An introduction to Britomart, who was brought up learning the art of knightly combat and rules of chivalry, and is now on a quest for Sir Artegall, with whom she is in love.
Faerie Queene
Prince Arthur defeats the thousand-strong army of fiends, while Guyon travels on to Acrasia’s garden, where they capture her with a net, and destroy her Bower of Bliss.
Sir Guyon meets Mammon, and refuses his bribe of riches. Following a visit to the underworld to view those riches, he falls unconscious. As he is about to be robbed, Prince Arthur arrives to defend him.
An encounter with Furor which Sir Guyon manages well, a battle with Pyrrhochles, then a trip with Phaedria on the Lake of Idleness. Paintings by Palmer and Etty, and more.
Book 2: another knight on a different mission. This time it’s to tackle Acrasia, an evil enchantress who lures knights to her wandering island.
After recuperating in the House of Holinesse, with Dame Celia, the Redcrosse Knight faces the dragon in combat, as Saint George.
Arthur battles the monster Orgoglio, eventually killing him. After the Redcrosse Knight is rescued, he ends up in the Cave of Despair, about to kill himself.
The Redcrosse Knight faces Sansjoy in combat, then flees the House of Pride. Una is almost raped by Sansloy, but resumes her quest for the Redcrosse Knight.
Una meets a lion who becomes her guard, while the Redcrosse Knight goes to the House of Pride with the deceitful witch Duessa.
In which the Redcrosse Knight kills the monster Error, then falls prey to the magic of Archimago and into the clutches of the false Duessa.
