[1.] delve. Dell. From A.-S. delfan, delve, to dig. Each canto of the "Faerie Queene" is introduced by a four-line doggerel like this, containing the argument, or a brief summary of the narrative,—in imitation, probably, of Ariosto's "Orlando Furioso."
[2.] hore. Sordid, miserly. Probably from A.-S. harian, to become mouldy or musty. The word hoard may be traced to a similar root.
[3.] stedfast starre. The pole-star. See "Faerie Queene," I, ii, 1:
"By this the northerne wagoner had set
His sevenfold teme behind the stedfast starre
That was in ocean waves yet never wet,
But firme is fixt, and sendeth light from farre
To all that in the wide deepe wandring arre."
[4.] yblent. Blinded.
[5.] dreriment. Darkness.
[6.] firmes. Fixes, makes firm.
[7.] yode. Went. The past participle of the old verb yede, from A.-S. gangead, to go, to proceed.
[8.] reedes. Considers. From A.-S. ræd, counsel, advice; O. E. rede.
[9.] salvage. Savage, wild. Fr. sauvage. From Lat. silva, forest. See "Faerie Queene," IV, v, 19: