Lines 4101-4276 Summary

The narrator bewails the loss of Bialacoil. Jealousy begins to build a strong impregnable castle, fitting it out with every defensive weapon. Daunger guards the eastern gate, Shame the south, Dread the north and Wikked-Tunge the west, each guardian reinforced by men-at-arms.

Lines 4101-4276 Analysis

Allegorically, the combination of internal and external factors shut the narrator out of the lady's favour completely.

The description of the castle is historically interesting, as it gives an insight into some aspects of late Medieval warfare. Points to notice include the materials used to make the extra-strong mortar for building the tower and the mention of firearms (although the "gunnes" mentioned were likely to be a cannon rather than a hand-held weapon).

The character of Dread is described further, and raises one inconsistency in this text. When Dread first appears, the character is personified as...