Whilom > Anciently
307.48
For at that berth another Babe she bore,
2 To weet the mighty Ollyphant, that wrought
Great wreake to many errant knights of yore,
4 +And many hath to foule+ confusion brought.
These twinnes, men say, (a thing far passing thought)
6 Whiles in their mothers wombe enclosd they were,
Ere they into the lightsome world were brought,
8 In fleshly lust were mingled both yfere,
And in that monstrous wise did to the world appere.
4 And many hath to foule > Till him Chylde Thopas to 1590. The change distances Ollyphant from Chaucer's tale (see Glossary), which actually breaks off before Olifaunt is killed; and Spenser recalls that his Ollyphant features later in the story (311.3 ff.)
1 "For at that birth another babe she bore, 2 To weet the mighty Ollyphant, that wrought
To weet > To wit Ollyphant > "Elephant" (based on "Olifaunt", a character in Chaucer's Tale of Sir Thopas 7.807-9)
3 Great wreak to many errant knights of yore,
wreak > harm, injury, damage errant > itinerant (a "knight errant" roamed in quest of adventure; the word-order here also implies the sense of erring, deviating, etc.) yore > old
4 And many has to foul confusion brought.
many > a great number (singular) confusion > discomfiture, ruin