devise > contrive; conjecture, conceive kept > observed, celebrated 148 feast +twelve+ days, upon which twelve several days, the twelve > [over a period of twelve] several > different 149 occasions of the twelve several adventures happened: which occasions > {Causes; circumstances giving rise to the origins} 150 (being undertaken by twelve several knights) are in these 151 twelve books severally handled and discoursed. The first was 152 this. In the beginning of the feast, there presented himself a 153 tall, clownish young man who, falling before the Queen of clownish > rustic, unsophisticated 154 Faeries, desired a boon (as the manner then was), which boon > favour, request 155 during that feast she might not refuse: which was that he 156 might have the achievement of any adventure which during achievement > {The action of achieving; the opportunity to pursue and successfully conclude} 157 that feast should happen; that being granted, he rested him him > [himself] 158 on the floor, unfit through his rusticity for a better place. 159 Soon after entered a fair lady in mourning weeds, riding on a weeds > clothing, attire 160 white ass, with a dwarf behind her leading a warlike steed, 161 that bore the arms of a knight, and his spear in the dwarf's arms > {Weapons, shield and armour} 162 hand. She, falling before the Queen of Faeries, complained 163 that her father and mother (an ancient king and queen) had 164 been by a huge dragon many years shut up in a brazen castle, 165 who thence suffered them not to issue: and therefore suffered > allowed issue > come out 166 besought the Faery Queen to assign her some one of her 167 knights to take on him that exploit. Presently that clownish Presently > Promptly, at once 168 person, upstarting, desired that adventure: whereat the upstarting > starting up, getting up whereat > at which, whereupon 169 queen much wondering, and the lady much gainsaying, yet 170 he earnestly importuned his desire. In the end the lady told importuned > pressed 171 him that unless that armour which she brought would serve brought > [had brought] 172 him (that is, the armour of a Christian man, specified by St 173 Paul, _Ephesians_ 6.11-17), he could not succeed in that 174 enterprise; which being forthwith put upon him with due due > appropriate 175 furnitures thereto, he seemed the goodliest man in all that furnitures > gear, fittings goodliest > most handsome 176 company, and was well liked of the lady. And eftsoons taking of > by eftsoons > thereupon 177 on him knighthood, and mounting on that strange courser, 178 he went forth with her on that adventure: where begins the 179 first book, viz. 180 181 _A gentle knight was pricking on the plain,_ etc.