# Book II: The Legend of Sir Guyon, or of Temperance explained — The Faerie Queene

> Chapter companion for The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser.

## What happens

This chapter follows Sir Guyon's quest of temperance, featuring his encounter with Mammon in the underworld, the deception of Braggadocchio and Trompart by Archimago, and a confrontation between Prince Arthur and the brothers Pyrochles and Cymochles over the body of a fallen knight.

## Themes in this chapter

### Virtue and Vice

Guyon resists Mammon's temptations, embodying temperance, while Braggadocchio's vanity and Pyrochles' wrath illustrate vice.

### Truth and Deception

Archimago deceives Braggadocchio into believing false wrongs, perpetuating the theme of illusion versus reality.

### Justice and Government

Prince Arthur's intervention against the brothers' unjust attack on a defenseless knight upholds chivalric justice.

## Character check-ins

### Sir Guyon

The knight of temperance, tempted by Mammon but remains steadfast.

### Prince Arthur

Intervenes to protect a sleeping knight from Pyrochles and Cymochles.

### Pyrochles

Fights Prince Arthur after attacking a defenseless knight.

### Cymochles

Joins his brother Pyrochles in attacking Prince Arthur.

### Braggadocchio

Boastful knight deceived by Archimago into seeking revenge.

### Archimago

Manipulates Braggadocchio to target Guyon and the Redcrosse Knight.

## Key lines

> First prayse of knighthood is fowle outrage to deface.

The primary honor of knighthood is to prevent disgraceful violence.

_Prince Arthur rebukes the brothers for attacking a defenseless knight._

> To chaunge love causelesse is reproch to warlike knight.

To change one's love without reason brings shame to a knight.

_Guyon refuses Mammon's offer of a spouse, citing his pledged love._

> Such prayse is shame; but honour, vertues meed, Doth beare the fayrest flowre in honourable seed.

Praise without merit is shameful; true honor is the reward of virtue and grows from noble deeds.

_Narrator's commentary on Braggadocchio's vanity._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/book-ii-the-legend-of-sir-guyon-or-of-temperance
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_faerie_queene_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters