ops Occasion:

Occasion > "Opportunity"

3 Delivers Phedon, and therefore

Phedon > (Meaning and origin uncertain)

4 by Strife is railed upon.

Strife > Atin (named at 204.42:5)
railed upon > abused

204.1

IN braue pursuit of honorable deed,
2 There is I know not what great difference
Betweene the vulgar and the noble seed,
4 Which vnto things of valorous pretence
Seemes to be borne by natiue influence;
6 As feates of armes, and loue to entertaine,
But chiefly skill to ride, seemes a science
8 Proper to gentle bloud; some others faine
To menage steeds, as did this vaunter; but in vaine.

1 In brave pursuit of honourable deed,

brave > fine, splendid

2 There is I know not what great difference
3 Between the vulgar and the noble seed,

vulgar > common, ordinary
seed > children, offspring (hence "noble seed" = "nobility")

4 Which to things of valorous pretence

Which > (Referring to "the noble seed")
pretence > expressed intention, purpose, design

5 Seems to be born by native influence;

native > [virtue of] natal; _hence:_ astrological

6 As feats of arms, and love to entertain,

As > [Such as]
entertain > deal with; occupy oneself with; receive, be receptive
to; cherish

7 But chiefly skill to ride, seems a science

science > skill, lore

8 Proper to gentle blood; some others feign

Proper > Belonging, peculiar; proper
gentle > noble
feign > [pretend to be able]

9 To manage steeds, as did this vaunter; but in vain.

vaunter > boaster [Braggadocchio]

204.2

But he the rightfull owner of that steed,
2 Who well could menage and subdew his pride,
The whiles on foot was forced for to yeed,
4 With that blacke Palmer, his most trusty guide;
Who suffred not his wandring feet to slide.
6 But when strong passion, or weake fleshlinesse
Would from the right way seeke to draw him wide,
8 He would through temperance and stedfastnesse,
Teach him the weake to strengthen, and the strong suppresse.

1 But he, the rightful owner of that steed,

he > [Guyon]

2 Who well could manage and subdue his pride,

pride > (Again the horse appears as a symbol of its rider's nature:
cf. 102.8, etc.)

3 The whiles on foot was forced to yode,

The whiles > Meanwhile
yode > go

4 With that black palmer, his most trusty guide;

black > (Referring to the colour of his clothes; see 201.7:2)