The Faerie Queene, Book III — The Virtue of Chastity

 “Of Chastity the golden chaine, wherewith the world is bound.” — Canto I

Britomart sees her love in the magic MirrorBritomart viewing Artegall by Walter Crane from Book III, Part VII of an 1895–1897 edition Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Faerie_Queene#/media/File:Britomart_viewing_Artegal_(Crane,_1895-1897).jpg

I knew such women when I needed them most, when I was filled with passion

• They were like Britomart in purity and worship manifested in their beauty.

• Faithfulness and a meek and quiet spirit was their way.

• We see them in Dante's Beatrice, Dickens' Agnes, and Jepthah's daughter.

They can only be found in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: (Psalm 110:3

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Introduction: Spenser’s Holy Quest

In Book III of The Faerie Queene, Edmund Spenser turns from knightly strength and temperance to a deeper, rarer virtue—chastity.

This is not mere abstinence but purity of love: love ordered by God, faithful, self-sacrificing, and true.

Our heroine is Britomart, a young woman in armor who sets out on a holy quest. She represents both the purity of heart that seeks Christ and the faithful soul that guards love’s sacred flame.

Spenser calls chastity “the golden chain” that binds heaven and earth together; for without holy love, every other virtue falls apart.

Britomart’s Vision of True Love

Early in her journey, Britomart sees in Merlin’s mirror the image of her destined husband, the noble knight Artegall. She does not yet know his name, only that he stands for divine justice. Her longing for him is not lust but spiritual desire—a foreshadowing of the believer’s longing for Christ.

“For never yet was creature loved dearer,Nor faithful heart with truer zeal endear’d.” — Canto II

Britomart’s love is patient and holy. She bears her armor like a pilgrim bears his cross.As Spenser writes,

“Love is the lesson which the Lord us taught.” — Canto V

In that single line, the whole legend unfolds: the chastity of Britomart is not denial of love but its redemption.

The Battle for Purity

Throughout the poem, Britomart encounters forces that twist or corrupt love—lust, jealousy, vanity, and false enchantment. Each battle is an image of the Christian struggle to keep the heart pure in a fallen world.

When she meets the proud knight Marinell, wounded by love’s dart, Spenser comments:

“Such is the powre of that sweet passion,That it all other pleasures doth surpasse.” — Canto IV

Even here, Spenser shows that passion itself is not evil; it becomes holy when ruled by grace. The virtue of chastity disciplines desire without destroying it, as Christ sanctifies the human heart rather than hardening it.

Christ the True Bridegroom

Beneath Spenser’s allegory lies a clear gospel parallel. Britomart’s search for Artegall mirrors the believer’s search for Christ—the Heavenly Bridegroom.The armor she wears is the armor of faith; the mirror she looks into is the mirror of God’s Word.

“Her mind was pure and inly peace possess’d,And love her led with gentle government.” — Canto III

True chastity, then, is not repression but freedom—freedom to love rightly, to see others through the eyes of Christ, to keep the soul unspotted by the world.

As Scripture says,

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” — Matthew 5:8

Devotional Reflection

Britomart’s journey reminds us that purity begins not with willpower but with worship. Her strength came from a vision—seeing something so beautiful and eternal that all lesser loves lost their hold. So too, when we see the beauty of Christ, earthly temptations fade.

The virtue of chastity is love sanctified by the Spirit.It is not the coldness of denial but the fire of devotion.Spenser captures this beautifully:

“Such was her heav’nly inward purity,That all her body’s lust did thence decay.” — Canto V

The more we love Jesus, the more our hearts are cleansed by that love.

A Short Prayer

Lord Jesus, You are the pure and faithful Bridegroom of the soul. Cleanse my heart from false desires and teach me to love as You love—with truth, with mercy, and with holy passion. Let my life reflect the purity of Britomart’s quest and the radiance of Your own perfect love. Amen.

Discussion Question

How can purity of heart become a positive force in your life—not just what you avoid, but what you pursue in love for Christ and others?

Purer yet and pur­er, I would be in mind,

Dearer yet and dear­er, eve­ry du­ty find;

Hoping still, and trust­ing God with­out a fear,

Patiently be­liev­ing He will make all clear.

Calmer yet and calm­er, in the hour of pain,

Surer yet and sur­er, peace at last to gain;

Suffering still and do­ing, to His will re­signed,

And to joy sub­du­ing heart and will and mind.

Higher yet and high­er, out of clouds and sight,

Nearer yet and near­er, ris­ing to the Light;

Light se­rene and ho­ly, where my soul may rest,

Purified and ho­ly, sanc­ti­fied and blessed.

Swifter yet and swift­er, ev­er on­ward run,

Firmer yet and firm­er, step as I go on;

Oft these ear­nest long­ings swell with­in my breast,

Yet their in­ner mean­ing ne’er can be ex­pressed.

Words: Jo­hann Wolf­gang von Goe­the (1749–1832). Pub­lished in Iph­igen­ia in Tau­ris, with Orig­in­al Po­ems, 1851. Trans­la­tion at­trib­ut­ed to Anne R. Ben­nett.