·/˘·······
Both breathing vengeaunce, both of wrathfull hew:	10	·/˘·······
My fearefull flesh did tremble at their strife,	11	······/˘···
To see their blades so greedily imbrew,	10	·····/˘˘··
That drunke with bloud, yet thristed after life:	10	··········
What more? the Redcrosse knight was slaine with Paynim knife.	12	·········/˘·
Ah dearest Lord (quoth she) how might that bee,	10	·/˘·······
And he the stoughtest knight, that ever wonne?	10	·······/˘·
Ah dearest dame (quoth he) how might I see	10	·/˘·······
The thing, that might not be, and yet was donne?	10	··········
Where is (said Satyrane) that Paynims sonne,	10	··········
That him of life, and us of joy hath reft?	10	··········
Not far away (quoth he) he hence doth wonne	10	··˘/······
Foreby a fountaine, where I late him left	10	˘/·˘/·····
Washing his bloudy wounds, that through the steele were cleft.	12	/˘··········
Therewith the knight thence marched forth in hast,	10	˘/····˘···
Whiles Una with huge heavinesse opprest,	11	·/˘·····/˘˘
Could not for sorrow follow him so fast;	10	···/˘/˘···
And soone he came, as he the place had ghest,	10	··········
Whereas that Pagan proud him selfe did rest,	10	˘/·/˘·····
In secret shadow by a fountaine side:	10	·/˘/···˘/·
Even he it was, that earst would have supprest	11	/·······/˘˘
Faire Una: whom when Satyrane espide,	10	·/˘·······
With fowle reprochfull words he boldly him defide.	13	·/˘·····/˘···
And said, Arise thou cursed Miscreaunt,	9	··˘/··˘··
That hast with knightlesse guile and trecherous train	11	···········
Faire knighthood fowly shamed, and doest vaunt	10	·/····˘···
That good knight of the Redcrosse to have slain:	10	··········
Arise, and with like treason now maintain	10	˘/···/˘·˘/
Thy guilty wrong, or els thee guilty yield.	10	·/˘····/˘·
The Sarazin this hearing, rose amain,	10	·˘˘/·/˘·˘/
And catching up in hast his three-square shield,	10	·/˘·······
And shining helmet, soone him buckled to the field.	12	·/˘/˘··/˘···
And drawing nigh him said, Ah misborne Elfe,	10	·/˘·······
In evill houre thy foes thee hither sent,	10	·/˘····/˘·
Anothers wrongs to wreake upon thy selfe:	10	˘/˘·······
Yet ill thou blamest me, for having blent	10	···/˘··/˘·
My name with guile and traiterous intent:	10	········˘/
That Redcrosse knight, perdie, I never slew,	10	····˘/·/˘·
But had he beene, where earst his arms were lent,	10	··········
Th' enchaunter vaine his errour should not rew:	10	·····/˘···
But thou his errour shalt, I hope, now proven trew.	12	···/˘····/˘·
Therewith they gan, both furious and fell,	10	˘/···/˘˘··
To thunder blowes, and fiersly to assaile	11	·/˘········
Each other bent his enimy to quell,	10	·/˘·······
That with their force they perst both plate and maile,	10	··········
And made wide furrowes in their fleshes fraile,	11	···/˘··/˘··
That it would pitty any living eie.	10	·····/˘/˘·
Large floods of bloud adowne their sides did raile;	10	··········
But floods of bloud could not them satisfie:	10	··········
Both hungred after death: both chose to win, or die.	12	·/˘·········
So long they fight, and fell revenge pursue,	10	······˘/˘/
That fainting each, themselves to breathen let,	10	·/˘·˘/····
And oft refreshed, battell oft renue:	9	··˘/˘····
As when two Bores with rancling malice met,	10	·······/˘·
Their gory sides fresh bleeding fiercely fret,	10	·/˘··/˘/˘·
Til breathlesse both them selves aside retire,	10	······˘/˘/
Where foming wrath, their cruell tuskes they whet,	10	·····/˘···
And trample th' earth, the whiles they may respire;	10	·/˘·····˘/
Then backe to fight againe, new breathed and entire.	11	·········˘/
So fiersly, when these knights had breathed once,	10	········˘·
They gan to fight returne, increasing more	10	······˘/˘·
Their puissant force, and cruell rage attonce.	11	·/˘˘··/˘·˘/
With heaped strokes more hugely then before,	10	··˘··/˘···
That with their drerie wounds and bloudy gore	10	··········

The first 400 of 431 lines; the reader marks them all.

