English poetry -- Early modern, 1500-1700; Knights and knighthood -- Poetry; Virtues -- Poetry
Hecate > (Three-headed goddess of the underworld, companion of and
attendant upon Proserpine, associated with witchcraft and dreams;
sometimes identified with Proserpine herself. See _Myth._ 3.15,
_Macbeth_ II i 52, III v, IV i 39-43, _King Lear_ I i 109)
whereat > at which
4 And, lifting up his lumpish head, with blame
lumpish > heavy; sluggish
blame > reproach
5 Half angry asked him for what he came.
6 "Hither" quoth he, "me Archimago sent,
Archimago > "Arch Mage", "Arch Magician"
7 He that the stubborn sprites can wisely tame,
can > can; did
wisely > by magic arts
8 He bids you to him send for his intent
intent > purpose, intention
9 A fit false dream, that can delude the sleeper's assent."
assent > opinion, concurrence of the will; _hence:_ will
101.44
The God obayde, and calling forth straight way
2 A diuerse dreame out of his prison darke,
Deliuered it to him, and downe did lay
4 His heauie head, deuoide of carefull carke,
Whose sences all were straight benumbd and starke.
6 He backe returning by the Yuorie dore,
Remounted vp as light as chearefull Larke,
8 And on his litle winges the dreame he bore
In hast vnto his Lord, where he him left afore.
1 The god obeyed, and calling forth straightway
2 A diverse dream out of his prison dark,
diverse > diverting; _also:_ distracting (SUS)
3 Delivered it to him, and down did lay
4 His heavy head, devoid of careful cark,
careful > {Full of cares}
cark > anxiety, responsibility
5 Whose senses all were straight benumbed and stark.
stark > rigid, unfeeling
6 He, back returning by the ivory door,
ivory door > (The one through which false dreams pass)
7 Remounted up as light as cheerful lark,
8 And on his little wings the dream he bore
9 In haste to his lord, where he him left before.
101.45
Who all this while with charmes and hidden artes,
2 Had made a Lady of that other Spright,
And fram'd of liquid ayre her tender partes
4 So liuely, and so like in all mens sight,
That weaker sence it could haue rauisht quight:
6 The maker selfe for all his wondrous witt,
Was nigh beguiled with so goodly sight:
8 Her all in white he clad, and ouer it
Cast a black stole, most like to seeme for _Vna_ fit.
1 Who all this while, with charms and hidden arts,
charms > spells
2 Had made a lady of that other sprite,
3 And framed of liquid air her tender parts,
framed > designed; fashioned
liquid > transparent; ethereal; bright
4 So lively, and so like in all men's sight,
lively > life-like
like > convincing
5 That weaker sense it could have ravished quite:
weaker > [a weaker or: too-weak]
6 The maker himself, for all his wondrous wit,
7 Was nigh beguiled with so goodly sight:
goodly > beautiful [a]
8 Her all in white he clad, and over it
9 Cast a black stole, most like to seem for Una fit.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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