How we cite our quotes: (Line)
Quote #7
This lettre spak, the queene delivered wa
Of so horrible a feendly creature
That in the castel noon so hardy was
That any while dorste ther endure;
The mooder was an elf, by aventure,
Ycomen by charmes or by sorcerie,
And every wight hateht hir compaignye. (750-756)
The irony of this passage is that the narrator is about to invoke a similar claim against Donegild herself, saying that she's not human, but a spirit from hell. Donegild lacks the religious framework of Christianity. Her use of elves and demon-children to represent evil reflects a medieval English perspective on the content of ancient paganism. Which is to say, it's not good.
Quote #8
O Donegild, I ne have noon Englissh digne
Unto thy malice and thy tirranye;
And therfore to the feend I thee resigne,
Lat hym enditen of thy traitorie!
Fy, mannysh, fy? – O nay, by God, I lye –
Fy, feendlych spirit! for I dar wel telle,
Though thou heere walke, thy spirit is in helle. (779-784)
The narrator says Donegild isn't any better than a devil of Hell. This passage again frames the conflict between Custance and her mother-in-law as one between the forces of good and evil.