Ah nay Sir Knight (sayd she) it may not be, xxx But that I needes must by all meanes fulfill This penaunce, which enioyned is to me, Least vnto me betide a greater ill; Yet no lesse thankes to you for your good will. So humbly taking leaue, she turnd aside, But _Arthure_ with the rest, went onward still On his first quest, in which did him betide A great aduenture, which did him from them deuide. But first it falleth me by course to tell xxxi Of faire _Serena_, who as earst you heard, When first the gentle Squire at variaunce fell With those two Carles, fled fast away, afeard Of villany to be to her inferd: So fresh the image of her former dread, Yet dwelling in her eye, to her appeard, That euery foote did tremble, which did tread, And euery body two, and two she foure did read. Through hils and dales, through bushes and through breres xxxii Long thus she fled, till that at last she thought Her selfe now past the perill of her feares. Then looking round about, and seeing nought,[529] Which doubt of daunger to her offer mought, She from her palfrey lighted on the plaine, And sitting downe, her selfe a while bethought Of her long trauell and turmoyling paine; And often did of loue, and oft of lucke complaine. And euermore she blamed _Calepine_ xxxiii The good Sir _Calepine_, her owne true Knight, As th’onely author of her wofull tine: For being of his loue to her so light, As her to leaue in such a piteous plight. Yet neuer Turtle truer to his make, Then he was tride vnto his Lady bright: Who all this while endured for her sake, Great perill of his life, and restlesse paines did take. Tho when as all her plaints[530] she had displayd, xxxiv And well disburdened her engrieued brest, Vpon the grasse her selfe adowne she layd; Where being tyrde with trauell, and opprest With sorrow, she betooke her selfe to rest. There whilest in _Morpheus_ bosome safe she lay, Fearelesse of ought, that mote her peace molest, False Fortune did her safety betray, Vnto a straunge mischaunce, that menac’d her decay. In these wylde deserts, where she now abode, xxxv There dwelt a saluage nation, which did liue Of stealth and spoile, and making nightly rode Into their neighbours borders; ne did giue Them selues to any trade, as for to driue The painefull plough, or cattell for to breed, Or by aduentrous marchandize to thriue; But on the labours of poore men to feed, And serue their owne necessities with others need.