7 And over them Arachne high did lift

Arachne > (Transformed by Minerva into a spider (_Met._ 6.1-145);
Ovid's story is retold and embellished in _Muiopotmos_ 257 ff.)

8 Her cunning web, and spread her subtile net,

subtile > delicate; rarefied; crafty

9 Enwrapped in foul smoke and clouds more black than jet.

207.29

Both roofe, and floore, and wals were all of gold,
2 But ouergrowne with dust and old decay,
And hid in darkenesse, that none could behold
4 The hew thereof: for vew of chearefull day
Did neuer in that house it selfe display,
6 But a faint shadow of vncertain light;
Such as a lamp, whose life does fade away:
8 Or as the Moone cloathed with clowdy night,
Does shew to him, that walkes in feare and sad affright.

1 Both roof and floor, and walls were all of gold,
2 But overgrown with dust and old decay,
3 And hidden in darkness, that none could behold

that > [so that]

4 The hue thereof: for view of cheerful day

hue > form; colour

5 Did never in that house itself display,
6 But a faint shadow of uncertain light;

But > Except as

7 Such as a lamp, whose life does fade away:
8 Or as the moon, clothed with cloudy night,
9 Does show to him that walks in fear and sad affright.

sad affright > grave terror

207.30

In all that rowme was nothing to be seene,
2 But huge great yron chests and coffers strong,
All bard with double bends, that none could weene
4 Them to efforce by violence or wrong;
On euery side they placed were along.
6 But all the ground with sculs was scattered,
And dead mens bones, which round about were flong,
8 Whose liues, it seemed, whilome there were shed,
And their vile carcases now left vnburied.

1 In all that room was nothing to be seen
2 But huge great iron chests and coffers strong,
3 All barred with double bands, that none could ween

that > [so that]
ween > imagine; intend

4 Them to efforce by violence or wrong;

efforce > force open (SUFQ)

5 On every side they placed were along.
6 But all the ground with skulls was scattered,
7 And dead men's bones, which round about were flung,
8 Whose lives, it seemed, whilom there were shed,

whilom > formerly, of yore; at some past time

9 And their vile carcases now left unburied.

vile > vile; worthless

207.31

They forward passe, ne _Guyon_ yet spoke word,
2 Till