Vincent Darlage’s Reviews > Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene, a Prose Rendering, Volume 2 of 3: A Text-Faithful Translation of the 1590s Epic Poem > Status Update

Book Three, Canto Eleven, where Britomart chases the giant Ollyphant and finds Scudamour in the forest. Scudamour is distressed by the capture of his love, so Britomart offers to help. They go to the castle of the wizard Busirane, and Britomart makes her way through Vulcan's fire to find tapestries depicting Cupid's triumphs, a golden statue of Cupid, and words telling her to be bold - but not too bold.

Book Three, Canto Ten, wherein Paridell steals Hellenore away from Malbecco. Malbecco pursues them, and meets Braggadocchio (and Trompart). Malbecco travels with Braggadocchio, seeking Paridell and Hellenore. Paridell abandons Hellenore in the forest, where she takes up with the lusty satyrs. Braggadocchio and Trompart steal Malbecco's gold, and Hellenore refuses to leave the satyrs. Malbecco hides in a cave.

Book Three Canto Nine, where the Squire of Dames and Paridell are refused entry into Malbecco's castle because he's afraid his wife will fall in love with newcomers. Paridell arrives, jousts with Britomart, and the four of them manage to get into the castle, where the wife falls in love with Paridell, and vice versa.

Book Three, Canto Eight, where the Witch creates a lady out of snow and makes it look like Florimell to seduce her son. Unfortunately, the son loses the fake Florimell to Braggadochio, who in turn loses her to an unknown knight. The real Florimell is almost raped by an old fisherman, but rescued by the sea god Proteus, who falls in love and imprisons her. Sir Paridell, Satyrane, and the Squire of Dames join forces.

Book Three, Canto Seven, where Florimell meets a witch, and the witch's son fall in love with her, so Florimell flees again - and the witch sets a monster to chase after her. Florimell jumps into a boat and escapes, but her horse dies. Satyrane, the nature knight, sees the death of the horse and tames the beast, but then a giantess battles him. Satyrane frees the Squire of Dames, but loses the beast.

Book Three, Canto Six, where Belphœbe's origin is explored. She has a sister named Amoret. Basically, a faerie named Chrysogone was laying around naked, and the sun impregnated her. She had twins, Belphœbe and Amoret. Chrysogone birthed them in her sleep, and they were found and taken by Diana and Venus. Diana kept Belphœbe, and Venus gave Amoret to Psyche to foster. We also get to explore the Garden of Adonis.

Book Three, Canto Five, wherein Arthur meets a dwarf who used to serve the woman he pursues; they join forces to find Florimell. But Timias, Arthur's Squire, who ran off to hunt the forester who was trying to rape Florimell, is ambushed by the Forester and his brothers. Timias kills them but is sorely wounded, but is is rescued by Belphœbe. Belphœbe heals him of his hurt, but Timias falls in unfortunate love.

Book Three, Canto Four: Britomart finds the shore in her quest for Artegall, but finds celibate Marinell guarding the shore (because it is full of riches). They battle, and Britomart wins, leaving Marinell for dead and ignoring the riches. Marinell's nymph mother and her friends find him and realize he is just mostly dead, and they take him into the sea to heal him. Meanwhile Arthur is vexed by the falling of night.

Book Three, Canto Three, where more of Britomart's background is explored. She visits Merlin, and he prophesied that she would find her love, Artegall, and begat a line that would end with Queen Elizabeth I, the Virgin Queen. Glauce (Britomart's nurse) decides they will take up arms and travel as Knight and Squire to find Artegall. Britomart parts with the Red Cross Knight.

Book Three, Canto Two, wherein we learn more about Britomart, and how she is searching for a knight who supposedly wronged her, but she is in love with, and about her origin as daughter of King Ryence and a magic mirror made by Merlin.