English poetry -- Early modern, 1500-1700; Knights and knighthood -- Poetry; Virtues -- Poetry
He had not trauaild long, when on the way
2 He wofull Ladie, wofull _Vna_ met,
Fast flying from +the+ Paynims greedy pray,
4 Whilest _Satyrane_ him from pursuit did let:
Who when her eyes she on the Dwarfe had set,
6 And saw the signes, that deadly tydings spake,
She fell to ground for sorrowfull regret,
8 And liuely breath her sad brest did forsake,
Yet might her pitteous hart be seene to pant and quake.
3 the > that _1590_
1 He had not travelled long, when on the way
2 He woeful lady, woeful Una, met,
He > [He the]
3 Fast flying from the paynim's greedy prey,
flying > fleeing
paynim > pagan, heathen [Sansloy]
greedy prey > eager clutches ("prey" = the action of preying,
seizing, or taking by force)
4 Whilst Satyrane him from pursuit did let:
let > hinder
5 Who, when her eyes she on the dwarf had set,
6 And saw the signs that deadly tidings spoke,
7 Fell to ground for sorrowful regret;
regret > {Distress caused by an external event: an obsolete usage}
8 And lively breath her sad breast did forsake,
lively > living, vital
9 Yet might her piteous heart be seen to pant and quake.
might > could
piteous > {Pious, godly; compassionate; worthy of or exciting pity}
107.21
The messenger of so vnhappie newes,
2 Would faine haue dyde: dead was his hart within,
Yet outwardly some little comfort shewes:
4 At last recouering hart, he does begin
To rub her temples, and to chaufe her chin,
6 And euery tender part does tosse and turne:
So hardly he the flitted life does win,
8 Vnto her natiue prison to retourne:
Then gins her grieued ghost thus to lament and mourne.
1 The messenger of so unhappy news
so > such
2 Would fain have died: dead was his heart within,
fain > gladly, willingly
3 Yet outwardly some little comfort shows:
4 At last, recovering heart, he does begin
5 To rub her temples, and to chafe her chin,
chafe > {Rub in order to restore circulation and sensation}
chin > cheek, lower jaw (from Old Norse _kinn_)
6 And every tender part does toss and turn:
7 So hardly he the flitted life does win
hardly > with difficulty
win > persuade
8 To her native prison to return:
native prison > natural prison [of her soul]; _hence:_ heart, body
9 Then begins her grieved ghost thus to lament and mourn:
ghost > spirit
107.22
Ye dreary instruments of dolefull sight,
2 That doe this deadly spectacle behold,
Why do ye lenger feed on loathed light,
4 Or liking find to gaze on earthly mould,
Sith cruell fates the carefull threeds vnfould,
6 The which my life and loue together tyde?
Now let the stony dart of senselesse cold
8 Perce to my hart, and pas through euery side,
And let eternall night so sad sight fro me hide.
1 "You dreary instruments of doleful sight,
2 That do this deadly spectacle behold,
3 Why do you longer feed on loathed light,
longer > still
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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