Status Updates From Edmund Spenser's The Faerie...

Book Two, Canto Twelve, wherein Sir Guyon and the Palmer passes through great perils on the sea to arrive at the Bower of Bliss to confront Acrasia (who is a lot like Circe... and the perils not unlike Odysseus' journey). The Bower of Bliss, symbolizing the false image of beauty, is destroyed, and Acrasia, symbolizing the transforming power of lust, bound. Sir Guyon is triumphant and is the virtue of Temperance.

Book Two, Canto Eleven, wherein Sir Guyon leaves and Arthur must defend Alma's castle, battling the seven sins and the five bodily senses who try to overthrow the castle (which represents the temperate human body). After great battle, Arthur defeats Malegar, Impotence, and Impatience, the leader of the forces.

Book Two Canto Ten, which describes the history of Britain and, in a very abbreviated fashion, the history of Faerie. It's interesting because Arthur is reading the book on Britain, and he is mentioned in it, and it leaves off just before his rise to power...

Book Two Canto Nine has Sir Guyon and Prince Arthur coming to the House of Temperance and meeting Alma. The House is basically the human body, and the canto is basically just an allegory praising how wonderful the human body is.

Book Two Canto Eight had Sir Guyon lying as if dead. First, an angel protects him, then the Palmer finds him and is given charge. Unfortunately, Pyrochles and Cymochles find him and decide to strip him of his arms and armor, preceded by Archimago and Atin. As they proceed, Prince Arthur shows up and protects Sir Guyon, killing by Pyrochles and Cymochles. Sir Guyon awakens at the end. Archimago and Atin flee.

Book Two, Canto Seven, wherein Sir Guyon finds Mammon in a glade, sunning his treasures. Mammon tries to tempt Guyon, but fails. Mammon leads Sir Guyon to his lair and shows him the Treasure Chamber. Again, he tempts and fails. He shows the knight the Hall of Ambition, and fails again. Mammon shows him the Garden of Proserpine and fails again to tempt the knight. Sir Guyon is led back to the world.

Book Two Canto Six, Cymochles was trying to find Guyon to fight because Atin had spurred him on, and he comes to Idle Lake, where he meets Phædra (Mirth), who calms him and puts him to sleep on her little island. She then separates Guyon from the Palmer, but Guyon resists her, so she takes him to the shore to continue his journey. Pyrochles arrives and jumps in the lake, and Archimago helps him.

Book Two Canto Six, Cymochles was trying to find Guyon to fight because Atin had spurred him on, and he comes to Idle Lake, where he meets Phædra (Mirth), who calms him and puts him to sleep on her little island. She then separates Guyon from the Palmer, but Guyon resists her, so she takes him to the shore to continue his journey. Pyrochles arrives and jumps in the lake, and Archimago helps him.

Book Two, Canto Five: Pyrochles arrives, and charges at Guyon, breaking all laws of chivalry (Guyon is on foot, Pyrochles mounted; no proper challenge made). Guyon accidentally cuts off the horse's head, and the two battle on equal ground. Guyon wins and tries to lecture Pyrochles, but the latter merely wants Occasion and Fury released. Once released, they pounce on their rescuer while Guyon watches, bemused.

Book Two Canto Four: Sir Guyon, the Elf Knight representing Temperance, and the Palmer encounter Furor, goaded by Occasion, horribly abusing a man. Guyon cannot beat Furor so long as Occasion is present, so Guyon stops Occasion, then binds Furor in chains. The abused man is Phedon, who was misled by a false friend into murdering his bride. They meet Atin, who warns of the coming of Pyrochles.

Book Two Canto Three: Braggadocchio is the one who stole Guyon's steed, and he soon gains Trompart as a companion. Archimago tries to use Braggadocchio for his own ends, and that scoundrel decides the braggart needs Arthur's sword, so he flies off. Braggadocchio and Trompart is afterwards shamed by fair Belphœbe.

