LO I the man, whose Muse whilome did maske, 2 As time her +taught+ in lowly Shepheards weeds, Am now enforst a far vnfitter taske, 4 For trumpets sterne to chaunge mine Oaten reeds, And sing of Knights and Ladies gentle deeds; 6 Whose prayses hauing slept in silence long, Me, all too meane, the sacred Muse areeds 8 To blazon +broad emongst+ her learned throng: Fierce warres and faithfull loues shall moralize my song. 2 taught > taught, _1590, 1609_ 8 broad emongst > 'broad, amongst _1609_ 1 Lo I, the man whose Muse whilom did mask, Muse > (The nine Muses are usually represented as the daughters of Jupiter and Mnemosyne (Memory); each goddess presides over an area of the arts and sciences and gives inspiration to its practitioners) whilom > formerly mask > {Disguise [herself]; take part in a masque or masquerade} 2 As time her taught, in lowly shepherd's weeds, time > [her] term of apprenticeship shepherd > (Spenser's _The Shepheardes Calender_, a work of pastoral poetry, was published in 1579) weeds > clothes, garb 3 Am now enforced, a far unfitter task, enforced > compelled [by the Muse] 4 For trumpets stern to change my oaten reeds, stern > fierce oaten reeds > (Of which shepherds' pipes were supposedly made. Cf. _SC_, "October", 7-8) 5 And sing of knights' and ladies' gentle deeds; gentle > noble; courteous, generous 6 Whose praises, having slept in silence long, 7 Me, all too mean, the sacred Muse areads mean > unworthy, ignoble areads > counsels; instructs 8 To blazon broad amongst her learned throng: blazon > proclaim (with additional meaning of describing or painting heraldic devices or armorial bearings) broad > widely, far 9 Fierce wars and faithful loves shall moralize my song. 100.2 Helpe then, {o^} holy Virgin chiefe of nine, 2 Thy weaker Nouice to performe thy will, Lay forth out of thine euerlasting scryne 4 The antique rolles, which there lye hidden still, Of Faerie knights and fairest _Tanaquill_, 6 Whom that most noble Briton Prince so long Sought through the world, and suffered so much ill, 8 That I must rue his vndeserued wrong: O helpe thou my weake wit, and sharpen my dull tong. 1 Help then, O holy virgin, chief of nine, chief > chief, first; best (here Spenser is addressing either Clio, the Muse of history, or Calliope, the Muse of epic poetry; probably Clio. Clio is the first of the nine Muses in Hesiod's _Theogony_, and is usually represented with an open roll of paper or a chest of books. Spenser calls her "thou eldest Sister of the crew" at _TM_ 53. See also 111.5:6-8, 303.4:6, 706.37:9, 707.1:1) 2 Your weaker novice to perform your will; weaker > too-weak 3 Lay forth out of your everlasting scrine scrine > {Casket or cabinet for archival papers} 4 The antique rolls, which there lie hidden still, antique > ancient 5 Of Faery knights and fairest Tanaquil,