Following Britomart’s description of her deep and debilitating lovesickness for Arthegall, the narrator addresses love directly, personifying it as a minor god with the ability to influence human behavior:
Well did Antiquitie a God thee deeme,
That ouer mortall minds hast so great might,
To order them, as best to thee doth seeme,
And all their actions to direct aright;
The fatall purpose of diuine foresight,
Thou doest effect in destined descents,
Through deepe impression of thy secret might,
And stirredst vp th’Heroes high intents,
Which the late world admyres for wondrous moniments.
The narrator apostrophizes to love (addresses it as if it's a person). He acknowledges that “Antiquitie” deemed love “a God,” an allusion to the various gods of love in Greek and Roman mythology, from Venus to Cupid. Love, he adds, has “so great might” over “mortall minds” that it can “order them” around. In his address to love, the narrator attributes to the abstract concept of love a number of human and godly characteristics. It directs humans to do “as best to thee doth seeme,” or in other words, whatever love considers to be the best course of action, and so too does it have the strength to direct “all their actions.” Though love might not seem like one of the most powerful divine figures, the narrator acknowledges that its “secret might” leaves a “deepe impression” and has even inspired great heroes.
