Cymochles Character Analysis in The Faerie Queene

Cymochles is an evil knight who has pledged himself to the pleasure-seeking sorceress Acrasia and who clashes with Sir Guyon. Eventually, he teams up with the fiery knight Pyrochles, in hopes of taking down Sir Guyon together. Though Cymochles is a mighty knight, his mistake is pledging his loyalty to the tricky Acrasia.

Cymochles Character Timeline in The Faerie Queene

The timeline below shows where the character Cymochles appears in The Faerie Queene. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon

...and thinks Guyon has struck Pyrochles down, so Atin runs off to tell Pyrochles’s brother, Cymochles. (full context)

Cymochles is a mighty knight who has won glory in many perilous fights. His lady is... (full context)

Atin pricks Cymochles with a dart, which seems to wake him up from a dream. He gets up... (full context)

With his wrath having been kindled by Atin’s story, Cymochles rides forth to find Sir Guyon. He is distracted, however, when he sees a ship... (full context)

Phaedria takes Cymochles in her ship to an island full of beautiful flowers and other vegetation. Phaedria asks... (full context)

Phaedria leaves Cymochles on the island and goes off on her boat again. This time, she finds Sir... (full context)

Cymochles wakes up, and as he walks around the island, he sees Sir Guyon with Phaedria.... (full context)

Phaedria goes on to say that if Cymochles and Sir Guyon really want to fight for her, they should leave aside bloody battles... (full context)

...confirms that Sir Guyon is alive, and then he happens to notice that Pyrochles and Cymochles are on their way over, with Archimago and Atin as well. Pyrochles and Cymochles confront... (full context)

British Identity and Nationalism Theme Icon

Pyrochles and Cymochles take Sir Guyon’s shield and helmet. Just then, they see the proudest and noblest knight... (full context)

...isn’t dead, just in a deep daze. He goes on to say how Pyrochles and Cymochles took advantage of the situation by stealing Guyon’s armor. Arthur is indignant about what the... (full context)

...and Arthur responds by stabbing Pyrochles in the chest with a spear and wounding him. Cymochles, struck with grief, lashes out at Arthur, knocking him off his horse. Unhorsed without a... (full context)

Pyrochles and Cymochles both charge Arthur from opposite sides. Though they strike fiercely, Arthur’s shield stays strong. Arthur... (full context)

...attacking again in a rage, like a bull that’s being baited in two different directions. Cymochles and Pyrochles keep getting angrier. Cymochles decides to make an attack so reckless that it... (full context)

Pyrochles is aghast to see Cymochles fall, but he continues the fight. He ends up defeated by Arthur. Arthur says he... (full context)

After Pyrochles and Cymochles are dead, Arthur recovers his stolen sword and returns Sir Guyon’s stolen shield back to... (full context)