Does the old man, Despaire nearly cause Redcrosse to commit suicide in his feeble attempt before Una saves him in Canto 9 ¶ 51 & 52:
"But when as none of them he saw him take,
He to him raught a dagger sharpe and keene,
And gave it him in hand: his hand did quake,
And tremble like a leaf of Aspin greene,
And troubled blood through his pale face was seene
To come, and goe with tydings from the hart,
As it a running messenger had beene.
At last resolved to worke his final smart,
He lifted up his hand, that backe againe did start."
"Which when as Una saw, through every vaine,
The crudled cold ran to her well of life,
As in a swowne: but soone relived againe,
Out of his hand she snatcht the cursed knife,
And threw it to the ground, enraged rife."
It seems to me that Redcrosse (holiness) is really easily misled without the truth. It takes having Una (truth) to allow the knight's holiness to overcome despair. She jumps in to save him from taking his own life! I find it strangely amusing that this knight who's supposed to be so strong, brave and capable can be so damn naive.
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