9 where? > where. _1590, 1596_

1 "Now certes, swain," said he, "such one, I ween,

certes > assuredly
swain > young man
ween > believe, think

2 Fast flying through this forest from her foe

flying > fleeing

3 (A foul ill-favoured foster) I have seen;

ill-favoured foster > ugly forester

4 Herself, well as I might, I rescued tho,

tho > then [when I saw her]

5 But could not stay; so fast she did forego,

stay > detain
forego > go before [me]

6 Carried away with wings of speedy fear."
7 "Ah dearest God," quoth he, "that is great woe,
8 And wondrous ruth to all that shall it hear.

ruth > sorrow, calamity; occasion for regret

9 But can you read, sir, how I may her find, or where?"

read > declare

305.7

Perdy me leuer were to weeten that,
2 (Said he) then ransome of the richest knight,
Or all the good that euer yet I gat:
4 But froward fortune, and too forward Night
Such happinesse did, maulgre, to me spight,
6 And fro me reft both life and light attone.
But Dwarfe aread, what is that Lady bright,
8 That through this forest wandreth thus alone;
For of her errour straunge I haue great ruth and mone.

1 "Pardie me liefer were to weet that,"

Pardie > Truly; "by God"
me liefer > dearer to me
weet > know

2 Said he, "than ransom of the richest knight,
3 Or all the good that ever yet I got:

good > property, money

4 But froward fortune, and too forward Night

froward > perverse; adverse; evilly disposed
Night > (Nox: see 304.55 ff.)

5 Such happiness did, maugre, to me spite,

maugre > _here, something like:_ worst luck (this word is used by
Spenser more or less catachr. as a general imprecation or
indication of ill-will)
spite > begrudge

6 And from me reft both life and light at one.

reft > took away
at one > together (SUS)

7 But, dwarf, aread, what is that lady bright,

aread > declare, make known
bright > beautiful

8 That through this forest wanders thus alone;
9 For of her error strange I have great ruth and moan."

error > wandering
strange > {Foreign, in unknown regions}
ruth > pity, sorrow
moan > grief, state of grief

305.8

That Lady is (quoth he) where so she bee,
2 The bountiest virgin, and most debonaire,
That euer liuing eye I weene did see;
4 Liues none this day, that may with her compare
In stedfast chastitie and vertue rare,
6 The goodly or