3 And all so fair, and fencible withal,
all so > all so; also fencible > strong, well-fortified, defensible
4 Not built of brick, nor yet of stone and lime, 5 But of thing like to that Egyptian slime
like to > resembling slime > (See Gen. 2.7)
6 Whereof King Ninus whilom built Babel Tower;
Ninus > (King Ninus of Assyria, fl. c. 1250 BC. The reputed founder
of Nineveh)
whilom > in ancient times
Babel Tower > (The tower of Babylon, built by Nimrod; see Gen. 11)
7 But O great pity that no longer time 8 So goodly workmanship should not endure:
So > Such not > (The double negative serves as an intensive)
9 Soon it must turn to earth; no earthly thing is sure.
209.22