THE RED CROSS KNIGHT - A story with a moral: Stories from the Faerie Queene Book I
About this ebook
Mary Macleod’s retelling of Edmund Spenser’s epic poem, in novella form.
A GREAT READ FOR KIDS!
Queen Gloriana ruled over a magnificent land, a rich and beautiful country. In her court she had 12 chief knights. Each of her 12 chief knights was known as the Champion of some virtue. Thus Sir Guyon was the representative of Temperance, Sir Artegall of Justice, Sir Calidore of Courtesy, and others took up the cause of Friendship, Constancy, and so on.
During a great feast, which lasted 12 days, a stranger in poor clothes came to the court, and, falling before the Queen, begged a favour of her. It was always the custom at these feasts that the Queen should refuse nothing that was asked, so she bade the stranger say what it was he wished. Then he besought that, if any cause arose which called for knightly aid, the adventure might be entrusted to him. When the Queen had given her promise he stood quietly on one side.
Soon after this there rode into the city a fair lady on a white ass. Behind her came her servant, a dwarf, leading a warlike horse that bore the armour of a knight. The face of the lady was lovely, but it was very sorrowful. Making her way to the palace, she fell before Queen Gloriana, and implored her help. She said that her name was Una; she was the daughter of a king and queen who formerly ruled over a mighty country; but, many years ago, a huge dragon came and wasted all the land, and shut the king and queen up in a brazen castle, from which they might never come out. The Lady Una therefore besought Queen Gloriana to grant her one of her knights to fight and kill this terrible dragon.
Then the stranger sprang forward, and reminded the Queen of the promise she had given. At first she was unwilling to consent, for the Knight was young. However, the Queen kept her word and consented. He was given an old suit of armour upon which was a red cross, and was quickly named the Red Cross Knight.
So the stranger and Una rode forth into the world together, while a little way behind followed their faithful attendant, Prudence. And now you shall hear some of the adventures that befell the Red Cross Knight and his two companions.
TAGS: Red Cross Knight, Princess Una, Princess, suit of armour, stranger, Queen Gloriana, 12 chief knights, champions of virtue, promise, huge dragon, attack, lay siege, ride forth, action, adventure, brazen castle, prisoner, lion, fight, Holiness, Faithless, magician, hands of the enemy, pride, battle for the shield, woodland knight, false pilgrim, prince arthur, wondrous bugle, mighty shield, knight with the hempen rope, cave of despair, house of holiness, city of the great king
Ratings and reviews
About the author
Edmund Spenser (1552/1553 – 13 January 1599) was an English poet best known for The Faerie Queene, an epic poem and fantastical allegory celebrating the Tudor Dynasty and Elizabeth I. He is recognized as one of the premier craftsmen of nascent Modern English verse, and is often considered one of the greatest poets in the English language. He was deeply affected by Irish faerie mythology, which he knew from his home at Kilcolman and possibly from his Irish wife Elizabeth Boyle. His genocidal tracts against Gaelic culture were war propaganda. His house (ruins remain) was burned to the ground during the war, causing him to flee Ireland.
Mary Jane McLeod Bethune (July 10, 1875(1875-07-10) - May 18, 1955) was born in Mayesville, South Carolina and died in Daytona Beach, Florida. A tireless educator born to former slaves, she is best known for founding a school in 1904 that later became part of Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach. She was president of the college from 1923-42 and 1946-47, one of the few women in the world who served as a college president at that time. She was also a member of Roosevelt's Black Cabinet, among other leadership positions in organizations for women and African Americans. Upon her death, columnist Louis E. Martin said, "She gave out faith and hope as if they were pills and she some sort of doctor." Her house is preserved by the National Park Service as Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site, and a sculpture of her is located in Lincoln Park in Washington, DC.
