Vincent Darlage’s Reviews > The Faerie Queene > Status Update

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.

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 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.

Book IV, Canto viii, wherein Timias is forgiven. Meanwhile, Arthur finds Æmylia and Amoret where they have been hiding in the forest after Timias and Belphœbe abandoned them for no good reason. Corflambo the giant chases squire Placidas, but the giant is slain by Arthur. Æmylia's lover, Amyas, is revealed to be alive, but captive of an evil woman, Pœana. Æmylia begs Arthur to help her beloved Amyas.

Book IV, Canto vii, wherein Amoret is carried off by an ogre consumed with lust, but Belphœbe rescues her and two other women held by the ogre: Æmylia and an old hag. Arthur's former squire, Timias, accidentally deflowers Amoret (who is, unknown to all, Belphœbe's twin sister), which pisses Belphœbe off. Dishonored, Timias (whose name means "honor") goes off to live life as a wildman of the forest.

Book IV, Canto vi, wherein Scudamour and Artegall battle Britomart. Artegall sees Britomart's face when he knocks the visor off of her helmet and he falls in love with her. Britomart and Artegall become engaged, but Artegall still has a quest to fulfill, so he must part with Britomart for a while, but he promises to return.

Book IV, Canto v, wherein the various ladies vie for the belt of Florimell, and False Florimell ends up with it though Amoret is the only one who can wear it. Scudamour arrives at the House of Care, where the smiths forge only iron wedges, which are unquiet thoughts that invade troubled minds, showing how invasive thoughts can keep one from sleeping.

Book IV, Canto iv, wherein the tournament for Florimell's belt is held. The battles are intense, with much back and forth between Satyrane's team (the Knights of the Maidenhood) and Bruncheval's team (Blandamour, Paridell, Braggadocchio, and Triamond). On the 2nd day, Cambell replaces Triamond because Triamond is wounded. On the 3rd day, Artegall arrives and trounces everyone, but Britomart takes him out and wins.