hereby esteemed

she > [Malecasta]
esteemed > believed

9 That from like inward fire outward smoke had steamed.

like > [a] similar

301.56

Therewith a while she her flit fancy fed,
2 Till she mote winne fit time for her desire,
But yet her wound still inward freshly bled,
4 And through her bones the false instilled fire
Did spred it selfe, and venime close inspire.
6 Tho were the tables taken all away,
And euery knight, and euery gentle Squire
8 Gan choose his dame with +_Basciomani_+ gay,
With whom he meant to make his sport and courtly play.

8 _Basciomani_ > _Bascimano 1590; Bascio mani 1609_

1 Therewith awhile she her flit fancy fed,

Therewith > Thereupon; with that [belief]
flit > shifting

2 Till she might win fit time for her desire,
3 But yet her wound still inward freshly bled,
4 And through her bones the false instilled fire
5 Did spread itself, and venom close inspire.

close > secret; secretly

6 Tho were the tables taken all away,

Tho > Then

7 And every knight, and every gentle squire

gentle > noble

8 Gan choose his dame with baciamani gay,

Gan > Did
baciamani > hand-kissings (Italian word)

9 With whom he meant to make his sport and courtly play.

sport > {Amusement, diversion; amorous dalliance, sexual
intercourse}

301.57

Some fell to daunce, some fell to hazardry,
2 Some to make loue, some to make meriment,
As diuerse wits to diuers things apply;
4 And all the while faire _Malecasta_ bent
Her crafty engins to her close intent.
6 By this th'eternall lampes, wherewith high _Ioue_
Doth light the lower world, were half yspent,
8 And the moist daughters of huge _Atlas_ stroue
Into the _Ocean_ deepe to driue their weary droue.

1 Some fell to dance, some fell to hazardry,

hazardry > gambling

2 Some to make love, some to make merriment,
3 As diverse wits to divers things apply;

divers > sundry

4 And all the while fair Malecasta bent

bent > inclined, directed

5 Her crafty engines to her close intent.

engines > schemes, snares
close > secret

6 By this the eternal lamps, wherewith high Jove

By this > By this time
lamps > [stars]
wherewith > with which

7 Does light the lower world, were half spent,

the lower world > [the world of mortals, compared with the higher
world of the gods]
spent > burned out

8 And the moist daughte