1 Forthwith he gave in charge to his squire 2 That scarlet whore to keep carefully;
scarlet > (The colour of her clothing; and also, of sins: heinous, deep-dyed (Isa. 1.18))
3 While he himself with greedy great desire
greedy > eager
4 Into the castle entered forcibly, 5 Where living creature none he did espy; 6 Then began he loudly through the house to call: 7 But no man cared to answer to his cry. 8 There reigned a solemn silence over all; 9 Nor voice was heard, nor wight was seen in bower or hall.
Nor > Neither [a] wight > creature, being, person bower > room, chamber hall > {A spacious public room in a castle, palace, etc., used for banquets and receptions, much larger than the inner rooms or bowers}
108.30
At last with creeping crooked pace forth came
2 +An+ old old man, with beard as white as snow,
That on a staffe his feeble steps did frame,
4 And guide his wearie gate both too and fro:
For his eye sight him failed long ygo,
6 And on his arme a bounch of keyes he bore,
The which vnused rust did ouergrow:
8 Those were the keyes of euery inner dore,
But he could not them vse, but kept them still in store.
2 An > And 1596
1 At last, with creeping crooked pace, forth came 2 An old old man, with beard as white as snow,