English poetry -- Early modern, 1500-1700; Knights and knighthood -- Poetry; Virtues -- Poetry
Therewith in haste his helmet gan vnlace,
2 Till _Vna_ cride, O hold that heauie hand,
Deare Sir, what euer that thou be in place:
4 Enough is, that thy foe doth vanquisht stand
Now at thy mercy: Mercie not withstand:
6 For he is one the truest knight aliue,
Though conquered now he lie on lowly land,
8 And whilest him fortune fauourd, faire did thriue
In bloudie field: therefore of life him not depriue.
1 Therewith in haste his helmet gan unlace,
Therewith > With that; thereupon
gan > [he] began to
unlace > remove (prior to decapitating the vanquished)
2 Till Una cried, "O hold that heavy hand,
3 Dear sir, whatever you be in place:
in place > here; in rank, in sort [whatever you be in place = whoever
you are]
4 Enough is, that your foe does vanquished stand
5 Now at your mercy. Mercy not withstand:
not withstand > do not stand in the way of, oppose; _hence:_ deny
6 For he is one the truest knight alive,
one the > [the one; the]
7 Though conquered now he lies on lowly land;
8 And, whilst him fortune favoured, fair did thrive
9 In bloody field: therefore, of life him not deprive."
field > field of battle, battle
103.38
Her piteous words might not abate his rage,
2 But rudely rending vp his helmet, would
Haue slaine him straight: but when he sees his age,
4 And hoarie head of _Archimago_ old,
His hastie hand he doth amazed hold,
6 And halfe ashamed, wondred at the sight:
For +the+ old man well knew he, though vntold,
8 In charmes and magicke to haue wondrous might,
Ne euer wont in field, ne in round lists to fight.
7 the > that _FE, probably referring to this line rather than line 6_
1 Her piteous words might not abate his rage,
might > could
2 But, rudely rending up his helmet, would
rudely > roughly
would > [he would]
3 Have slain him straight: but when he sees his age,
straight > straightway, immediately
4 And hoary head of Archimago old,
5 His hasty hand he does amazed hold,
6 And half ashamed, wondered at the sight:
wondered > marvelled
7 For that old man well knew he, though untold,
untold > [without needing to be told]
8 In charms and magic to have wondrous might,
9 Neither ever wont in field, nor in round lists, to fight.
wont > accustomed
field > battle
round lists > enclosures for tourneys ("lists" were the palisades
enclosing the tilting-ground)
103.39
And said, Why _Archimago_, lucklesse syre,
2 What doe I see? what hard mishap is this,
That hath thee hither brought to taste mine yre?
4 Or thine the fault, or mine the error is,
In stead of foe to wound my friend amis?
6 He answered nought, but in a traunce still lay,
And on those guilefull dazed eyes of his
8 The cloud of death did sit. Which doen away,
He left him lying so, ne would no lenger stay.
1 And said, "Why Archimago, luckless sire,
sire > {Aged or elderly man; father; the original form of "sir"}
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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