I'm not sure one has to decide -- or if one can.  Rather, 
Spenser diplomatically divides the provocation in this 
conflict & clash between the two knights (or their 
parties), so that each appears to serve as a provocation 
to the other.  The equation is reactive, and "advance" is 
a loaded term suggesting some kind of thrust or 
anticipatory action (troops advance on a military object, 
sexual beings make advances, technical knowledge and 
civilization make advances, causes are advanced, etc.) 
  I'd paraphrase, pedantically, as follows.  Upon 
encountering a fully armed stranger knight, Redcrosse 
advances his spear in some way or other that shows him 
ready, if necessary, to defend himself (perhaps he lowers 
his weapon ninety degrees, from a vertical, upright 
"north" position, an angle suitable for carrying a banner 
or pennon, to a horizontal "east" position--but, again, 
likely not so many degrees as that).  Whatever Redcrosse 
does with his spear, or, more precisely, whatever signal 
that his "advance" action (with his spear) sends, it's 
enough to cause Fidessa to tell her own knight that he 
presently has a "foe" in view.  Redcrosse is likewise 
suddenly not sans-foe, when Sansfoy rises to the challenge 
Fidessa has proposed (for her knight), and, pricked by his 
own pride, and in a sudden lather, spurs his mount forward 
with felonious intent.  Upon seeing the animus driving his 
opposite, Redcrosse now puts his spear into battle mode 
(cocks his rifle, as it were), defensively lodging it 
against its rest (part of his saddle, I guess) to keep it 
in place and pointed at the aggressor in anticipation of 
the shock of the impending encounter, which he may have 
provoked, though perhaps not deliberately.  What comes to 
mind here is the status indicated by the term Church 
Militant, the body of believers as engaged on this earth 
in a constant warfare against the world, the flesh and the 
devil.  Sansfoy is a Sarazin, and probably swears by 
Mahomet ("Curse on that crosse" with Corflambo in 
IV.viii.44).  It's often noted, of course, that the 
monotheistic religions, in campaign mode, can be the ones 
given to armed crusades and ideologies of conquest (cp. in 
our stanza, I.ii.15, "Do backe rebut, and each to other 
yeeldeth land"--Lepanto, etc.).  -- Jim N.


On Fri, 2 Mar 2012 09:03:26 -0500
  James Broaddus <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Dear Colleagues,
> 
> I have a question about the Redcrosse Knight’s encounter 
>with the
> Saracen shortly after he abandoned Una.
> 
> In canto 2, we shift from Archimago’s pursuit of Una to 
>Redcrosse, who
> has “chaunst to meete vpon the way”/ A faithlesse 
>Sarazin all armde to
> point” and accompanied by his lady, who is entertaining 
>“her lover”
> “With faire disport and courting dalliance”:
> 
> 14.   But when she saw the knight his speare aduaunce,
> 	   Shee soone left off her mirth and wanton play,
> 	   And bad her knight addresse him to the fray:
> 	   His foe was nigh at hand. He prickte with pride
>           And hope to winne his Ladies hearte that day,
> 	   Forth spurred fast: adowne his coursers side
> 	The red bloud rickling staind  the way, as he did ride.
> 
> 15.	The knight of the Redcrosse when him he spide,
> 	   Spurring so hote with rage dispiteous,
> 	   Gan fairely couch his speare, and towards ride:
> 
> My question is with the phrase, “the knight his speare 
>advaunce,”
> (14.1). If advancing one’s spear indicates only that one 
>is carrying a
> spear, or something of the sort, Fidessa/Duessa is the 
>one who
> precipitates the combat.
> 
> On the other hand, if advancing one’s spear is a 
>specific challenging
> move in knightly combat, Redcrosse initiates it.
> 
> I googled the appropriate words and also looked up 
>“advance” in the
> OED and came up empty.
> 
> Hamilton does not annotate “his speare aduaunce”; but, 
>with good
> authority, he annotates “fairely couch his speare” 
>(15.3) to mean
> “expertly place his spear in its rest and lower it for 
>attack.”
> 
> If Redcrosse’s first move is the couching of his spear, 
>Sans Foy,
> incited by Fidessa/Duessa, is the aggressor.
> 
> Thanks in advance for any help you can provide,
> 
> Jim Broaddus

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James Nohrnberg
Dept. of English, Bryan Hall 219
Univ. of Virginia
P.O Box 400121
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