Season 4 Podcast 125 Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queen, Book I, Canto 5, Pt II Episode 13 “Descent into Hell.”

Season 4 Podcast 125 Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queen, Book I, Canto 5, Pt II Episode 13 “Descent into Hell.” In last week’s episode, the Redcross Knight battles Sansjoy. It is a very bloody battle that The Redcross Knight barely wins; however, just before he delivers the death blow, through the magic of Duessa, Sansjoy is taken to hell for safety. Sansjoy. whose name means without joy, is at home in hell. The bloody shield of Sansfoy, whom the Redcross Knight has previously killed in battle, now goes to the Redcross Knight. In addition, he wins the evil Duessa whose only desire is to destroy the Redcross Knight though she pretends to love him. They remain in the House of Pride. The Redcross Knight is treated for his wounds while Duessa sheds bitter tears; though pretended for the Redcross Knight, they are really for the loss of her lovers Sansfoy and Sansjoy, both of whom the Redcross Knight conquered. The more Duessa pretends to love the Redcross Knight, the more she hates him for as a Christian he stands against everything she stands for.Home is he brought, and laid in sumptuous bed:Where many skillful leaches him abide,To salve his hurts, that yet still freshly bled.In wine and oil they wash his wounds wide,And softly can embalm on every side. And all the while, most heavenly melodyAbout the bed sweet music did divide,Him to beguile of grief and agony:And all the while Duessa wept full bitterly.The Redcross Knight, thinking Duessa loves him, does not discern her crocodile tears. Remember that during the battle, Duessa cries out to Sansjoy, cheering him on just as he is about to deal the death blow to the Redcross Knight. However, in cruel irony, the Redcross Knight thinks she is cheering for him, and with added courage, he comes out of his stupor and crushes Sansjoy.As when a wearie traveler that strays By muddy shore of broad seven-mouthed Nile,Unweeting of the perilous wandering ways,Doth meet a cruel crafty Crocodile,Which in false grief hiding his harmful guile,Doth weep full sore, and sheddeth tender tears:  The foolish man, that pities all this whileHis mournful plight, is swallowed up unawares,Forgetful of his own, that minds another’s cares.3 RONDuessa continues mourning for Sansjoy till night when she sneaks away and visits Sansjoy in hell. The defeated knight is listless having lost his luster. He is in a coma, enshrouded in a cloud which depressed her.So wept Duessa until eventide,That shining lamps in Jove’s high house were light: Then forth she rose, ne longer would abide,But comes unto the place, where th' Hethen knightIn slumbering swownd nigh void of vital spright,Lay covered with enchanted cloud all day:Whom when she found, as she him left in plight, To wayle his woeful case she would not stay,But to the eastern coast of heaven makes speedy way.Duessa seeks a way to restore Sansjoy to life. She visits Sansjoy’s aunt, “grisly Night, also called Erebus, who always lives in pitch-black darkness. Erebus rides in a death coach. She, of course, is the opposite of light.Where grisly Night, with visage deadly sad,That Phœbus cheerful face durst never vew,And in a foul black pitchy mantle clad, She finds forth coming from her darksome mew,Where she all day did hide her hated hew.Before the door her iron charet stood,Already harnessed for journey new;And coal-black steeds yborne of hellish brood, That on their rusty bits did champ, as they were wood.