2 With many ranges reared along the wall; 3 And one great chimney, whose long tunnel thence 4 The smoke forth threw. And in the midst of all 5 There placed was a cauldron wide and tall, 6 Upon a mighty furnace, burning hot, 7 More hot than Etna, or flaming Mongiball:
Etna > (The volcano in Sicily, which was unusually active in the
sixteenth century)
Mongiball > (Another name for Mount Etna, from the Italian,
Mongibello)
8 For day and night it burnt, nor ceased not,
not > (The double negative serves as an intensive)
9 So long as anything it in the cauldron got.
209.30
But to delay the heat, least by mischaunce
2 It might breake out, and set the whole on fire,
There added was by goodly ordinaunce,
4 An huge great paire of bellowes, which did styre
Continually, and cooling breath inspyre.
6 About the Caudron many Cookes accoyld,
With hookes and ladles, as need did require;
8 The whiles the viandes in the vessell boyld
They did about their businesse sweat, and sorely toyld.
1 But to delay the heat, lest by mischance
delay > mitigate, assuage
2 It might break out, and set the whole on fire, 3 There added was, by goodly ordinance,