sclaue > slaue _1609_

1 "Certes," said he, "I nill your offered grace,

Certes > Assuredly
nill > will not [accept]
grace > favour

2 Nor to be made so happy do intend:

so > thus, in this way

3 Another bliss before my eyes I place,
4 Another happiness, another end.
5 To them, that list, these base regards I lend:

list > choose, please
regards > concerns

6 But I in arms, and in achievements brave,

achievements > achievements; feats, victories
brave > brave; splendid

7 Do rather choose my flitting hours to spend,
8 And to be lord of those that riches have,
9 Than them to have myself, and be their servile slave."

them > [riches]

207.34

Thereat the feend his gnashing teeth did grate,
2 And grieu'd, so long to lacke his greedy pray;
For well he weened, that so glorious bayte
4 Would tempt his guest, to take thereof assay:
Had he so doen, he had him snatcht away,
6 More light then Culuer in the Faulcons fist.
Eternall God thee saue from such decay.
8 But whenas _Mammon_ saw his purpose mist,
Him to entrap vnwares another way he wist.

1 Thereat the fiend his gnashing teeth did grate,

Thereat > Thereupon; as a result of that

2 And grieved, so long to lack his greedy prey;

his greedy prey > [the prey for which he is eager]

3 For well he weened that so glorious bait

weened > supposed
so > such [a]

4 Would tempt his guest, to take thereof assay:

assay > test, trial; _hence:_ a sample

5 Had he so done, he had him snatched away,

he had him snatched > [the fiend would have snatched him]

6 More light than culver in the falcon's fist.

light > quickly; easily
culver > dove; wood-pigeon
fist > clutch, clutches

7 (Eternal God you save from such decay!)

decay > [a] downfall

8 But when Mammon saw his purpose missed,

purpose > intention; discourse, point

9 Him to entrap unwares another way he wist.

unwares > unexpectedly
wist > knew; _hence:_ planned

207.35

Thence forward he him led, and shortly brought
2 Vnto another rowme, whose dore forthright,
To him did open, as it had beene taught:
4 Therein an hundred raunges weren pight,
And hundred fornaces all burning bright;
6 By euery fornace many feends did bide,
Deformed creatures, horrible in sight,
8 And euery feend his busie paines applide,
To melt the golden metall, ready to be tride.

1 T