Season 4 Podcast 110 Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queen, Canto 3 Episode 8 “The Adventures of Una.” Pt II

Season 4 Podcast 110 Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queen, Canto 3 Episode 8 “The Adventures of Una.” Pt IIIn the previous Podcast, # 107, The Redcross Knight listens to the tale of The Weeping Tree. It is a warning to the Redcross Knight to flee from Duessa; however, the Knight does not heed the warning because Duessa presented herself as Fidessa, the daughter of an Emperor who had been kidnapped by Sansfoy.Having lost Sansfoy, Duessa seeks to destroy the Redcross Knight by causing him to lose his virtue, the source of his strength. In Canto 3 Una sets out on a journey to find the Redcross Knight who has abandoned her because of the false dream caused by the magician Archimago. Una and the lion leave at daybreak. Una continues her quest to find the Redcross Knight.  Meanhile, Archimago who has been following Una’s trail happens upon the blind woman and her daughter. Filled with hate for killing the robber who supported them, they tell Archimago how to find Una. The wicked Archimago has the power to take on any shape he desires; therefore, cunningly he takes upon him the shape of the Redcross Knight, and in that disguse he meets Una and the lion.Ere long he came where Una traveled slow,And that wilde Champion waiting her beside:Whom seeing such, for dread he durst not showHimself too nigh at hand, but turned wide Unto an hill; from whence when she him spied,By his like seeming shield, her knight by nameShe weend it was, and towards him gan ride:Approaching nigh, she wist it was the same,And with faire fearful humblesse towards him she came:Thinking the vile magician is really the Redcross Knight, she asks him where he had been and why he left her. And weeping said, Ah my long lacked Lord,Where have ye bene thus long out of my sight?Much feared I to have bene quite abhorred,Or ought have done, that ye displeasen might,That should as death unto my deare heart light: For since mine eye your joyous sight did mis,My cheerful day is turned to cheerless night,And eke my night of death the shadow is;But welcome now my light, and shining lampe of blis.The crafty magician answers.He thereto meeting said, My dearest Dame, Farre be it from your thought, and fro my will,To thinke that knighthood I so much should shame,As you to leave, that have me loved still,And chose in Faery court of meere goodwill,Where noblest knights were to be found on earth: The earth shall sooner leave her kindly skill, To bring forth fruit, and make eternall derth,Then I leave you, my liefe, yborne of heavenly berth. And sooth to say, why I left you so long,Was for to seeke adventure in strange place, Where Archimago said a felon strongTo many knights did daily worke disgrace;But knight he now shall never more deface:Good cause of mine excuse; that mote ye pleaseWell to accept, and evermore embrace My faithfull service, that by land and seasHave vowd you to defend: now then your plaint appease.The guileless Una is entirely unaware that she is really speaking to the deceitful Archimago. The guileless often project their virtues onto others, thinking they are better than they are. The wicked magician has taken upon himself the very form and shape of the Redcross knight.