Spenser's The Faerie Queene, Book ISpenser, Edmund
General
Spenser's The Faerie Queene, Book I
Spenser, Edmund
English poetry -- Early modern, 1500-1700; Knights and knighthood -- Poetry; Virtues -- Poetry
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.
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.
16. FROM ONE TO OTHER YND, from the East to the West Indies.
61. 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.
63. 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.
90. WITH CHAUNGE OF FEARE, from the wolf to the lion.
96. RUSTICK HORROR, bristling hair.
99. THEIR BACKWARD BENT KNEES, like the hinder legs of a goat.
101. THEIR BARBAROUS TRUTH, their savage honor.
103. LATE LEARND, having been recently taught. She had shown too "hasty
trust" in Archimago.
112. WITHOUT SUSPECT OF CRIME, without suspicion of blame.
117. The olive is the emblem of peace, as the ivy (l. 126) is of
sensuousness.
120. WITH THEIR HORNED FEET, with their hoofs.
128. OR BACCHUS MERRY FRUIT, etc., whether they did discover grapes.
129. OR CYBELES FRANTICKE RITES, the wild dances of the Corybantes,
priestesses of Cybele, or Rhea, the wife of Chronos and mother of the gods.
132. THAT MIRRHOUR RARE, that model of beauty. So Sidney was called "the
mirror of chivalry."
134. 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.
146. 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.
148. NOT FAIRE TO THIS, i.e. compared to this.
152. N'OULD AFTER JOY, would not afterwards be cheerful.
153. SELFE-WILD ANNOY, self-willed distress.
154. FAIRE HAMADRYADES, the nymphs who dwelt in the forest trees and died
with them.
156. LIGHT-FOOT NAIADES, the fresh water nymphs, companions of the fauns
and satyrs.
161. THEIR WOODY KIND, the wood-born creatures of their own kind, e.g.
nymphs or satyrs.
163. Una was "luckelesse" in having lost her knights, but "lucky" in the
friendship of the Satyrs. Note the Euphuistic phrasing.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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