Book 2 : Temperance

Canto 1

Archimago has escaped from his imprisonment in Book 1, intent on revenge

upon Redcrosse for his defeat. To this end, when Archimago meets the
knight Guyon and his squire, Palmer, he tells them that a wicked knight has
just recently attacked a virgin, intent on despoiling her. He describes the
knight as bearing a red cross on his shield and offers to lead them to him.
On their way, the three men meet the alleged virgin, who is really Duessa in
disguise. She confirms Archimago’s story, inflaming Guyon to righteous
anger, but when they finally encounter Redcrosse, Guyon balks at
attacking a knight bearing the cross of Christ on his shield. The two knights
discuss matters and become friends.
Continuing on their journey, Guyon and Palmer meet Amavia, a woman
who stabs herself in the chest as they approach. Rushing to her aid, the
knight and his squire discover the woman holding a newborn baby and
lying next to the body of a dead man. Amavia tells them her tale, how her
husband Mordant was seduced by Acrasia, an enchantress. Acrasia lures
men to her Bower of Bliss with the promise of sex, and then magically turns
them into beasts. Mordant was able to free himself of the enchantment, but
Acrasia exacted revenge upon him by poisoning him. Although Guyon
attempts to save Amavia, she dies in his arms.

Canto 2

Guyon attempts to wash the baby clean of his mother’s blood, but the blood
will not come off. Guyon and Palmer continue their journey, eventually
coming upon the castle of the three beautiful sisters Elissa, Medina, and
Perissa. Medina, the middle sister, welcomes them. Soon they come upon
two knights, Huddibras and Sansloy (from Book 1), battling each other.
Guyon tries to break up their conflict, only to have both knights turn on him.
Only Medina’s intervention prevents the conflict from becoming a
bloodbath. At a feast that night, Guyon explains his quest: to find and
destroy Acrasia’s Bower of Bliss in the name of the Faerie Queen. Guyon
and Palmer stay the night and arise to leave the next morning after
entrusting the baby to Medina’s care.

Canto 3
The peasant Braggadocchio, having stolen Guyon’s horse, meets Trompart
and convinces him to become his servant. They are overheard by
Archimago, who convinces them to seek out and battle Guyon and
Redcrosse, promising to give Braggadocchio the sword of King Arthur
before flying away. Braggadocchio and Trompart meet Belphoebe, a
beautiful huntress. Braggadocchio attempts to build himself up in her eyes
by exaggerating his own accomplishments, and then asks Belphoebe why
she is hunting rather than attending court. Belphoebe scorns courtly life in
favor of the wilderness and runs away when Braggadocchio makes his
desire for her known.

Canto 4

Guyon and Palmer meet Furor and his mother Occasion. Furor is in the
process of assaulting a man while Occasion looks on, but Guyon
intervenes. Furor turns his wrath toward Guyon, who is counseled by
Palmer to first subdue Occasion if he hopes to defeat Furor. Guyon binds
the mother and the son, then the man Atin arrive to tell Guyon to leave the
area. Atin warns that Pyrochles, his master, will attack Guyon for his
treatment of Occasion.

Canto 5

Atin departs, but his warning has come too late; Pyrochles arrives and
attacks Guyon. Guyon is victorious, but spares Pyrochles’ life. Instead,
Guyon unbinds Occasion and Furor; Furor attacks Pyrochles, defeating
him.

Atin, meanwhile, believe Pyrochles to be dead; he seeks out Pyrochles’

brother, Cymochles, who lives in the Bower of Bliss with Acrasia.
Cymochles, angry at his brother’s alleged death, arises from his luxury to
revenge himself upon Guyon.

Canto 6

Cymochles finds the beautiful Phaedria waiting in a boat. She agrees to

take him across the lake, but when she begins speaking, Cymochles falls
asleep. She leaves the sleeping Cymochles on an island in the lake, and
then returns to shore. There she meets Guyon and Palmer, also seeking
passage to the island; Phaedria agrees to take only Guyon to the island.
When Guyon arrives on the island, Cymochles is awake and falls upon him
in battle. Phaedria halts the battle and takes Guyon back to shore, leaving
Cymochles on the island. Atin arrives on the shore and cries out to
Cymochles, who remains on the island and refuses to fight. Atin then sees
a knight jump into the water and realizes that it is Pyrochles, very much
alive. Atin calls upon Archimago for aid in healing the wounded Pyrochles.

Canto 7

Guyon is back on shore, but Palmer is no longer available to guide him. He

presses on, encountering the filthy Mamon, who brings the knight to his
subterranean lair. Mamon attempts to sway Guyon with his wealth and
eventually offers Guyon his daughter Philotime in marriage, but Guyon
rejects the offer, citing a previous betrothal. Mamon then offers Guyon the
golden apples of Proserpina, but again Guyon resists. Mamon finally brings
Guyon back to the surface, where the fresh air causes him to swoon.

Canto 8

Palmer finds Guyon, unconscious but protected by an angel. The angel

returns Guyon to Palmer’s care, but Archimago, Pyrochles, and Cymochles
arrive and begin looting Guyon’s unconscious body. Palmer objects, but the
three villains do not listen. Fortunately, Prince Arthur arrives, killing
Pyrochles and Cymochles. Guyon finally awakens and befriends Arthur.
Canto 9

Arthur, Guyon, and Palmer continue on their journey together and

encounter a castle under siege by several violent men. The knights drive
off the attackers then are allowed entrance to the castle by its mistress,
Alma. She leads Guyon, Arthur, and Palmer to a tower to meet Phantastes,
Judgment, and Eumnestes. In Eumnestes’ library, both Guyon and Arthur
become interested in the various books available.

Canto 10

Arthur reads a history of Britain’s kings, which ends with Uther Pendragon.
Guyon finds a history of the Faerie in which he becomes engrossed. When
both men are finished reading, they are invited to dine with Alma.

Canto 11
The next morning, Alma’s castle is once again attacked by a band of violent
men, led by Maleger. Arthur drives the men off, but when he turns his
attention to Maleger, the man rides off. Maleger’s two hags, Impotence and
Impatience, take hold of Arthur, but his squire rescues him. Arthur
manages to kill Maleger and throw his body into a lake.

Canto 12

Guyon and Palmer take a ferry across the lake to Acrasia’s island. Along
the way, they must brave blinding fog, the Gulf of Greediness, and various
water monsters. Always the expert guide, Palmer leads them safely
through these dangers. On the island, the two are beset by wild beasts,
which Palmer drives off with his magic staff. Guyon and Palmer find the
Bower of Bliss and force their way in past the guard, Genius. They meet
Excess, who offers Guyon wine she has made, but Guyon refuses and
destroys her cup. The men discover two naked women playing in a
fountain, and Palmer must remind Guyon to stay focused on his quest.
Finally, they find Acrasia with her lover, Verdant; Guyon and Palmer catch
them in a net then chain Acrasia. With Acrasia helpless, Guyon destroys
the Bower of Bliss. Guyon and Palmer make their way back to the ferry,
and they are again attacked by wild beasts. This time, however, Guyon
knows that the beasts are actually enchanted men, so he has Palmer
change them back to their true forms.