5 Her ferry brought, where him she biding found,
biding > waiting
6 With his sad guide; himself she took aboard,
sad > grave, serious; sober
7 But the black palmer suffered still to stand,
black > (Referring to the colour of his clothes; see 201.7:2) suffered > allowed; let alone
8 Neither would for price, nor prayers once afford
afford > {Agree; give of what one has}
9 To ferry that old man over the perilous ford.
ford > stream, current