Characters Discussed
Gloriana
Gloriana, the Faerie Queene, an idealized portrait of Queen Elizabeth. Although she does not appear in the extant portion of the poem, many of the knights set out on their quests from her court, and they often praise her virtue and splendor.
Prince Arthur
Prince Arthur, the legendary British hero, who represents Magnificence, the perfection of all virtues. He rides in search of Gloriana, who had appeared to him in a vision, and, on his way, aids knights in distress.
The Red Cross Knight
The Red Cross Knight, the hero of book 1, in which he represents both England’s patron, Saint George, and Christian man in search of holiness. He sets out confidently to rescue Una’s parents from the dragon of evil, but he is attacked by forces of sin and error that drive him to the point of suicide. He is restored in the House of Holiness by the teachings and offices of the church and, refreshed by a fountain and a tree, symbolizing the sacraments of baptism and communion, he triumphs in his three-day combat with the dragon.
Una
Una (EW-nah), the daughter of the King and Queen of the West, Adam and Eve; she personifies truth and the church. She advises her knight wisely, but she cannot protect him from himself. Deserted, she is aided by a lion and a troop of satyrs. She is finally restored to the Red Cross Knight, who is betrothed to her after his victory over the dragon.
The Dwarf
The Dwarf, her companion, Common Sense.
Error
Error, the Red Cross Knight’s first adversary, a monster who lives in the wandering wood.
Archimago
Archimago (ahr-chih-MAH-goh), a satanic figure who uses many disguises in his attempts to lure the knights and ladies of the poem into sin and disaster.
Duessa
Duessa (dew-EHS-seh), his accomplice, whose attractive appearance hides her real hideousness. She represents variously Falsehood, the Roman Catholic Church, and Mary, Queen of Scots.
Sans Foy
Sans Foy,
Sans Loy
Sans Loy, and
Sans Joy
Sans Joy, Saracen knights who attack Una and her knight.
Fradubio
Fradubio (frah-DEW-bee-oh), a knight betrayed by Duessa and transformed into a tree.
Kirkrapine
Kirkrapine (KURK-rah-peen), a church robber, slain by Una’s lion when he tries to enter the cottage where she has taken refuge.
Abessa
Abessa (AH-beh-sah), his mistress.
Corceca
Corceca (KOHR-seh-kah), her blind mother.
Lucifera
Lucifera (lew-SIH-feh-rah), the mistress of the House of Pride.
Malvenu
Malvenu (MAHL-veh-new), her porter.
Vanity
Vanity, her usher.
Night
Night, the mother of falsehood, to whom Duessa appeals for help.
Aesculapius
Aesculapius (ehs-kew-LAY-pee-uhs), the physician of the gods.
Sylvanus
Sylvanus (SIHL-vah-nuhs), the leader of the satyrs who rescue Una from Sans Loy.
Satyrane
Satyrane (SA-tih-rayn), a valiant, gentle knight who is half nobleman and half satyr.
Despair
Despair, an emaciated creature who drives warriors to suicide with his sophistic recitals of their sins.
Trevisan
Trevisan (TREH-vih-san), one of his intended victims.
Dame Coelia
Dame Coelia (CHEE-lee-ah), a virtuous matron who lives in the House of Holiness.
Fidelia
Fidelia (fih-DAY-lee-ah),
Speranza
Speranza (speh-RAN-zah), and
Charissa
Charissa (cha-RIHS-sah), her daughters, Faith, Hope, and Charity.
Contemplation
Contemplation, a holy hermit who gives the Red Cross Knight a vision of the City of God, then sends him back into the world to complete his quest.
Guyon
Guyon (GWEE-on), the Knight of Temperance, the sternest of the Spenserian heroes, who must violently destroy Acrasia’s power and all of its temptations that lead men to intemperance.
Palmer
Palmer, his faithful companion, who stands for Reason or Prudence.
Acrasia
Acrasia (ah-KRAY-zee-ah), the Circe-like mistress of the Bower of Bliss. She lures men to their ruin in her world of debilitating luxuriance and turns them into animals.
