betake > commit yourself, betake yourself
3 The ill to prevent, that life ensue may.
ill > evil ensue may > may pursue; may result from; hence, by hypallage: may cause to ensue
4 For what has life, that may it loved make, 5 And gives not rather cause it to forsake? 6 Fear, sickness, age, loss, labour, sorrow, strife, 7 Pain, hunger, cold that makes the heart to quake; 8 And ever fickle fortune rages rife, 9 All which, and thousands more, do make a loathsome life.
109.45
Thou wretched man, of death hast greatest need,
2 If in true ballance thou wilt weigh thy state:
For neuer knight, that dared warlike deede,
4 More lucklesse disauentures did amate:
Witnesse the dongeon deepe, wherein of late
6 Thy life shut vp, for death so oft did call;
And though good lucke prolonged hath thy date,
8 Yet death then, would the like mishaps forestall,
Into the which hereafter thou maiest happen fall.
1 "You, wretched man, of death have greatest need, 2 If in true balance you will weigh your state: 3 For never knight, that dared warlike deed,
dared > dared to undertake [a]
4 More luckless disadventures did amate:
disadventures > misfortunes amate > cast down; also: act as a mate to (his disadventures being personified by Duessa: cf. 101.51:4)