And soothly it was sayd by common fame, xxxvii So long as age enabled him thereto, That he had bene a man of mickle name, Renowmed much in armes and derring doe: But being aged now and weary to Of warres delight, and worlds contentious toyle, The name of knighthood he did disauow, And hanging vp his armes and warlike spoyle, From all this worlds incombraunce did himselfe assoyle. He thence them led into his Hermitage, xxxviii Letting their steedes to graze vpon the greene: Small was his house, and like a little cage, For his owne turne, yet inly neate and clene, Deckt with greene boughes, and flowers gay beseene. Therein he them full faire did entertaine Not with such forged showes, as fitter beene For courting fooles, that curtesies would faine, But with entire affection and appearaunce plaine. Yet was their fare but homely, such as hee xxxix Did vse, his feeble body to sustaine; The which full gladly they did take in glee[486], Such as it was, ne did of want complaine, But being well suffiz’d, them rested faine. But faire _Serene_ all night could take no rest, Ne yet that gentle Squire[487], for grieuous paine Of their late woundes, the which the _Blatant Beast_ Had giuen them, whose griefe through suffraunce sore increast. So all that night they past in great disease, xl Till that the morning, bringing earely light To guide mens labours, brought them also ease, And some asswagement of their painefull plight. Then vp they rose, and gan them selues to dight Vnto their iourney; but that Squire and Dame So faint and feeble were, that they ne might Endure to trauell, nor one foote to frame: Their hearts were sicke, their sides were sore, their feete were lame. Therefore the Prince, whom great affaires in mynd xli Would not permit, to make there[488] lenger stay, Was forced there to leaue them both behynd, In that good Hermits charge, whom he did pray To tend them well. So forth he went his way, And with him eke the saluage, that whyleare Seeing his royall vsage and array, Was greatly growne in loue of that braue pere, Would needes depart, as shall declared be elsewhere. FOOTNOTES: [474] xl 9 vnderstand; _1596_ [475] Arg. 1 _Matilda_] _Serena_ _corr. Hughes rightly_ [476] i 2 bewrapt _1596_ [477] v 4 launc’t _1609 passim_ [478] xi 7 requre _1596_ [479] xiii 2 en’mies _1609_ [480] xxiii 9 bene] bin _1609_ [481] xxviii 2 liues _1609_ [482] 9 Sith _1609_ [483] xxxiv 9 neighbourhoood _1596_ [484] xxxvi 4 off] of _1596_ [485] 7 Soome _1596_ [486] xxxix 3 gree _1609_ [487] 7 Squire _1596_ [488] xli 2 there] their _1596_ _Cant. VI._ [Illustration: