1 To whom she thus … but ere her words ensued, 2 To the bush her eye did sudden glance, 3 In which vain Braggadocchio was mewed,
vain > weak; foolish mewed > cooped up (of poultry)
4 And saw it stir: she left her piercing lance, 5 And towards gan a deadly shaft advance,
towards > [in the direction of the bush] gan > did; began ( … to) shaft > arrow (most editors gloss "left" in line 4 as "lifted", but 203.35:2 (cf. usage at 106.16:9) and 203.43:4 cast doubt on that meaning. We may be intended to infer that in line 4 she lets go of the spear in order to shoot an arrow. At 203.42:7 she apparently recovers the spear)
6 In mind to mark the beast. At which sad stour
mark > aim at; strike stour > peril
7 Trompart forth stepped, to stay the mortal chance,
stay > hinder; prevent mortal chance > fatal accident
8 Out crying, "O, whatever heavenly power 9 Or earthly wight you be, withhold this deadly hour!
wight > creature, woman hour > time, moment