shire > county (perhaps a topical simile, alluding to the chain of beacon-fires set up along the English cliffs to warn of the approach of the Spanish Armada, lit on 29 July 1588) 5 And warning give that enemies conspire 6 With fire and sword the region to invade; 7 So flamed his eyes with rage and rancorous ire: 8 But far within, as in a hollow glade, 9 Those glaring lamps were set that made a dreadful shade. 111.15 So dreadfully he towards him did pas, 2 Forelifting vp aloft his speckled brest, And often bounding on the brused gras, 4 As for great ioyance of his newcome guest. Eftsoones he gan aduance his haughtie crest, 6 As chauffed Bore his bristles doth vpreare, And shoke his scales to battell readie drest; 8 That made the _Redcrosse_ knight nigh quake for feare, As bidding bold defiance to his foeman neare. 1 So dreadfully he towards him did pas, pas > pace; pass 2 Forelifting up aloft his speckled breast, Forelifting up > [Lifting up before, lifting up in front] 3 And often bounding on the bruised grass, 4 As for great joyance of his new-come guest. As > [As though] joyance of > delight in; _hence:_ delight in the arrival of 5 Eftsoons he gan advance his haughty crest, Eftsoons > Thereupon gan > did haughty > arrogant; high, imposing 6 As chafed boar his bristles does uprear, chafed > enraged; fretting 7 And shook his scales to battle ready dressed; dressed > arrayed 8 That made the Redcross Knight nigh quake for fear, 9 As bidding bold defiance to his foeman near. bidding > offering, proclaiming, threatening foeman > foe, enemy, enemy in war 111.16 The knight gan fairely couch his steadie speare, 2 And fiercely ran at him with rigorous might: The pointed steele arriuing rudely theare, 4 His harder hide would neither perce, nor bight, But glauncing by forth passed forward right; 6 Yet sore amoued with so puissant push, The wrathfull beast about him turned light, 8 And him so rudely passing by, did brush With his long tayle, that horse and man to ground did rush. 1 The knight gan fairly couch his steady spear, gan fairly > did expertly couch > {Place it in its rest and hold it ready for attack} 2 And fiercely ran at him with rigorous might: 3 The pointed steel, arriving rudely there, rudely > violently; roughly 4 His harder hide would neither pierce nor bite, harder > too-hard; _or:_ harder [than the spear] 5 But, glancing by, forth passed forward right; glancing > darting, shooting (esp. obliquely) 6 Yet, sore moved with so puissant push, puissant > powerful [a] 7 The wrathful beast about him turned light, light > at once; nimbly, quickly 8 And him so rudely passing by, did brush 9 With his long tail, that horse and man to ground did rush. 111.17