English poetry -- Early modern, 1500-1700; Knights and knighthood -- Poetry; Virtues -- Poetry
That > [So that]
other's > (Or: "others'")
despise > treat as valueless
6 Nor aid envy to him, in need that stands,
envy to > begrudge
7 But friendly each did other's praise devise
praise > praiseworthiness; virtue
devise > contrive, scheme
8 How to advance with favourable hands,
9 As this good prince redeemed the Redcross Knight from bonds.
As > [Just as]
109.2
Who when their +powres+ empaird through labour long,
2 With dew repast they had recured well,
And that weake captiue wight now wexed strong,
4 Them list no lenger there at leasure dwell,
But forward fare, as their aduentures fell,
6 But ere they parted, _Vna_ faire besought
That straunger knight his name and nation tell;
8 Least so great good, as he for her had wrought,
Should die vnknown, and buried be in thanklesse thought.
1 powres > powres, _1609_
1 Who, when their powers, impaired through labour long,
2 With due repast they had recured well,
recured > recovered
3 And that weak captive wight now waxed strong,
wight > man, person
waxed > [had] grown
4 Them list no longer there at leisure dwell,
Them list > It pleased them
dwell > [to dwell]
5 But forward fare, as their adventures fell;
fell > befell, should befall
6 But, ere they parted, Una fair besought
Una fair > fair Una; Una fairly (fairly = becomingly, in a fair
manner)
7 That stranger knight his name and nation tell:
stranger > foreign; new-come
nation > family; country; nationality
8 Lest so great good, as he for her had wrought,
9 Should die unknown, and buried be in thankless thought.
109.3
Faire virgin (said the Prince) ye me require
2 A thing without the compas of my wit:
For both the lignage and the certain Sire,
4 From which I sprong, from me are hidden yit.
For all so soone as life did me admit
6 Into this world, and shewed heauens light,
From mothers pap I taken was vnfit:
8 And streight deliuered to a Faery knight,
To be vpbrought in gentle thewes and martiall might.
1 "Fair virgin," said the prince, "you me require
require > ask
2 A thing without the compass of my wit:
without > outside, beyond
3 For both the lineage and the certain sire
sire > father
4 From which I sprang from me are hidden yet.
5 For, all so soon as life did me admit
all so > just as
6 Into this world, and showed heaven's light,
7 From mother's pap I taken was unfit:
pap > teat
8 And straight delivered to a Faery knight,
9 To be upbrought in gentle thews and martial might.
upbrought > brought up
gentle > noble
thews > manners, qualities
109.4
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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