your foes, those warriors far remove,
6 Which you to endless bale captived lead.

bale > woe, torment; _also, mainly in northern usage:_ a great
consuming fire, pyre (see 204.38:5, note at 204.41:2)
captived > held captive

7 But sith in might you did my mercy prove,

sith > since
prove > test; demonstrate; confirm by personal experience

8 Of courtesy to me the cause aread

aread > make known, declare

9 That you against me drew with so impetuous dread."

That > [Why]
drew > [drew your sword]
so > such
dread > doubt; risk [of failure, since Guyon was an unknown
quantity]; _hence:_ rashness

205.17

Dreadlesse (said he) that shall I soone declare:
2 It was complaind, that thou hadst done great tort
Vnto an aged woman, poore and bare,
4 And thralled her in chaines with strong effort,
Voide of all succour and needfull comfort:
6 That ill beseemes thee, such as I thee see,
To worke such shame. Therefore I thee exhort,
8 To chaunge thy will, and set +Occasion+ free,
And to her captiue sonne yield his first libertee.

8 Occasion > occasion _1590; Occasion 1609_

1 "Dreadless," said he, "that shall I soon declare:

Dreadless > Without doubt, fear not (a typical word-play on "dread"
in the preceding line); _also, perhaps:_ Fearless One (as a term
of address)
soon > straightway

2 It was complained that you had done great tort

tort > wrong

3 To an aged woman, poor and bare,

bare > defenceless; destitute; simple

4 And thralled her in chains with strong effort,

thralled > {Brought into bondage or captivity, took captive}

5 Void of all succour and needful comfort:
6 That ill beseems you, such as I you see,

beseems > becomes, suits

7 To work such shame. Therefore I you exhort

work > bring about

8 To change your will, and set Occasion free,
9 And to her captive son yield his first liberty."

first > original, former

205.18

Thereat Sir _Guyon_ smilde, And is that all
2 (Said he) that thee so sore displeased hath?
Great mercy sure, for to enlarge a thrall,
4 Whose freedome shall thee turne to greatest scath.
Nath'lesse now quench thy whot emboyling wrath:
6 Loe there they be; to thee I yield them free.
Thereat he wondrous glad, out of the path
8 Did lightly leape, where he them bound did see,
And gan to breake the bands of their captiuitee.

1 Thereat Sir Guyon smiled; "And