son

Thetis' son > [Achilles]

345 From his retired life to manage arms,

manage > wield

346 So Spenser was by Sidney's speeches won

won > persuaded

347 To blaze her fame, not fearing future harms:

blaze > celebrate; portray

348 For well he knew, his Muse would soon be tired

tired > attired, adorned

349 In her high praise, that all the world admired.
350
351 Yet as Achilles, in those warlike frays,
352 Did win the palm from all the Grecian peers:

palm > {Leaf or "branch" of palm tree: symbol of victory; hence:
victory}
peers > rivals; nobles

353 So Spenser now, to his immortal praise,
354 Has won the laurel quite from all his feres.

laurel > {Crown of laurel leaves for supreme poet or victor}
feres > companions, peers

355 What though his task exceed a human wit,

What though > Inasmuch as
wit > mind; wit

356 He is excused, sith Sidney thought it fit.

sith > since

357 _W. L._

W. L. > (Not identifiable)

358
359
360 _TO looke vpon a worke of rare deuise
361 The which a workman setteth out to view,
362 And not to yield it the deserued prise,
363 That vnto such a workmanship is dew.
364 Doth either proue the iudgement to be naught
365 Or els doth shew a mind with enuy fraught.
366
367 To labour to commend a peece of worke,
368 Which no man goes about to discommend,
369 Would raise a iealous doubt that there did lurke,
370 Some secret doubt, whereto the prayse did tend.
371 For when men know the goodnes of the wyne,
372 T'is needlesse for the hoast to haue a sygne.
373
374 Thus then to shew my iudgement to be such
375 As can discerne of colours blacke, and white,
376 As alls to free my minde from enuies tuch,
377 That neuer giues to any man his right,
378 I here pronounce this workmanship is such,
379 As that no pen can set it forth too much.
380
381 And thus I hang a garland at the dore,
382 Not for to shew the goodnes of the ware:
383 But such hath beene the custome heretofore,
384 And customes very hardly broken are.
385 And when your tast shall tell you this is trew,
386 Then looke you giue your hoast his vtmost dew._
387 Ignoto.
388
359
360 To look upon a work of rare device,

device > make, devising

361 Which a workman sets out to view,