1 8 Philo M. Buck, Jr. 



an end of Guyon. Leicester had no direct connection with Irish 

 affairs, and instead of assisting, when he had the opportunity, 

 against Shan O'Neill, he rather hampered both Sussex and Sid- 

 ney.-^ Again, Cymocles is expressly stated to be a lover of Acrasia, 

 and the wildest stretch of imagination can hardly connect the 

 savage O'Neill with the delicate Queen of Scots. 



I, therefore, have been driven to see in this the allegory of the 

 Northern Rebellion of 1569, which Sussex subdued, but only with 

 the aid of Leicester's brother, the Earl of Warwick.^*^ Sussex, 

 as President of the North, when the rebellion seemed imminent, 

 was ordered to bring the Earls of Northumberland and West- 

 moreland to court. Northumberland at once raised the banner of 

 rebellion ; and this must be the first encounter between Guyon and 

 Pyrocles. Pyrocles was overcome but his life was spared, and in 

 turn he unbinds Furor and Occasion. That is, Northumberland's 

 first offensive movements are checked by Sussex. But Atin 

 sets off for Cymocles who had been reposing in the Bower of 

 Bliss with Acrasia. This probably refers to Charles Neville, Earl 

 of Westmoreland's love for the Queen of Scots. ^^ Their com- 

 bined forces of 15,000 were too much for Sussex who had only 

 some 3,000 men to oppose them. At this point, because he did 

 not move against the rebels, Sussex's loyalty was challenged by 

 Elizabeth's council. This is symbolized by Guyon's apparent jour- 

 ney of pleasure with Immodest Mirth (Phaedria). The fight, 

 too, between Guyon and Cymocles is indecisive. 



While Sussex is waiting for aid from the south, adventures 

 come to Guyon. He is tempted by INIammon and Ambition, but 

 he declares he has no use for w^orldly wealth, and that he must 

 renounce Mammon's daughter, Lady Ambition, as he is already 

 troth plight to another. At various times, Sussex was offered 

 heavy bribes by Spain; we know that this was done in 1574 and 



™ Fox BournCj Life of Sidney, chapter iii. 



^ It is true that this rebellion is again symbolized in Book V, Canto ix. 

 This time, however, there is another hero mentioned. 



^' The luxurious character of Charles Xeville, Earl of Westmoreland, 

 has been referred to by all editors of Spenser's works in anotlier con- 

 nection. It is but adding to the strength of this theory that he in this as 

 well corresponds with the character of Cymocles. 



176 



