English poetry -- Early modern, 1500-1700; Knights and knighthood -- Poetry; Virtues -- Poetry
4 For anguish great they began to rend their hair
they > (Redundant)
5 And beat their breasts, and naked flesh to tear.
6 And when they both had wept and wailed their fill,
7 Then forth they ran, like two amazed deer,
amazed > panic-stricken
8 Half-mad through malice, and revenging will,
revenging will > [desire for vengeance]
9 To follow her that was the causer of their ill.
ill > misfortune; calamity
103.23
Whom ouertaking, they gan loudly bray,
2 With hollow howling, and lamenting cry,
Shamefully at her rayling all the way,
4 And her accusing of dishonesty,
That was the flowre of faith and chastity;
6 And still amidst her rayling, she did pray,
That plagues, and mischiefs, and long misery
8 Might fall on her, and follow all the way,
And that in endlesse error she might euer stray.
1 Whom overtaking, they gan loudly bray
gan > did; began to
bray > cry out
2 With hollow howling and lamenting cry,
hollow > insincere
3 Shamefully at her railing all the way,
4 And her accusing of dishonesty,
dishonesty > unchastity, lewdness
5 That was the flower of faith and chastity;
6 And still, amidst her railing, she did pray
still > continually
she > [Corceca; Abessa cannot talk - see 103.11:4]
7 That plagues, and mischiefs, and long misery,
mischiefs > misfortunes
8 Might fall on her, and follow all the way,
9 And that in endless error she might ever stray.
error > wandering; error
103.24
But when she saw her prayers nought preuaile,
2 She backe returned with some labour lost;
And in the way as she did weepe and waile,
4 A knight her met in mighty armes embost,
Yet knight was not for all his bragging bost,
6 But subtill _Archimag_, that _Vna_ sought
By traynes into new troubles to haue tost:
8 Of that old woman tydings he besought,
If that of such a Ladie she could tellen ought.
1 But when she saw her prayers naught prevail,
2 She back returned with some labour lost;
3 And in the way, as she did weep and wail,
4 A knight her met in mighty arms embossed:
arms > armour
embossed > encased
5 Yet knight was not, for all his bragging boast,
boast > pomp, vainglory
6 But subtle Archimago, that Una sought
subtle > wily
Una sought > [sought Una]
7 By trains into new troubles to have tossed.
trains > tricks, snares
8 Of that old woman tidings he besought,
besought > asked earnestly
9 If of such a lady she could tell aught.
103.25
Therewith she gan her passion to renew,
2 And cry, and curse, and raile, and rend her heare,
Saying, that harlot she too lately knew,
4 That causd her shed so many a bitter teare,
And so forth told the story of her feare:
6 Much seemed he to mone her haplesse chaunce,
And after for that Ladie did +inquire+;
8 Which being taught, he forward gan aduaunce
His faire enchaunted steed, and eke his charmed launce.
7 inquire > inquere _1590, 1609_
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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