greedy vew
4 All these may not suffise, there shall to thee
Ten times so much be numbred francke and free.
6 _Mammon_ (said he) thy godheades vaunt is vaine,
And idle offers of thy golden fee;
8 To them, that couet such eye-glutting gaine,
Proffer thy giftes, and fitter seruaunts entertaine.
1 "Wherefore if me you deign to serve and sue,
Wherefore > On which account; in consequence of which
serve and sue > do service and homage (sue = follow as an attendant,
take as a model, pattern, or ideal)
2 At your command lo all these mountains be;
3 Or if to your great mind, or greedy view,
greedy > eager; rapacious
4 All these may not suffice, there shall to you
5 Ten times so much be numbered frank and free."
so > as
numbered > measured, enumerated
frank and free > liberally and freely (another quasi-legal term)
6 "Mammon," said he, "your godhead's vaunt is vain,
vaunt > boast; display
vain > unavailing; foolish
7 And idle offers of your golden fee;
idle > empty
fee > wage, bribe
8 To them that covet such eye-glutting gain
9 Proffer your gifts, and fitter servants entertain.
fitter > more suitable
entertain > engage; maintain
207.10
Me ill +besits+, that in der-doing armes,
2 And honours suit my vowed dayes do spend,
Vnto thy bounteous baytes, and pleasing charmes,
4 With which weake men thou witchest, to attend:
Regard of worldly mucke doth fowly blend,
6 And low abase the high heroicke spright,
That ioyes for crownes and kingdomes to contend;
8 Faire shields, gay steedes, bright armes be my delight:
Those be the riches fit for an aduent'rous knight.
1 besits > befits _1609_
1 "Me ill besits (that in der-doing arms
besits > becomes, befits
der-doing arms > {Daring feats of arms; "der-doing" is app. derived
from "derring-do", and is believed to be a deliberate archaism}
2 And honour's suit my vowed days do spend)
suit > pursuit; wooing
3 To your bounteous baits, and pleasing charms,
baits > temptations (cf. 207.64:2)
4 With which weak men you witch, to attend:
witch > bewitch
5 Regard of worldly muck does foully blend
of > for
blend > stir up, render turbid; _hence:_ defile; _also:_ dazzle,
blind
6 And low abase the high heroic spirit,
7 That joys for crowns and kingdoms to contend;
8 Fair shields, gay steeds, bright arms be my delight:
9 Those be the rich
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