3 Of the cold liquor which he waded in,
Of > From; some of liquor > liquid
4 And, stretching forth his hand, did often think 5 To reach the fruit which grew upon the brink: 6 But both the fruit from hand, and flood from mouth 7 Did fly aback, and made him vainly swink:
swink > toil
8 The whiles he starved with hunger and with drought;
The whiles > Meanwhile starved > perished drought > thirst
9 He daily died, yet never thoroughly die could.
207.59
The knight him seeing labour so in vaine,
2 Askt who he was, and what he ment thereby:
Who groning deepe, thus answerd him againe;
4 Most cursed of all creatures vnder skye,
Lo Tantalus, I here tormented lye:
6 Of whom high Ioue wont whylome feasted bee,
Lo here I now for want of food doe dye:
8 But if that thou be such, as I thee see,
Of grace I pray thee, giue to eat and drinke to mee.
1 The knight, him seeing labour so in vain, 2 Asked who he was, and what he meant thereby;