…his glistring armor made,
A litle glooming light, much like a shade;
By which he saw the uglie monster plaine,
Halfe like a serpent horribly displaide,
But th’ other halfe did woman’s shape retaine,
Most lothsom, filthie, foule, and full of vile disdain.
And, as she lay upon the durtie ground,
Her huge long taile her den all overspred,
Yet was in knots and many boughtes upwound,
Pointed with mortall sting. Of her there bred
A thousand yong ones, which she dayly fed,
Sucking upon her poisnous dugs; each one
Of sundrie shapes, yet all ill-favored:
Soon as that uncouth light upon them shone,
Into her mouth they crept, and suddain all were gone.
- The Faerie Queen, Edmund Spenser
I woke up this morning and Spenser’s description of Errour was playing in my head. I have been troubled over the past few days. It’s astonishing how the unconscious will work diligently behind the scenes on a problem, and then will present you with its conclusions, albeit often in allegorical form. Spenser’s portrayal of Errour immediately made sense to me when I woke up this morning, and has helped me to clarify my situation.
The conclusion is plain. I find the idea of being one of a thousand yong ones, sucking upon anyone’s poisnous dugs, absolutely repellent.