ance espied,
9 That drenched lay full deep, under the garden side.

drenched > immersed
full > very, exceedingly

207.58

Deepe was he drenched to the vpmost chin,
2 Yet gaped still, as coueting to drinke
Of the cold liquor, which he waded in,
4 And stretching forth his hand, did often thinke
To reach the fruit, which grew vpon the brincke:
6 But both the fruit from hand, and floud from mouth
Did flie abacke, and made him vainely swinke:
8 The whiles he steru'd with hunger and with drouth
He daily dyde, yet neuer throughly dyen couth.

1 Deep was he drenched to the upmost chin,

upmost > uppermost

2 Yet gaped still, as coveting to drink

still > continuously

3 Of the cold liquor which he waded in,

Of > From; some of
liquor > liquid

4 And, stretching forth his hand, did often think
5 To reach the fruit which grew upon the brink:
6 But both the fruit from hand, and flood from mouth
7 Did fly aback, and made him vainly swink:

swink > toil

8 The whiles he starved with hunger and with drought;

The whiles > Meanwhile
starved > perished
drought > thirst

9 He daily died, yet never thoroughly die could.

207.59

The knight him seeing labour so in vaine,
2 Askt who he was, and what he ment thereby:
Who groning deepe, thus answerd him againe;
4 Most cursed of all creatures vnder skye,
Lo _Tantalus_, I here tormented lye:
6 Of whom high _Ioue_ wont whylome feasted bee,
Lo here I now for want of food doe dye:
8 But if that thou be such, as I thee see,
Of grace I pray thee, giue to eat and drinke to mee.

1 The knight, him seeing labour so in vain,
2 Asked who he was, and what he meant thereby;

meant thereby > intended by that; _hence:_ was doing

3 Who, groaning deep, thus answered him again:

again > in return

4 "Most cursed of all creatures under sky,
5 Lo Tantalus, I here tormented lie:
6 Of whom high Jove wont whilom feasted be,

Of > By
wont whilom > formerly was accustomed
be > [to be]

7 Lo here I now for want of food do die:
8 But if you be such, as I you see,
9 Of grace I pray you, give to eat and drink to me!"

207.60

Nay, nay, thou greedie _Tantalus_ (quoth he)
2 Abide the fortune of thy present fate,
And vnto all that liue in high degree,
4 Ensample be of mind +intemperate+,
To teach them how to vse their present state.
6 The