207.27
Well hoped he, ere long that hardy guest,
2 If euer couetous hand, or lustfull eye,
Or lips he layd on thing, that likt him best,
4 Or euer sleepe his eye-strings did vntye,
Should be his pray. And therefore still on hye
6 He ouer him did hold his cruell clawes,
Threatning with greedy gripe to do him dye
8 And rend in peeces with his rauenous pawes,
If euer he transgrest the fatall Stygian lawes.
1 Well hoped he ere long that hardy guest
ere long that > [that before long that] hardy > bold, audacious
2 (If ever covetous hand, or lustful eye, 3 Or lips he laid on thing, that liked him best,
liked > pleased
4 Or ever sleep his eyestrings did untie)
eyestrings > {The tendons, nerves or muscles of the eyes, relaxation of which was supposed to accompany sleep; cf. Cymbeline I iii 17: Shakespeare may have got the word from here. The earliest use quoted by OED is by Ben Jonson in 1601. Cf. also 108.22:7}
5 Should be his prey. And therefore still on high
still > continuously