6 With many rather to go astray, 7 And be partakers of their evil plight, 8 Than with a few to walk the rightest way; 9 O foolish men, why hasten you to your own decay?"
decay > downfall, destruction
110.11
Thy selfe to see, and tyred limbs to rest,
2 O matrone sage (quoth she) I hither came,
And this good knight his way with me addrest,
4 Led with thy prayses and broad-blazed fame,
That vp to heauen is blowne. The auncient Dame,
6 Him goodly greeted in her modest guise,
And entertaynd them both, as best became,
8 With all the court'sies, that she could deuise,
Ne wanted ought, to shew her bounteous or wise.
1 "Yourself to see, and tired limbs to rest, 2 O matron sage," quoth she, "I hither came, 3 And this good knight his way with me addressed,
addressed > directed; also: set to rights, made straight (for Caelia has just described him as "errant")
4 Led with your praises and broad-blazed fame, 5 That up to heaven is blown." The ancient dame 6 Him goodly greeted in her modest guise,
goodly > courteously guise > manner
7 And entertained them both, as best became,
best became > was most fitting