The Faerie Queene: Book III: Canto I Summary & Analysis

Arthur has been spending time at Alma’s castle and has finally recovered from his battle wounds. Meanwhile, Sir Guyon sends Acrasia back in chains to the Faerie Queene and decides to go traveling with Arthur. They go on many dangerous but glorious adventures together.

One day on a plain, Sir Guyon spots a knight with an old squire. The knight starts charging at him on his horse, and the two attack each other with spears. Though no one is seriously injured, Guyon is shocked and ashamed to find himself knocked off his horse. It turns out his opponent’s lance is enchanted, and in fact, his opponent is none other than the famous knight Britomart, who is adventuring to find her lover.

Sir Guyon would rather die than be shamed, which worries the Palmer, so he persuades Guyon not to press his luck against Britomart and her enchanted lance. Eventually, everyone’s temper cools, and Guyon and Britomart reach an understanding because they’re both honorable. They (and Arthur) decide to ride together.

Sir Guyon, Arthur, and Britomart travel together for a while, across many countries, having many adventures. One day, they see a lady in shining clothes ride out of a thick brush on a white horse. She is followed by a brutish foster (forester), who seems to be full of lust.

While Sir Guyon and Arthur are going to help the fair lady, Britomart stays behind, then eventually she heads off on her own, arriving at a castle. At the castle, six knights are in a fight against one very mighty knight. The knight has taken some heavy blows but keeps fighting fiercely. Britomart is dismayed and asks everyone to stop fighting. They don’t listen at first, but finally she brings peace. Britomart says they should explain the cause of their disagreement.

The lone knight says that the other six were trying to force him to love a different damsel than the one he currently does. It turns out that the knight is the Redcross Knight (and so his lady is Una). Britomart believes the six knights are in the wrong for trying to separate a knight from his lady, but they explain that there is a lovely lady inside the castle who has made a rule: any knight without his own love can do service to this lady in the castle, and any knight with a lady must battle to prove the worth of his own lady.

Britomart still isn’t convinced by the six knights, and she starts knocking them down one by one with her enchanted spear. When there are only two of the six knights left standing, they yield and seek peace. Britomart and the Redcross Knight agree to spare them all.

The castle turns out to be Castle Joyous, where the Lady of Delight (Malecasta) resides. The castle is sumptuously decorated, with references to mythology like the story of Venus and Adonis. At last, they see the Lady of Delight lying on her bed like a proud Persian queen. The Redcross Knight disarms, but Britomart doesn’t.

Britomart sees that the six knights she fought are brothers. Though they have been trained in knightly skills and civility, they are little more than shadows to Britomart. The Lady of Delight keeps insisting that Britomart take off her armor, full of lust and believing that Britomart is a man.

After a lavish dinner with everyone, Malecasta (the name of the Lady of Delight) can’t rest that night. She sneaks out of her room and very gently goes up beside Britomart in bed. Britomart fears a lecher and grabs her weapon, causing Malecasta to scream, and causing the Redcross Knight and the six other knights to come running. When they get to the scene, the six knights think Britomart has attacked Malecasta.

One of the six knights fires an arrow that wounds Britomart. She fights back, though, and with the Redcross Knight’s help, they soon have the six knights running in fear. Britomart puts on her armor and they ride away from the castle.