After all these there marcht a most faire Dame,
2 Led of two grysie villeins, th'one Despight,
The other cleped Cruelty by name:
4 She dolefull Lady, like a dreary Spright,
Cald by strong charmes out of eternall night,
6 Had deathes owne image figurd in her face,
Full of sad signes, fearefull to liuing sight;
8 Yet in that horror shewd a seemely grace,
And with her feeble feet did moue a comely pace.
1 After all these there marched a most fair dame, 2 Led of two grisy villeins, the one Despite,
of > by grisy > horrible, grim, grisly villeins > villains; serfs Despite > Malice; Rage
3 The other cleped Cruelty by name:
cleped > called
4 She, doleful lady, like a dreary sprite,
dreary > cruel, horrid; or: doleful, melancholy (see below, under "charms") sprite > sprite; or: spirit (see below, under "charms")
5 Called by strong charms out of eternal night,
charms > spells (perhaps cast by Busirane: the lady is Amoret. This and the preceding line give rise to at least three possible readings. (1) She, doleful lady, (like a cruel sprite Called by strong charms out of eternal night) Had death's own image … (2) She, doleful lady (like a melancholy spirit Called by strong charms out of eternal night), Had death's own image … (3) She, doleful lady (like a melancholy spirit), Called [i.e. summoned by Busirane] by strong charms out of eternal night, Had death's own image …)
6 Had death's own image figured in her face, 7 Full of sad signs, fearful to living sight; 8 Yet in that horror showed a seemly grace, 9 And with her feeble feet did move a comely pace.