prowess > valour
7 From Lacedaemon fetched the fairest dame
Lacedaemon > (Another name for Sparta: Helen was the consort of
Menelaus, its king)
8 That ever Greece did boast, or knight possess, 9 Whom Venus to him gave for meed of worthiness.
meed > reward (following the dispute on Mount Ida; see 207.55:5)
309.35
Faire Helene, flowre of beautie excellent,
2 And girlond of the mighty Conquerours,
That madest many Ladies deare lament
4 The heauie losse of their braue Paramours,
Which they far off beheld from Troian toures,
6 And saw the fieldes of faire Scamander strowne
With carcases of noble warrioures,
8 Whose fruitlesse liues were vnder furrow sowne,
And Xanthus sandy bankes with bloud all ouerflowne.
1 "Fair Helen, flower of beauty excellent,
excellent > supreme (she was the most beautiful woman in the world)
2 And garland of the mighty conquerors, 3 That made many ladies dear lament 4 The heavy loss of their brave paramours,