In a vain endeavor to protect his mistress, the lion next loses his life, and Sansloi, plucking the shrieking Una from her ass, flings her across his palfrey and rides off into the forest, followed by the little steed, which is too faithful to forsake its mistress.  On arriving in the depths of the forest, Sansloi dismounts, but Una’s cries attract a company of fauns and satyrs, whose uncanny faces inspire Sansloi with such terror that he flees, leaving his captive in their power.  Notwithstanding their strange appearance, these wild men are essentially chivalrous, for they speedily assure Una no harm shall befall her in their company.  In return she instructs them in regard to virtue and truth, until Sir Satyrane appears, who generously volunteers to go with her in search of the Red Cross Knight.

Those two have not ridden far together before they encounter a pilgrim, who reports the Red Cross Knight has just been slain in a combat by a knight who is now quenching his thirst at a neighboring fountain.  Following this pilgrim’s directions, Sir Satyrane soon overtakes the reported slayer of Georgos, and while they two struggle together, the terrified Una flees into the forest, closely pursued by the pilgrim, Archimago in a new disguise.  Meantime the fight continues until Sansloi, severely wounded, beats a retreat, leaving Sir Satyrane too injured to follow Una.  She, however, has meantime overtaken her dwarf, and learned from him that the Red Cross Knight is a prisoner of Orgolio.  Thereupon she vows’ not to rest until she has rescued her companion.  She and her dwarf are hastening in the direction in which the giant vanished with his victim, when they meet Prince Arthur,—­a personification of Leicester and of Chivalry,—­who, although he has never yet seen the Fairy Queen, is so deeply in love with her that he does battle in her name whenever he can.  This prince is incased in a magic armor, made by Merlin, and bears a shield fashioned from a single diamond, whose brightness is so dazzling that it has to be kept covered, so as not to blind all beholders.

After courteously greeting Una, the prince, hearing her tale of woe, volunteers to accompany her and free the Red Cross Knight.  When they reach the castle of Orgolio,—­Spiritual Pride,—­Arthur and his squire boldly summon the owner to come out and fight.  No answer is at first vouchsafed them, but after a blast from Arthur’s magic bugle the gates burst open, and out of the stronghold rushes a seven-headed dragon, bearing on its back the witch Duessa.  This monster is closely followed by the giant Orgolio, who engages in fight with Prince Arthur, while the squire, Timias, directs his efforts against the seven-headed beast.  Although the prince and his attendant finally overcome these terrible foes, their triumph is due to the fact that in the midst of the fray Prince Arthur’s shield is accidentally uncovered and its brightness quells both giant and beast.  But no sooner are the fallen pierced with the victors’ swords than they shrink to nothing, for they are mere wind-bags, or delusions of Archimago’s devising.