Book 2, Canto 3 Summary

The story turns to Braggadochio, a local who has stolen Guyon's horse and spear while the knight was listening to Amavia's story. The false knight scares another man, Trompart, into being his servant, and the two set off across the countryside. They are soon et by Archimago, who tells them that Red Cross and Guyon are responsible for the deaths of Mortdant and Amavia, and urges Braggadochio to exact vengeance. Archimago promises to retrieve Arthur's flaming sword for Braggadochio's use in the task. Then he flies away into the sky. Both Braggadochio and Trompart, no heroes themselves, flee from the display. They bump into a well-armed and very beautiful woman in the woods, Belphoebe (whose approach through the brush scares them to death). Braggadochio begins what he does best, boasting about his great deeds, but eventually woks his way around to...