Status Updates From Faerie Queene

Book V, Canto i, wherein Artegall, with the services of Talus, a man of iron, goes forth into the world to restore Irena, who is unjustly held by a strong tyrant. He finds a squire and a beheaded lady, and finds another knight (Sangliere) killed his own lady and left it, stealing the squire's lady instead. Talus fetches Sangliere and Artegall forces him to ride forth carrying his former lady's head.

Book IV, Canto xii, where Marinell hears the lament of Florimell (the real one) and falls in love with her. While many fall in love with Florimell when they see her, Marinell falls in love with her when he hears her heart, her lament. He cannot save her, so he wastes away in heartbreak. His mother, finds out that her son is in love, and beseeches Neptune for a remedy, and is granted Florimell's freedom.

Book IV, Canto xi, wherein Marinell's wound from Book III is healed, and he arrives with his mother at the Hall of Proteus for the wedding of Thames and the Medway - where Florimell (the real one) is imprisoned. Most of this chapter is an epic list of the guests coming to the wedding, and is basically a list of all the major rivers in the world, England, and Ireland, in that order.

Book IV, Canto x, wherein Scudamour tells his story, explaining his quest for virtuous Amoret, the adopted daughter of Venus. He goes to the Temple of Venus, battles twenty knights for the Shield of Love, then enters the temple, passing all the gate guardians boldly and resolutely, to find Amoret amid the virtues of womanhood. He takes Amoret's hand and leads her from the Temple, claiming her as his true love.

Book IV, Canto ix, wherein the Squire of Low Degree, Amyas, is freed and reunited with his love, Æmylia, and his look-alike friend, Placidas, marries the wanton Pœana (Amyas' captor), turning her into a good woman. Meanwhile, Prince Arthur takes Amoret with him, and they find Britomart and Scudamour beset by four knights, so Arthur helps him. Oddly, Scudamour and Amoret aren't given a reuniting scene.

Book IV, Canto viii, wherein Timias is forgiven. Meanwhile, Arthur finds Æmylia and Amoret where they have been hiding in the forest after Timias and Belphœbe abandoned them for no good reason. Corflambo the giant chases squire Placidas, but the giant is slain by Arthur. Æmylia's lover, Amyas, is revealed to be alive, but captive of an evil woman, Pœana. Æmylia begs Arthur to help her beloved Amyas.

So much fun. I have enjoyed listening to it (excellent version read by David Timson) while reading the text, so that the words that have very different old spellings don’t get mistaken or misunderstood.