Full > Exceedingly baleful > deadly, woe-dealing

4 He read, and measured many a sad verse,

measured > traversed, hence: read, read through; also: appraised sad > grievous, calamitous verse > line, versicle; verse

5 That horror began the virgin's heart to pierce,

That > [So that]

6 And her fair locks upstared stiff on end,

upstared > stood erect stiff > stiffly; violently

7 Hearing him those same bloody lines rehearse;

rehearse > read aloud, recite

8 And all the while he read, she did extend 9 Her sword high over him, if aught he did offend.