4 Death better were: death did he often desire, 5 But death will never come when needs require. 6 Whom so dismayed, when that his foe beheld, so dismayed > thus overcome that > [that entity, that dragon] 7 He cast to suffer him no more respire, He cast > [The dragon] resolved suffer > allow respire > [to] draw breath, live 8 But began his sturdy stern about to wield, 9 And him so strongly struck that to the ground him felled. 111.29 It fortuned (as faire it then befell) 2 Behind his backe vnweeting, where he stood, Of auncient time there was a springing well, 4 From which fast trickled forth a siluer flood, Full of great vertues, and for med'cine good. 6 Whylome, before that cursed Dragon got That happie land, and all with innocent blood 8 Defyld those sacred waues, it rightly hot _The well of life_, ne yet his vertues had forgot. 1 It fortuned (as fair it then befell) fair > favourably 2 Behind his back, unweeting where he stood, unweeting > unwittingly; _hence:_ unnoticed 3 Of ancient time there was a springing well well > {Spring, spring with supernatural powers} 4 From which fast trickled forth a silver flood, 5 Full of great virtues, and for medicine good. virtues > powers 6 Whilom, before that cursed dragon got Whilom > Of yore, in ancient times; formerly 7 That happy land, and all with innocent blood happy > happy; fortunate 8 Defiled those sacred waves, it rightly hight hight > was called 9 "The Well of Life", nor yet its virtues had forgotten. forgotten > lost 111.30 For vnto life the dead it could restore, 2 And guilt of sinfull crimes cleane wash away, Those that with sicknesse were infected sore, 4 It could recure, and aged long decay Renew, as +one+ were borne that very day. 6 Both _Silo_ this, and _Iordan_ did excell, And th'English _Bath_, and eke the german _Spau_, 8 Ne can _Cephise_, nor _Hebrus_ match this well: Into the same the knight backe ouerthrowen, fell. 5 one > it _1590 etc.: FE; lection defended by Collier_ 1 For to life the dead it could restore, 2 And guilt of sinful crimes clean wash away. clean > entirely; cleanly 3 Those that with sickness were infected sore 4 It could recure, and aged long decay recure > cure, restore to life 5 Renew, as one were born that very day. 6 Both Siloam this, and Jordan, did excel, (The word-order in line 6 is exceptionally convoluted: "This did excel both Siloam and Jordan") Siloam > (Or Silo, the pool of Siloam; see _John_ 9.7) Jordan > (The River Jordan, in which Naaman was cured of leprosy (_2 Kings_ 5.1-14) and in which Christ was baptized by John (_Matt._ 3)) 7 And the English Bath, and eke the German Spau, Bath > (In Avon, England, a spa since at least Roman times) eke > also Spau > (Near Li{e\}ge in Belgium) 8 Nor can Cephissus, nor Hebrus, match this well: