In vaine therefore it were, with medicine xiii To goe about to salue such kynd of sore, That rather needes wise read and discipline, Then outward salues, that may augment it more. Aye me (sayd then _Serena_ sighing sore) What hope of helpe doth then for vs remaine, If that no salues may vs to health restore? But sith we need good counsell (sayd the swaine) Aread good sire, some counsell, that may vs sustaine. The best (sayd he) that I can you aduize, xiv Is to auoide the occasion of the ill: For when the cause, whence euill doth arize, Remoued is, th’effect surceaseth still. Abstaine from pleasure, and restraine your will, Subdue desire, and bridle loose delight, Vse scanted diet, and forbeare your fill, Shun secresie, and talke in open sight: So shall you soone repaire your present euill plight. Thus hauing sayd, his sickely patients xv Did gladly hearken to his graue beheast, And kept so well his wise commaundements, That in short space their malady was ceast, And eke the biting of that harmefull Beast Was throughly heal’d. Tho when they did perceaue Their wounds recur’d, and forces reincreast, Of that good Hermite both they tooke their leaue, And went both on their way, ne ech would other leaue. But each the[491] other vow’d t’accompany, xvi The Lady, for that she was much in dred, Now left alone in great extremity, The Squire, for that he courteous was indeed, Would not her leaue alone in her great need. So both together traueld, till they met With a faire Mayden clad in mourning weed, Vpon a mangy iade vnmeetely set, And a lewd foole her leading thorough dry and wet. But by what meanes that shame to her befell, xvii And how thereof her selfe she did acquite, I must a while forbeare to you to tell; Till that, as comes by course, I doe recite, What fortune to the Briton Prince did lite, Pursuing that proud Knight, the which whileare Wrought to Sir _Calidore_[492] so foule despight; And eke his Lady, though she sickely were, So lewdly had abusde, as ye did lately heare. The Prince according to the former token, xviii Which faire _Serene_ to him deliuered had, Pursu’d him streight, in mynd to bene ywroken Of all the vile demeane, and vsage bad, With which he had those two so ill bestad: Ne wight with him on that aduenture went, But that wylde man, whom though he oft forbad, Yet for no bidding, nor for being shent, Would he restrayned be from his attendement.