The Faerie Queene: Book II: Canto VI Summary & Analysis

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 carrying a lovely lady going by. The lady on the ship allows Cymochles to visit her, but not Atin. Her name is Phaedria, and she entertains Cymochles with humorous flirtation.

Phaedria takes Cymochles in her ship to an island full of beautiful flowers and other vegetation. Phaedria asks Cymochles why such a noble knight must always be seeking dangerous adventure when instead he could be enjoying pleasure. She lures him into a deep sleep.

Phaedria leaves Cymochles on the island and goes off on her boat again. This time, she finds Sir Guyon. She persuades Guyon to leave behind the Palmer, which he does reluctantly. When Guyon sees where Phaedria is taking him in her boat, however, he protests that she has misled him. Phaedria says that at sea you can’t always go where you want because of the tides and winds, and so she has chosen a new way that will be safer.

Sir Guyon puts aside his discontent for the moment. When they reach the island, Phaedria shows him all the island’s sweet, natural pleasures, and though the knight goes along with it, he remains wary and tries to keep his desires in check.

Cymochles wakes up, and as he walks around the island, he sees Sir Guyon with Phaedria. He immediately flies into a rage and lunges at him to start a fight. The two both fight fiercely with their swords; Cymochles has never met an opponent as fierce as Guyon before. Phaedria sees that there is a real chance of someone getting seriously injured, so she steps between them and asks them to stop.

Phaedria goes on to say that if Cymochles and Sir Guyon really want to fight for her, they should leave aside bloody battles and fight for Venus instead of for Mars. The knights are moved by her pleasing words and stop. Guyon asks to leave the island, and Phaedria reluctantly accepts.

After taking Phaedria’s boat back, Sir Guyon is spotted by Atin, who still believes Guyon killed Pyrochles and who shouts insults at him, but Guyon just keeps going. Soon after, Atin is shocked to see a reckless knight charging in his direction and realizes it is in fact Pyrochles, who is alive after all.

Pyrochles seems to be trying to drown himself by leaping into a lake and he shouts that he is burning. He says only death can quench the flame. Atin goes into the water to try to stop his master from drowning. As Atin is struggling, he looks ashore and happens to see Archimago, whom he asks for help.

Pyrochles tells Archimago that Furor is the one who made him burn with unquenchable flames. Archimago knows this pain well, and he agrees to use his power to cure Pyrochles of his burning condition.