How we cite our quotes: Book, canto, stanza
Quote #4
Faire Sir (said [Guyon]) if in that picture dead/ Such life ye read, and vertue in vaine shew,/ What mote ye weene, if the trew liuely-head/ Of that most glorious visage ye did vew? (II.ix.3)
After Arthur comments on the beauty of the image of Gloriana on Guyon's shield, Guyon reminds him that a picture pales in comparison to the appearance of the queen herself.
Quote #5
The great Magician Merlin had deuiz'd,/ By his deepe science, and hell-dreaded might,/ A looking glasse, right wondrously aguiz'd/ Whose vertues through the wyde world soone were solemniz'd. (III.ii.18)
The famous magic mirror in which Britomart see her future love, Arthegall, combines the act of looking at oneself—the typical use for a mirror—and looking at one's future. Nifty.
Quote #6
For round about, the wals yclothed were/ With goodly arras of great maiesty,/ Wouen with gold and silke so close and nere,/ That the rich metall lurked priuily,/ As faining to be hid from enuious eye. (III.xi.28)
Even before we learn that the tapestries in Busirane's house depict scenes of rape, we know something is wrong because they "lurk" and "fain"—not exactly normal for visual artwork.