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

Mirabella sees Timias taken captive by Disdain and Scorn, and she feels pity. They keep traveling and run into Arthur, along with a knight named Enias. Timias is embarrassed to be seen in such a wretched state. Enias thinks it’s shameful how Disdain is treating Mirabella and Timias, so he warns him to either let his captives go or face death. He fights Disdain and draws blood, but gets knocked down just like Timias and Scorn goes to tie him up.

Arthur sees Enias getting captured and flies toward Disdain. He tries to strike a powerful blow, but Scorn sneaks under and strikes Arthur’s knee. While Arthur recovers, Mirabella calls out to Arthur, saying that even though Disdain deserves to die, Arthur shouldn’t kill him because her life depends on him. She explains to Arthur the penance that Cupid has inflicted on her.

Mirabella has a bottle that she fills with tears that she keeps in a bag, and when the bottle is full, she’ll be forgiven. But the bottle leaks, and the bag has holes. As she’s saying this, Arthur looks at Disdain’s captive and is surprised to recognize his squire Timias. Meanwhile, the “savage” man has been watching and takes that moment to ambush Scorn, but Arthur and Mirabella convince him to stop attacking. Arthur wants to help Mirabella, but she chooses to continue living out her punishment. And so, the two part ways.

Meanwhile, Serena is fleeing for her life from Disdain and Scorn, after seeing how they captured Timias. She blames her knight Sir Calepine for leaving her in such a piteous state. Eventually she gets tired and falls asleep, not realizing that she’s right near a tribe of cannibals. They can’t believe their good luck when they see her.

Serena wakes up, but she can’t escape in time, and the cannibals grab her. They consider raping her until one of their priests advises against it, saying she must be a pure sacrifice. They take her to an altar where the priest is holding a knife. They blow their bagpipes for the ceremony, and just by chance, Sir Calepine happens to be nearby, searching for Serena. He heads toward the source of the noise.

Sir Calepine makes his way to the ceremony and sees a captured woman, not knowing yet that it’s Serena. He begins slaying swarms of the cannibals around him with his sword. He makes it to Serena and unties her. She is ashamed of being seen without any clothes on, and Calepine doesn’t realize her identity until the next day.