Season 4 Podcast 152 Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queen, Book I, Canto 8 Pt III Episode 22 “The Red Cross Knight.”

Season 4 Podcast 152 Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queen, Book I, Canto 8 Pt III Episode 22 “The Red Cross Knight.” 

In last week’s episode, King Arthur, held captive the witch Duessa, wounds the many headed beast, and kills the giant Orgoglio. In this episode, the last of Canto 8, they find the Redcross Knight languishing in the dungeon. 

The blind jailor, whose face forever looks backward carries the rusty keys of the dungeon but knows nothing. He doesn’t even know which cell the Redcross Knight is in. The jailor’s name is Ignaro, or Ignorance. and he cannot answer any questions. King Arthur grows impatient and tells the old man he expected greater wisdom from someone of his age. 

Then asked he, which way he in might pas:

 

He could not tell, again he answered.

Thereat the courteous knight displeased was,

And said, Old sire, it seems thou hast not red

How ill it sits with that same silver hed,

In vain to mock, or mockt in vain to bee:

 

But if thou be, as thou art portrayed

With natures pen, in ages grave degree,

Aread in graver wise, what I demand of thee.

The jailor annoyingly always gives the same answer, he cannot tell. King Arthur snatches the keys from the jailor and begins to open all the doors himself. 

His answer likewise was, he could not tell.

Whose senseless speech, and doted ignorance

 

When as the noble Prince had marked well,

He ghest his nature by his countenance,

And calmed his wrath with goodly temperance.

Then to him stepping, from his arme did reach

Those keys, and made himself free entrance.

 

Each door he opened without any breach;

There was no barre to stop, nor foe him to impeach.

He found in the cells rich tapestry and resplendent gold even such as the greatest Princess might see. The floor, however, was filthy with blood of innocent men, women, and children. Spenser is referring to the crusades and holy inquisitions that burned heretics and murdered many other innocent people. 

There all within full rich arrayed he found,

With royall arras and resplendent gold.

And did with store of every thing abound,

 

That greatest Princes presence might behold.

But all the floore (too filthy to be told)

With bloud of guiltless babes, and innocents trew, 

Which there were slain, as sheepe out of the fold,

Defiled was, that dreadful was to view,

 

And sacred ashes over it was strowed new. 

In one room was a marble alter finely carved and stained with the blood of Christian martyrs. The blood of the martyrs continually cried to God for vengeance against strong tyranny. 

And there beside of marble stone was built

An Altar, carv'd with cunning imagery,

On which true Christians bloud was often spilt,

And holy Martyrs often doen to dye,

 

With cruell malice and strong tyranny:

Whose blessed sprites from underneath the stone

To God for vengeance cryde continually,

And with great griefe were often heard to grone,

That hardest heart would bleede, to hear their piteous mone.

King Arthur and Una search every room but could not find the Redcross Knight. Finally, they come to a locked door that had no key. King Arthur calls loudly with all his power hoping for some answer.