Book Two Canto Two had Sir Guyon and the Palmer taking charge of the baby, losing Guyon's horse and spear, then finding a castle owned by three sisters: Elissa (deficiency); Perissa (excess); and Medina (the mean). Sansloy is also here, courting Perissa. A puritanical knight named Huddibras courts Elissa. Medina's mediating influence is seen, and Sir Guyon tells of his quest to vanquish Acrasia.

Book Two, Canto One: We have a new hero, an Elf named Guyon, who is traveling with an aged Palmer. They are tricked by Archimago and Duessa, but when he encounters Sir George (The Red Cross Knight), he sees though the deception. He finds a woman with a baby, and the woman has killed herself, because her knight died from the poisoned bait of pleasure. Guyon promises vengeance. Guyon is the virtue of Temperance.

I finished Book 1. Canto 12 was the resolution, with Una and Saint George celebrating the victory and getting married, with Archimago trying one more time to screw things up, but it doesn't get anywhere because Saint George has faith, mercy, and Christian love in his heart this time.

Book 1 Canto 11: Saint George fights the dragon in one of the most thrilling dragon fights I can recall. He falls twice, but is saved by faith, grace, and mercy each time, to defeat the dragon on the third day. Amazing literary battle, with wonderful allegories, and a timeless message.

In Book 1: Canto 10, the Redcrosse Knight is brought to the House of Holiness, where he is spiritually healed and instructed by holy figures. He learns humility, faith, and repentance, gains strength for his final battle, and receives a vision of heavenly glory and his future destiny as Saint George.

Arthur reveals that he is in love with the Queen of the Faeries and now on a continuous quest for glory. Arthur and the Red Cross Knight exchange gifts. On their way again, Una and the Red Cross Knight encounter Sir Trevisan, who is fleeing from Despair. The Red Cross Knight interrupts his journey to deal with Despair, and nearly fails, but Una knocks some sense into him and he leaves Despair behind.

Book 1 Canto 8: Una and the Dwarf bring Arthur to the giant's castle to rescue the Red Cross Knight. Arthur sounds his horn, which brings out the giant and Duessa on her beast. Arthur and his squire battle them, ultimately winning, exposing the giant as empty pride. The Red Cross Knight is rescued and reunited with Una. Then Duessa is stripped naked and exiled.

Book One: Canto Seven - The Red Cross Knight drinks from a cursed well and is taken captive by a proud giant. Una runs across the servant dwarf, who tells her what has befallen her knight and why he abandoned her. Una is distressed and upset, then she meets Prince Arthur (King Arthur before he was king). She tells Arthur her story.

Book One: Canto Six - Una is saved from Sansloy (without law) and his attempts to rape her by a savage nation of fauns and satyrs, who grow to love and worship Una. Una is then taken by Nature's Knight to try and find her Red Cross Knight, but they are met by Archimago in disguise again, who leads Una and Nature's Knight back to Sansloy with false news of the Red Cross Knight's death.

Book One: Canto Five, where the Red Cross Knight battles and defeats Sanjoy, and Duessa uses magic to protect Sanjoy, bringing him to Hell so Asclepius the Healer can save him. Meanwhile, frightened, the Red Cross Knight flees the House of Pride (not from moral reasons or self-reflection, just fear that he'll end up like everyone else).

Book One Canto Five: Our knight visits the House of Pride, where everything is gilded with gold, ruled with misdeeds and tyranny, ruling not with stable laws but with crooked policies, with advisors who uphold the kingdom with corrupt insight. They cannot stay awake, read little, feast while others starve, drunk, are lecherous even though unattractive, obsessed with wealth, happy when others suffer, and retributive.

Book 1 Canto III: Una's experiences since the Red Cross Knight left her, how she gained a lion, had to deal with the church robber situation, was joined by Archimago disguised as her knight, and how Sansloy defeated Archimago and slew the lion, capturing Una.

Book 1, Canto 2: The Red Cross Knight (St. George) has stepped away from truth and wisdom (Una), embracing falsehood instead. I've now been introduced to Duessa (Falsehood).

Finished Book 1 Canto 1, where in the Red Cross Knight battled error, then was tempted by Archimago.