1 - 3: Red Cross Knight introduced and described.
4 - 6: Una, as yet unnamed, & her dwarf [reason?] described, & her quest described.
6 - 7: To escape a storm they enter a wood ("the wandring wood," 1.13).
8 - 9: The wood (i.e. forest) described & allegorized.
10: They've lost their way.
11: The stop at [Errour's, 1.13] cave.
12 - 13: The lady and the dwarf caution the knight.
14 - 24: The knight and Errour battle, the knight kills Errour (24).
25 - 6: Error's off-spring devour her corpse and explode.
27: The lady congratulates him on his first victory.
28: They double back to find their way out of the wood.
29 - 34: They encounter a "holy" hermit [Archimago, 1.43] who tells them of a strange, bad, man before inviting them to spend the night at his hermitage.
35: The hermit is excessively pious, & the evening is spent in pleasant discourse.
36 - 44: When his guests are asleep, the hermit conjures two spirits. One he keeps with him, the other travels to Morpheus to get a false dream to visit upon the knight.
45: The hermit fashions the second spirit to look like Una.
46 - 9: In the knight's dream, Una behaves unchastely.
50 -5: The knight is tempted to slay Una for her "uncouth" (50) behaviour, but she calms him down.
1: Dawn approaches.
2 - 3: Archimago, informed of the failure of his first plan, makes a new plan.
4 - 5: Archimago brings the knight to see the two spirits, conjured to look like Una and a Squire, having sex.
6: The & dwarf fly from the place.
7 - 9: Una wakes, finds herself abandoned, & sets off in pursuit of the redcross knight & the dwarf. She does not catch up but gets lost which gives Archimago great pleasure.
10 - 11: Archimago disguises himself.
12 - 19: Redcross knight & Sansfoy meet & battle to Sansfoy's death.
20 - 8: Duessa flees, is overtaken by redcross knight, who is taken in by her story, and they travel together.
29 - 44: They stop under a pair of trees that turn out to be human lovers enchanted into tree form by Duessa.
45: Duessa & recross knight move on.
1 - 2: Narrator speaks directly to reader.
3: We're told that Una continues to search for the redcross knight.
4 - 9: Una meets and befriends a Lion, who then accompanies her on her quest.
10 - 15: Una encounters a young maid who runs away; Una follows and asks the maid & the old woman she lives with to let her spend the night in their cottage.
16 - 20: Kirkrapine comes by night & forces entry, only to be killed by the lion.
21: Una and the lion move on.
22 - 3: The old woman and maid follow Una to curse her.
24 - 5: They give up, turn around, and encounter Archimago.
26 - 32: Archimago, disguised as redcross knight, is approached by Una, and together they encounter [in stanza 33] Sansloy.
33 - 7: Mistaking Archimago for the redcross knight, Sansloy battles and defeats him.
38 - 44: Archimago revealed; Sansloy takes Una captive, kills the lion, & leaves.
1: Narratorial advice to the reader / knight.
2 - 3: Redcross knight and Duessa, travelling together, are led by Duessa to a palace where Duessa suggests they stop to rest.
4 - 5: The palace of pride described.
6: Redcross knight and Duessa enter.
7 - 8: More description of the palace.
9 - 12: Lucifera (queen of the palace of pride) described.
13: Redcross knight and Duessa presented to Lucifera.
14 - 15: Lucifera disdains them, but everyone else vies for their attention.
16 - 38: Lucifera calls for her carriage, pulled by beasts ridden by the other six deadly sins & driven by Satan, & they take some air. Duessa rides with her, but redcross knight abjures. They return to find Sansjoy newly arrived.
39 - 43: Sansjoy sees Sasnfoy's shield with redcross knight's page and a challenge ensues, to be fought the next day.
44 - 51: Duessa visits Sansjoy after everyone is asleep.
1: Redcross knight spends the night anticipating a virtuous battle.
2 - 5: The scene is set for the contest.
6 - 13: The engage, each gaining an upper hand, but just as the redcross knight is about to deliver a death blow, Sansjoy is cloaked in darkness & made to disappear.
14 - 15: Duessa feigns happiness at the outcome; redcross knight is not pleased at the disappearance of Sansjoy.
16 - 7: Redcross knight presents himself to Lucifera & is then ministered t by doctors.
18 -9: Duessa cries crocodile tears over redcross knight's injuries until evening when she sneaks away to Sansjoy, who is on the verge of death.
20 - 7: Duessa travels to Night & persuades her to help avenge Sansfoy & to help Sansjoy.
28 - 44: Night & Duessa take Sansjoy to Hell to be brought back to life by Aesculapeus.
45 - 53: Duessa returns to palace of pride to find the redcross knight has slipped away surreptitiously.
1: Redcross knight has escaped the palace of pride.
2: The narration returns to Una & Sansloy.
3 - 6: Sansloy tries to seduce, & then to rape Una.
7 - 8: Una screams so loudly that fawns and satyrs arrive and frighten Sansloy away.
9 - 15: The fauns and satyrs bring Una to their god, Sylvanus.
16 - 19: All the wood folk fall in love with Una.
20 - 30: Satyrane introduced into the story, encounters Una in the wood.
31 - 3: Satyrane helps Una escape from the wood.
34 - 9: Once on the plain they see a pilgrim & inquire after the redcross knight. The pilgrim reports him dead and tells them where to find his killer.
40 - 8: Satyrane hurries ahead, finds Sansloy, & engages him in battle. Una arrives, then flees, pursued by Archimago who had been disguised as the pilgrim.
1 - 2: Deceit can trick anyone and here Duessa, disguised as Fidessa, finds and tricks redcross knight.
3 - 4: The rest beside an enchanted fountain.
5 - 6: The fountain causes lethargy in those who drink from it. Redcross knight drinks from it.
7 - 15: Redcross knight is weak & weary from the effects of the fountain when the giant Orgoglio [pride] arrives. The giant defeats him and takes him to a dungeon.
16 - 18: Duessa is given by Orgoglio a triple crown and a 7-headed beast to ride.
19 - 28: The dwarf collects redcross knight's effects, & encounters Una who swoons three times in grief at the sight of her knight's things. The dwarf tells her all that's happened and that he does not know if redcross knight is alive or dead. Una determines to find him, alive or dead.
29 - 38: Una encounters a great knight who is then described, including the fact that his armour was made by Merlin (36). The knight [Arthur] asks Una why she is so sorrowful.
39 - 42: Arthur tries to persuade Una to say what troubles her, & eventually succeeds.
43 - 7: Una tells of the Dragon that holds her parents captive, her trip to Gloriana, Gloriana's provision of an "unproved" knight.
48: Arthur asks what's happened to him.
49 - 51: Una tells of Duessa's tricks and the giant's capture of redcross knight.
52: Arthur swears to help, thus reviving Una.
1-2: Poetic induction: the case of the Red Cross Knight is applicable to any of us; Una's function is analogous to God's grace, which everyone needs; Una & her party arrive at the Giant's castle.
3-[12-15]-[18-21]-25: Arthur battles and kills the Giant; @ 12 - 15 Duessa tries to use the multi-headed beast to kill Arthur, but is thwarted by Arthur's squire; @ 18 - 21 the Giant's force is represented as too great to be withstood "1.8.18.9: "What mortall wight could ever beare so monstrous blow?", but Arthur's shield (of righteousness?) is uncovered and the light blinds his foe, thus enabling his victory.
26-8: Una runs onto the field at the defeat of the Giant; she and Arthur demonstrate their nobility through discourse; Una encourages Arthur not to let Duessa escape, and reminds him of Red Cross Knight's captivity.
29-39: Arthur enters the Giant's castle to find Red Cross Knight, along the way encountering Ignaro (ignorance); Arthur finds Red Cross Knight in a manner that recalls the Harrowing of Hell (38-9).
40-1: Arthur retrieves Red Cross Knight from the dungeon.
42-5: Una and Red Cross Knight reunited; Red Cross Knight offers the moral that we should learn from our mistakes (1.8.44.5-6); the judgment of Duessa given over to Red Cross Knight.
46-9: Duessa's sentence is to be stripped of all her regal trappings and sent into the world naked; all are shocked at the horrible reality those trappings had hidden; she is allowed to go free.
50: Duessa takes off to the wilderness; Una et al stay on in the Giant's castle to recover from their ordeal.
1-2: As knights were noble in days of yore, so is Arthur now, and his righteousness saved Red Cross Knight; they recuperated in the Giant's castle, and before they parted Una asked Arthur to tell of himself.
3-5: Arthur denies knowledge of his lineage, tells how he was often visited by Merlin as he was growing up in the care of Timon [honour].
6-16: Una asks Arthur what brought him "into Faery land" (1.9.6.4); Arthur replies that it's hard to read "the course of heavenly cause" (1.9.6.7) [i.e. destiny; God's plan] but either he was sent there for a reason he can't guess or to ease the pain of love-sickness. Cupid fired his darts at Arthur often, but he dodged them all, then one day while sleeping in the woods he was visited by the Queen of Faeries. Henceforth he loved her and has sought her.
17-19: Red Cross Knight compares Una to the Faerie Queen, and wishes Arthur success in his quest; they talk thusly until sun rise; before parting Arthur give Red Cross Knight a restorative potion, Red Cross Knight gives Arthur a copy of the Bible.
20: When they part, Una recognizes the need for Red Cross Knight to recover more.
21-[27-30]-32: Una and Red Cross Knight encounter Sir Trevisan racing madly across the plain with a noose around his neck; they stop and interrogate him; he tells them of his and Sir Terwin's encounter with despair, and that he barely escaped with his life but Sir Terwin died; Red Cross Knight insists [too proudly] Sir Trevisan take him to encounter with Despair (1.9.32).
33-7: the cave of Despair is described, Sir Terwin's still warm corpse is seen, and Red Cross Knight tells Despair it would be only just to spill your blood as you have caused Terwin to spill his (1.9.37.8-9).
38-40: Despair's reply is a sophistic claim that he has only given Terwin justice, and that that is all he offers anyone.
41-7: Despair works on Red Cross Knight.
48-51: Red Cross Knight is moved by Despair to take his own life and is about to do so.
52-3: Una intervenes and prevents Red Cross Knight from acting on his despair.
54: Despair despairs, but isn't able to take his own life.
1: Exordium.
2: Una realizes Red Cross Knight is not fit for combat.
3 - 4: The House of Holinesse and its residents are introduced.
5 - 8: Una & Red Cross Knight enter the House of Holinesse and meet Dame Coelia [heavenliness].
9 - 11: Dame Coelia recognizes and welcomes Una.
12 - 14: Fidelia [faith] and Speranza [hope] enter & are introduced.
15: Fidelia and Speranza meet Una & Red Cross Knight.
16: Una asks after Charissa [charity].
17: Coelia has Obedience put Red Cross Knight to bed to rest.