Amavia
Amavia (ah-MAY-vee-ah), the desolate widow of one of her victims.
Ruddymane
Ruddymane, her baby, whose hands cannot be cleansed of his dying mother’s blood.
Medina
Medina (meh-DEE-nah),
Perissa
Perissa (peh-RIHS-sah), and
Elissa
Elissa, sisters who personify the mean, the deficiency, and the excess of temperance.
Sir Huddibras
Sir Huddibras (HEW-dee-brahs), a malcontent, Elissa’s lover.
Braggadocio
Braggadocio (brahg-ga-DOH-chee-oh), a vainglorious braggart who masquerades as a knight on Guyon’s stolen horse.
Trompart
Trompart, his miserly companion.
Belphoebe
Belphoebe (behl-FEE-bee), a virgin huntress, reared by the goddess Diana, who cannot respond to the devotion offered by Prince Arthur’s squire, Timias. She is another of the figures conceived as a compliment to Elizabeth.
Furor
Furor, a churlish fellow whom Guyon finds furiously beating a helpless squire.
Occasion
Occasion, his mother, a hag.
Phedon
Phedon (FAY-don), the maltreated squire, who falls into Furor’s hands through his jealousy of his lady, Pryene, and his friend Philemon.
Pyrochles
Pyrochles (PIH-roh-kleez) and
Cymochles
Cymochles (SIH-mah-kleez), intemperate knights defeated by Guyon.
Atin
Atin (AT-ihn), Pyrochles’ servant.
Phaedria
Phaedria (FAY-dree-ah), a coquette who lures knights to her island, where she lulls them into forgetfulness of their quests.
Mammon
Mammon, the god of riches, who sits in rusty armor surveying his hoard of gold.
Philotime
Philotime (fih-LOH-tih-mee), his daughter, who holds the golden chain of ambition.
Alma
Alma, the soul, mistress of the castle of the body where Guyon and Prince Arthur take refuge.
Phantastes
Phantastes (FAN-tahs-teez) and
Eumnestes
Eumnestes (ewm-NEHS-teez), guardians, respectively, of fantasy and of memory.
Maleger
Maleger (mah-LEE-gur), the captain of the shadowy forces who attacked the bulwarks of the House of Alma.
Verdant
Verdant, a knight released by Guyon from Acrasia’s clutches.
Grille
Grille, one of Acrasia’s victims. He reviles Guyon and the Palmer for restoring his human form.
Britomart
Britomart (BRIH-toh-mahrt), the maiden knight, heroine of the book of Chastity. She subdues the forces of lust as she travels in search of Artegall, with whom she fell in love when she saw him in a magic mirror. Her union with him represents the alliance of justice and mercy as well as Spenser’s ideal of married chastity, which surpasses the austere virginity of Belphoebe.
Malecasta
Malecasta (mal-eh-KAS-teh), the lady of delight, beautiful and wanton, who entertains Britomart in Castle Joyous.
Glauce
Glauce (GLAW-see), Britomart’s nurse, who accompanies her as her squire.
Merlin
Merlin, the famous magician, whom Glauce and Britomart consult to learn the identity of the knight in the mirror.
Marinell
Marinell (MA-rih-nehl), the timid son of a sea nymph and Florimell’s lover.
Cymoent
Cymoent (SIH-mehnt), his mother.
Florimell
Florimell (FLOH-rih-mehl), the loveliest and gentlest of the ladies in Faerie Land. She is pursued by many evil beings, men and gods, before she is wed to Marinell.
Timias
Timias (TIH-mee-as), Prince Arthur’s squire, who is healed of severe wounds by Belphoebe. Although he falls in love with her, he can never win more than kindness as a response.
Crysogene
Crysogene (krih-SAW-jeh-nee), the mother of Belphoebe and Amoret, who were conceived by the sun.
Argante
Argante (ahr-GAHN-tee), a giantess, one of the figures of lust.
Ollyphant
Ollyphant (AW-lee-fant), her brother and lover.
A Squire of Dames
A Squire of Dames, Argante’s prisoner.
Snowy Florimell
Snowy Florimell, Braggadocio’s lady, a creature made by a witch with whom Florimell had stayed.
