The Faerie Queene · Chapter
Canto VI explained
Una is rescued from the lustful Sansloy by a troupe of Fauns and Satyres, who worship her.
What happens
Una is rescued from the lustful Sansloy by a troupe of Fauns and Satyres, who worship her. She is later led away by Satyrane, who helps her escape. They encounter a false pilgrim (Archimago) who falsely reports the death of the Redcrosse Knight. Satyrane then fights Sansloy, while Una flees, and Archimago pursues her.
Themes in this chapter
Virtue and Vice
Una's chastity is contrasted with Sansloy's lust, and Satyrane's knightly virtue opposes Archimago's deceit.
Truth and Deception
Archimago's false report of the Redcrosse Knight's death deceives Una and Satyrane, highlighting the theme of falsehood.
Nature and the Supernatural
The Fauns and Satyres represent wild nature that reveres Una, blending natural and supernatural elements.
Characters to notice
- Una
Rescued from Sansloy by Fauns and Satyres, then led away by Satyrane; distressed by false news of Redcrosse Knight's death.
- Sansloy
Attempts to assault Una but is frightened away by the Satyres; later fights Satyrane.
- Satyrane
Helps Una escape from the Satyres, fights Sansloy, and defends her honor.
- Archimago
Disguised as a pilgrim, falsely reports the death of the Redcrosse Knight to Una and Satyrane, then pursues Una.
- Redcrosse Knight
Mentioned as the knight Una seeks; falsely reported dead by Archimago.
Key passages
“As when a ship, that flyes fayre under sayle, An hidden rocke escaped hath unwares, That lay in waite her wrack for to bewaile, The Marriner yet halfe amazed stares At perill past, and yet in doubt ne dares To joy at his foolhappie oversight: So doubly is distrest twixt joy and cares The dreadlesse corage of this Elfin knight, Having escapt so sad ensamples in his sight.”
Just as a sailor who narrowly avoids a hidden rock is stunned and uncertain whether to rejoice, the Redcrosse Knight is caught between relief and sorrow after escaping dangerous examples.
Describes the knight's emotional state after escaping peril.
“With fawning wordes he courted her a while; And, looking lovely and oft sighing sore, Her constant hart did tempt with diverse guile. But wordes, and lookes, and sighes she did abhore; As rock of Diamond stedfast evermore.”
Sansloy tried to seduce Una with flattery and sighs, but she remained as unmoved as a diamond rock.
Highlights Una's steadfast chastity against Sansloy's advances.
“Eternall providence, exceeding thought, Where none appeares can make her selfe a way. A wondrous way it for this Lady wrought, From Lyons clawes to pluck the gryped pray.”
Divine providence, beyond human understanding, created a miraculous rescue for Una, snatching her from the clutches of a lion-like foe.
Emphasizes the providential rescue of Una by the Satyres.