208.5
Beside his head there sate a faire young man,
2 Of wondrous beautie, and of freshest yeares,
Whose tender bud to blossome new began,
4 And flourish faire aboue his equall peares;
His snowy front curled with golden heares,
6 Like Ph{oe}bus face adornd with sunny rayes,
Diuinely shone, and two sharpe winged sheares,
8 Decked with diuerse plumes, like painted Iayes,
Were fixed at his backe, to cut his ayerie wayes.
1 Beside his head there sat a fair young man, 2 Of wondrous beauty, and of freshest years, 3 Whose tender bud to blossom new began, 4 And flourish fair above his equal peers;
peers > peers, companions (cf. SC, gloss to "December"); also: nobles [the other angels of his rank]
5 His snowy front, curled with golden hair,
front > forehead
6 Like Phoebus' face adorned with sunny rays, 7 Divinely shone, and two sharp winged shears,
shears > {Wings shaped like blades, for cutting the air: this instance cited by OED}
8 Decked with diverse plumes, like painted jays',
diverse > {Of different sorts}