18:Una asks Fidelia to educate Red Cross Knight [in the House of Penance].
19 - 28: Red Cross Knight undergoes confession-like transition at the hands of Fidelia & Speranza, with the help of Amendment, Penance, Remorse, Repentance, & Patience.
29: Red Cross Knight introduced to Charissa.
30 - 1: Charissa described.
32 - 5: Charissa takes over Red Cross Knight's education, and leads him to "an holy hospital" (1.10.35).
36 - 43: Seven Corporal Works of Mercy represented in personification allegory.
44 -9: Charissa leads Red Cross Knight to meet Contemplation.
50 - 61: Contemplation shows Red Cross Knight the way to the New Jerusalem [the City of God; heaven], which is then described, and then prophecies Red Cross Knight's role as Saint George [cf. 1.11].
62: Red Cross Knight expresses humility.
63: Red Cross Knight asks to stay, is told he must return to the world to serve Una's purpose.
1-3: Arrival in Una's home land.
4: Dragon trumpets his presence.
5 - 7: Poet invokes his Muse.
8 - 15: Dragon described.
16 - 28: Red Cross Knight and Dragon battle fiercely.
29 - 30: Red Cross Knight fortuitously falls into a restorative well; that well is compared favourably to variously European springs.
31: The day ends with the Dragon thinking he's won.
32: Una prays all night.
33 - 4: Red Cross Knight rises renewed from the spring.
35 - 49: Red Cross Knight and Dragon battle a second day.
50: Una spends the night praying for Red Cross Knight.
51: A new day dawns.
52 - 3: Red Cross Knight and Dragon re-engage; the Dragon's pride enables Red Cross Knight to kill him.
54: death of the Dragon.
55: Una thanks God & rejoins Red Cross Knight.
1: Poet's invocation: 'the end is in sight'.
2 - 11: Una's parents & all their subjects issue forth to see the defeated Dragon, the victorious knight, and Una.
12: Una reunites with her father.
13 - 14: all enter the palace where they celebrate modestly but fittingly.
15 - 16: Redcross knight is asked to, and is said to, recount his adventures.
17: the king offers Redcross knight a life of ease.
18: Redcross knight declines because he owes six years service to the Faerie Queene.
19 - 20: The king agrees, and tells Redcross knight to return after his duty is done to accept Una and the kingdom as reward for defeating the dragon.
21 - 4: The king summons Una, who appears more beautiful than ever.
25 - 8: A messenger intrudes to announce that Redcross knight is betrothed to Fidessa.
29 - 30: The king of Eden asks Redcross knight for clarification.
31 - 2: Redcross knight explains that Fidessa is really Duessa and that no mortal can resist her magic.
33 - 4: Una seconds Redcross knight's account, and suggests that the messenger is probably Archimago.
35 - 6: Archimago is captured and imprisoned.
37: the king marries Una to Redcross knight.
38 - 41: and there as great rejoicing; then Redcross knight leaves to fulfill his duty, and Una mourns his departure.
42: Poetic transition.
1 - 5: Archimago escapes & makes vengeance his aim.
6 - 7: Sir Guyon and the Palmer introduced.
8 - 13: Archimago sees Guyon & sets about to do him ill.
14 - [21 - 3] - 24: Guyon encounters a distressed maid; she turns out to be Duessa; she and Archimago convince Guyon to "try" (2.1.20.1) the Redcross knight's virtue.
25 - 6: Archimago points Guyon at Redcross knight; the two knights converge.
27 - 30: Redcross knight & Guyon pull up, recognize each other; Guyon explains why he attacked.
31 - 3: The Palmer joins their conversation; they part company.
34 - 5: Guyon and his Palmer head off toward adventure.
36 - 48: They come across a despairing woman with a new born baby; the woman stabs herself to kill herself; a dead knight lies close by; Sir Guyon extracts the knife, stops the blood, the woman revives, is sorry for it; Guyon asks how he can help.
49 - 55: The woman tells Guyon of her love for the dead knight & how he impregnated her before going on an adventure; he was taken in by Acrasia [without control] who lured him to the Bowre of Bliss. The woman disguised herself as a palmer to seek her beau, Sir Mortdant, and gave birth along the way. She found him & when they left the Bowre of Bliss Acrasia cast a spell that led to his death.
56: Upon finishing her story, the woman dies.
57 - 9: Guyon offers the moral of temperance.
60: Guyon & the Palmer bury the woman and Mortdant.
61: Guyon swears revenge against Acrasia.
1 - 4: Guyon tried but can't wash the blood from the baby's hands; speculates two possible interpretations of this failure.
5 - 10: The Palmer gives the history of the spring, thereby explaining why the blood won't wash off.
11: Guyon's horse has gone missing, & we're told we'll find out how later in the poem.
12 - 13: Guyon & the Palmer continue a-foot and arrive at a castle occupied by three sisters.
14 - 15: Medina [temperance] receives Guyon in a temperate manner.
16 - 19: the lovers, Huddibras [rashness] and Sans-loy [lawless], of the other sisters (Elissa and Perissa) described; they and the sisters determine to set upon Guyon.
20 - 8: Before they find Guyon, Huddibras & Sans-loy attack each other; the noise of their fight draws Guyon, who tries to separate them; they attack him; he drives them back; they attack each other; he tries to separate them; they attack him; Medina enters the fray & pleads for peace; the sisters plead for continued strife; Medina prevails.
29 - 31: Medina pleads for peace.
32 - 4: Medina affects a peace between Huddibras & Sans-loy, but Elissa and Perissa aren't pleased.
35 - 9: Elissa's & Perissa's reaction; Medina the peace-keeper; Medina asks Guyn where he's from & where he's bound.
40 - 5: Guyon tells of the Faerie Queen & of being sent by her on the quest to defeat Acrasia, and of seeing Acrasia's handiwork along the way; Medina encourages him to tell the tale of Mortdant & Amavia.
46: Night fell
1 - 2: Come morning, Guyon leaves the baby with Medina and heads off on foot.
3 - 4: How Guyon lost his horse @ 2.2.11.
5 - 11: Braggadochio rides off on Guyon's horse, becoming more emboldened as he goes; he sees Trompart & scares him into becoming his squire; the pair are found by Archimago who mistakes them for a legitimate knight and squire.
12 - 18: Archimago fools Braggadochio; Braggadochio & Trompart fool Archimago.
19 - 20: Scared by Archimago, Braggadochio & Trompart run into a wood.
21 - 32: The approach of a rider scares Braggadochio into hiding; the rider is a woman hunting; she addresses Trompart.
33: Trompart replies, takes her for a goddess & asks her name.
34: She sees move the bush behind which Braggadochio is hiding & prepares to shoot.
35 - 42: Trompart alerts her to Braggadochio's presence; Braggadochio emerges as if he'd been sleeping; as she speaks to him Braggadochio is overcome by lust and lunges for her; she runs away.
43 - 6: Braggadochio & Trompart rationalize their fears & decide not to follow the hunter; they head off on their own; Guyon's horse rebels at Braggadochio's inexpert handling.
1: Guyon's horse an opportunity for commentary on innate quality of noble birth.
2 - 9: Narration returns to Guyon & Palmer who encounter a knight being dragged by & suffering at the hands of a mad man and an old hag; Guyon thinks to help.
10 - 11: Palmer identifies mad man as Furor and the old hag as Occasion; he directs Guyon toward Occasion.
12 - 15: Guyon overpowers & captures first Occasion and then Furor.
16 - 33: Furor's former captive tells how, in a fit of rage, he killed his fiancé & a false friend, and tried to kill his fiancé's maid, and how he was captured by Furor while in pursuit of that maid.
34 - 5: Palmer cautions against giving the affections wrath, jealousy, grief, and love too much sway.
36: Guyon asks the man who he is; he answers, "Phedon."
37 - 44: They're interrupted by a varlot named Atin [Strife] who is squire to Pyrocles [fiery disposition]; Atin tells them to clear out before Pyrocles arrives, & tells them he seeks Occasion; Guyon points to the trussed Occasion & tells Atin he's not going to clear out.
45 - 6: Atin attacks Guyon, fails, and disappears.
1: Advice to the reader to be temperate.
2 - 14: Guyon and Pyrocles fight; Guyon wins & grants mercy.
15: Guyon advises Pyrocles to gain control of himself.
16- 18: Guyon asks Pyrocles why he attacked Guyon; Pyrocles says it was because Guyon had imprisoned Occasion, and asks him to set Occasion and Furor free; Guyon agrees.
19 - 24: Upon their release, Occasion and Furor pick a fight with Pyrocles; Occasion tries but fails to provoke Guyon; Furor gets the better of Pyrocles, who calls for Guyon's help, but the Palmer restrains Guyon.
25: Atin, seeing Guyon defeat Pyrocles, leaves to get Cymocles [inconstant].
26: Cymocles described.
27 - 34: The Bowre of Bliss described.
35 - 6: Atin finds Cymocles in the Bowre of Bliss, & has to goad him into action.
37 - 8: Cymocles revives & with Atin continuing to goad him heads off [to avenge Pyrocles].
1: Pleasure is harder to resist than pain is to endure, but Guyon is temperate always.
2 - 14: Cymochles & Atin come across a gondola with a woman in it; she denies Atin passage but takes Cymochles; her name is Phaedria [the shining one] & she's a servant of Acrasia; as they sail across Idle Lake she charms Cymochles with her good humour; they arrive at an island.
15 - 17: Using the same sort of reasoning as did Despair earlier, Phaedria lulls Cymochles to sleep.
18: She drugs Cymochles and returns to where she met him.
19 - 26: She collects Guyon but denies the Palmer a ride; before Guyon can react she casts off; she takes Guyon to the island; he is unhappy about it, but she ignores that.
27 - 31: Cymochles awakes, finds Guyon with Phaedria, and attacks; they fight.
32 - 5: Phaedria comes between them to plead for cessation.
36: They calm down; Guyon wants to leave.
37 - 40: Phaedria is glad to get rid of him since he doesn't respond to her charms; she takes him ashore; Atin is there and insults Guyon, who declines to rise to that bait either; Cymochles remains enchanted on the island.
41 - 2: A knight runs past and throws himself into the lake.
43 - 7: Atin recognizes the knight as Pyrocles; Pyrocles tells Atin that he's burning but nothing can relieve him; Atin enters the water to help; an old man approaches.
48 - 51: The old man is Archimago; Pyrocles tells him that Furor wounded him such that he burns inside; Archimago searches the wounds and cures Pyrocles.
1: When a ship's pilot loses sight of the sky he puts his faith in compass and card.
2: Analogously, Guyon, having lost his Palmer, carries on.
3 - 5: In a "gloomy glade" he comes across an uncivilized-looking fellow surrounded by great heaps of gold.
6: That man becomes aware of Guyon & starts to hide his gold down a hole; Guyon stays him.
7: Guyon asks who he is & what he's doing with such wealth.
8 - 18: He identifies himself as Mammon [god of worldly wealth, cf. Matt.6.19 ff.) & tries to tempt Guyon; they debate the extent of Mammon's power & the value of worldly wealth; Mammon invites Guyon to recognize the materialism of his age, & to help himself (to Mammon's pile).
19: Guyon turns down Mammon's offer on the basis of not knowing how Mammon came by his riches.
20 - 5: Guyon asks where, & Mammon takes him into the (classical) underworld.
26 - 31: They enter the cave of Mammon, located right beside Hell, & Guyon is followed closely by a fiend ready to pounce if Guyon so much as touches anything. All the riches of the world are there.
32: These riches are all offered to Guyon.
33 - 4: Guyon declines; the fiend gnashes his teeth; Mammon determines to try another approach.
35 - 8: Mammon shows Guyon how gold is made (in answer to Guyon's concern at 2.7.19).
39: Guyon again declines Mammon's temptation.
40 - 9: Mammon leads Guyon into another room, this one guarded by Disdain, in which they find Mammon's daughter Philotine [love of honour, i.e. worldly success]; Mammon offers her to Guyon.
50: Guyon graciously declines the offer.
51 - 66: Guyon is led into the garden of Proserpina, the queen of the underworld, where he sees Tantalus, Pilate, and "infinite mo[r]e" (63.1), but he resists all temptations. Finally Mammon leads Guyon back out of the underworld 40 stanzas after they entered the Cave of Mammon.
1 - 2: A disquisition on God's grace.
3 - 8: The Palmer re-enters the story, is called by a disembodied voice to where Guyon lies unconscious, guarded by an angel; the angel relinquishes care to the Palmer.
9 - 17: The Palmer replaces the Angel; Pyrocles & Cymochles, accompanied by Archimago, arrive, & start insulting what they take to be Guyon's corpse; disappointed they can't kill him, they decide to take his armour & shield, despite the Palmer's argument.
18: Arthur rides in to challenge Pyrocles & Cymochles.
19 - 21: Pyrocles, lacking a sword, demands Archimago give him the one he's carrying; Archimago warns against this because of the sword's orgin & the charms applied to it.
22: Pyrocles dismisses Archimago's cautions & grabs the sword.
23 -6: Arthur asks the Palmer what happened to Guyon; Palmer tells him & appeals for help; Arthur re-assures him.
27 - 39: Arthur turns his attention to Pyrocles & Cymochles, they trade insults & cautions; Pyrocles attacks Arthur without warning; Arthur spears him through the shoulder; Cymochles attacks & de-horses Arthur, who lacks a sword; Pyrocles returns to the fight; all three are wounded.
40: The Palmer gives Arthur Guyon's sword.
41 - 4: The tide of battle turns in Arthur's favour.
45: Cymochles dies.
46 - 52: Pyrocles attacks Arthur in a rage, & Arthur outwaits the fury; Pyrocles realizes the sword he took from Archimago won't strike Arthur, so he throws it down and attacks Arthur bodily; Arthur is stronger, downs Pyrocles & offers him mercy; Pyrocles declines the offer & Arthur beheads him.
53 - 5: Guyon awakens & learns what has happened; he thanks Arthur.
56: Arthur says any knight would've done the same; meanwhile Archimago & Atin flee.
1: Humanity the greatest form when temperate; the most debased when not.
2 - 9: Arthur compliments the image of the Faerie Queene on Guyon's shield, and asks why it's there; Guyon compliments the Faerie Queene (Elizabeth). Arthur asks how he can meet and serve her; Guyon compliments Arthur & says if he had the time he'd offer him a tour of Faery Land; Arthur asks about Guyon's current adventure; the end of the day arrives.
10 - 17: They arrive at a castle, ask admittance & are told to flee; they're attacked by a band of villains, they rebuff the attack & are attacked twice more; the villains are insubstantial, like ghosts; Arthur & Guyon prevail, & the lady of the castle comes out to greet them.
18 - 9: Alma [nourishing] described.
20 - 32: Alma conducts Arthur & Guyon on a tour of the castle / body.
33 -5: They adjourn to a parlour where many are engaged in "diverse delights" (35.1).
36 - 9: Arthur discourses with a Lady, Prays-desire, who manifests the same characteristics he does.
40 - 3: Guyon discourses with a Lady, Shamefastness, who mirrors his characteristics.
44 - 60: They are taken into the castle turret (brain) where they find three wise men in 3 rooms: 50 - 2 imagination; 53 - 4 judgement; 55 - 8 memory; 59 - 60 they find records of their particular societies.
1-3: Epic Invocation.
4 - 68: History of Britain (epic catalogue).
4: Faerie Queen (Elizabeth) derived from this lineage.
5 - 6: The land.
7 - 9: The original people.
10 - 13: The reign of Brutus & sub-division of Britain under his rule.
14: Britain divided into England, Scotland, & Wales.
15 - 17: Locrine defeats invaders, grows corrupt & takes a mistress.
18 - 19: Locrine's wife Gwendolynedefeats him & kills his lover, and floats their child down a river.
20 - 6: The reign of Gwendolyne, her son Madan, & so on down the line to Bladud.
27 - 32: The story of King Lear.
33 - 6: The last of Brutus' line.
37 - 46: Brutus' line succeeded by Malmutius Dunwallo's line.
47 - 63: Julius Caesar's Roman rule.
64 - 8: The rise of the Saxons, culminating in Uther Pendragon.
69: Arthur expresses gratitude for the history lesson.
70 - 6: Guyon reads the analogous history of Faery land.
77: Alma reminds them to eat.
1 - 2: Castle of Temperance as body.
3 - 4: Guyon and the Palmer leave.
5: The Castle of Temperance is attacked.
6 - 14: The attack from the perspective of the attackers.
15 - 16: Alma's concern over the attack.
17 - 19: Arthur emerges to battle, & is immediately set on, but to no end.
20 - 3: Maleger, captain of the vices, arrives & is described.
24 - 7: Maleger attacks Arthur, who gives chase.
28 - 30: Arthur gets off his horse, is trapped by the hags Impotence & Impatience, and is saved by his squire.
31 - 46: Arthur & Maleger do mortal combat; Maleger can't be killed by violence & whenever he is thrown to the ground he is refreshed; Arthur finishes him in a lake.
47: Impotence and Impatience kill themselves at the death of Maleger.
48 - 9: Arthur's squire gets him back to the Castle of Temperance where Alma nurses him.
1: Canto 12 forecast.
2 - 6: Guyon and the Palmer sail through the Gulf of Greediness.
7 - 9: They pass the Rock of Reproach.
10 - 17: They pass the Wandring Islands, & encounter & rebuff Phaedria.
18 - 20: They pass between the Quiccksand of Unthriftyhed and the Whirlpool of Decay.
21 - 6: They are menaced by images of maritime fears.
27 - 9: They pass a "seemely maid" (27.6) who tries to mislead Guyon through pity.
30 - 3: They pass the harbour of Mermaids.
34 - 7: They pass through a fog bank.
38: Guyon & the Palmer make landfall.
39 - 41: The Palmer overrules the beasts that menace them at landfall.
42 - 9: They arrive at the gardens of Acrasia, of the Bowre of Bliss, & encounter the genius of the place who entices people in through the gate.
50 - 2: They enter a garden & look around.
53 - 7: They cross a porch occupied by Excess, who offers Guyon a drink which he casts down.
58 - 69: They enter an even more paradisaical garden where Guyon is tempted by beautiful women swimming naked in a fountain.
70 - 1: Aural accompaniment.
72 - 8: Acrasia described in detail.
79 - 80: Acrasia's lover described.
81 - 2: Acrasia & her lover Verdant (green-giving; cf. Mordant: death-giving) ensnared by the Palmer's net; Verdant counselled and released.
83: Guyon destroys the Bowre of Bliss.
84 - 6: Acrasia led away captive; the beasts returned to their natural (human) form; one of them, Grill, is not pleased to be so returned.
87: Guyon and Palmer comment on the debased nature of Grill and those like him.
1: Arthur & Guyon recover at the Castle of Temperance, then ride away together.
2: Acrasia sent as captive to the Faerie Queene.
3: Arthur & Guyon adventure widely.
4 - 12: They encounter another knight; Guyon jousts with the new knight, is unseated, & gets angry; the Palmer & Arthur calm him; they are reconciled.
13 - 19: Arthur, Guyon, & Britomart adventure together; Florimell is chased out in front of them by a forester who seeks to defile her; Arthur & Guyon give chase to the forester; Britomart continues on her way.
20 - 9: She encounters a knight battling six others, discerns the cause, & joins the one against the others. She downs three, he downs one, & the other two surrender.
30 - 40: They enter Castle Joyous, & it is described.
41: The Lady of Delight [Malecasta] enters the picture.
42 - 3: The Red Cross Knight is present; Britomart raises her facemask & her beauty shines like a sun.
44 - 5: The six knights she defeated appraoch; we're given their lecherous names: Gardante [looking], Parlante [speaking], Iocante [joking], Basciante [kissing], Bacchante [reveling], Noctante [late nights].
46 - 57: Malecasta is smitten with Britomart, mistaking her for a man, & tries repeatedly to woo her; Britomart doesn't quite get it (54).
58: Bedtime.
59 - 61: Malecasta sneaks into Britomart's bed.
62 - 4: Britomart becomes aware of someone in her bed & grabs her sword; Malacasta's shriek of fear raises the whole house.
65 - 6: Gardante sneaks off an arrow that grazes Britomart causing her to attack; the Red Cross Knight joins her.
67: Britomart & the Red Cross Knight leave Castle Joyous.
1 - 2: In praise of women
3: In praise of Britomart & Queen Elizabeth
4 - 5: Red Cross Knight and Britomart travel together, & Red Cross Knight asks Britomart about herself. This causes a powerful reaction in Britomart, but she overcomes it and answers
6 - 8: Not satisfied with a lady's life, she seeks adventure; she asks after Arthegall [equal to Arthur] who she says has behaved dishonourably
9 - 16: Red Cross Knight defends Arthegall, & Britomart continues her pretence in order to keep Red Cross Knight saying nice things about Arthegall
17 - 52: The poet intrudes to narrate the story of how Britomart became aware of Arthegall; in an enchanted mirror (18 - 26); the lovesickness that follows (27 - 47); her nurses futile attempt to cure it (48 - 52).
