So hauing all things well about her dight, xxxi She on her way cast forward to proceede, And they her forth conducted, where they might Finde harbour fit to comfort her great neede. For now her wounds corruption gan to breed; And eke this Squire, who likewise wounded was Of that same Monster late, for lacke of heed, Now gan to faint, and further could not pas Through feeblenesse, which all his limbes oppressed has. So forth they rode together all in troupe, xxxii To seeke some place, the which mote yeeld some ease To these sicke twaine, that now began to droupe, And all the way the Prince sought to appease The bitter anguish of their sharpe disease, By all the courteous meanes he could inuent, Somewhile with merry purpose fit to please, And otherwhile with good encouragement, To make them to endure the pains, did them torment. Mongst which, _Serena_ did to him relate xxxiii The foule discourt’sies and vnknightly parts, Which _Turpine_ had vnto her shewed late, Without compassion of her cruell smarts, Although _Blandina_ did with all her arts Him otherwise perswade, all that she might; Yet he of malice, without her desarts, Not onely her excluded late at night, But also trayterously did wound her weary Knight. Wherewith the Prince sore moued, there auoud, xxxiv That soone as he returned backe againe, He would auenge th’abuses of that proud And shamefull Knight, of whom she did complaine. This wize did they each other entertaine, To passe the tedious trauell of the way; Till towards night they came vnto a plaine, By which a little Hermitage there lay, Far from all neighbourhood[483], the which annoy it may. And nigh thereto a little Chappell stoode, xxxv Which being all with Yuy ouerspred, Deckt all the roofe, and shadowing the roode, Seem’d like a groue faire braunched ouer hed: Therein the Hermite, which his life here led In streight obseruaunce of religious vow, Was wont his howres and holy things to bed; And therein he likewise was praying now, Whenas these Knights arriu’d, they wist not where nor how. They stayd not there, but streight way in did pas, xxxvi Whom when the Hermite present saw in place, From his deuotion streight he troubled was; Which breaking off[484] he toward them did pace, With stayed steps, and graue beseeming grace: For well it seem’d, that whilome he had beene Some[485] goodly person, and of gentle race, That could his good to all, and well did weene, How each to entertaine with curt’sie well beseene.