By this the dreadfull Beast drew nigh to hand, 2 Halfe flying, and halfe footing in his hast, That with his largenesse measured much land, 4 And made wide shadow vnder his huge wast; As mountaine doth the valley ouercast. 6 Approching nigh, he reared high afore His body monstrous, horrible, and +vast+, 8 Which to increase his wondrous greatnesse more, Was swolne with wrath, and poyson, and with bloudy gore. 7 vast > vaste _1590;_ wast _1596_ 1 By this the dreadful beast drew nigh to hand, By this > At this; by this time 2 Half flying and half footing in his haste, 3 That with his largeness measured much land, 4 And made wide shadow under his huge waist; waist > girth (cf. _SC_, "April", 134); _or:_ waste: abundance (this usage not recorded, in _OED_, until 1725) 5 As mountain does the valley overcast. 6 Approaching nigh, he reared high afore reared high afore > (If, as seems likely, "reared" is transitive, the dragon reared his body high afore ( = before, in front). But if "reared" is intransitive, a comma is wanted after "afore": "he reared high afore, His body monstrous" etc.) 7 His body monstrous, horrible, and vast, 8 Which, to increase his wondrous greatness more, 9 Was swollen with wrath and poison, and with bloody gore. 111.9 And ouer, all with brasen scales was armd, 2 Like plated coate of steele, so couched neare, That nought mote perce, ne might his corse be harmd 4 With dint of sword, nor push of pointed speare; Which as an Eagle, seeing pray appeare, 6 His aery plumes doth rouze, full rudely dight, So shaked he, that horrour was to heare, 8 For as the clashing of an Armour bright, Such noyse his rouzed scales did send vnto the knight. 1 And over, all with brazen scales was armed, over > moreover; _also:_ over [his body] 2 Like plated coat of steel, so couched near couched near > closely laid 3 That naught might pierce, nor might his corse be harmed corse > body 4 With dint of sword, nor push of pointed spear: dint > blow, impact 5 Which as an eagle, seeing prey appear, 6 His airy plumes does rouse, full rudely dight, rouse > shake (used of a hawk shaking its feathers. Spenser reveals an intimate knowledge of falconry and its language in this canto, as elsewhere in the poem) full rudely dight > very roughly arranged 7 So shook he, that horror was to hear, was > [it was] 8 For as the clashing of an armour bright, 9 Such noise his roused scales did send to the knight. 111.10