The poet vividly describes the relief of Una’s parents on being able to emerge from their castle once more, and their joy on embracing the daughter who has effected their rescue.  The castle inmates not only load Una with praise, but escort her and her champion back to their abode, where their marriage takes place amid general rejoicings.  But, although the Red Cross Knight would fain linger by Una, he remembers his promise to serve Gloriana for six years, and sets out immediately to redress other wrongs.

BOOK II.  THE LEGEND OF SIR GUYON, OR OF TEMPERANCE

The next adventure in the Faerie Queene is that of Sir Guyon,—­personifying Temperance,—­who is escorted everywhere by a black-garbed palmer,—­Prudence or Abstinence,—­at whose dictation he performs all manner of heroic deeds.  Journeying together they soon meet a squire, who reports a lady has just been captured by a wicked knight, who is bearing her away.  On hearing of this damsel’s peril, Sir Guyon bids her squire lead them in the direction where she vanished, declaring he will save her if possible.  He soon encounters a maiden with dishevelled locks and torn garments, who delays him by informing him that she has been illtreated by a knight bearing the device of a red cross.  Although loath to believe Georgos can be guilty of an unchivalric deed, Sir Guyon and the palmer promise to call him to account as soon as they overtake him.  They no sooner do so, however, than he assures them Archimago in his guise has been ranging through the forest, and that they must have met Duessa.  Turning to punish the lying squire who led them astray, Sir Guyon now perceives he has vanished, and humbly begs pardon of the Red Cross Knight.  Shortly after, Sir Guyon is startled by loud shrieks, and, hastening in the direction whence they proceed, discovers a wounded lady and a dead knight.  Close beside the lady is a young babe, whose innocent hands are dabbling in his parent’s blood.  On questioning the woman, Sir Guyon learns that her husband has been bewitched by Acrasia,—­or Pleasure,—­who bore him off to the Bower of Bliss, a place where she detains her captives, feeding them on sweets until their manly courage is gone.  On learning her husband had fallen into the power of this enchantress, the lady had sought the Bower of Bliss and by dint of wifely devotion had rescued her spouse.  But, even as they left, the witch bestowed upon them a magic cup, in which little suspecting its evil powers, the wife offered water to her husband.  No sooner had he drunk than blood gushed from his mouth and he died, whereupon, frantic at having unwittingly slain the man she loved, the lady had dealt herself a mortal wound with his sword.

Scarcely had the sufferer finished this account when she sank back lifeless, so Sir Guyon and the palmer, after burying the parents, vainly tried to remove the blood stains from the infant’s hands.  Then, unable to care properly for him themselves, they entrusted it to some ladies in a castle near by, bidding them call the babe Ruddy Main, or the Red Handed, and send him to court when he had grown up.