The Faerie Queene: Book V: Canto XI Summary & Analysis

Geryoneo is enraged at Arthur for defeating all his guards, so he puts on his armor in preparation for battle. Though Arthur attacks forcefully, Geryoneo has an advantage because of his three sets of arms. Arthur strategizes carefully and sees an opening to lop off one of Geryoneo’s arms. His next strike decapitates Geryoneo’s horse. Geryoneo is furious and strikes back, but Arthur responds by chopping off two more of his arms.

At last, Arthur manages to land a strike that goes through all three of Geryoneo’s bodies at once, killing him. Belgae and her sons bow in gratitude toward Arthur. They all go to the chapel nearby where Geryoneo left his false idol, and Arthur slashes it three times. When he does this, a great beast rises up. The creature has the face of a woman but the body of a dog, the claws of a lion, the tail of a dragon, and the wings of an eagle. When she sees Arthur’s shining shield, she attacks.

The monster tries to pry away Arthur’s shield, shouting curses as it goes. The two struggle, until eventually Arthur strikes the monster in the stomach and rips its guts out, killing it. As the monster dies, it breathes out clouds of poison. Belgae is so overjoyed that she holds a feast. Arthur stays around long enough to make sure all is well, then he takes his leave and heads back.

Meanwhile, Arthegall has just left Mercilla and is on his own adventure. He is still trying to save Eirena from Grantorto (which he has been doing since Canto I of Book V). He runs into an old but true knight named Sir Sergis. He tells Arthegall about how he heard where Grantorto was taking Eirena as a prisoner. Furthermore, he says that Grantorto issued a challenge: if a champion doesn’t appear by a certain day, Eirena will be put to death. Arthegall asks how to get to the location where Grantorto has made his challenge, and Sir Sergis tells him. He warns him, however, that he only has 10 days left.

Arthegall continues on until he comes to a knight who is being bothered by an insistent lady in a crowd. It turns out the knight’s name has been blotted by shame and his shield is gone. Nevertheless, Arthegall sends Talus to disperse the crowd and free the knight from the lady. The knight thanks Arthegall and says his name is Burbon.

Burbon explains he used to have a lady named Flourdelis until she was enticed away by golden gifts from Grantorto. He then sent a crowd to fetch her (the same crowd that attacked Arthegall when he tried to free Burbon).

Arthegall asks about Burbon’s broken shield. Burbon responds that he was originally dubbed a knight by the Redcross Knight himself and received his own shield embossed with a cross. Many envied Burbon’s shield, and so to avoid enemies, Burbon put his shield aside. Though Arthegall doesn’t approve of this, he agrees to help Burbon when Burbon asks for his aid in fighting the peasants Grantorto has sent to take Flourdelis.

The peasants crowd around Arthegall and Burbon like flies, but they’re no match for Talus’s iron flail. Arthegall and Burbon themselves defeat the captains of the mob, then continue on to where Flourdelis lives. Arthegall shames her for trying to hide her natural beauty with the golden gifts of Grantorto. She is ashamed and allows herself to be carried off by Burbon. Arthegall and Talus continue toward Grantorto.