er hand to rayne;
Proud of such glory and aduancement vaine,
6 While flashing beames do daze his feeble eyen,
He leaues the welkin way most beaten plaine,
8 And rapt with whirling wheeles, inflames the skyen,
With fire not made to burne, but fairely for to shyne.

1 Exceeding shone, like Phoebus' fairest child,

Phoebus' fairest child > (Phaethon, son of Phoebus Apollo [Titan],
who took his father's chariot and set the world on fire: killed
by Jupiter with a thunderbolt. See 311.38, _Met._ 2.1 ff.)

2 That did presume his father's fiery wain

presume > usurp
wain > chariot

3 And flaming mouths of steeds, unwonted wild

mouths > [control]
unwonted > unaccustomedly, unusually (referring to Phaethon's
handling of the reins)

4 Through highest heaven with weaker hand to rein;

weaker > too-weak; _or:_ weaker (than his father's hand)
rein > (Or reign; a typically Spenserian pun)

5 Proud of such glory and advancement vain,
6 While flashing beams do daze his feeble eyes,
7 He leaves the welkin way most beaten plain,

welkin > {Sky, skyey, heavenly; welkin way: the sun's path through
the sky}

8 And, rapt with whirling wheels, inflames the skies

rapt > carried away, enraptured

9 With fire not made to burn, but fairly to shine.

fairly > gently, entirely, properly

104.10

So proud she shyned in her Princely state,
2 Looking to heauen; for earth she did disdayne,
And sitting high; for lowly she did hate:
4 Lo vnderneath her scornefull feete, was layne
A dreadfull Dragon with an hideous trayne,
6 And in her hand she held a mirrhour bright,
Wherein her face she often vewed fayne,
8 And in her selfe-lou'd semblance tooke delight;
For she was wondrous faire, as any liuing wight.

1 So proud she shone in her princely state,

state > canopied throne; rank, condition

2 Looking to heaven; for earth she did disdain,
3 And sitting high (for lowly she did hate),

lowly > {Lowliness, humbleness; that which is, or they who are,
lowly}

4 Lo underneath her scornful feet was lain
5 A dreadful dragon with a hideous train;

hideous > immense
train > tail

6 And in her hand she held a mirror bright,
7 Wherein her face she often viewed fain,

fain > gladly, eagerly

8 And in her self-loved semblance took delight;
9 For she was wondrous fair, as any living wight.

wight > person, woman

104.11