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
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