Invocation
Introduction: A prologue to an epic in which a poet addresses gods especially the muses (in Greek Mythology, 9 goddesses of arts, literature, knowledge, science and poetry) directly and prays to gods to strengthen his knowledge to accomplish such a tremendous task.
Edmund Spenser is shifting gears from pastoral poetry to the legends of heroic deeds and adventures. He prays to the Clio (chief of 9 muses), the goddess of history to bring her treasure box of knowledge to let him know the valour deeds of Queene Gloriana and Price Arthur. He also asks her to come along with Cupid (Blind God of love), Mars (God of war) and Venus (The later Aphrodite, a portrayal of common love) to complete the epic task assigned by Clio.
Canto 1
Red Cross Knight:
Rode on enraged horse, stoutly armed, to fight with Orgoglio, a devotional
follower of Jesus, for the patronage of Queen Gloriana and to be worshipped for his
virtue.
The Beautiful Lady:
Rode on an ass whiter than snow, had no match of colour with the female
warrior, her face covered in a veil, summoned Red Cross as a result of the
destruction of her city by Orgoglio.
Storm:
As Red Cross Knight, Una and their lazy dwarf travelled forth, the sky suddenly clouded and it rained stormily. The Three suspended their journey for a shelter.A Thick Grove as Shelter:
To find shelter on account of the deadly tempest, The Three rush into the shady grove (a cluster of trees) nearby, loaded with the Pride of Summer (either the shade or the fruit they produce or both). Their leaves were so thick that the sunlight could not pass through and at night, the stars were unable to gaze through as well. That jungle was visited through the trodden passages.Trees in the Grove:
As The Three entered into the grove, the trees of all kinds were visible and presented variety in there. The birds, sitting on the branches of the trees, sing in delight, while laughing scornfully on the tyrant torrent in the sky. Here are some trees which have been mentioned in this epic:- Pine (صنوبر)
- Cedar (دیودار)
- Elme
- Poplar (چنار)
- Oak (شاہ بلوط) King of the Jungle
- Cyprus (سرو)
- Willow (بید)
- Beech
- Ash
- Olive (زیتون)
The Three Entrapped in the Wood:
At last, the dreadful storm had been weathered. Delightful, as a result of the relief, they cannot find the way out of the woods. They wandered in the maze but every time, they were met by new roads. At last, they reached a cave.The Cave and Lady's Warning:
The horseman stopped before the deep cave and gave his spear to the dwarf. The Gentle Lady warned him against the danger by saying: "be careful! Lest you should, acting thoughtlessly, invite some dismal situation. " As that land was a part of her territory, she was well aware of the hidden dangers. The determined knight replies, "It will be a shame for me to retreat, due to the fear of some hidden danger. The purity of man's character illuminates even the dark paths. "
The Lady's Caveat:
After such a determined reply, she insists upon taking a safe side that she knows it is a shame to retreat, yet she is aware of the danger better than the knight. It is too late but the wisdom demands a hasty retreat. Later, she submits that the very cave is the refuge of Error. Dwarf, feared, cries: "Flee, flee, this is not a place for living beings to stop! "The Female Monster, Error:
Quite loathsome to look at: the face of a woman; the body of a serpent; her tail twisted and knotted asleep, shined by the armour of the knight.Fight with Monster Error:
As Red Cross Knight lighted the monster through his armour, the off-springs of the monster felt terrified of the dazzling light and went straight into the mouth of their mother for shelter. The monster itself could not withstand the glare of his shield and turned back abruptly. The knight, roared like a lion and attacked the fleeing prey to prevent her from turning afterwards. She flew in rage and caught the knight entrapped in her long tail. He tried his man's best to get himself free but her grip was too strong to fight with.
Una, the female companion of the knight felt disturbed over such dismal situation of the knight and shouted: "Sir Knight, show what stuff you are made of. Add your faith in yourself and in Jesus Christ for your physical strength". Such engaging words of her made him gather his lost and hidden strength and he pressed her throat with such power which compelled her to free the knight from her bondage of tail.
Error's Filthy and Loathsome Vomit:
The monster (allegorised with the Pope) threw out an immense amount of the black fluid which contained huge lumps of flesh, raw meats and "her vomit full of books and papers was". The foul smell of the ugly monster forced the brave knight to release her throat. The knight could see blind frogs and toads founded their way towards the grass.
The poet similized the whole mess with the remains of flood in Nile Valley; caused by Nile River. Which gives birth to many tiny but filthy creatures. From now, the monster's off-springs gather around the body of the knight like a group of gnats to sting the shepherd and his flock.
The Knight's Victory over the Monster:
These small irritating small creatures added anger to the existing rage of knight and he, beyond his manly power, attacked the dragon with his sharp sword and cut off her scornful head. A flood of coal-black blood rushed scattered on the ground with an earth-shattering shriek of the monster.Her off-springs rushed into her wide mouth but it could not make good for them. Then they gathered around her profusely bleeding wound; drank her filthy blood "making her death their life, and eke her hurt their good". But her blood swelled their bellies and caused a hateful eruption of their bowels. The knight had won the battle against the dragon.
