Darke was the Euening, fit for louers stealth,
2 When chaunst +Melbecco+ busie be elsewhere,
She to his closet went, where all his wealth
4 Lay hid: thereof she countlesse summes did reare,
The which she meant away with her to beare;
6 The rest she fyr'd for sport, or for despight;
As Hellene, when she saw aloft appeare
8 The Troiane flames, and reach to heauens hight
Did clap her hands, and ioyed at that dolefull sight.
2 Melbecco > Malbecco 1590, 1609
1 Dark was the evening, fit for lovers' stealth, 2 When chanced Malbecco busy be elsewhere;
chanced > [it chanced] busy be > [to be busy]
3 She to his closet went, where all his wealth
closet > cabinet; private room, side-room (used for storage)
4 Lay hidden: thereof she countless sums did rear,
rear > gather, collect (usu. said of fines, rents, etc.)
5 Which she meant away with her to bear; 6 The rest she fired for sport, or for despite;
despite > malice