.

8 Like > Like to _1590_

1 For round about the walls clothed were
2 With goodly arras of great majesty,

goodly > [a] beautiful; beautiful
arras > tapestry; tapestries (named after the town in Pas-de-Calais,
France, famous for its rich tapestries, which were often made in
the form of wall-hangings)
majesty > magnificence

3 Woven with gold and silk so close and near

near > closely, tightly; _or:_ finely (because it had to be held at
the near-point of vision in order to be stitched)

4 That the rich metal lurked privily,

privily > inwardly; secretly

5 As faining to be hidden from envious eye;

As faining > [As if anxious]

6 Yet here, and there, and everywhere unwares

unwares > unexpectedly, suddenly; unwittingly

7 It showed itself, and shone unwillingly;
8 Like a discoloured snake, whose hidden snares

discoloured > varicoloured

9 Through the green grass its long bright burnished back declares.

311.29

And in those Tapets weren fashioned
2 Many faire pourtraicts, and many a faire feate,
And all of loue, and all of lusty-hed,
4 As seemed by their semblaunt did entreat;
And eke all _Cupids_ warres they did repeate,
6 And cruell battels, which he whilome fought
Gainst all the Gods, to make his empire great;
8 Besides the huge massacres, which he wrought
On mighty kings and kesars, into thraldome brought.

1 And in those tapets were fashioned

tapet > {Piece of figured fabric used as a hanging, tablecloth,
carpet, etc.}

2 Many fair portraits, and many a fair feat,
3 And all of love, and all of lustihead

lustihead > libidinousness, pleasure

4 (As seemed by their semblant) did entreat;

semblant > appearance
entreat > treat

5 And eke all Cupid's wars they did repeat,

eke > moreover
repeat > relate, recount; celebrate

6 And cruel battles, which he whilom fought

whilom > anciently

7 Gainst all the gods, to make his empire great;

Gainst > Against

8 Besides the huge massacres which he wrought
9 On mighty kings and kaisers, into thraldom brought.

kaisers > caesars, emperors
thraldom > slavery

311.30

Therein was writ, how often thundring _Ioue_
2 Had felt the point of his hart-percing dart,
And leauing heauens kingdome, here did roue
4 In straunge disguize, to slake his scalding smart;
Now like a Ram, faire _Helle_ to peruart,
6 Now like a Bull, _Europa_ t