Una's Congratulations on Victory of Knight over Monster Error and Out of the Woods:
Una, the female companion of the knight, congratulated the knight on the accomplishment of such valour victory over monster error. "Fair knight, you were born under an auspicious star. You are seeing your enemies lying dead before you. It is my prayer that you should have many more adventures like this; and it would be my wish always that you should win a similar victory every time. "The Three got out of the dark cave of Error and headed straight and soon got themselves out of the wood.
An Encounter with Old but Seemingly Good Man:
The Three were on their usual course to get the land of Una free from Giant Dragon. On their way, they saw an old man, who had worn a long black cloak, barefooted, a book hanging from his belt. He greeted the knight warmly and respectably. The knight, as well, greeted the old man with the same respect and enthusiasm.
The Old Man's Caveat of Some Evil Being:
The old man warned The Three against the unprevailing and hidden danger in the shape of a man who had been causing ruin to Una's land. Then he advised staying at his hidden house for the night. Una also agreed with the old man. They rested in the old man's house.
Stanza 34 – 44:
The Hermitage: The Old Man's cottage, situated beside the forest, far from the reach of people. The cottage was deprived of any edibles but it had plenty of resources for The Three to rest. At some distance a holy Chappel invited the sin doers to purify their souls.The Old Man's Discourse: He told them the stories of Popes and Saints and whenever he started his new story or ended a story, he used to pay tribute to Mary (God heavens!).
Then the Old Man shows them their sleeping apartment (sort of), and they set themselves there for sleep. When The Three successfully fall asleep, the "pious" old man goes into his study, where he fetches a spellbook, containing dark spells and summons two evil spirits, who gather around him like black flies. One spirit is sent to the God of sleep's residence, far across the oceans to fetch a filthy dream for the sleepers.
There are two well-locked entrances to the residence of Morpheus, one made of ivory and other door coated with silver water. The dogs are steadily performing their duties to keep the enemy of slumber, Care, away. The calm sound of spring, buzzing in the air and drizzling sound of the rain enveloped in everlasting silence, created a suitable sleepy atmosphere.
The Spirit tried his level best to wake the sleepy God up but all the efforts bore no fruit. At last, he used his trump card of Hecate, a fierce goddess of the underworld, to make Morpheus wake up. God blames him and asks him about his arrival. The Spirit demands of a dream as ordered by Archimago (The Old Man). Morpheus gets a dream from his dark cell and then the spirit loads the dream onto his wings and returns to the evil wizard. The other spirit is transformed into the Fake Una.
Greek Gods, Goddesses and Daemons Mentioned in These Stanzas:
Morpheus – God of Sleep
Plutoes – The God of Underworld
Demogorgon – The Lord of Darkness
Tethys – The Goddess of the Oceans
Cynthia – The Goddess of the Moon
Stanzas 46 – 50:
1. The dream and false Una are sent to Red Cross Knight to lustify his pure and pious character.2. In the false dream, he sees that he is being married to Una. On their wedding ceremony, Una has worn the fresh flowers, provided by the Goddess of flowers and spring, Flora.
3. When the Knight wakes up from this terrible dream, he finds fake Una lying with him in his bed and requests, shyly for a kiss.
4. On this mean act, shown by Una, the Knight gets flared up and thinks to kill the Lady but is stopped by his inner voice of intellect to check the identity of his Lady.
5. Over her failure, the False Una starts weeping in order to fire the impulse of the gentleness of the Knight.
6. God and Goddesses:
False winged boy, used as a metaphor for Cupid, God of love.
Hymen – God of marriage and reception
Flora - Goddess of flowers and spring season
Emotional Blackmailing of the Falso Una:
On seeing her failure in seducing the pious knight, she blames Cupid for her love for the knight, she added that God had arrowed her so fiercely that she had only two options, either love or die. She also blamed fate for being a cruel adversary towards her.She also exclaimed with sorrow that it was the knight's love which forced her to leave her parent's kingdom. Her faint youthful life was governed by fate and she requested the knight to safeguard her from prolong weeping.
The Knight's Advice to False Une to Sleep:
The knight questioned the lady what was the reason behind her fright and grief. Once she encouraged him to fight with monster Error with all his might. She replied that it was her love for the handsome knight which did not permit her to sleep well at night.On such reply, the knight began suspecting the identity of Una. He advised her to sleep while explaining that his love for the lady had not been demolished. He could sacrifice his life for her sake. On such abrupt reply, the false lady gently moved away from the knight as (seemingly) for rest. The knight, still tired of the fight with Error, slept and the false dream of shady places, comfy beds and a cluster of merrymaking girls did not affect the nobility of the knight. Both the spirits, frustrated, went back to their evil master, Archimago.
