Status Updates From The Faerie Queene (BOOKS I ...

Book II Canto IV: Guyon and the Palmer find Furor, driven by Occasion, savagely tormenting Phedon. Realizing Furor cannot be subdued while Occasion incites him, Guyon restrains Occasion first, then chains Furor. Phedon recounts how a false friend deceived him into killing his innocent bride, and Atin arrives to warn that Pyrochles is approaching.

In Book II Canto III, the boastful coward Braggadochio and his scheming servant Trompart wander the forest, surviving through bluff and deception. Their antics are contrasted with the appearance of the noble huntress Belphœbe, whose beauty, virtue, and skill embody an ideal of chastity and natural excellence.

Book II Canto II: Guyon comes to Medina’s castle, where she represents the temperate middle between her extreme sisters, Elissa and Perissa. Their knights, Huddibras and Sansloy, quarrel violently; Guyon intervenes, and Medina restores peace, modeling moderation against excess and deficiency.

In Book 1 Canto 1, Sir Guyon, the Knight of Temperance, sees through the deceptions of Archimago, then encounters the dying Amavia and learns how uncontrolled passion destroyed her husband, Mordant, through the temptress Acrasia. Guyon vows to oppose such corruption and continues his quest with the wise Palmer as his guide.

In Book 1, Canto 12 , Una’s parents celebrate their rescue, and Una and the Redcrosse Knight are formally betrothed. However, he cannot remain with her yet, because he must first complete six years of service to the Faerie Queene. The canto ends with hope, duty, and the promise of future reunion. Book 1 is finished! On to Book 2!

In Book 1, Canto 11, the Redcrosse Knight battles a mighty dragon over three days to free Una’s parents and kingdom. Though nearly defeated several times, he is restored by sacred wells and trees, finally slays the dragon, and proves himself worthy of becoming Saint George, England’s patron saint.

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.

Book 1 Canto 9: 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 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 1: Canto V. Our knight fights Sanjoy, but is robbed of his final victory by enchantment, but is proclaimed victorious. Sanjoy is taken by Night and Duessa to Hell so he can be saved. Our knight discovers the fate of the people who live in the House of Pride, so he flees.

Read Book 1, Canto III in the original.

Read Book 1 Canto II, where our hero is tricked and runs off and meets a deceitful sorcerous and hears about the horrible tale of two trees.

There's a section in Book I, Canto II where a knight turned into a tree describes getting tricked into abandoning his lady love for a witch who later, of course, tree-ifies him. Two incredible lines from it:

"So doubly lou'd of Ladies vnlike faire,
...
[multiple stanzas that are excellent between]
...
So left her, where she now is turnd to treen mould."

As I read the prose edition, when I finish a Canto, I'll read the same Canto in the original. Finished Book 1 Canto 1, where in the Red Cross Knight battled error, then was tempted by Archimago.

For REAL reading this now