monstrous stalk behind him stepped,
9 And ever, as he went, due watch upon him kept.

207.27

Well hoped he, ere long that hardy guest,
2 If euer couetous hand, or lustfull eye,
Or lips he layd on thing, that likt him best,
4 Or euer sleepe his eye-strings did vntye,
Should be his pray. And therefore still on hye
6 He ouer him did hold his cruell clawes,
Threatning with greedy gripe to do him dye
8 And rend in peeces with his rauenous pawes,
If euer he transgrest the fatall _Stygian_ lawes.

1 Well hoped he ere long that hardy guest

ere long that > [that before long that]
hardy > bold, audacious

2 (If ever covetous hand, or lustful eye,
3 Or lips he laid on thing, that liked him best,

liked > pleased

4 Or ever sleep his eyestrings did untie)

eyestrings > {The tendons, nerves or muscles of the eyes, relaxation
of which was supposed to accompany sleep; cf. _Cymbeline_ I iii
17: Shakespeare may have got the word from here. The earliest
use quoted by _OED_ is by Ben Jonson in 1601. Cf. also 108.22:7}

5 Should be his prey. And therefore still on high

still > continuously

6 He over him did hold his cruel claws,
7 Threatening with greedy grip to do him die

greedy > eager, rapacious
die > [to death]

8 And rend in pieces with his ravenous paws,

rend > [tear him]

9 If ever he transgressed the fatal Stygian laws.

Stygian laws > (Laws of the underworld)

207.28

That houses forme within was rude and strong,
2 Like an huge caue, hewne out of rocky clift,
From whose rough vaut the ragged breaches hong,
4 Embost with massy gold of glorious gift,
And with rich metall loaded euery rift,
6 That heauy ruine they did seeme to threat;
And ouer them _Arachne_ high did lift
8 Her cunning web, and spred her subtile net,
Enwrapped in fowle smoke and clouds more blacke then Iet.

1 That house's form within was rude and strong,

rude > rough, crude, clumsy

2 Like a huge cave, hewn out of rocky cliff,
3 From whose rough vault the ragged breaches hung,

breaches > {?Broken sheets of rock}

4 Embossed with massy gold of glorious gift,

Embossed > Encased; richly decorated
massy > solid
gift > quality

5 And with rich metal loaded every rift,
6 That heavy ruin they did seem to threaten;

That > [So that]
heavy > grievous, intense
ruin > {The act of collapse, of a building, etc.}