Book 3, Canto 9 Summary

The owner of the castle is an angry miser, Malbecco, who tries to keep his wife Hellenore from meeting anyone new. Discouraged, the knights spend the knight in a pig shed. Soon, another knight arrives, and Paridell and the newcomer begin fighting. Satyrane calms things down. The three knights burn down the gates to the castle, and Malbecco allows them inside. The new knight is revealed as Britomart. At the banquet, Malbecco keeps his own good eye on Satyrane, but doesn't see Paridell flirting madly with Hellenore (who returns his signs).

Book 3, Canto 9 Analysis

Clearly, Malbecco and Hellenore are not the perfect example of Chastity. Malbecco keeps his wife a secret and she flirts with the first guy who comes along. This sets the stage for worse trouble in the next canto.