3. I

3. INTERPRETATION OF THE ALLEGORY.--In the sixteenth century it was the opinion of Puritan England that every literary masterpiece should not only give entertainment, but should also teach some moral or spiritual lesson. "No one," says Mr. Patee, "after reading Spenser's letter to Raleigh, can wander far into Spenser's poem without the conviction that the author's central purpose was didactic, almost as much as was Bunyan's in _Pilgrim's Progress._" Milton doubtless had this feature of the _Faerie Queene_ in mind when he wrote in _Il Penseroso_:-- "And if aught else great bards beside In sage and solemn tunes have sung Of turneys, and of trophies hung, Of forests and enchantments drear, _Where more is meant than meets the ear_." That the allegory of the poem is closely connected with its aim and ethical tendency is evident from the statement of the author that "the generall end therefore of all the booke is to fashion a gentleman or noble person in vertuous and gentle discipline. Which for that I conceived should be most plausible and pleasing, being coloured with an historical fiction, the which the most part of men delight to read, rather for varietie of matter then for profite of the ensample." The _Faerie Queene_ is, therefore, according to the avowed purpose of its author, a poem of culture. Though it is one of the most highly artistic works in the language, it is at the same time one of the most didactic. "It professes," says Mr. Church, "to be a veiled exposition of moral philosophy." The allegory is threefold,--moral, religious, and personal. (a) _Moral Allegory._--The characters all represent various virtues and vices, whose intrigues and warfare against each other symbolize the struggle of the human soul after perfection. The Redcross Knight, for example, personifies the single private virtue of holiness, while Prince Arthur stands for that perfect manhood which combines all the moral qualities; Una represents abstract truth, while Gloriana symbolizes the union of all the virtues in perfect womanhood. (b) _Religious or Spiritual Allegory._--Under this interpretation the Redcross Knight is a personification of Protestant England, or the church militant, while Una represents the true religion of the Reformed Church. On the other hand, Archimago symbolizes the deceptions of the Jesuits and Duessa the false Church of Rome masquerading as true religion. (c) _Personal and Political Allegory._--Here we find a concrete presentation of many of Spenser's chief contemporaries. One of Spenser's prime objects in composing his epic was to please certain powerful persons at court, and above all to win praise and patronage from the vain and flattery loving queen, whom he celebrates as Gloriana. Prince Arthur is a character that similarly pays homage to Lord Leicester. In the Redcross Knight he compliments, no doubt, some gentleman like Sir Philip Sidney or Sir Walter Raleigh, as if he were a second St. George, the patron saint of England, while in Una we may see idealized some fair lady of the court. In Archimago he satirizes the odious King Philip II of Spain, and in false Duessa the fascinating intriguer, Mary Queen of Scots, who was undeserving so hard a blow. KEY TO THE ALLEGORY IN BOOK I _Characters_ _Moral_ _Religious and _Personal and Spirtual_ Political_ Redcross Knight Holiness Reformed England St George Una Truth True Religion Prince Arthur Magnificence, or Protestantism, or Lord Leicester Private Virtue the Church Militant Gloriana Glory Spirtual Beauty Queen Elizabeth Archimago Hypocrisy The Jesuits Phillip II of Spain Duessa Falsehood False Religion Mary Queen of Scots, Church of Rome Orgoglio Carnal Pride Antichrist Pope Sixtus V The Lion Reason, Reformation by Force Henry VIII, Natural Honor Civil Government The Dragon Sin The Devil, Satan Rome and Spain Sir Satyrane Natural Courage Law and Order Sir John Perrott in Ireland The Monster Avarice Greed of Romanism Romish Priesthood Corceca Blind Devotion, Catholic Penance Irish Nuns Superstition Abessa Flagrant Sin Immorality Irish Nuns Kirkrapine Church Robbery Religious State Irish Clergy of Ireland and Laity Sansfoy Infidelity Sansjoy Joylessness Pagan Religion The Sultan and the Saracens Sansloy Lawlessness The Dwarf Prudence, Common Sense Sir Trevisan Fear The Squire Purity The Anglican Clergy The Horn Truth The English Bible Lucifera Pride, Vanity Woman of Babylon Church of Rome