# Paridell — The Faerie Queene character guide

> Paridell in The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Sir Paridell, false Paridell, Sir Paridel

**First appearance:** 0049-canto-i

## Snapshot

A smooth-tongued knight of Troy's blood, whose charm and eloquence conceal a faithless heart ready to seduce any lady left unguarded.

## Who they are

Paridell arrives at Malbecco's castle as a guest and promptly turns his rhetoric on the host's wife, Hellenore, playing the courtly wooer while his ancestry ties him to the ruin of Troy. His deceit exposes the gap between noble lineage and noble conduct, and his seduction of Hellenore drives one of the poem's sharpest satires on jealousy and false love. He matters because his smooth betrayal tests the very ideals of courtesy and chastity the book is built on.

## In the story

### [Canto VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-viii)

Encountered by Satyrane; he is on a quest to find Florimell and hears the grim tidings.

### [Canto IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-ix)

A knight who jousts with Britomart and later recounts his Trojan ancestry.

### [Canto X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-x)

Crafty paramour who seduces Hellenore with false laments and amorous arts, then elopes with her after she steals Malbecco's treasure and sets fire to the house.

### [The Legend of Cambel and Triamond, or of Friendship](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/book-iv-the-legend-of-cambel-and-triamond-or-of-friendship)

Knight who challenges Blandamour over the false Florimell; later presents Duessa in the beauty contest.

### [Canto I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-i)

A false knight accompanying Blandamour, who fights Scudamour and is defeated.

### [Canto II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-ii)

Envies Blandamour's possession of the false Florimell and challenges him to a duel.

### [Canto IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-ix)

One of the four knights fighting; described as lustful and shifting alliances during the battle.

### [Canto IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-ix)

Mentioned as another of Duessa's paramours involved in the conspiracy.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/paridell
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters