d purpose
that they utterly annihilate their assailants. Happy to be delivered
from these foes, the inhabitants of the castle then open wide their
gates. Our knights spend several days there resting from their labors,
and perusing sundry books where they learn the history of all the
British kings. Meantime the palmer, who has followed them thither,
forges chains and a steel net, with which to capture and hold the
witch Acrasia when the right time comes. When he has finished
manufacturing these objects, he persuades Sir Guyon to start out once
more. Reaching the water again, they board a vessel, which bears them
safely past the Magnetic Rock, over the Sea of Gluttony, etc., to an
island, whose beauty human imagination cannot conceive.

On landing, the travellers are surprised to encounter strange
monsters, and to be enveloped in dense mists, through which they hear
the flapping of bat-like wings and catch glimpses of harpy-like
creatures. Knowing monsters and mists are mere delusions, Sir Guyon
pays little heed to them, and the palmer soon disperses them by a
touch from his magic staff. Still bearing the steel net and iron
chains, this faithful henchman follows Sir Guyon into the enchanted
bower of Acrasia, where he explains to his master that the animals he
sees owe their present forms to the enchantress' power, for she always
transforms her visitors into beasts!

Through an ivory gate,--on which is carved the story of "The Golden
Fleece,"--the adventurers enter a hall, where a porter offers them
wine. But Sir Guyon, knowing a drop of it would have a baleful effect
upon the drinker, boldly dashes it out of his hand. Then, threading
his way through the Bower of Bliss, he reaches its innermost grove,
although Phaedria tries to detain him by offering him sundry
pleasures. Pressing onward, Sir Guyon finally catches a glimpse of
Acrasia herself, reposing upon a bed of flowers, and holding on her
lap the head of an innocent youth, who is helpless owing to her spell.
Silently signalling to the palmer, Sir Guyon spreads out the steel
net, which they fling so deftly over witch and victim that neither can
escape. Then Sir Guyon binds Acrasia fast, threatening to kill her
unless she removes the spell which she has laid upon her captives. All
the beasts on the island are therefore soon restored to their natural
forms, and all profess gratitude, save one, whom the palmer grimly
bids continue to be a pig, since such is his choice!