lost, esp.
fig.)

2 (One that to bounty never cast his mind,

bounty > goodness, virtue; generosity; valour

3 Nor thought of honour ever did assay

assay > assail; make a test of

4 His baser breast, but in his kestrel kind

baser > more base; most base
kestrel > {A small falcon, _Falco tinnunculus_, deemed worthless for
sport. The _Boke of St Albans_ defines the hawk appropriate to
each social station: the eagle for an emperor, the peregrine for
an earl, and so down the scale until the kestrel is assigned to a
"knave". Hence "kestrel" here = "knavish". The word is also
confused with "coistrel" = "groom", "varlet"; cf. _Twelfth
Night_ I iii 37}
kind > nature; disposition; social class

5 A pleasing vein of glory vain did find,

glory vain > {Vainglory; "glory" on its own = "boastful spirit".
See also Textual Appendix}

6 To which his flowing tongue, and troublous spirit
7 Gave him great aid, and made him more inclined):
8 He, that brave steed there finding ready dight,

brave > splendid
dight > decked, prepared; _hence:_ caparisoned

9 Purloined both steed and spear, and ran away full light.

full light > very quickly, very easily

203.5

Now gan his hart all swell in iollitie,
2 And of him selfe great hope and helpe conceiu'd,
That puffed vp with smoke of vanitie,
4 And with selfe-loued personage deceiu'd,
He gan to hope, of men to be receiu'd
6 For such, as he him thought, or faine would bee:
But for in court gay portaunce he perceiu'd,
8 And gallant shew to be in greatest gree,
Eftsoones to court he cast t'+auaunce+ his first degree.

9 auaunce > aduaunce _1590_

1 Now gan his heart all swell in jollity,

gan > did; began ( ... to)
jollity > pleasure, revelry; magnificence

2 And of himself great hope and help conceived,

help > relief [of his former poverty]; remedy [for his lowliness]

3 That, puffed up with smoke of vanity,

That > [So that]

4 And with self-loved personage deceived,

personage > {The body and appearance as distinct from clothing;
hence: image}

5 He began to hope of men to be received

of > by

6 For such as he himself thought, or fain would be:

For > As
fain > gladly

7 But for in court gay portance he perceived,

for > because
portance > carriage, demeanour, bearing; conduct

8 And gallant show, to be in greatest gree,

gree > favour; pre-eminence, superiority