30 Philo M. Buck, Jr. 



Mary, took her under his protection. The fact is, and Elizabeth 

 afterward acknowledged it, that he saved her life at this very 

 juncture. In all the proceedings and examination of witnesses, 

 not a word of a treasonable nature could be brought out against 

 her. Proteus saved Florimel's life and honor, Philip saved Eliza- 

 beth's. The old fisherman was cast into the sea, Seymour was 

 beheaded. But, and here the allegory grows stronger, when 

 Mary died, Philip directly proposed marriage to Elizabeth ; and 

 when he was courteously refused, he began his consistent policy 

 of reducing her pride by a series of reprisals and underhand 

 oppressions. ' Proteus imprisoned Florimel in order to break her 

 will. There we leave her until Marinell hears her moans, com- 

 pells her release, and marries her. Raleigh, as much as anyone, 

 by his statemanship and prowess was responsible for the final 

 overthrow of Philip's gigantic schemes.*- 



After Florimel's escape from the Beast, Satyrane appears and 

 after a conflict binds the Beast with her girdle. If again the 

 Beast is the wrath of France and of the League, the allegory is 

 plain. William of Orange was able to check it in Flanders and 

 Holland. English aid, however, was required to carry this out. 

 It will be remembered that Alenqon became Governor of the 

 Netherlands, and playing the traitor gave over some of the cities 

 to his soldiers to sack. They were unable to do this because of 

 the vigilance of Orange. 



At this point, Satyrane attempts to save the Squire of Dames 

 from the Vile Argante, the wife and sister of the vile Ollyphant, 

 but is captured himself. He is saved by Palladine, a female 

 knight, coming to his rescue. Just to what event this refers I am 

 unable to discover. After the capture of Antwerp in 1585, the 

 English came to the aid of the Dutch. It may refer to this. 



"The cave of Proteus is described as a most lonesome cavern. So was 

 the palace of the Escurial. There he - 



" Offered faire guiftes t'allure her sight, 



And with flattering words he sweetly wood her." 



This attempted bribery is exactly in line with Philip's actions. This part 

 of the poem was probably written in 1589 when there were fears of a 

 second Armada. England had not yet learned to despise Philip's power. 



188 



