Status Updates From The Faerie Queene

Book V, Canto iv, wherein Artegall has to adjudicate a dispute between two brothers, and then he finds a fellow knight on the gallows, surrounded by Amazons. Talus makes the women flee, and Sir Terpine tells what happened to him, that he preferred death to slavery. Artegall, Terpine, and Talus battle the Amazons until nightfall, when all rest. Radegund offers to meet Artegall in single combat the next day.

Book V, Canto iii, wherein we arrive at the wedding of Florimell, at which a tournament for many knights is held. Marinell and his six buddies take all comers, and win for two days, but on the third Marinell is overwhelmed and taken captive. Artegall rescues him, but Braggadochio claims the deed. He is exposed. Sir Guyon even recovers his horse. Braggadochio's weapons are broken and he is stripped of his armor.

Book V, Canto ii, wherein Artegall meets Florimell's servant dwarf who tells Artegall of Florimell's upcoming marriage. The dwarf needs help with a knight who blocks a bridge and steals from everyone. Artegall battles Pollente, killing him, then he kills Pollente's thieving sister, killing her. This is an argument against early capitalism. They find a giant arguing for early communism and kills him too.

third times a charm 😍

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.