1 "Till their cruel cursed enemy 2 (A huge great dragon, horrible in sight, dragon > [Satan] 3 Bred in the loathly lakes of Tartarus) Tartarus > (The underworld of Roman mythology; hell) 4 With murderous ravin, and devouring might, ravin > rapine, pillage 5 Their kingdom spoiled, and country wasted quite: 6 Themselves, for fear into his jaws to fall, for fear into his jaws to fall > [for fear of falling into his jaws] 7 He forced to castle strong to take their flight, 8 Where, fast embarred in mighty brazen wall, fast > firmly 9 He has them now four years besieged to make them thrall. four years > (_Rev._ 12.6 states that the nourishment in heaven of "the woman clothed with the sun" lasted 1,260 days; at 12.14, having been cast down again, she flees from Satan to the wilderness and spends there "a time, and times, and half a time", possibly a reference to three and a half years; Hamilton (1980) suggests that "four years" might also represent 4,000 years, the period, in round terms, which, according to the Geneva Bible, elapsed between the Creation and the birth of Christ) thrall > captive, enslaved 107.45 Full many knights aduenturous and stout 2 Haue enterprizd that Monster to subdew; From euery coast that heauen walks about, 4 Haue thither come the noble Martiall crew, That famous hard atchieuements still pursew, 6 Yet neuer any could that girlond win, But all still shronke, and still he greater grew: 8 All they for want of faith, or guilt of sin, The pitteous pray of his fierce crueltie haue bin. 1 "Full many knights, adventurous and stout, Full > Very, exceedingly stout > valiant, fierce 2 Have enterprised that monster to subdue; enterprised > undertaken 3 From every coast that heaven walks about, coast > region walks about > walks around, revolves about 4 Have thither come the noble martial crew, 5 That famous hard achievements still pursue, 6 Yet never any could that garland win, 7 But all still shrank, and still he greater grew: shrank > [shrank back] 8 All they, for want of faith, or guilt of sin, 9 The piteous prey of his fierce cruelty have been. 107.46 At last yledd with farre reported praise, 2 Which flying fame throughout the world had spred, Of doughtie knights, whom Faery land did raise, 4 That noble order hight of Maidenhed, Forthwith to court of _Gloriane_ I sped, 6 Of _Gloriane_ great Queene of glory bright, Whose kingdomes seat _Cleopolis_ is red, 8 There to obtaine some such redoubted knight, That Parents deare from tyrants powre deliuer might. 1 "At last, led with far reported praise, 2 Which flying fame throughout the world had spread, 3 Of doughty knights, whom Faery Land did raise 4 (That noble order, hight of Maidenhead),