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

The narrator laments the existence of foul Jealousy and praises instead the chaste love of Britomart. Shortly after leaving Malbecco’s castle, she and Sir Satyrane start chasing Ollyphant (the even more greedy and lusty brother of the evil giantess Argante).

Ollyphant doesn’t fear Sir Satyrane—it’s Britomart’s chastity that makes him run away. Britomart follows him into some woods. There they see a knight on the ground with his equipment scattered everywhere. The knight, whose name is Scudamore, tells her about Amoretta, his love who has been taken captive by an evil man named Busirane.

Scudamore is so upset that he looks like he’s choking to death, so Britomart goes to comfort him. She pledges to help him against his foe and deliver Amoretta back to him. She tells Scudamore to get up and put his armor back on.

Britomart and Scudamore make their way to a castle where great fire and stinking sulfur prevent them from going in the gate. Scudamore laments that there’s no way in, but Britomart just gets behind her shield and uses it to force her way through the flames. Scudamore tries to do something similar, but he gets scorched and is forced to turn back.

Inside the castle are portraits depicting many of Cupid’s great conquests (mainly lustful stories from Greek and Roman mythology). At the front of the hall is an altar where there’s a statue of blindfolded Cupid himself. Many people commit idolatry (the sin of worshipping something other than the Christian God, usually focused on an object or image) at this statue, asking for Cupid’s help.

Britomart marvels at the castle interior, noting a door that has “Be bold” written over it. Inside are the broken weapons of powerful conquerors hanging on the walls. She notices other doors with “Be bold” written over them. Eventually, she comes to a room where the door reads “Be not too bold.” She waits there until evening, keeping her weapon ready.