1 - 3: Paean to love
4: Invokes Clio, the Muse of History
5 - 7: Britomart remains enthralled to the image of Arthegall; Glauce admits defeat & determines to help Britomart find Arthegall; they travel to Cairmardin to find Merlin
8 - 13: Cairmardin described; Merlin's biography is provided, along with his lineage
14 -22: Britomart & her nurse enter Merlin's cave & try to negotiate some relief from him, but he says Britomart's distress is merely "the hard begin" (21.8) to Britomart's bearing a "famous progenie" (22.5)
23 - 42: Merlin prophecies British history to the time of enthralment to the Saxons
43: Britomart asks if her heirs will be destined to suffer this thraldom, or if they'll be spared it by death
44 - 9: The fortunes of the Britains until they rise again, concluding at Elizabeth's reign
50: Merlin has an ecstatic fit
51 - 61: Britomart & her nurse withdraw & make plans to disguise themselves as a knight and a squire in order to find Arthegall
62: We are returned to Britomart's present; she and the Red Cross Knight part company.
1 - 3: Britomart is compared favourably to other female heroes Cf. Bk.C.sts. where Arthur is similarly compared to past knights
4: Red Cross Knight departs Britomart's company
5 - 7: Britomart carries on in her search for Arthegall
8 - 10: Britomart speaks a lover's complaint
11 - 12: Glauce comforts Britomart; they see a rider approach
13 - 18: Britomart revives at the prospect of a fight; she fights & beats Marinell, nearly killing him
19 - 24: Marinell's mother, Cymoent, & all she did for her son
25 - 9: Proteus' prophecy & how it came true
30 - 9: Cymoent's passionate reaction to Marinell's apparent death
40 - 4: Marinell's body collected; life is detected therein; Cymoent curses him who caused her son's wounds, but the curse has no affect on Britomart
45: Archimago is still after Britomart
46 - 7: Guyon, Arthur, & Timias split up to follow Florimell; Arthur is the one who happens on her trail
48 - 51: She continues to flee, as fearful of Arthur as she was on the forester
52 - 61: Night falls & pauses Arthur's pursuit; he passes the night in complaint about night (rather than in sleep); come morning he continues "With heavie looke and lumpish pace" (61.7).
1 - 2: It's a wonder to see how Love affects various people, from the most base to the most noble; its affect on Arthur
3 - 12: Arthur encounters a Dwarf who's warn out and sore from running through the forest; the dwarf is a servant of Florimell, whom he seeks; he tells of Florimell's love for Marinell & of Marinell's rumoured death; Arthur vows to help him help his mistress, but worries about his squire
13 - 26: Timias, Arthur's squire, continues on his search for the forester; the forester rallies his brothers to ambush Timias; they encounter & Timias kills all three, but is wounded & falls off his horse
27 - 33: Belphoebe finds Timias & nurses him
34 - 5: Timias revives
36 - 41: Timias & Belphoebe converse; Belphoebe's maids arrive, recover Timias' horse, & use it to transport him to their dwelling
42 - 4: Timias' physical wound is cured, but he falls completely in love with Belphoebe
45 - 8: Belphoebe sees Timias still suffers, & tries to help him
51 - 5: On Belphoebe's virginity as a species of chastity.
1: The poet acknowledges the need to account for Belphoebe's civilized aspect despite her rustic setting
2 - 3: Mythical & astrological influences were all favourable at her birth
4 - 9: Belphoebe & Amoretta's conception
10 - 28: Their birth, & theft by Venus & Diana; Diana took Belphoebe, Venus took Amoretta
29 - 53: Venus took Amoretta to the Garden of Adonis; that garden described in detail; Amoretta entrusted to Psyche; Amoretta grows up to love only Sir Scudamore
54: Transitional stanza to return us to Florimell (& Arthur).
1 - 5: Florimell fleas as mindlessly & fearfully as a deer, until her horse can carry her no further (3); she carries on afoot until she spots some smoke rising above the forest
6 - 11: The smoke comes from a Hag's cottage; Florimell seeks shelter
12 - 18: The Hag has a wicked son who finds Florimell attractive, & who mistakes Florimell's kindness for a return of his attraction
19: Florimell gets wise & leaves on the Q.T.
20 - 1: The son responds by nearly losing his mind, & his mother tries everything to bring him back to his senses
22 - 9: The Hag summons a monstrous hyena-like beast from a cave & instructs it to retrive or kill Florimell; it's so horrid looking that it drives Florimell's flight; her horse eventually tires, she dismounts, & escapes into a fisherman's boat; the beast kills & begins to eat Florimell's horse; a knight happens by
30 - 6: The knight is Sir Satyrane; he fights the beast but cannot kill it because the Hag's magic is too strong; he does subdue it & leashes it with Florimell's girdle (found lying near the horse)
37 - 42: Satyrane sees a Giantess with a captive squire across her saddle and a knight riding after her; he abandons the beast & goes to fight the giantess; he loses & she captures him and throws him over her saddle
43 - 4: Satyrane is bowed over the giantesses saddle as had been the squire, but the pursuing knight comes so close that the giantess throws Satyrane off
45 - 60: Satyrane recovers and goes to help the squire; the latter tells Satyrane that the giantess is Argante, & the pursuing knight a maiden named Palladine; the squire tells Satyrane his story of looking for as many chaste as unchaste damsels
61: Satyrane wishes the squire well & returns to find the beast gone back to the Hag
1 - 2: How evil the Hag is
3: The Hag thinks Florimell is dead when she sees her beast return with a piece of Florimell's girdle, & she tells her son thinking he'll be glad, but he flips even further
4 - 9: She uses her magic to make a lifelike image of Florimell to fool her son; it works
10 - 13: The son takes his mock-Florimell into the forest; Braggadochio "rescues" the "woman"
14 - 19: Braggadochio tries to get to know the "snowy lady" (Epigraph); another knight takes her from Braggadochio, thinking he has Florimell
20 - 8: Florimell is safely in the fisherman's boat, until he awakens & attempts to rape her; she fights him off & calls for help
29 - 36: Proteus hears her cries & comes to her aid; she's as afraid of him as of the fisherman; he punishes the fisherman & takes Florimell to his bowre
37 - 43: Proteus tries to woo Florimell. Then he threatens her in order to get her to be his lady, but to no avail, so he imprisons her. The poet bemoans the fact he must leave her thus, but returns us now to Satyrane.
