rince Arthur) is assisted
by the clergy (Squire) with his horn (Bible) and is guided by Truth and
Common Sense (Dwarf).

23. HORNE OF BUGLE SMALL, the English Bible. Spenser here imitates the
description of the magic horn of Logistilla in Ariosto's _Orlando Furioso_,
xv, 15, 53. Such horns are frequently mentioned in romance, e.g., _Chanson
de Roland_, _Morte d' Arthur_, Hawes' _Pastime_, Tasso's _Jerusalem
Delivered_, _Huon of Bordeaux_, _Romance of Sir Otarel_, Cervantes' _Don
Quixote_, etc.

50. LATE CRUELL FEAST, a probable reference to the massacre of St.
Bartholomew's Day in Paris in 1572, and to the persecutions of Alva's
Council of Blood in the Netherlands in 1567.

ix. This stanza is an imitation of Homer's _Iliad_, xiv, 414.

95. IN CYMBRIAN PLAINE, probably the Crimea, the ancient Tauric Chersonese.
Some connect it with the Cimbric Chersonese, or Jutland, which was famous
for its herds of bulls.

96. KINDLY RAGE, natural passion.

105. Note the Latinism "threatened his heads," and the imperfect rhyme
"brands."

118. HER GOLDEN CUP, suggested by Circe's magic cup in Homer's _Odyssey_,
x, 316, and the golden cup of the Babylonish woman in _Revelation_, xvii,
4.

148. THROUGH GREAT IMPATIENCE OF HIS GRIEVED HED, etc., through inability
to endure (the pain of) his wounded head, he would have cast down his
rider, etc.

155. IN ONE ALONE LEFT HAND, in one hand alone remaining. His left arm had
been cut off (x).

xix. The uncovered shield represents the open Bible. The incident is an
imitation of Ruggiero's display of his shield in _Orlando Furioso_, xxii,
85.

246. YOUR FORTUNE MAISTER, etc., be master of your fortune by good
management.

268. UNUSED RUST, rust which is due to disuse; a Latinism.

296. WITH NATURES PEN, etc., i.e. by his gray hairs, at that age to which
proper seriousness belongs. "I cannot tell" did not become his venerable
looks.

310. THAT GREATEST PRINCES, etc. This may mean (1) befitting the presence
of the greatest princes, or (2) that the greatest princes might deign to
behold in person. The first interpretation is preferable.

312. A general reference to the bloody persecutions without regard to age
or sex carried on for centuries by the Romish Church, often under the name
of "crusades," "acts of faith," "holy inquisition," etc.

315. This may refer to the burning of heretics, under the pretext that the
Church shed no blood. Kitchin thinks that it means "accursed ashes