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CANTO II

I. _The Plot_: Deceived by Archimago's phantoms, the Redcross Knight
suspects the chastity of Una, and flies at early dawn with his dwarf. He
chances to meet the Saracen Sansfoy in company with the false Duessa. They
do battle and Sansfoy is slain. Duessa under the name of Fidessa attaches
herself to the Knight, and they ride forward. They stop to rest under some
shady trees, On breaking a bough, the Knight discovers that the trees are
two lovers, Fradubio and Fraelissa, thus imprisoned by the cruel
enchantment of Duessa.

II. _The Allegory_: 1. Hypocrisy under a pious disguise is attractive to
Holiness. Truth is also deceived by it, and shamefully slandered. Holiness
having abandoned Truth, takes up with Falsehood, who is attended by
Infidelity. Unbelief when openly assailing Holiness is overthrown, but
Falsehood under the guise of Faith remains undiscovered. The fate of the
man (Fradubio) is set forth who halts between two opinions,--False Religion
(Duessa) and Heathen Philosophy, or Natural Religion (Fraelissa).

2. The Reformed Church, no longer under the guidance of Truth, rushes
headlong into Infidelity, and unwittingly became the defender of the Romish
Faith under the name of the True Faith.
There is a hint of the intrigues of
Mary Queen of Scots and the libels of the Jesuits on Queen Elizabeth
designed to bring back the English nation to Romish allegiance.

LINE 1. THE NORTHERNE WAGONER, the constellation Bootes.

2. HIS SEVENFOLD TEME, the seven stars of Ursa Major, or Charles's Wain.
THE STEDFAST STARRE, the Pole-star, which never sets.

6. CHEAREFULL CHAUNTICLERE, the name of the cock in the fabliaux and beast
epics, e. g. _Roman de Renart_ and _Reineke Fuchs_.

7. PHOEBUS FIERY CARRE, the sun.

11. THAT FAIRE-FORGED SPRIGHT, fair but miscreated spirit (I, xiv). Spenser
took suggestions for this stanza from Ariosto and Tasso.

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