Cymochles
A knight in Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene, brother of Pyrochles and lover of the enchantress Acrasia.
Introduction#
Cymochles is a knight in Book II of Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queene. The brother of Pyrochles and the lover of the enchantress Acrasia, he becomes one of the principal adversaries of Sir Guyon during the Knight of Temperance’s quest.
Titles | Knight
Affiliations | Fairy Land
Brother of Pyrochles#
When Cymochles learns that his brother has apparently been slain by Guyon, he resolves to avenge him. Before reaching his enemy, however, he is delayed by the enchantress Phaedria, whose pleasant island and seductive company distract him from his purpose.
Eventually breaking free from her influence, Cymochles reunites with his still-living brother.
The Battle with Prince Arthur#
Guided by the magician Archimago, the brothers discover Guyon exhausted and unconscious after his many trials. Rather than facing him honourably, they prepare to strip him of his armour and leave him helpless.
Before they can carry out their plan, Prince Arthur arrives to defend Guyon. In the ensuing battle, Arthur defeats and kills both Cymochles and Pyrochles.
Allegorical Significance#
Guided by the magician Archimago, the brothers discover Guyon exhausted and unconscious after his many trials. Rather than facing him honourably, they prepare to strip him of his armour and leave him helpless.
Before they can carry out their plan, Prince Arthur arrives to defend Guyon. In the ensuing battle, Arthur defeats and kills both Cymochles and Pyrochles.
In the Arthurian Tradition#
Although Cymochles has no counterpart in the medieval Arthurian romances, he plays an important role in Spenser’s Arthurian world as one of the principal opponents of Sir Guyon. His defeat by Prince Arthur reinforces the poem’s recurring theme that true virtue ultimately triumphs over vice and temptation.
Sources#
The Faerie Queene | Edmund Spenser, 1570-1599
