Season 4 Podcast 101 Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queen Canto 2 B Fidessa

Season 4 Podcast 101 Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queen Canto 2 A FidessaIn the previous Podcast, # 96, the Redcross Knight and the Dwarf abandon Una. In his very next adventure, he encounters Duessa which means false, and Sansfoy, her lover, which means faithless. The Redcross Knight kills Sansfoy and Duessa changes her name to Fidessa, true, and deceives the Redcross Knight. This episode begins with the battle between the Redcross Knight and Sansfoy. Sansfoy is one of three brothers: Sansfoy (without faith); Sans joy (without joy); and Sans Loy (without law), all of whom the Red Cross Knight must conquer to achieve holiness. However, he is deceived by Duessa. It is Duessa who commands Sansfoy to kill the Red Cross Knight. With faire disport and courting dallianceShe entertained her lover all the way:But when she saw the knight his spear advance,She soon left off her mirth and wanton play,And bade her knight address him to the fray:His foe was nigh at hand. He prickt with prideAnd hope to win his Ladies heart that day,Sansfoy is in love with Duessa and will do anything she commands him to do. He charges the Redcross Knight. Forth spurred fast: down his coursers sideThe red blood trickling stained the way, as he did ride. The knight of the Redcrosse when him he spied,Spurring so hot with rage dispiteous,Gan fairly couch his spear, and towards ride: The following description of the battle symbolizes the battle between good and evil. The Red Cross Knight represents holiness. Sansfoy represents faithlessness. All the battles fought by The Redcross Knight symbolize two things: (1) Evil in a fallen world inspired by Satan. And (2) The battle within himself. The Red Cross Knight must overcome his own weaknesses. The following scenes in Canto II brilliantly show the wiles of Satan. Remember the Redcross Knight, tricked by false dreams, has abandoned Una who represents truth, leaving him very vulnerable. The Redcross Knight immediately recognizes Sansfoy as evil and, therefore, fights with all his might. He kills Sansfoy; however, following the battle, he is entirely deceived by Duessa.  He believes all of her cunning lies. She represents falsehood and has only one goal in mind—to destroy the Redcross Knight for killing her lover. If Una had been with him, she would have unmasked Duessa immediately. Soon meet they both, both fell and furious,That daunted with their forces hideous,Their steeds do stagger, and amazed stand,And eke themselves, too rudely rigorous,Astonied with the stroke of their own hand Do back rebut, and each to other yielded land. As when two rams stirred with ambitious pride,Fight for the rule of the rich fleeced flock,Their horned fronts so fierce on either sideDo meet, that with the terror of the shock Astonished both, stand senseless as a block,Forgetful of the hanging victory: So stood these twain, unmoved as a rock,Both staring fierce, and holding idlyThe broken relics of their former cruelty. The Sarazin sore daunted with the buffeSnatcheth his sword, and fiercely to him flies;Who well it wards, and quyteth cuff with cuff:Each others equal puissance envies, And through their iron sides with cruel spies Does seek to pierce: repining courage yieldsNo foot to foe. The flashing fire fliesAs from a forge out of their burning shields,And streams of purple blood new dies the verdant fields. The enraged Sarazin with a last violent charge goes in for the kill, but he is under a curse. Sansfoy had been forwarned not to fight the Redcross Knight, but because of his love for Duessa he overrules his reason and fights with fury.