# Book I: The Legend of the Knight of the Red Cross, or of Holiness explained — The Faerie Queene > Chapter companion for The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser. ## What happens The Redcrosse Knight, accompanied by Una, sets out on a quest given by Gloriana to slay a dragon. After a storm, they take shelter in a grove where the knight encounters and defeats the monster Error. Separated from Una by Archimago's deceit, the knight later falls into despair after drinking from an enchanted fountain and is captured by the giant Orgoglio. Prince Arthur rescues him, and they exchange gifts before parting. The knight then meets a terrified knight fleeing from Despair, who recounts his encounter with the figure of Despair. ## Themes in this chapter ### Virtue and Vice The Redcrosse Knight's journey embodies the struggle between holiness and sin, as he defeats Error but falls prey to Duessa's deceit and Orgoglio's might. ### Allegory and Symbolism Characters like the Redcrosse Knight (holiness), Una (truth), and Duessa (falsehood) are allegorical figures representing moral and religious concepts. ### Truth and Deception Duessa's disguise as Fidessa and Archimago's illusions highlight the theme of deception masking as truth. ### Religion and Morality The Redcrosse Knight's cross, his quest against the dragon, and the book of Christ's testament emphasize Christian morality and redemption. ## Character check-ins ### Redcrosse Knight The protagonist, a gentle knight on a quest from Gloriana, who defeats Error but later falls to Orgoglio and is rescued by Prince Arthur. ### Una A lovely lady riding a white ass, leading a milk-white lamb, who accompanies the Redcrosse Knight on his quest. ### Prince Arthur The noble Briton Prince who rescues the Redcrosse Knight from Orgoglio and gives him a healing box of diamond. ### Duessa The false Dame who, disguised as Fidessa, leads the Redcrosse Knight to the enchanted fountain and his subsequent capture. ### Orgoglio A hideous giant, son of Earth and Aeolus, who captures the Redcrosse Knight and is later defeated by Prince Arthur. ### Despair A cursed wight from hell who uses wounding words to rob knights of hope, encountered by a fleeing knight. ## Key lines > Lo! I, the man whose Muse whylome did maske, As time her taught, in lowly Shephards weeds, Am now enforst, a farre unfitter taske, For trumpets sterne to chaunge mine Oaten reeds, And sing of Knights and Ladies gentle deeds; The poet announces a shift from pastoral poetry to epic, now singing of knights and ladies. _Opening invocation establishing the epic scope._ > A gentle knight was pricking on the plaine, Ycladd in mightie armes and silver shielde, Wherein old dints of deepe woundes did remaine. A noble knight rode across the plain, wearing powerful armor and a silver shield marked with old battle scars. _Introduction of the Redcrosse Knight._ > And on his brest a bloodie Crosse he bore, The deare remembrance of his dying Lord, For whose sweete sake that glorious badge he wore, And dead, as living, ever him ador’d: He wore a red cross on his chest as a reminder of Christ's sacrifice, whom he worshipped even in death. _Symbolism of the Redcrosse Knight's faith._ > A lovely Lady rode him faire beside, Upon a lowly Asse more white than snow, Yet she much whiter; but the same did hide Under a vele, that wimpled was full low; A beautiful lady rode beside him on a donkey whiter than snow, though she herself was even whiter, her face hidden by a low veil. _Description of Una._ > The greatest Earth his uncouth mother was, And blustring Æolus his boasted syre; Who with his breath, which through the world doth pas, Her hollow womb did secretly inspyre, And fild her hidden caves with stormie yre, That she conceiv’d; and trebling the dew time In which the wombes of wemen doe expyre, Brought forth this monstrous masse of earthly slyme, Puft up with emptie wynd, and fild with sinfull cryme. Orgoglio's mother was Earth and his father Aeolus, who filled her womb with wind, producing this monstrous giant swollen with empty pride and sin. _Allegorical origin of Orgoglio._ > Prince Arthur gave a boxe of Diamond sure, Embowd with gold and gorgeous ornament, Wherein were closd few drops of liquor pure, Of wondrous worth, and vertue excellent, That any wownd could heale incontinent. Prince Arthur gave a diamond box adorned with gold, containing a few drops of pure liquid that could instantly heal any wound. _Arthur's gift to the Redcrosse Knight._ > A man of hell that calls himselfe Despayre: Who first us greets, and after fayre areedes Of tydinges straunge, and of adventures rare: So creeping close, as Snake in hidden weedes, Inquireth of our states, and of our knightly deedes. A hellish figure named Despair greeted them, speaking of strange tidings and adventures, creeping close like a snake to learn their condition. _Introduction of Despair._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/book-i-the-legend-of-the-knight-of-the-red-cross-or-of-holiness - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_faerie_queene_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters