On seeing the triumph won by her champions, Una congratulates them, and bids the squire pursue Duessa, who is now trying to escape.  Thus enjoined, Timias seizes the witch, and, in obedience to Una’s orders, strips her of her fine clothes and sends her forth in her original loathsome shape.  Meantime Una and the prince boldly penetrate into the castle, and, passing hurriedly through rooms overflowing with treasures, reach a squalid dungeon, where they discover the Red Cross Knight almost starved to death.  Full of compassion they bear him to comfortable quarters, where they proceed to nurse him back to health; and, when he is once more able to ride, he and Una resume their journey.  As they proceed, however, Una becoming aware that her champion is not yet strong enough to do battle, conducts him to a house, where the wise old matron Religion, Doctor Patience, and three hand-maidens, Faith, Hope, and Charity, nurse him to such good purpose that Georgos is soon stronger than ever.  During his convalescence in this hospitable abode, the Red Cross Knight once wanders to the top of the hill of Contemplation, whence he is vouchsafed a vision of the New Jerusalem, and where he encounters an old man who prophesies that after fulfilling his present quest he will be known as “Saint George of Merry England.”  Modestly deeming himself unworthy of such distinction, the Red Cross Knight objects that a ploughman’s son should not receive such honor, until the aged man informs him he is in reality the son of the British king, stolen from his cradle by a wicked fairy, who, finding him too heavy to carry, dropped him in a field where a farmer discovered and adopted him.  Notwithstanding this rustic breeding it was Georgos’ noble blood that urged him to seek adventures, and sent him to Gloriana’s court, whence he sallied forth on his present quest.

After another brief sojourn in the house of Religion, the Red Cross Knight and Una again set forth, and passing through another wilderness reach a land ravaged and befouled by the dragon which holds Una’s parents in durance vile.  The lady is just pointing out her distant home to the Red Cross Knight, when she hears the dragon coming, and, bidding her champion fight him bravely, takes refuge in a cave near by.  Spurring forward to encounter his opponent, the Red Cross Knight comes face to face with a hideous monster, sheathed in brazen scales and lashing a tail that sweeps over acres at a time.  This monster is further provided with redoubtable iron teeth and brazen claws, and breathes forth sulphur and other deadly fumes.

Notwithstanding his opponent’s advantages, Georgos boldly attacks him, only to find no weapon can pierce the metal scales.  At the end of the first day’s fight, the dragon withdraws, confident he will get the better of his foe on the morrow.  At the close of the second day, the monster’s tail whisks Georgos into a pool, whose waters fortunately prove so healing that this bath washes away every trace of weakness and restores him to health and strength.  On the third day’s encounter, the Red Cross Knight manages to run his sword into the dragon’s mouth, and thus inflicts a deadly wound.  Seeing her foe writhing at last in the agonies of death, Una joyfully emerges from her hiding-place, while the watchman on the castle tower loudly proclaims that they are free at last!