THE LEGEND OF BRITOMART: Stories from the Faerie Queene - Book III
About this ebook
The retelling of the Legend of Britomart from Spencer's epic poem "Stories from the Faerie Queene" in story/novel format by Mary Macleod
Britomart is a female knight, the embodiment and champion of Chastity. She is young and beautiful, and falls in love with Artegal upon first seeing his face in her father's magic mirror. Though there is no interaction with him, she falls in love with him, and travels, dressed as a knight and accompanied by her nurse, Glauce, in search of her beloved Artegal. She carries an enchanted spear that allows her to defeat every Knight she encounters.
After many adventures, it is only at the end of her quest Britomart is challenged by two knights who both seek to avenge their previous defeat at the hand of the unknown “Knight with the Ebony Spear”, who is in reality Britomart. Both challenge, but again are unseated by Britomart. In his defeat the beautiful face of Sir Artegal is revealed and her mind at once recalls the day she first saw his face in her father’s enchanted mirror. Only then does her courage began to falter, and her spirit grow tame, so that she softly withdraws her uplifted hand.
Sir Scudamore, who has been observing the joust is glad at heart and exclaims with jest, "Truly, Sir Artegal, I rejoice to see you bow so low, and that you have lived to become a lady's thrall!"
When Britomart hears the name of Artegal, her heart leaps and trembles with joy. She flushes deeply, and tries to hide her agitation by feigning anger. But all is put right and Britomart and Artegal fall deeply in love and can’t bear to be parted.
But a happy ending is not yet in sight as Sir Artegal is on a quest and takes his leave. Britomart is upset and can hardly bear to be parted. Britomart then joins Sir Scudamour on his quest to find his Lady Amoret and they return to where Britomart had last seen her.
Tags: Legend of Britomart, female knight, champion of chastity, young and beautiful, falls in love, lust, Artegal, magic mirror, Glauce, defeat all, challenge, courage begins to falter, softly withdrew her uplifted hand, Sir Scudamore, lady's thrall, quest, chase, rescue, save, Lady Amoret, folklore, fairy tales, faerie queen, myths,legends, children’s stories, storyteller
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 - 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.
