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 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.