science > knowledge, lore
3 As many forms and shapes in seeming wise
seeming wise > [manner of outward appearance]
4 As ever Proteus to himself could make:
Proteus > (The Old Man of the Sea, a god who could assume any shape or form when trying to evade questioners)
5 Sometime a fowl, sometime a fish in lake,
Sometime > Sometimes
6 Now like a fox, now like a dragon fell,
fell > fierce, terrible
7 That of himself he oft for fear would quake,