paramours;

of > by; habitually by

4 The yew, obedient to the bender's will;

bender > [archer: the yew was traditionally used for longbows]

5 The birch for shafts; the sallow for the mill;

mill > ?mill-wheel; ?cogs of the mill (or because the sallow grows
by water)

6 The myrrh sweet bleeding in the bitter wound;

myrrh > (The aromatic resin of the gum myrrh tree (_Commiphora
myrrha_) is used herbally as an antiseptic and disinfectant. But
the reference also evokes (noted by Bayley (1966) 264-5) the
story of Myrrha (_Met._ 10), whose incestuous desire for her own
father led to her transformation into a myrrh tree: in that form
she gave agonizing birth to Adonis. In _Song Sol._ 1.13, myrrh
is mentioned in a celebration of sexual congress. The word
"myrrh" itself is derived from an Arabic word meaning "bitter".
Here in one line is a perfect example of the richness of
Spenser's art)

7 The warlike beech; the ash for nothing ill;

warlike > (Because war-chariots in antiquity were reputedly made of
beech)

8 The fruitful olive; and the platan round;

platan > plane-tree

9 The carver holm; the maple seldom inward sound.

holm > (Holm oak, _Quercus ilex_, whose wood is suitable for
carving)

101.10

Led with delight, they thus beguile the way,
2 Vntill the blustring storme is ouerblowne;
When weening to returne, whence they did stray,
4 +They+ cannot finde that path, which first was showne,
But wander too and fro in wayes vnknowne,
6 Furthest from end then, when they neerest weene,
That makes them doubt, their wits be not their owne:
8 So many pathes, so many turnings seene,
That which of them to take, in diuerse doubt they been.

4 They > The _1596_

1 Led with delight, they thus beguile the way

beguile the way > evade the labour of travel; dawdle

2 Until the blustering storm is overblown;
3 When, weening to return whence they did stray,

weening > expecting

4 They cannot find that path, which first was shown,
5 But wander to and fro in ways unknown,
6 Furthest from end then, when they nearest ween,

ween > suppose, imagine [themselves to be nearest the end of their
uncertainty]

7 That makes them doubt their wits be not their own:

doubt > fear

8 So many paths, so many turnings seen,
9 That which of them to take, in diverse doubt they been.

diverse > diverse; _also:_ distracting (SUS)
bee