44 - 50: Satyrane returns to where he'd left the Hyena; the Squire joins him; they meet Paridell who seeks Florimell; Satyrane tells him why he believes she's dead ; Paridell vows to continue the search until he's sure; Satyrane agrees to join him
51 - 2: The Squire convinces them to start tomorrow; they can't get in to a nearby castle.
1 - 2: The poet apologizes for having to speak of a wanton woman.
3 - 11: Explanation of why they can't enter Malbecco's castle; of how they try; of sheltering in a farm shed to escape the weather.
12 - 17: Another knight approaches, seeks refuge in the castle, is refused, turns to the shed; Satyrane & Paridell won't let the knight in; Paridell & the knight do battle; Satyrane intercedes & they direct their collective attention to the castle.
18: Malbecco sees them joined in common cause against him, & so let's them in.
19 - 25: They take off their armour to dry & discover the new knight is a singularly beautiful woman; supper is called; they insist the lady of the castle join them.
26: Malbecco makes excuses but eventually she joins them.
27 - 31: Paridell and Hellenore make eyes at each other & a fool of Malbecco.
32: Hellenore calls for the knights to tell of their adventures.
33 - 7: Paridell tells of Troy & Trojan wars & the fall of Troy.
38 - 40: Britomart asks about Aeneas.
41 - 51: Paridell explains the lineage from Troy to contemporary Britain.
52 - 3: Hellenore hangs on Paridell's every word; Malbecco sends everyone to bed.
1: Britomart & Satyrane continue on their way next day; Paridell says he's too hurt from his encounter with Britomart.
2: Hospitality requires that Malbecco let Paridell stay to heal, even though he worries more about his wealth and his wife than about his own life.
3: Malbecco's jealousy makes life miserable for Hellenore, but also for him.
4 - 11: Despite Malbecco's jealousy, Paridell kept his eyes on every chance; Cupid was pleased about that; Paridell convinced Hellenore he'd die without her; he wooed her ceaselessly & won her over.
12 - 15: When they saw a chance, Hellenore stole some of Malbecco's treasure, set the rest on fire, and they eloped; forced to choose, Malbecco opted to save his treasure.
16 - 19: After saving as much of his wealth as possible, Malbecco hid what he couldn't carry and set out to find Hellenore and Paridell.
20 - 34: In his search, Malbecco comes across Braggadocchio & Trompart and asks for their help; they agree, but only in order to get Malbecco's riches.
35 - 9: They meet Paridell alone; the reader learns Hellenore's fate; Braggadocchio pretends to fix some of his horse's rigging to avoid fighting Paridell; Paridell tells Malbecco he left Hellenore in the forest, and he rides off; Braggadocchio feigns to follow, but is called back by Malbecco to continue the search for Hellenore.
40 - 3: Braggodocchio & Trompart agree to continue, but before they enter the forest they convince Malbecco to hide the riches he carries; upon entering the forest they hear a noise that frightens them: Braggodocchio & Trompart take off; Malbecco hides.
44 - 52: The satyrs & Hellenore arrive, & frolic all day; at night, as they sleep, Malbecco awakens Hellenore, but she refuses to return with him.
53 - 60: He leaves in terror of the satyrs, discovers that his treasure has been taken, & runs mad: is transformed into jealousy.
1: Jealousy allegorized.
2: Britomart offered as a model to counter jealousy.
3 - 6: Britomart & Satyrane see a young knight [Scudamore = shield of love] chased by the giant, Ollyphant; they intercede; Ollyphant flees because he fears Britomart's chastity; Britomart & Satyrane are separated.
7 - 19: Britomart finds Scudamore complaining to heaven about Amoretta's captivity at the hands of Busirane; Britomart offers words of encouragement & offers to help Scudamore free Amoretta.
20 - 7: Together they go to Busirane's castle where they're stopped by a wall of flame; Britomart is able to pass through, but Scudamore is burnt and turned back.
28 - 46: Upon entering the castle Britomart enters a room the walls of which are decorated with a tapestry depicting Cupid's triumphs. The description of these triumphs is taken from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 6. 103 - 28.
47 - 9: In addition to the tapestry, the room contains a golden statue celebrating Cupid's power.
50 - 5: Britomart advances into another room. The walls of this one are gold and the gold is embossed with portrayals of Love's (i.e. Cupid's) triumphs over "mighty Conquerors and Captaines strong" (3.11.52.3), and above most doors are the words "Be bold." Above an iron door are the words "Be not too bold." Britomart can't make sense of these instructions, and stays where she is.
1 - 2: Britomart hears a trumpet blast & "an hideous storme of winde arose" (3.12.2.1).
3 - 27: A masque in honour of Cupid issues in through the iron door, & out the same way.
28 -9: Britomart can't open the iron door, so she waits for the masque to reappear the next night; at that time she passes through.
30 - 8: She finds Amoretta bound to a pillar and guarded by Busirane; she captures Busirane, and causes him to free Amoretta; the castle is destroyed.
39 - 45: When they exit, they can't find Sir Scudamore or Glauce.
Created on ... February 27, 2007