He thereto meeting said, My dearest Dame, 2 Farre be it from your thought, and fro my will, To thinke that knighthood I so much should shame, 4 As you to leaue, that haue me loued still, And chose in Faery court of meere goodwill, 6 Where noblest knights were to be found on earth: The earth shall sooner leaue her kindly skill 8 To bring forth fruit, and make eternall derth, Then I leaue you, my liefe, yborne of heauenly berth. 1 He thereto meeting said, "My dearest dame, thereto > with that, to that meeting > opposing, dealing; _hence:_ responding 2 Far be it from your thought, and from my will, 3 To think that knighthood I so much should shame 4 As you to leave, that have me loved still, still > constantly 5 And chose in Faery Court, of mere goodwill, mere > pure, complete; sheer 6 Where noblest knights were to be found on earth: 7 The earth shall sooner leave her kindly skill leave > forsake; neglect kindly skill > natural knowledge, innate ability 8 To bring forth fruit, and make eternal dearth, dearth > famine 9 Than I leave you, my lief, born of heavenly birth. lief > dear, beloved 103.29 And sooth to say, why I left you so long, 2 Was for to seeke aduenture in strange place, Where _Archimago_ said a felon strong 4 To many knights did daily worke disgrace; But knight he now shall neuer more deface: 6 Good cause of mine excuse; that mote ye please Well to accept, and euermore embrace 8 My faithfull seruice, that by land and seas Haue vowd you to defend, now then your plaint appease. 1 "And sooth to say, why I left you so long sooth > truth; truthfully, truly 2 Was to seek adventure in strange place, strange > foreign, outlying 3 Where, Archimago said, a felon strong Archimago said > (See 101.31:3) 4 To many knights did daily work disgrace; disgrace > affront; misfortune 5 But knight he now shall never more deface: deface > defame; disfigure; destroy 6 Good cause of my excuse; that might you please 7 Well to accept, and evermore embrace 8 My faithful service, that by land and seas that > [of I that] 9 Have vowed you to defend; now then, your plaint appease." plaint > complaint, lamentation appease > check, cease 103.30 His louely words her seemd due recompence 2 Of all her passed paines: one louing howre For many yeares of sorrow can dispence: 4 A dram of sweet is worth a pound of sowre: She has forgot, how many a wofull stowre 6 For him she late endur'd; she speakes no more Of past: true is, that true loue hath no powre 8 To looken backe; his eyes be fixt before. Before her stands her knight, for whom she toyld so sore. 1 His lovely words her seemed due recompense lovely > loving her seemed > [seemed to her] 2 Of all her passed pains: one loving hour 3 For many years of sorrow can dispense: dispense > make amends