Season 4 Podcast 131 Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queen, Book I, Canto 6 Pt I Episode 15 “The Perils of Una."

Season 4 Podcast 131 Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queen, Book I, Canto 6 Pt I Episode 15 “The Perils of Una." In last week’s episode, Sansjoy is healed by Aesculapius, but he must remain in hell. When Duessa returns to the House of Pride, she discovers that the Redcross Knight has fled.  She pursues him. Canto 6, however, picks up the story of Una from Canto III who has been kidnapped by the lawless Sansloy. Though threatened by beastly man, she is saved by a savage nation of superstitious woodgods called Fauns and Satyres. They symbolize those who have not been taught the truths of the gospel. Una means truth. The savage race is moved by her plight and accept her immediately, allowing her to teach them the Gospel of Christ though they continued to worship idols. Spenser is teaching how truth can be recognized even by the most barbaric and how the gospel changes behavior. From lawless lust by wondrous gracefayre Una is releast:Whom salvage nation does adore,and learns her wise behest.In a previous episode Una escaped the wicked Archimago. only to be kidnapped by the lawless Sansloy who intends to make her his sex slave. To describe her unfortunate fate, Spenser uses the image of a ship that flies free only to run upon rocks and is shipwrecked. One peril is passed for Una by escaping Archimago while another greater peril occurs by being kidnapped by Sansloy.AS when a ship, that flies faire under sail,An hidden rocke escaped hath unawares,That lay in wait her wrack for to bewail,The Mariner yet half amazed stares At peril past, and yet in doubt ne daresTo joy at his foole-happie oversight:So doubly is distrest twixt joy and caresThe dreadless courage of this Elfin knight,Having escapt so sad ensamples in his sight.Una is true to the Redcross Knight, though the Redcross Knight is tricked into betraying her. Leaving the chaste Una, the Redcross Knight was tricked by Duessa into going with her to the House of Pride. No crime is found in Una and for the love of her knight she continues to search for him. However unaware of the evil around her, she is overtaken by the lustful Sansloy. Yet sad he was that his too hasty speedThe faire Duess' had forst him leave behind;And yet more sad, that Una his dear dreedHer truth had stained with treason so unkind;Yet crime in her could never creature find, But for his love, and for her own self sake,She wandered had from one to other Ynd, Him for to seek, ne ever would forsake,Till her unawares the fiers Sansloy did overtake.Thinking he has killed Archimago who was dressed as the Redcross Knight, Sansloy leads Una into the forest where he intends to rape her. Before, Una had been protected by the Redcross Knight and when he deserted her, she was protected by a lion. However, Sansloy killed the lion and she was left helpless under the power of Sansloy, brother to Sansfoy and Sansjoy.Who, after Archimagoes fowle defeat, Led her away into a forest wilde,And turning wrathful fire to lustful heat,With beastly sin thought her to have defiled,And made the vassal of his pleasures wilde.Yet first he cast by treaty, and by traynes, Her to persuade that stubborn fort to yield:For greater conquest of hard love he gaynes,That works it to his will, then he that it constraines.