202.4

He wist not whether blot of foule offence
2 Might not be purgd with water nor with bath;
Or that high God, in +lieu+ of innocence,
4 Imprinted had that token of his wrath,
To shew how sore bloudguiltinesse he +hat'th+;
6 Or that the charme and venim, which they druncke,
Their bloud with secret filth infected hath,
8 Being diffused through the senselesse truncke,
That through the great contagion direfull deadly stunck.

3 lieu > loue _sugg. Church_
5 hat'th > hat'h _1590; cf. 109.31:5_

1 He wist not whether blot of foul offence

wist > knew

2 Might not be purged with water nor with bath;
3 Or that high God, in lieu of innocence,

Or > Either
in lieu > in place, instead

4 Imprinted had that token of His wrath,
5 To show how sore blood-guiltiness He hates;

sore > severely; seriously; intensely
blood-guiltiness > responsibility for bloodshed

6 Or that the charm and venom, which they drank,

venom > poison
drank > (Applies literally to the poison and figuratively to the
charm)

7 Their blood with secret filth infected has,
8 Being diffused through the senseless trunk,

trunk > {Corpse; body considered apart from its soul}

9 That, through the great contagion, direful deadly stank.

202.5

Whom thus at gaze, the Palmer gan to bord
2 With goodly reason, and thus faire bespake;
Ye bene right +hard+ amated, gratious Lord,
4 And of your ignorance great maruell make,
Whiles cause not well conceiued ye mistake.
6 But know, that secret vertues are infusd
In euery fountaine, and in euery lake,
8 Which who hath skill them rightly to haue chusd,
To proofe of passing wonders hath full often vsd.

3 hard > hart _1590_

1 Whom, thus at gaze, the palmer began to board

at gaze > {Gazing in wonder, bewilderment, or perplexity}
board > draw near to and address, accost

2 With goodly reason, and thus fair bespoke:

bespoke > spoke

3 "You been right hard amated, gracious lord,

been > [are; have been]
amated > daunted, subdued; cast down

4 And of your ignorance great marvel make,
5 While cause not well conceived you mistake.

mistake > imagine erroneously

6 But know that secret virtues are infused

virtues > properties, powers; occult properties

7 In every fountain, and in every lake,
8 Which who has skill them rightly to have chosen,

who has skill > [whoever has the know