English poetry -- Early modern, 1500-1700; Knights and knighthood -- Poetry; Virtues -- Poetry
3 That was in ocean waves yet never wet,
never wet > (Because, north of 41{degree-sign}N, Ursa Major never sets)
4 But firm is fixed, and sends light from far
5 To all that in the wide deep wandering are:
6 And cheerful Chanticleer, with his note shrill,
Chanticleer > ("Shrill-singer". The name of the cock in _Reynard
the Fox_ (see Martin, 1882-7) and Chaucer's _The Nun's Priest's
Tale_; see also _As You Like It_ II vii 30)
7 Had warned once that Phoebus' fiery car
once > once and for all, finally
Phoebus > (Who each day drives his chariot across the sky)
car > wheeled vehicle; _hence:_ chariot
8 In haste was climbing up the eastern hill,
9 Full envious that Night so long his room did fill.
Full > Very, exceedingly
room > place, space
102.2
When those accursed messengers of hell,
2 That feigning dreame, and that faire-forged Spright
Came to their wicked maister, and gan tell
4 Their bootelesse paines, and ill succeeding night:
Who all in rage to see his skilfull might
6 Deluded so, gan threaten hellish paine
And sad _Proserpines_ wrath, them to affright.
8 But when he saw his threatning was but vaine,
He cast about, and searcht his balefull bookes againe.
1 When those accursed messengers of hell
When > Then; at that time
2 (That feigning dream, and that fair-forged sprite)
3 Came to their wicked master, and gan tell
gan > did
tell > tell of, describe
4 Their bootless pains, and ill-succeeding night:
bootless > futile
5 Who, all in rage to see his skilful might
6 Deluded so, gan threaten hellish pain
Deluded > Frustrated
gan > did
7 And sad Proserpine's wrath, them to affright.
sad > dismal, dark; sad
Proserpine > (Daughter of Ceres and Jupiter. Carried off by Pluto
to be his consort in the underworld; the queen of hell)
affright > frighten
8 But when he saw his threatening was but vain,
9 He cast about, and searched his baleful books again.
102.3
Eftsoones he tooke that miscreated faire,
2 And that false other Spright, on whom he spred
A seeming body of the subtile aire,
4 Like a young Squire, in loues and +lusty-hed+
His wanton dayes that euer loosely led,
6 Without regard of armes and dreaded fight:
Those two he tooke, and in a secret bed,
8 Couered with darknesse and misdeeming night,
Them both together laid, to ioy in vaine delight.
4 lusty-hed > lusty-hed. _1596_
1 Eftsoons he took that miscreated fair,
Eftsoons > Soon afterwards
that miscreated fair > [the sprite resembling Una; miscreated =
evilly or falsely created]
2 And that false other sprite, on whom he spread
3 A seeming body of the subtile air,
subtile > rarefied, thin; subtle
4 Like a young squire, in loves and lustihead
lustihead > libidinousness, pleasure; lustfulness
5 His wanton days that ever loosely led,
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