ise;
2 Seemes that through many yeares thy wits thee faile,
And that weake eld hath left thee nothing wise,
4 Else neuer should thy iudgement be so fraile,
To measure manhood by the sword or maile.
6 Is not enough foure quarters of a man,
Withouten sword or shield, an host to quaile?
8 Thou little wotest, what this right hand can:
Speake they, which haue beheld the battailes, which it wan.

1 "Dotard," said he, "let be your deep advice;

deep > solemn; profound

2 Seems that through many years your wits you fail,

Seems > [It seems]
through > [as a result of your]

3 And that weak eld has left you nothing wise,

eld > old age
nothing > not at all

4 Else never should your judgement be so frail
5 To measure manhood by the sword or mail.

To > [As to]
mail > chain-mail; chain-armour

6 Is not enough four quarters of a man,
7 Without sword or shield, a host to quail?

host > army
quail > daunt

8 You little wot what this right hand can:

wot > know
can > [can do; is capable of]

9 Speak they, who have beheld the battles which it won!"

203.17

The man was much abashed at his boast;
2 Yet well he wist, that who so would contend
With either of those knights on euen coast,
4 Should need of all his armes, him to defend;
Yet feared least his boldnesse should offend,
6 When _Braggadocchio_ said, Once I did sweare,
When with one sword seuen knights I brought to end,
8 Thence forth in battell neuer sword to beare,
But it were that, which noblest knight on earth doth weare.

1 The man was much abashed at his boast;
2 Yet well he wist that whoso would contend

wist > knew
whoso > whosoever

3 With either of those knights on even coast

even coast > even ground; _or:_ equal cost, equal terms (cf.
403.24:8)

4 Should need of all his arms, himself to defend;

need > [have need]

5 Yet feared lest his boldness should offend,
6 When Braggadocchio said, "Once I did swear,

Once > Once; once and for all; to sum up, in a word

7 When with one sword seven knights I brought to end,
8 Thenceforth in battle never sword to bear,
9 But it were that which noblest knight on earth does wear."

But it > [Unless the sword]

203.18

Perdie Sir knight, said then th'enchaunter bliue,
2 That shall I shortly purchase to your hond:
For now the best and noblest knight aliue
4 Prince _A