7 And in sweet ravishment poured out her spirit: 8 No word they spoke, nor earthly thing they felt, 9 But like two senseless stocks in long embracement dwelt.
stocks > {Tree-trunks, taken as the type of what is motionless}
312.46 (1590)
Had ye them seene, ye would haue surely thought,
2 That they had beene that faire Hermaphrodite,
Which that rich Romane of white marble wrought,
4 And in his costly Bath causd to bee site:
So seemd those two, as growne together quite,
6 That Britomart halfe enuying their blesse,
Was much empassiond in her gentle sprite,
8 And to her selfe oft wisht like happinesse,
In vaine she wisht, that fate n'ould let her yet possesse.
1 Had you them seen, you would have surely thought 2 That they had been that fair Hermaphroditus,
had been > [were] Hermaphroditus > (Son of Hermes and Aphrodite (Venus). The nymph of the fountain of Salmacis, near Halicarnassus, fell in love with him but could not win his affections. One day, as he was bathing in the fountain, she embraced him and prayed that she might be united with him for ever. Her prayer was granted, and their bodies became one, while retaining the characteristics of either sex. See Met. 4.285-388. The statue of which Spenser speaks, and its owner, have not been identified)
3 Which that rich Roman of white marble wrought, 4 And in his costly bath caused to be site:
site > placed
5 So seemed those two, as grown together quite, 6 That Britomart, half envying their bliss, 7 Was much empassioned in her gentle spirit,
empassioned > {Moved or touched with deep feeling} gentle > noble; gentle