empierced > penetrated

9 In that knight's heart, and words with bitter tears did steep.

202.2

Ah lucklesse babe, borne vnder cruell starre,
2 And in dead parents balefull ashes bred,
Full litle weenest thou, what sorrowes are
4 Left thee for portion of thy liuelihed,
Poore Orphane in the wide world scattered,
6 As budding braunch rent from the natiue tree,
And throwen forth, till it be withered:
8 Such is the state of men: thus enter wee
Into this life with woe, and end with miseree.

1 "Ah, luckless babe, born under cruel star,
2 And in dead parents' baleful ashes bred,

baleful > unhappy, sorrowful; full of active evil; "bale" also =
"funeral pyre", so alluding to the legend of the phoenix

3 Full little ween you what sorrows are

Full > Very, exceedingly
ween you > do you imagine

4 Left you for portion of your livelihead;

portion > {Share of an estate left to an heir}
livelihead > inheritance; means of living

5 Poor orphan in the wide world scattered,
6 As budding branch rent from the native tree,

As > [Like a]
rent > torn
native > {Parent; pertaining to one's birthright}

7 And thrown forth, till it be withered:
8 Such is the state of men: thus enter we
9 Into this life with woe, and end with misery."

202.3

Then soft himselfe inclyning on his knee
2 Downe to that well, did in the water weene
(So loue does loath disdainfull nicitee)
4 His guiltie hands from bloudie gore to cleene.
He washt them oft and oft, yet nought they beene
6 For all his washing cleaner. Still he stroue,
Yet still the litle hands were bloudie seene;
8 The which him into great amaz'ment droue,
And into diuerse doubt his wauering wonder cloue.

1 Then soft himself inclining on his knee
2 Down to that well, did in the water ween

well > spring; spring with supernatural powers
ween > intend

3 (So love does loathe disdainful nicety)

nicety > scrupulosity, fastidiousness

4 His guilty hands from bloody gore to clean.

His > [The baby's]

5 He washed them oft and oft, yet naught they been

naught > not at all
been > [were]

6 (For all his washing) cleaner. Still he strove,
7 Yet still the little hands were bloody seen;
8 Which him into great amazement drove,
9 And into diverse doubt his wavering wonder clove.

diverse > diverse; _also:_ distracting (SUS)
clove > cleft, divided