The House of Holiness
The three daughters of Caelia in the
House of Holiness; Fidelia, Speranza, and Charissa represent Faith, Hope,
and Charity. Along with Patience, who plucks out Red Cross Knight's
sins, and Penance, Remorse, and Repentance, the mother and daughters lead
Red Cross to the path of Righteousness. This episode parallels Duessa
and Red Cross Knight in the House of Pride.
There was an auntient house not farre away,
Renowmd throughout the world for sacred
lore,
And pure vnspotted life: so well they
say
It gouernd was, and guided euermore,
Through wisedome of a matrone graue and
hore;
Whose onely ioy was to relieue the needes
Of wretched soules, and helpe the helpelesse
pore:
All night she spent in bidding of her
bedes,
And all the day in doing good and godly
deedes.
Dame Cælia men did her call, as
thought
From heauen to come, or thither to arise,
The mother of three daughters, well vpbrought
In goodly thewes, and godly exercise:
The eldest two most sober, chast, and
wise,
Fidelia and
Speranza virgins were,
Though spousd, yet wanting wedlocks solemnize;
But faire Charissa
to a louely fere
Was lincked, and by him had many pledges
dere.
This stanza, found in Canto X, only represents the
introduction to the three daughters, follow the links to further explanation
about Una and Red Cross Knight's experience in the House of Holiness, and
how Red Cross finds the path to Heaven.