Guyon
The Knight of Temperance in Spenser's The Faerie Queene, commissioned by Gloriana to destroy the Bower of Bliss.
Introduction#
Guyon is the hero of Book II of Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queene. As the Knight of Temperance, he serves Gloriana, the Fairy Queen, and undertakes a quest to destroy the Bower of Bliss, the enchanted garden ruled by the soreress Acrasia.
Titles | Knight of Temperance
Affiliations | Order of Maidenhead, Court of Fairy Land
Heraldry | A shield bearing the image of Gloriana
“Faire Sir Guyon, stout and true…”
— The Faerie Queene, Book II
The Quest for the Bower of Bliss#
Throughout his journey, Guyon is repeatedly tested by violence, temptation, greed, and sensual pleasure, each challenge serving as a trial of the virtue he represents.
Gloriana commissions Guyon to destroy the Bower of Bliss, where Acrasia ensnares knights through luxury, pleasure, and enchantment.
Accompanied by the wise Palmer, Guyon travels through Fairy Land, overcoming numerous dangers and resisting every attempt to divert him from his quest.
Trials and Temptations#
During his journey, Guyon faces many enemies and moral challenges. He is attacked by hostile knights, deceived by enchantments, and robbed of his horse, yet he remains steadfast in his purpose.
After exhausting himself in battle, Guyon is attacked by the brothers Pyrochles and Cymochles. Overwhelmed by fatigue, he is rescued by Prince Arthur, who defeats the brothers and preserves Guyon’s life.
The Fall of Acrasia#
Guided by the Palmer, Guyon finally reaches the Bower of Bliss, where every sight, sound, and fragrance is designed to entice travellers into abandoning self-control.
Resisting these temptations, Guyon captures Acrasia in a magical net before destroying the Bower and freeing those who had fallen under her enchantment.
Later Adventures#
After the destruction of the Bower of Bliss, Guyon continues to appear in The Faerie Queene, joining Prince Arthur in further adventures as one of Gloriana’s foremost knights.
Allegorical Significance#
Guyon personifies the virtue of Temperance, which Spenser understood not as denial of pleasure but as the disciplined mastery of one’s desires and passions.
His victory over Acrasia and the destruction of the Bower of Bliss symbolise the triumph of reason, moderation, and self-control over excess and sensual temptation.
In the Arthurian Tradition#
Although Guyon has no counterpart in the medieval Arthurian romances, he occupies a central place in Spenser’s Arthurian world. His friendship with Prince Arthur and his service to Gloriana place him among the foremost champions of Fairy Land, illustrating Spenser’s vision of chivalry as both heroic adventure and moral instruction.
Sources#
The Faerie Queene | Edmund Spenser, 1570-1599
