1 Ay me, how many perils do enfold

Ay me > Ah me! Alas! (chiefly in northern dialect)

2 The righteous man, to make him daily fall?
3 Were not that heavenly grace does him uphold,

not > [it not]

4 And steadfast Truth acquit him out of all.

acquit > deliver

5 Her love is firm, her care continual,
6 So oft as he, through his own foolish pride,
7 Or weakness, is to sinful bonds made thrall:

thrall > slave

8 Else should this Redcross Knight in bonds have died,
9 For whose deliverance she this prince does thither guide.

she > [Una]

108.2

They sadly traueild thus, vntill they came
2 Nigh to a castle builded strong and hie:
Then cryde the Dwarfe, lo yonder is the same,
4 In which my Lord my liege doth lucklesse lie,
Thrall to that Gyants hatefull tyrannie:
6 Therefore, deare Sir, your mightie powres assay.
The noble knight alighted by and by
8 From loftie steede, and bad the Ladie stay,
To see what end of fight should him befall that day.

1 They sadly travelled thus, until they came
2 Nigh to a castle built strong and high:
3 Then cried the dwarf, "Lo yonder is the same
4 In which my lord, my liege, does luckless lie,

liege > {Lord to whom one owes feudal allegiance and service}

5 Thrall to that giant's hateful tyranny:

Thrall > Slave

6 Therefore, dear sir, your mighty powers assay."

assay > put to the proof, test

7 The noble knight alighted by and by

by and by > straight away

8 From lofty steed, and bade the lady stay,
9 To see what end of fight should him befall that day.

108.3

So with +the+ Squire, th'admirer of his might,
2 He marched forth towards that castle wall;
Whose gates he found fast shut, ne liuing wight
4 To ward the same, nor answere commers call.
Then tooke that Squire an horne of bugle small,
6 Which hong adowne his side in twisted gold,
And tassels gay. Wyde wonders ouer all
8 Of that same hornes great vertues weren told,
Which had approued bene in vses manifold.

1 the > his _1590_

1 So with the squire, the admirer of his might,
2 He marched forth towards that castle wall,
3 Whose gates he found fast shut, no living wight

fast > firmly
wight > being

4 To ward the same, nor answer comer's call.

ward > guard

5 Then took that squire a horn of bugle small,

bugle > wild ox

6 Which hung adown his side in