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

The day of Florimell and Marinell’s wedding arrives. It’s a glorious feast where everyone eats until they’re full. There is a three-day tournament where seven knights compete for Florimell’s hand. Marinell is the winner on the first two days, but he gets taken prisoner on the third day.

Arthegall arrives in the courtyard, and with him is Braggadochio, who met up with Arthegall along the way. Arthegall sees the hundred knights imprisoning Marinell, and so as a disguise, he swaps shields with Braggadochio. He then defeats all the knights and frees Marinell, before swapping shields back to Braggadochio. Meanwhile, Braggadochio has been hiding false Florimell.

Real Florimell comes to greet all the knights. Braggadochio then comes forward with his shield (which Arthegall used) and everyone cheers Braggadochio’s name. When Florimell comes to congratulate him, however, Braggadochio brags that he has his own, even better lady. His squire Trompart brings out false Florimell, covered with a veil, which shocks and confuses the crowd. Even Marinell wonders if the false Florimell might be the true one.

Arthegall can no longer stand to watch Braggadochio lie, so he steps forward to tell everyone that he was the one using Braggadochio’s shield in the tournament. He shows his wounds as proof, then bets that Braggadochio’s Florimell is not the real one.

Arthegall calls real Florimell forward. But as soon as real Florimell stands next to the false one, the false one vanishes into nothing, leaving behind an empty gold belt. Braggadochio is shocked and dismayed. Then Arthegall takes the golden belt and puts it around the waist of the real Florimell, where it fits well.

Just then, Sir Guyon reveals that he’s in the crowd, and he confronts Braggadochio about stealing his horse (which happened back in Book II). Arthegall is moved by the story but asks Guyon to prove his claims. Guyon describes a black spot shaped like a horse’s shoe in the horse’s mouth. The horse doesn’t even open its mouth until Guyon calls its name—Brigadore. This is enough to convince Arthegall.

Arthegall wants to slay Braggadochio, but Sir Guyon says that Braggadochio’s shame is punishment enough. Talus carries Braggadochio off, shaving his beard and taking away his shield. Braggadochio is disgraced, and the other knights and ladies soon resume celebrating.