flowre,
Long mayst thou _Glorian_ liue, in glory and great powre.

1 Great was his power and glory over all

over > [compared with; superior to]

2 Who him before that sacred seat did fill,

him before > [before him]
sacred > {An epithet of royalty; also, here, specifically because
Oberon's lineage could be traced back to a supernatural being;
cf. 210.36:1}

3 That yet remains his wide memorial:
4 He, dying, left the fairest Tanaquil

Tanaquil > (Historically, Caia Tanaquil, wife of Tarquinius Priscus,
5th King of Rome (- 577 BC); an exemplary queen, taken as the
type for Gloriana as the Faery Queen. Hence, allegorically:
Elizabeth, so that Oberon becomes identifiable with Henry VIII
and Elficleos with Henry VII)

5 Him to succeed therein, by his last will:
6 Fairer and nobler lives none this hour,
7 Neither like in grace, nor like in learned skill;

like > comparable

8 Therefore they Gloriana call that glorious flower,
9 Long may you, Gloriana, live, in glory and great power.

210.77

Beguild thus with delight of nouelties,
2 And naturall desire of countreys state,
So long they red in those antiquities,
4 That how the time was fled, they quite forgate,
Till +gentle+ _Alma_ seeing it so late,
6 Perforce their studies broke, and them besought
To thinke, how supper did them long awaite.
8 So halfe vnwilling from their bookes them brought,
And fairely feasted, as so +noble+ knights she ought.

5 gentle > geutle _1596_
9 noble > nobles _1596_

1 Beguiled thus with delight of novelties,
2 And natural desire of countries' state,

desire of > ?desire to learn of; ?interest in

3 So long they read in those antiquities,

antiquities > ancient records

4 That how the time was fled, they quite forgot,
5 Till gentle Alma, seeing it so late,

gentle > noble; gentle

6 Perforce their studies broke, and them besought

Perforce > Forcibly

7 To think how supper did them long await.
8 So, half unwilling, from their books them brought,

them > [she them]

9 And fairly feasted, as so noble knights she ought.

fairly > courteously; well, becomingly
so > such
ought > ought [to have done]; owed

CANTO XI

_The enimies of Temperaunce
2 besiege her dwelling place:
Prince Arthur them repelles, and fowle
4 Maleger doth deface._

1 The enemies of Temperance

Temperance > [Alma, of the House of