English poetry -- Early modern, 1500-1700; Knights and knighthood -- Poetry; Virtues -- Poetry
2 He spied with that same Faery champion's page
page > [the dwarf]
3 (Bewraying him that did of late destroy
Bewraying > Revealing, betraying
4 His eldest brother), burning all with rage
5 He to him leapt, and that same envious gage
envious > enviable; _also:_ odious
gage > pledge
6 Of victor's glory from him snatched away:
7 But the Elfin knight, which ought that warlike wage,
ought > owned
wage > spoil of war
8 Disdained to loose the meed he won in fray;
loose > release
meed > reward; _hence:_ prize
9 And, him rencountering fierce, rescued the noble prey.
rencountering > engaging (in battle)
prey > plunder, spoil
104.40
Therewith they gan to +hurtlen+ greedily,
2 Redoubted battaile ready to darrayne,
And clash their shields, and shake their +swords+ on hy,
4 That with their sturre they troubled all the traine;
Till that great Queene vpon eternall paine
6 Of high displeasure, that ensewen might,
Commaunded them their fury to refraine,
8 And if that either to that shield had right,
In equall lists they should the morrow next it fight.
1 hurtlen > hurlen _1609_
3 swords > swerds _1590_
1 Therewith they began to hurtle greedily,
Therewith > With that; thereupon
hurtle > brandish arms (catachr.); clash, rush together
greedily > recklessly, eagerly
2 Redoubted battle ready to deraign,
Redoubted > Doughty, valiant, redoubtable
deraign > {Challenge; fight a contest in order to settle a dispute}
3 And clash their shields, and shake their swords on high,
4 That with their stir they troubled all the train;
That > [So that]
train > retinue
5 Till that great queen, upon eternal pain
6 Of high displeasure that ensue might,
ensue might > [might ensue]
7 Commanded them their fury to refrain,
8 And, if either to that shield had right,
9 In equal lists they should the morrow next it fight.
equal lists > impartial knightly contest ("lists" were the palisades
enclosing the tilting-ground)
it fight > [contest the right to the shield]
104.41
Ah dearest Dame, (quoth then the Paynim bold,)
2 Pardon the errour of enraged wight,
Whom great griefe made forget the raines to hold
4 Of reasons rule, to see this recreant knight,
No knight, but treachour full of false despight
6 And shamefull treason, who through guile hath slayn
The prowest knight, that euer field did fight,
8 Euen stout _Sans foy_ (O who can then refrayn?)
Whose shield he beares +renuerst+, the more to heape disdayn.
9 renuerst > re'nverst _1609_
1 "Ah, dearest dame," quoth then the paynim bold,
paynim > pagan, heathen
2 "Pardon the error of enraged wight,
wight > person
3 Whom great grief made forget the reins to hold
4 Of reason's rule, to see this recreant knight
recreant > cowardly; apostate
5 (No knight, but treacher full of false despite
treacher > cheat, deceiver
despite > malice
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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