Proteus
Proteus (PROH-tee-uhs), the shepherd of the sea, who rescues Florimell from a lecherous fisherman.
Panope
Panope (PAN-oh-pee), an old nymph, his housekeeper.
Paridell
Paridell (PAR-ih-dehl), a vain, lascivious knight.
Malbecco
Malbecco (mal-BEHK-koh), a miserly, jealous old man.
Hellenore
Hellenore (HEHL-leh-nohr), his young wife, who runs away with Paridell.
Scudamour
Scudamour (SKEW-dah-mohr), the knight most skilled in the art of courtly love. He wins Amoret at the court of Venus, but she is taken from him almost immediately.
Amoret
Amoret (AM-ohr-eht), his beautiful bride, who is taken prisoner at her own wedding by Busirane, who represents her own passions and the confining forces of the rigid code of love in which she has grown up.
Busirane
Busirane (BEW-sih-rayn), her captor.
Venus
Venus, the goddess of love and a personification of the creative force in nature, Amoret’s foster mother.
Adonis
Adonis (uh-DON-ihs), her lover.
Diana
Diana, the divine huntress, the virgin goddess who raises Belphoebe.
Ate
Ate (AH-tay), Discord, a malicious old woman who stirs up strife.
Blandamour
Blandamour (BLAN-dah-mohr), a fickle knight.
Sir Ferraugh
Sir Ferraugh (FEHR-raw), one of the suitors of Snowy Florimell.
Cambello
Cambello (kam-BEHL-loh), one of the knights of friendship.
Canacee
Canacee (KA-nah-see), his sister, a wise and beautiful lady who is won by Triamond.
Cambina
Cambina (kam-BEE-nah), Cambello’s wife.
Priamond
Priamond (PREE-ah-mond),
Diamond
Diamond, and
Triamond
Triamond (TREE-ah-mond), brothers who fight for the hand of Canacee. The first two are killed, but their strength passes into their victorious surviving brother.
Artegall
Artegall (AHR-teh-gahl), the knight of Justice, Britomart’s beloved.
Talus
Talus (TAH-luhs), the iron man, his implacable attendant, who upholds justice untempered by mercy.
Aemylia
Aemylia (eh-MEE-lee-ah), a lady imprisoned with Amoret by a villainous churl and rescued by Belphoebe.
Corflambo
Corflambo (kohr-FLAHM-boh), a mighty pagan who corrupts his enemies by filling them with lust.
Poeana
Poeana (pee-AH-nah), his rude, tyrannical daughter.
Amyas
Amyas (ah-MEE-ahs), the Squire of Low Degree, Aemylia’s suitor.
Placidas
Placidas (PLAH-see-dahs), another squire loved by Poeana. Encouraged by Prince Arthur, Placidas marries Poeana and reforms her.
Druon
Druon (DREW-on) and
Claribell
Claribell, pugnacious companions of Blandamour and Paridell.
Thames
Thames (TAH-mees) and
Medway
Medway, the river god and goddess whose marriage is attended by the famous waterways of the world.
Neptune
Neptune, the sea god to whom Marinell’s mother pleads for Florimell’s release from Proteus.
Grantorto
Grantorto (gran-TOHR-toh), a tyrant who holds Irena’s country in his power. He is the emblem of the political strength of the Roman Catholic Church.
Irena
Irena, his victim, who appeals to the Faerie Queene for help.
Sir Sanglier
Sir Sanglier (SAHN-glee-ayr), a cruel lord who is chastened by Talus.
Pollente
Pollente (pohl-LEHN-tay), a Saracen warrior who extorts money from travelers.
Munera
Munera (MEW-neh-rah), his daughter, the keeper of his treasury.
Giant Communism
Giant Communism, Artegall’s foe. He tries to weigh everything in his scales, but he learns, before Talus hurls him into the sea, that truth and falsehood, right and wrong, cannot be balanced.
Amidas
Amidas (AH-mih-dahs) and
Bracidas
Bracidas (BRA-see-dahs), brothers whose dispute over a treasure chest is settled by Artegall.
