The dragon
couchant
was also the crest of Arthur's father, Uther,
surnamed on this account Pen-dragon.
surnamed on this account Pen-dragon.
Spenser - Faerie Queene - 1
249. A GOODLY KNIGHT. Prince Arthur, son of King Uther Pendragon and Queen
Ygerne, the model English gentleman, in whom all the virtues are perfected
(Magnificence). According to Upton and most editors, Prince Arthur
represents Lord Leicester; according to another tradition, Sir Philip
Sidney. Could the author have possibly intended in him compliment to Sir
Walter Raleigh? See Spenser's _Letter to Raleigh_. Arthur is the beau ideal
of knighthood, and upon him the poet lavishes his richest descriptive
powers. His armor, his shield Pridwen, his lance Roan, and sword Exculibur,
were made by the great enchanter Merlin in the isle of Avallon.
259. SHAPT LIKE A LADIES HEAD, an effigy of Queen Elizabeth, the Faerie
Queene.
260. LIKE HESPERUS, the evening star. Cf. Phosphorus, the morning star.
268.
The dragon couchant was also the crest of Arthur's father, Uther,
surnamed on this account Pen-dragon. The description in this stanza is
imitated from Tasso's description of the helmet of the Sultan in _Jerusalem
Delivered_, ix, 25, which in turn follows Vergil's _AEneid_, vii, 785 _seq. _
280. GREENE SELINIS, a town in Sicily.
284. HIS WARLIKE SHIELD. Spenser here follows closely the description of
the shield of the magician Atlante in Ariosto's _Orlando Furioso_, ii, 55.
300. SILVER CYNTHIA, the moon. It was popularly supposed that magicians and
witches had power to cause eclipses of the moon.
304. All falsehood and deception. Truth and Wisdom are symbolized (Upton).
306. WHEN HIM LIST, when it pleased him. _Him_ is dative.
