weened > supposed

6 Ah God, what horror and tormenting grief 7 My heart, my hands, my eyes, and all assayed?

assayed > assailed; made trial of

8 Me liefer were ten thousand deaths' proof,

Me liefer > Preferable to me, dearer to me proof > trial, experience

9 Than wound of jealous worm, and shame of such reproof.

worm > snake, serpent [of jealousy]; passion, gnawing torment reproof > shame, disgrace

204.29

I home returning, fraught with fowle despight,
2 And chawing vengeance all the way I went,
Soone as my loathed loue appeard in sight,
4 With wrathfull hand I slew her innocent;
That after soone I dearely did lament:
6 For when the cause of that outrageous deede
Demaunded, I made plaine and euident,
8 Her faultie Handmayd, which that bale did breede,
Confest, how Philemon her wrought to chaunge her weede.

1 "I, home returning (fraught with foul despite,