Elizabeth was the Faery Queen herself--faery in her real person, springing Cinderella-like from durance and danger to the most powerful throne in Europe.

Hers was a reign of faery character, popular and august at home, after centuries of misrule and civil war; abroad English influence and power were exerted in a magical manner.

It is she who holds a court such as no Englishman had ever seen; who had the power to transform common men into valiant warriors, elegant courtiers, and great statesmen; to send forth her knights upon glorious adventures--Sidney to die at Zutphen, Raleigh to North and South America, Frobisher--with a wave of her hand as he passes down the Thames--to try the northwest passage to India; Effingham, Drake, and Hawkins to drive off to the tender mercy of northern storms the Invincible Armada, and then to point out to the coming generations the distant fields of English enterprise.
"Chivalry was dying; the abbey and the castle were soon together to crumble into ruins; and all the forms, desires, beliefs, convictions of the old world were passing away, never to return;"[27] but this virgin queen was the founder of a new chivalry, whose deeds were not less valiant, and far more useful to civilization.
It is not our purpose, for it would be impossible, to interpret all the history contained in this wonderful poem: a few of the more striking presentations will be indicated, and thus suggest to the student how he may continue the investigation for himself.
THE KNIGHT AND THE LADY .-- In the First Book we are at once struck with the fine portraiture of the Red Crosse Knight, the Patron of Holinesse, which we find in the opening lines: A gentle knight was pricking on the plain, Ycladd in mighty arms and silver shield.
As we read we discover, without effort, that he is the St.George of England, or the impersonation of England herself, whose red-cross banner distinguishes her among the nations of the earth.

It is a description of Christian England with which the poet thus opens his work: And on his brest a bloodie cross he bore, The dear remembrance of his dying Lord, For whose sweet sake that glorious badge he wore, And dead, as living ever, Him adored.
Upon his shield the like was also scored, For sovereign hope which in his help he had.
Then follows his adventure--that of St.George and the Dragon.

By slaying this monster, he will give comfort and aid to a peerless lady, the daughter of a glorious king; this fair lady, _Una_, who has come a long distance, and to whom, as a champion, the Faery Queene has presented the red-cross knight.