Speranza
Her younger sister, that Speranza hight,
Was clad in blew, that her beseemed well;
Not all so chearefull seemed she of sight,
As was her sister; whether dread did dwell,
Or anguish in her hart, is hard to tell:
Vpon her arme a siluer anchor lay,
Whereon she leaned euer, as befell:
And euer vp to heauen, as she did pray,
Her stedfast eyes were bent, ne swarued
other way.
Speranza, the second daughter mentioned, standing
for Hope, is described here as dressed in blue, like the blue of the Virgin
Mary. On her arm there was a silver anchor, perhaps to signify that
Hope anchors a soul to Heaven. Speranza gave Red Cross Knight hope after
her sister, Fidelia, had taught him the errors of his ways.