Thus far Guyon’s life has exemplified the rule of reason over the irrational element of wrath; the remaining episodes of his life centre about the struggle of the irrational element of appetite. In this his soul is tried in three various forms of sensual desire. In Phædria the first form is typified. She represents the light gaieties of frivolous mirth and wantonness which the courteous nature of Guyon may suffer to play until they pass the bounds of modesty. (II. vi. 21.) When, however, she tried to win his heart from warlike enterprise into dissolute delights of sense, Guyon “was wise, and warie of her will, And ever held his hand upon his hart: Yet would not seeme so rude, and thewed ill, As to despise so courteous seeming part, That gentle Ladie did to him impart, But fairely tempring fond desire subdewd, And ever her desired to depart.” (II. vi. 26.) The second trial of Guyon’s temperance comes in the House of Mammon, where he triumphs over sensual desire in the form of covetousness. Mammon offers him mountains of gold, if he will but serve him (II. vii. 9.); he tries to induce him to accept by saying that money is the one necessity to supply all the wants of man. (II. vii. 11.) But Guyon answers: “Indeede (quoth he) through fowle intemperaunce, Frayle men are oft captiv’d to covetise.” (II. vii. 15.) When Mammon urges him to seat himself on the silver stool in the Garden of Proserpina, to rest awhile and eat of the golden fruit of the trees,— “All which he did, to doe him deadly fall In frayle intemperance through sinful bayt;” Guyon “was warie wise in all his way, And well perceived his deceiptfull sleight, Ne suffred lust his safetie to betray; So goodly did beguile the Guyler of the pray.” (II. vii. 64.) The culminating trial of the Knight’s temperance is made in Acrasia’s Bower of Bliss. Acrasia typifies that form of beauty that allures the senses with pleasure, but ruins the soul with its poisonous delight. (II. i. 52, 53.) The only fear that she and the inmates of her bower have is “wisedomes powre, and temperaunces might, By which the mightiest things efforced bin.” (II. xii. 43.) During the passage to this place of delight, and while he was within its precincts, Guyon was able to withstand every assault of sensual desire upon his soul. When the Palmer, speaking as reason dictated, told him that the piteous cry of a woman in distress was only a deceitful ruse to win him to harm— “The knight was ruled, and the Boatman strayt Held on his course with stayed stedfastnesse.” (II. xii. 28, 29.)