English poetry -- Early modern, 1500-1700; Knights and knighthood -- Poetry; Virtues -- Poetry
that > (Relative to "Squire" in line 4, i.e. "Like a young squire,
that in loves and lustihood His wanton days ever loosely led)
6 Without regard of arms and dreaded fight:
arms > deeds of arms
7 Those two he took, and in a secret bed,
8 Covered with darkness and misdeeming night,
misdeeming > {Misleading; to "misdeem" is also to misjudge
unfavourably, to deem evil}
9 Them both together laid, to joy in vain delight.
vain > weak, foolish; _or, since their bodies are made of air:_
unavailing, insubstantial
102.4
Forthwith he runnes with feigned faithfull hast
2 Vnto his guest, who after troublous sights
And dreames, gan now to take more sound repast,
4 Whom suddenly he wakes with fearefull frights,
As one aghast with feends or damned sprights,
6 And to him cals, Rise rise vnhappy Swaine,
That here wex old in sleepe, whiles wicked wights
8 Haue knit themselues in _Venus_ shamefull chaine;
Come see, where your false Lady doth her honour staine.
1 Forthwith he runs with feigned faithful haste
2 To his guest, who, after troublous sights
3 And dreams, began now to take more sound repast;
repast > refreshment; repose
4 Whom suddenly he wakes with fearful frights,
5 As one aghast with fiends or damned sprites,
aghast > terrified (especially with superstitious fear)
6 And to him calls, "Rise, rise, unhappy swain,
swain > young man
7 That here wax old in sleep, while wicked wights
wax > grow
wights > people
8 Have knit themselves in Venus' shameful chain;
9 Come, see where your false lady does her honour stain!"
102.5
All in amaze he suddenly vp start
2 With sword in hand, and with the old man went;
Who soone him brought into a secret part,
4 Where that false couple were full closely ment
In wanton lust and lewd embracement:
6 Which when he saw, he burnt with gealous fire,
The eye of reason was with rage yblent,
8 And would haue slaine them in his furious ire,
But hardly was restreined of that aged sire.
1 All in amaze he suddenly upstart
amaze > confusion; amazement
upstart > started up
2 With sword in hand, and with the old man went;
3 Who soon him brought into a secret part,
4 Where that false couple were full closely ment
full > very, exceedingly
ment > joined; united sexually (pa. ppl. of "meng")
5 In wanton lust and lewd embracement:
embracement > embrace, embraces; willing acceptance, _hence:_
eagerness
6 Which when he saw, he burnt with jealous fire
7 (The eye of reason was with rage blended),
blended > dazzled, temporarily blinded, blinded; _also:_ stirred up,
_hence:_ rendered turbid, defiled
8 And would have slain them in his furious ire,
9 But hardly was restrained of that aged sire.
hardly > forcibly; with difficulty; barely
of > by
sire > father, elderly man
102.6
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