hand strews palm and never-dying bays,

palm > {Leaves of the palm-tree, carried or worn as a symbol of
victory; hence: fame and glory}
bays > {Leaves or sprigs of the laurel, used to make a wreath for
conquerors or poets (cf. "poet laureate"); hence: fame and glory}

310 Let all at once, with your soft murmuring sound
311 Present her with this worthy poet's praise.
312 For he has taught high drifts in shepherd's weeds,

drifts > aims, objects; meanings
weeds > garb

313 And deep conceits now sings in Faeries' deeds.

conceits > conceptions

314 _R. S._

R. S. > (Not identifiable)

315
316
317 _GRaue Muses march in triumph and with prayses,
318 Our Goddesse here hath giuen you leaue to land:
319 And biddes this rare dispenser of your graces
320 Bow downe his brow vnto her sacred hand.
321 Desertes findes dew in that most princely doome,
322 In whose sweete brest are all the Muses bredde:
323 So did that great _Augustus_ erst in Roome
324 With leaues of fame adorne his Poets hedde.
325 Faire be the guerdon of your _Faery Queene_,
326 Euen of the fairest that the world hath seene._
327 H. B.
328
316
317 Grave Muses, march in triumph and with praises:
318 Our goddess here has given you leave to land,

Our goddess > [Elizabeth]

319 And bids this rare dispenser of your graces

dispenser > (Puns were a favourite literary device of the period:
Spenser's own are usually subtler than this one)

320 Bow down his brow to her sacred hand.

sacred > {Commonly used (-1590) as an epithet of royalty; also,
specifically, here, perhaps, because _FQ_ traces Elizabeth's
lineage back to Aeneas, whose mother was the goddess Venus}

321 Deserts finds due in that most princely doom,

Deserts > {That which in conduct or character deserves reward or
punishment}
doom > judgement, opinion

322 In whose sweet breast are all the Muses bred:
323 So did that great Augustus erst in Rome

Augustus > (Augustus Caesar, 63 BC-14 AD, Emperor of Rome, patron of
Virgil: on whom he is not, incidentally, known to have bestowed the
laurel crown)
erst > of old, formerly

324 With leaves of fame adorn his poet's head.
325 Fair be the guerdon of your _Faery Queen_,

guerdon > reward

326 Even of the