1 By this that stranger knight in presence came,

By this > At this; by this time stranger > new-come; foreign

2 And goodly salued them; who naught again

goodly salued > courteously saluted again > in reply

3 Him answered, as courtesy became, 4 But with stern looks, and stomachous disdain,

stern > fierce, grim stomachous > haughty, irascible, bitter

5 Gave signs of grudge and discontentment vain:

vain > proud

6 Then, turning to the palmer, he gan spy

gan > did