Philtera
Philtera (FIHL-teh-rah), Bracidas’ betrothed, who weds his wealthy brother.
Lucy
Lucy, Amidas’ deserted sweetheart, Bracidas’ wife.
Sir Turpine
Sir Turpine (TUR-pih-nay), a knight whom Artegall discovers bound and tormented by Amazon warriors. He refuses aid to Calepine and Serena.
Radigund
Radigund (RA-dih-guhnd), the queen of the Amazons. She captures Artegall and dresses him in women’s clothes to humiliate him, then falls in love with him and tries unsuccessfully to win him.
Clarinda
Clarinda, her attendant, who comes to love Artegall as she woos him for her mistress.
Dolon
Dolon (DOH-lon), Deceit, a knight who tries to entrap Britomart.
Mercilla
Mercilla (mur-SIHL-lah), a just and merciful maiden queen whose realm is threatened by a mighty warrior.
The Souldan
The Souldan, her enemy, thought to represent Philip of Spain. He is destroyed by the brilliant light of Prince Arthur’s diamond shield.
Malengin
Malengin (mah-LEHN-gihn), an ingenious villain who transforms himself into different shapes at will. Talus crushes him with his iron flail.
Belgae
Belgae (BEHL-jeh), a mother who loses twelve of her seventeen children to the tyrant Geryoneo and appeals to Mercilla for help.
Geryoneo
Geryoneo (jeh-ree-OH-nee-oh), her enemy, the power of Spain, who is slain by Artegall.
Burbon
Burbon, a knight rescued by Artegall as he fights Grantorto’s men to rescue his lady, Flourdelis (France).
Sir Sergis
Sir Sergis, Irena’s faithful adviser.
Calidore
Calidore (KAH-lih-dohr), the knight of Courtesy, sent to destroy the Blatant Beast, malicious gossip.
Briana
Briana (bree-AH-nah), a proud lady who abuses the laws of hospitality by demanding the hair and beards of ladies and gentlemen who pass her castle.
Crudor
Crudor, the disdainful knight for whom she weaves a mantle of hair.
Tristram
Tristram, a young prince reared in the forest who impresses Prince Arthur with his instinctive courtesy.
Aldus
Aldus (AL-duhs), a worthy old knight.
Aladine
Aladine (AL-ah-deen), his son.
Priscilla
Priscilla, Aladine’s lady.
Serena
Serena, a noble lady, severely wounded by the Blatant Beast.
Calepine
Calepine (KAH-leh-peen), her knight.
Blandina
Blandina, Sir Turpine’s wife, who tries to assuage his cruelty.
The Salvage Man
The Salvage Man, a “noble savage,” another untaught practitioner of courtesy.
Matilde
Matilde, a childless noblewoman who adopts a baby rescued by Calidore from a bear.
Mirabella
Mirabella, a proud, insolent lady.
Disdaine
Disdaine (dihs-DAYN) and
Scorne
Scorne, her tormentors.
Pastorella
Pastorella, a nobleman’s daughter who grows up with shepherds. Calidore falls in love with her and with her rustic life.
Meliboee
Meliboee (MEHL-ih-bee), her wise foster father, who warns Calidore that happiness is not to be found in one place or another but in oneself.
Coridon
Coridon (KOHR-ih-don), Pastorella’s shepherd admirer.
Colin Clout
Colin Clout, a shepherd poet who pipes to the graces on Mount Acidale.
Sir Bellamour
Sir Bellamour, Calidore’s friend and Pastorella’s father.
Claribell
Claribell, his wife.
Melissa
Melissa, her maid, who discovers Pastorella’s true identity.
Mutability
Mutability, a proud Titaness who challenges the power of Cynthia, the moon goddess.
Cynthia
Cynthia, her rival.
Mercury
Mercury, the messenger of the gods.
Jove
Jove, the king of the gods.
Mollana
Mollana, a nymph and an Irish river.
Faunus
Faunus (FAW-nuhs), a satyr who pursues her.
Dame Nature
Dame Nature, a great veiled figure who hears Mutability’s arguments and judges, finally, that order reigns in all change.