Some selected images from an illustrated summary of Edmund Spenser’s “The Faerie Queene”

See the books in the library

Book 1

“The Legend of the Knight of the Red Crosse, or of Holinesse”

Images from Canto i to xii of Book 1

  • Una and the Lion follow Abessa
  • Pride in her carriage
  • Orgoglio finds The Redcrosse Knight and Duessa
  • Arthur conquers Orgoglio
  • Una and the Redcrosse Knight become betrothed

Book 2

“The Legend of Sir Guyon, or of Temperaunce”

Images from Canto i to xii of Book 2

Guyon discovers Amavia and Mordaunt
Medina separates Guyon from Sans loy and Huddibras
Belphoebe discovers Braggadocchio
Guyon approaches Furor and Occasion
Cymochles in the Bowr of Blisse
Guyon on Phaedria’s gondola
Guyon in the House of Mammon
Guyon and the Angel
Alma’s parlour in the House of Temperaunce
Arthur and Guyon in Eumnestes’ library
Arthur fighting Maleger
Palmer returns Acrasia’s victims to human form

Book 3

“The Legend of Britomartis or Of Chastity”

Images from Canto i to xii of Book 3

Britomart and the Redcrosse Knight presented to Malecasta in Castle Joyeous
Britomart sees Artegall in Merlin’s magic looking glass
Glaunce and Britomart seek guidance from Merlin in his cave
Cymoent and her sisters discover Marinell on the jewelled strand
Belphoebe nursing Timias
The Garden of Adonis
Satyrane subduing the beast before being attacked by Argante
The witch making Snowy Florimell
Hellenore flirting with Paridell in Malbecco’s castle
Malbecco spying on Hellenore as she enjoys the attentions of a satyr
Britomart before Cupid’s statue in Busirane’s castle
Britomart saves Amoret from Busirane

Book 4

“The Legend of Cambel and Telamond or Of Friendship”

Images from Canto i to xii of Book 4

Amoret discovers that Britomart is not a man
Agape pleading with the Fates to link her sons’ lives
Cambina stops the fight between Cambell and Triamond
Britomart jousts with Artegall
Snowy Florimell going to try the golden girdle
Artegall kneels before Britomart
Belphoebe killing Lust
Arthur saving Placidas from Corflambo
Arthur arranges the betrothal of Placidas and Poeana
Scudamore taking Amoret from the Temple of Venus
The Marriage of the Rivers Medway and Thames
Florimell reunited with Marinell

Book 5

“The Legend of Artegall or Of Justice”

Images from Canto i to xii of Book 5

Talus forcing Sanglier to carry the head of his victim
Artegall debates with the socialist Gyant
Snowy Florimell melts before Florimell
Artegall judges the case between two brothers
Radigund takes Artegall captive
Britomart ambushed by Dolon
Britomart dreaming in the temple of Isis
Arthur scaring horses of Soldan
Queen Mercilla judging Duessa
Arthur defending the Queene of Belgae
Arthur fighting the beast of Geryoneo
Artegall beheading Grantorto

Book 6

“The Legend of Sir Calidore or Of Courtesie”

Images from Canto i to xii of Book 6

Calidore makes Crudor swear to marry Briana
Tristram challenging the discourteous knight
Calidore returning Priscilla to her father
Salvage saving Calepine from Turpine
Arrival at the Hermitage
Arthur discovers Turpine hiding under Blandinas skirts
Mirabella under the control of Disdaine and Scorne
Serena about to be sacrificed
Calidore sees Pastorella among the shepherds
Calidore saving Pastorella from the tiger
Calidore freeing Pastorella from the cave
Calidore capturing the Blatant Beast

Book 7

Two Cantos of Mutabilitie or “Of Constancie”

Images from Canto vi and vii of Book 7

Hermes saving Cynthia from Mutability
Mutability makes her plea to Nature
To “Christabel” gallery