Season 4 Podcast 86 Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queen, Canto 1 B Episode 2 “Errors Endless Train.”

Season 4 Podcast 86 Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queen, Canto 1 B Episode 2 “Errors Endless Train.” Edmund Spenser was born in 1552 in London and died January 13, 1599, at the young age of 47. He is a contemporary of William Shakespeare. He states his purpose.I labor to portray in Arthur, before he was king, the image of a brave knight, perfected in the twelve private moral virtues, as Aristotle hath devised: which if I find to be well accepted, I may be perhaps encouraged to frame the other part of politick virtues in his person, after he came to be king…. This series of Podcasts are from Book One entitled “The Legend of the Knight of the Red Cross, or of Holiness.” The Red Cross Knight, a symbol of the virtues of King Arthur, exemplifies holiness. He represents everyone who is on a quest to perfection.Spenser wants us to learn from the epic journey of the Red Cross Knight. Spenser, a classical scholar, assumes we have read the Holy Bible and the stories of King Arthur. In his letter to Raleigh, Spenser describes the plot of the story.Soon after entered a faire Lady in mourning weeds, riding on a white Asse, with a dwarf behind her leading a warlike steed, that bore the Arms of a knight, and his spear in the dwarf’s hand. She falling before the Queen of Faeries, complained that her father and mother, an ancient King and Queen, had been by an huge dragon many years shut up in a brazen Castle, who thence suffered them not to issue: and therefore besought the Faery Queen to assign her some one of her knights to take on him that exploit. Presently that clownish person upstarting, desired that adventure; whereat the Queen much wondering, and the Lady much gain-saying, yet he earnestly importuned his desire. In the end the Lady told him, that unless that armor which she brought would serve him (that is, the armor of a Christian man specified by Saint Paul, VI. Ephes.) that he could not succeed in that enterprise: which being forthwith put upon him with due furniture thereunto, he seemed the goodliest man in all that company, and was well liked of the Lady. And eftesoones taking on him knighthood, and mounting on that strange Courser, he went forth with her on that adventure: where beginneth the first book.The lady’s name is Una. Una means one and only. So the three together, Una, the Dwarf, and the Red Cross Knight in his new armor embark on a journey to slay the dragon who holds Una’s parents captive. The story is really about how the Red Cross Knight, a clumsy youth, untried in battle puts on the whole armor of God described in Ephesians 6 of the New Testament.“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”