8 To dim the brightness of her glorious throne, 9 As envying herself, that too exceeding shone.
104.9
Exceeding shone, like Ph{oe}bus fairest childe,
2 That did presume his fathers firie wayne,
And flaming mouthes of steedes vnwonted wilde
4 Through highest heauen with weaker hand to rayne;
Proud of such glory and aduancement vaine,
6 While flashing beames do daze his feeble eyen,
He leaues the welkin way most beaten plaine,
8 And rapt with whirling wheeles, inflames the skyen,
With fire not made to burne, but fairely for to shyne.
1 Exceeding shone, like Phoebus' fairest child,
Phoebus' fairest child > (Phaethon, son of Phoebus Apollo [Titan], who took his father's chariot and set the world on fire: killed by Jupiter with a thunderbolt. See 311.38, Met. 2.1 ff.)
2 That did presume his father's fiery wain
presume > usurp wain > chariot
3 And flaming mouths of steeds, unwonted wild
mouths > [control] unwonted > unaccustomedly, unusually (referring to Phaethon's handling of the reins)
4 Through highest heaven with weaker hand to rein;