How we cite our quotes: Book, canto, stanza
Quote #7
Lightly [Scudamore] clipt her twixt his armes twaine,/ And streightly did embrace her body bright,/ Her body, late the prison of sad paine,/ Now the sweet lodge of loue and deare delight:/ But she faire Lady ouercommen quight/ Of huge affection, did in pleasure melt,/ And in sweete rauishment pourd out her spright… (III.xii.45 1590)
This astonishing passage from the 1590 edition of the Faerie Queene completely distinguishes the physical love between Amoret and Scudamore from the physical attempts by Busirane to force Amoret to love him.
Quote #8
Such ones ill iudge of loue, that cannot loue,/ Ne in their frosen hearts feele kindly flame:/ For thy, they ought not thing vnknowne reproue,/ Ne naturall affection faultlesse blame. (IV.proem.2)
Introducing Book IV, Spenser comes right out with it and suggests that his poem isn't just about love but is a defense of love.