CANTO V

Prince Arthur heares of Florimell:
2 three fosters Timias wound,
Belphebe finds him almost dead,
4 and reareth out of +sownd+.

4 sownd > _swound 1609; sownd is not a misprint, but an alternative spelling of swowne, swoune etc. Cf. 601.34:2_

1 Prince Arthur hears of Florimell: 2 three fosters Timias wound,

fosters > foresters

3 Belphoebe finds him almost dead, 4 and rears out of sound.

sound > swoon

305.1

WOnder it is to see, in diuerse minds,
2 How diuersly loue doth his pageants play,
And shewes his powre in variable kinds:
4 The baser wit, whose idle thoughts alway
Are wont to cleaue vnto the lowly clay,
6 It stirreth vp to sensuall desire,
And in lewd slouth to wast his carelesse day:
8 But in braue sprite it kindles goodly fire,
That to all high desert and honour doth aspire.

1 Wonder it is to see, in diverse minds,

Wonder > [A] marvel

2 How diversely love does his pageants play, 3 And shows his power in variable kinds:

variable > differing, diverse kinds > natures; kinds, sorts, fashions

4 The baser wit (whose idle thoughts alway

wit > mind, intelligence alway > always

5 Are wont to cleave to the lowly clay)

wont > accustomed clay > [flesh, after Gen. 2.7]

6 It stirs up to sensual desire, 7 And in lewd sloth to waste his careless day: 8 But in brave spirit it kindles goodly fire,

brave > splendid, fine

9 That to all high desert and honour does aspire.

desert > merit, reward

305.2

Ne suffereth it vncomely idlenesse,
2 In his free thought to build her sluggish nest:
Ne suffereth it thought of vngentlenesse,
4 Euer to creepe into his noble brest,
But to the highest and the worthiest
6 Lifteth it vp, that else would lowly fall:
It lets not fall, it lets it not to rest:
8 It lets not scarse this Prince to +breath+ at all,
But to his first poursuit him forward still doth call.

8 breath > breathe 1609

1 Nor suffers it uncomely idleness

suffers it > [does love permit]

2 In his free thought to build her sluggish nest:

his > [the brave spirit's]

3 Nor suffers it thought of ungentleness

ungentleness > discourtesy; ignobility

4 Ever to creep into his noble breast, 5 But to the highest and the worthiest 6 Lifts it up, that else would lowly fall:

it > [his free thought] else > otherwise

7 It lets not fall, it lets it not to rest: 8 It lets not scarce this prince to breathe at all,

scarce this prince > [this prince scarcely]

9 But to his first pursuit him forward still does call.

305.3

Who long time wandred through the forrest wyde,
2 To finde some issue thence, till +that at+ last
He met a Dwarfe, that seemed terrifyde
4 With some late perill, which he hardly past,
Or other accident, which him aghast;
6 Of whom he asked, whence he lately came,
And whither now he trauelled so fast:
8 For sore he swat, and running through that same
Thicke forest, was bescratcht, and both his feet nigh lame.

2 that at > at the 1609

1 Who long time wandered through the forest wide, 2 To find some issue thence, till at last

issue > way out

3 He met a dwarf, that seemed terrified 4 With some late peril which he hardly passed,

With > By late > recent hardly > with difficulty [had]

5 Or other accident which him agast;

accident > event; disaster agast > [had] terrified (esp. with superstitious fear)

6 Of whom he asked, whence he lately came, 7 And whither now he travelled so fast: 8 For sore he sweat, and running through that same

sweat > sweated

9 Thick forest, was bescratched, and both his feet nigh lame.

bescratched > scratched all over (the prefix is also an intensive) nigh > [were nigh]

305.4

Panting for breath, and almost out of hart,
2 The Dwarfe him answerd, Sir, ill mote I stay
To tell the same. I lately did depart
4 From Faery court, where I haue many a day
Serued a gentle Lady of great sway,
6 And high +accompt+ though out all Elfin land,
Who lately left the same, and tooke this way:
8 Her now I seeke, and if ye vnderstand
Which way she fared hath, good Sir tell out of hand.

6 accompt > account 1609

1 Panting for breath, and almost out of heart,

heart > mind; courage

2 The dwarf him answered, "Sir, ill might I stay 3 To tell the same. I lately did depart 4 From Faery court, where I have many a day 5 Served a gentle lady of great sway,

gentle > noble; generous, courteous sway > influence

6 And high account throughout all Elfin land,

account > importance

7 Who lately left the same, and took this way: 8 Her now I seek, and if you understand

understand > know

9 Which way she fared has, good sir, tell out of hand."

out of hand > straight away

305.5

What mister wight (said he) and how arayd?
2 Royally clad (quoth he) in cloth of gold,
As meetest may beseeme a noble mayd;
4 Her faire lockes in rich circlet be enrold,
+A+ fairer wight did neuer Sunne behold,
6 And on a Palfrey rides more white then snow,
Yet she her selfe is whiter manifold:
8 The surest signe, whereby ye may her know,
Is, that she is the fairest wight aliue, I trow.