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
67. AN HIDEOUS GEANT, Orgoglio, symbolizing Inordinate Pride, and the Pope
of Rome, who then claimed universal power over both church and state (x).
For a list of many other giants of romance see Brewer's _Handbook_, pp.
376-379.
104. THAT DIVELISH YRON ENGIN, cannon. The invention of artillery by
infernal ingenuity is an old conception of the poets. There is a suggestion
of it in Vergil's _Aeneid_, vi, 585 _seq._, which is elaborated in
Ariosto's _Orlando Furioso_, ix, 91, which Milton in turn imitated in
_Paradise Lost_, vi, 516 _seq_. So in the romance of _Sir Triamour_.
112. TH' ONELY BREATH, the mere breath.
119. DO HIM NOT TO DYE, slay him not; cf. "done to death."
138. A MONSTROUS BEAST, on which the woman of Babylon sat; _Revelation_,
xiii and xvii, 7.
139. This refers to the Romish policy of fostering ignorance among its
members.
140. THAT RENOWMED SNAKE, the Lernaean Hydra, a monster with nine or more
heads, offspring of Typhon and Echidna. It was slain by Hercules. STREMONA
is a name of Spenser's own invention.
147. The reference is to the cruelty and insensibility of the Romish
Church.
150. Its tail reached to the stars. _Revelation_, xii, 4.
155. AND HOLY HEASTS FORETAUGHT, and holy commands previously taught
(them).
161. HIS FORLORNE WEED, his abandoned clothing.
165. MONIMENTS, the sorrowful, mournful relics.
182. SO HARDLY HE, etc. So he with difficulty coaxes the life which has
flown to return into her body. According to the Platonic teaching, the body
is the prison-house of the soul. Cf _Psalms_, cxlii, 7.
202. BUT SEELED UP WITH DEATH, but closed in death. "Seel" was a term in
falconry, meaning "to sew up" (the eyes of the hawk).
219. THE BITTER BALEFULL STOUND, the bitter, grievous moment during which
she listens to the story.
220. IF LESSE THEN THAT I FEARE, etc., if it is less bitter than I fear it
is, I shall have found more favor (been more fortunate) than I expected.
231. SORROWFULL ASSAY, the assault of sorrow (on her heart).
236. WAS NEVER LADY, etc., there never was lady who loved day (life)
dearer.
249. A GOODLY KNIGHT. Prince Arthur, son of King Uther Pendragon and Queen
Ygerne, the model English gentleman, in whom all the virtues are perfected
(Magnificence). According to Upton and most editors, Prince Arthur
represents Lord Leicester; according to another tradition, Sir Philip
Sidney. Could the author have possibly intended in him compliment to Sir
Walter Raleigh? See Spenser's _Letter to Raleigh_. Arthur is the beau ideal
of knighthood, and upon him the poet lavishes his richest descriptive
powers. His armor, his shield Pridwen, his lance Roan, and sword Exculibur,
were made by the great enchanter Merlin in the isle of Avallon.
259. SHAPT LIKE A LADIES HEAD, an effigy of Queen Elizabeth, the Faerie
Queene.
260. LIKE HESPERUS, the evening star. Cf. Phosphorus, the morning star.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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