Vincent Darlage’s Reviews > Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene, a Prose Rendering, Volume 1 of 3: A Text-Faithful Translation of the 1590s Epic Poem > Status Update

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.