"Off frutes wilde, his story doth us telle, Was his repast penance for t' endure, To stanch his thurst drank water off the welle And eet acorns to sustene his nature, Kernelles off notis [nuts] when he myhte hem recure. To God alway doying reverence, What ever he sent took it in patience." And in concluding this chapter let us call to mind Spenser's description of a typical hermit and hermitage, while the originals still lingered in the living memory of the people:-- "At length they chaunst to meet upon the way An aged sire, in long blacke weedes yclad, His feet all bare, his head all hoarie gray, And by his belt his booke he hanging had; Sober he seemde, and very sagely sad, And to the ground his eyes were lowly bent, Simple in shew, and voide of malice bad; And all the way he prayed as he went, And often knockt his brest as one that did repent. "He faire the knight saluted, louting low, Who faire him quited, as that courteous was; And after asked him if he did know Of strange adventures which abroad did pas. 'Ah! my dear sonne,' quoth he, 'how should, alas! Silly[118] old man, that lives in hidden cell, Bidding his beades all day for his trespas, Tidings of war and worldly trouble tell? With holy father sits not with such things to mell.'[119] * * * * * Quoth then that aged man, 'The way to win Is wisely to advise. Now day is spent, Therefore with me ye may take up your in For this same night.' The knight was well content; So with that godly father to his home he went. "A little lowly hermitage it was, Down in a dale, hard by a forest's side, Far from resort of people that did pass In traveill to and froe; a little wyde There was an holy chappell edifyde, Wherein the hermite dewly wont to say His holy things, each morne and eventyde; Hereby a chrystall streame did gently play, Which from a sacred fountaine welled forth alway. "Arrived there, the little house they fill; Ne look for entertainment where none was; Rest is their feast, and all things at their will: The noblest mind the best contentment has. With fair discourse the evening so they pas; For that old man of pleasing words had store, And well could file his tongue as smooth as glas; He told of saintes and popes, and evermore He strowd an Ave-Mary after and before."[120] _Faery Queen_, i. 1, 29, 33, 34, 35. CHAPTER II. ANCHORESSES, OR FEMALE RECLUSES.