On this poem

I. The Plot: (Continuation of Canto III). Una is delivered from Sansloy by a band of Satyrs. She remains with them as their teacher. There a knight of the wild-wood, Sir Satyrane, discovers her, and by his assistance, Una succeeds in making her way out of the forest to the plain. On the way they meet Archimago, disguised as a pilgrim, and he deceives them and leads them to Sansloy. While Sir Satyrane and Sansloy are engaged in a bloody battle, Una flees. She is pursued by Archimago but makes her escape. II. The Allegory: 1. Truth is saved from destruction by Lawless Violence (Sansloy) by the aid of Barbarism or Savage Instinct, which terrorizes Lawlessness but offers natural homage to Truth. Truth finds a temporary home among Ignorant and Rude Folk (Satyrs) and in return imparts divine truth to their unregenerate minds. Natural Heroism or Manly Courage (Sir Satyrane) sides with Truth and defends it against Lawlessness.

Notes from the edition 41

Notes by Kate M. Warren to The Faerie Queene, Book I (1897; Project Gutenberg #15272).

Stanza 1, line 1 Who rescued Una from Sansloy? 2. How does Una repay their kindness? 3. How was she treated by them? 4. Explain the references to the various classes of nymphs. 5. Look up the classical references in xvi and xviii. 6. Why is Una described as "luckelesse lucky"? 7. What customs of the early Christians are referred to in xix? 8. What does Sir Satyrane symbolize in the allegory? 9. What was his character and education? 10. Note the Elizabethan conception of the goddess Fortune in xxxi. 11. Did Una act ungratefully in leaving the Satyrs as she did? 12. Who is the weary wight in xxxiv? 13. What news of St. George did he give? Was it true? 14. Who is the Paynim mentioned in xl? 15. Note Euphuistic antithesis in xlii. 16. Explain the figures in iv, vi, x, xliv. 17. Paraphrase ll. 289, 296. 18. Find Latinisms in xxv; xxvi; xxviii; xxxi; and xxxvii. 19. Describe the fight at the end of the Canto.
Stanza 1, line 2 The religious allegory signifies the extension of Protestantism through the outlying rural districts of England and in Ireland. Upton thinks that Sir Satyrane represents "Sir John Perrot, whose behaviour, though honest, was too coarse and rude for a court. 'Twas well known that he was a son of Henry VIII." Holinshed says that as Lord President of Munster, Sir John secured such peace and security that a man might travel in Ireland with a white stick only in his hand.
Stanza 3, line 7 FROM ONE TO OTHER YND, from the East to the West Indies.
Stanza 8, line 7 A TROUPE OF FAUNES AND SATYRES. The Fauns were the wood-gods of the Romans, the Satyrs the wood-gods of the Greeks. They were half human, half goat, and represented the luxuriant powers of nature.
Stanza 8, line 9 OLD SYLVANUS, the Roman god of fields and woods, young and fond of animal pleasures. Spenser represents him as a feeble but sensuous old man.
Stanza 11, line 9 WITH CHAUNGE OF FEARE, from the wolf to the lion.
Stanza 12, line 6 RUSTICK HORROR, bristling hair.
Stanza 12, line 9 THEIR BACKWARD BENT KNEES, like the hinder legs of a goat.
Stanza 13, line 2 THEIR BARBAROUS TRUTH, their savage honor.
Stanza 13, line 4 LATE LEARND, having been recently taught. She had shown too "hasty trust" in Archimago.
Stanza 14, line 4 WITHOUT SUSPECT OF CRIME, without suspicion of blame.
Stanza 14, line 5 The olive is the emblem of peace, as the ivy (l. 126) is of sensuousness.
Stanza 15, line 3 WITH THEIR HORNED FEET, with their hoofs.
Stanza 16, line 2 OR BACCHUS MERRY FRUIT, etc., whether they did discover grapes.
Stanza 16, line 3 OR CYBELES FRANTICKE RITES, the wild dances of the Corybantes, priestesses of Cybele, or Rhea, the wife of Chronos and mother of the gods.
Stanza 16, line 6 THAT MIRRHOUR RARE, that model of beauty. So Sidney was called "the mirror of chivalry."
Stanza 16, line 8 FAIRE DRYOPE, a princess of Aechalia, who became a forest nymph. Pholoe, mentioned in l. 135, is probably a fictitious creation of the author's.
Stanza 18, line 2 DEAREST CYPARISSE, a youth of Cea, who accidentally killed his favorite stag and dying of grief was changed into a cypress. He was beloved by Apollo and Sylvanus.
Stanza 18, line 4 NOT FAIRE TO THIS, i.e. compared to this.
Stanza 18, line 8 N'OULD AFTER JOY, would not afterwards be cheerful.
Stanza 18, line 9 SELFE-WILD ANNOY, self-willed distress.
Stanza 19, line 1 FAIRE HAMADRYADES, the nymphs who dwelt in the forest trees and died with them.
Stanza 19, line 3 LIGHT-FOOT NAIADES, the fresh water nymphs, companions of the fauns and satyrs.
Stanza 19, line 6 Una was "luckelesse" in having lost her knights, but "lucky" in the friendship of the Satyrs. Note the Euphuistic phrasing.
Stanza 19, line 8 THEIR WOODY KIND, the wood-born creatures of their own kind, e.g. nymphs or satyrs.
Stanza 20, line 7 IDOLATRYES. The allegory has reference to the idolatrous practices of the ignorant primitive Christians, such as the worship of images of the Saints, the pageant of the wooden ass during Lent (see Matthew, xxi, and Brand's Popular Antiquities, i, 124), and the Feast of the Ass (see Matthew, ii, 14).
Stanza 21, line 1 A NOBLE WARLIKE KNIGHT, Sir Satyrane, in whom are united rude untaught chivalry and woodland savagery. He represents natural heroism and instinctive love of truth.
Stanza 21, line 2 BY JUST OCCASION, just at the right moment.
Stanza 22, line 4 THYAMIS is the symbol of Animal Passion; LABRYDE of the lower appetites; THERION, the human wild beast, who deserts his wife. xxiv. This account of Sir Satyrane's education is based on that of Rogero by his uncle Atlante in Ariosto's Orlando Furioso, vii, 5, 7.
Stanza 26, line 2 MAISTER OF HIS GUISE, his instructor.
Stanza 26, line 3 AT HIS HORRID VEW, his shaggy, uncouth appearance.
Stanza 30, line 9 HIS FAMOUS WORTH WAS BLOWN, i.e. blazoned by Fame's trumpet.
Stanza 36, line 7 A JACOBS STAFFE. According to Nares, "A pilgrim's staff; either from the frequent pilgrimages to St. James of Comfortella (in Galicia), or because the apostle St. James is usually represented with one."
Stanza 43, line 3 See Canto III, xxxviii, where Archimago was disguised as St. George.
Stanza 43, line 5 BUT THEM HIS ERROUR SHALT, etc., thou shalt by thy death pay the penalty of his crime and thus prove that he was really guilty. A very obscure passage. Look up the original meaning of shall.
Stanza 43, line 8 TH' ENCHAUNTER VAINE, etc., the foolish enchanter (Archimago) would not have rued his (St. George's) crime (i.e. slaying Sansfoy).
Stanza 44, line 9 This simile is found frequently in the old romances. Cf. Malory's Morte d'Arthur, ii, 104, and Chaucer's Knight's Tale, l. 1160.
Stanza 48, line 3 According to a usage of chivalry, the lover wore a glove, sleeve, kerchief, or other token of his lady-love on his helmet. By "lover's token" Sansloy ironically means a blow.
Stanza 49, line 4 Spenser leaves the fight between Sansloy and Sir Satyrane unfinished. Both warriors appear in later books of the Faerie Queene. QUESTIONS AND TOPICS (Canto VI)
Stanza 49, line 4 Spenser leaves the fight between Sansloy and Sir Satyrane unfinished. Both warriors appear in later books of the Faerie Queene. QUESTIONS AND TOPICS
Stanza 49, line 7 TO HER LAST DECAY, to her utter ruin.

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The Faerie Queene, Book I