Faerie Queene Installment 3

Una travels alone in a forest, becomes weary, lies down to sleep. A lion approaches and at first roars but then becomes her guard. She spends the night in the hut of Corceca, an old blind woman, (representing the blindness of false faith) Abessa, her deaf daughter, (representing the error of the Romanist church) and a thief, Kirkrapine. (His name means he steals violently from churches). Together these three represent the corruption of the Roman Catholic Church.They are very reluctant to let her stay but fear the lion. The lion kills Kirkrapine and Una flees.

She meets Archimago dressed as the Red Cross Knight. He claims the holy man told him of a quest to free imprisoned knights, which he has completed. She forgives him and they go on together. Sans Loy meets them and Una urges the false Red Cross to fight. He is forced to do so but is defeated. Sans Loy unmasks him and Una has time to see Archimago before Sans Loy takes her prisoner. They leave Archimago unconscious. Sans Loy kills the lion and takes Una away.

Red Cross and Duessa approach Lucifera’s castle. The seven deady sins are in procession. Lucifera is pride. Idleness (laziness) rides an ass, Gluttony (overeating) rides a pig, Lechery (evil sexual appetite) rides a goat, Avarice (greed) rides a camel with gold ornaments Envy (jealousy) rides a wolf, Wrath (anger) rides a lion. Satan drives Lucifera’s carriage with a whip. They see all the splendor and evil and Red Cross is challenged by Sans Joy, another brother of the wicked Sans Foy. He sees that the dwarf carries his brother’ shield, calls the knight a murdering Christian and swears to have his blood. Lucifera tells them they may fight the next day. That night Duessa goes to Sans Joy and claims she is true to him. The two knights fight and Red Cross is victorious. He flees when the dwarf reveals to him how many people are imprisoned in Pride Castle and shows him the ruin and decay usnder the finery.

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