English poetry -- Early modern, 1500-1700; Knights and knighthood -- Poetry; Virtues -- Poetry
1 So wept Duessa until eventide,
2 That shining lamps in Jove's high house were light:
That > To the extent that; _hence:_ until
lamps > [stars]
light > alight; lit
3 Then forth she rose, nor longer would abide,
abide > remain; await the issue
4 But comes to the place where the heathen knight,
5 In slumbering swoon, nigh void of vital spirit,
6 Lay covered with enchanted cloud all day:
7 Whom when she found, as she him left in plight,
as she him left in plight > [just as she had left him, in the same
plight]
8 To wail his woeful case she would not stay,
wail > mourn
9 But to the eastern coast of heaven makes speedy way.
coast > region
105.20
Where griesly _Night_, with visage deadly sad,
2 That _Ph{oe}bus_ chearefull face durst neuer vew,
And in a foule blacke pitchie mantle clad,
4 She findes forth comming from her darkesome mew,
Where she all day did hide her hated hew.
6 Before the dore her yron charet stood,
Alreadie harnessed for iourney new;
8 And coleblacke steedes yborne of hellish brood,
That on their rustie bits did champ, as they were wood.
1 Where grisly Night (with visage deadly sad,
grisly > horrible, fearsome
Night > (The pre-Olympian goddess Nox, progenitress of Aveugle
(father of Sansfoy, Sansloy, and Sansjoy); see _Myth._ 3.12)
sad > grave; dark-coloured
2 That Phoebus' cheerful face dared never view,
dared > (The subject is indifferently "visage" or "face")
3 And in a foul black pitchy mantle clad)
4 She finds forth coming from her darksome mew,
forth coming > [coming forth]
mew > den, secret place (described as a "caue" at 105.21:6)
5 Where she all day did hide her hated hue.
hue > appearance; colour (cf. 302.28:1)
6 Before the door her iron charet stood,
charet > chariot
7 Already harnessed for journey new,
journey new > (I.e. across the heavens from east to west, the
nocturnal counterpart of Phoebus's traverse of the sky. A
"journey" originally meant "a day's travel"; cf. 312.47:4 (1590
stanzas))
8 And coal-black steeds born of hellish brood,
brood > parentage, race
9 That on their rusty bits did champ, as they were wood.
rusty > blood-stained; rusty
as > [as though]
wood > mad
105.21
Who when she saw _Duessa_ sunny bright,
2 Adornd with gold and iewels shining cleare,
She greatly grew amazed at the sight,
4 And th'vnacquainted light began to feare:
For neuer did such brightnesse there appeare,
6 And would haue backe retyred to her caue,
Vntill the witches speech she gan to heare,
8 Saying, yet {o^} thou dreaded Dame, I craue
Abide, till I haue told the message, which I haue.
1 Who, when she saw Duessa sunny-bright,
bright > bright; beautiful
2 Adorned with gold and jewels shining clear,
clear > brightly
3 She greatly grew amazed at the sight,
She > (Redundant)
4 And the unacquainted light began to fear
unacquainted > unfamiliar
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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