_Sir Guyon laid in swowne is by
2 Acrates sonnes despoyld,
Whom Arthur soone hath reskewed
4 And Paynim brethren foyld._

1 Sir Guyon, laid in swoon, is by
2 Acrates' sons despoiled:

despoiled > stripped (strictly speaking, only the attempt is made)

3 Whom Arthur soon has rescued

soon > without delay

4 And paynim brethren foiled.

paynim > pagan, heathen
foiled > repulsed; defeated; trampled underfoot

208.1

ANd is there care in heauen? and is there loue
2 In heauenly spirits to these creatures bace,
That may compassion of their euils moue?
4 There is: else much more wretched were the cace
Of men, then beasts. But {o^} th'exceeding grace
6 Of highest God, that loues his creatures so,
And all his workes with mercy doth embrace,
8 That blessed Angels, he sends to and fro,
To serue to wicked man, to serue his wicked foe.

1 And is there care in heaven? And is there love
2 In heavenly spirits to these creatures base,

to > for

3 That may compassion of their evils move?

of > for
evils > misfortunes

4 There is: else much more wretched were the case

else > otherwise

5 Of men, than beasts'. But O the exceeding grace

exceeding > surpassing

6 Of highest God, that loves His creatures so,
7 And all His works with mercy does embrace,
8 That blessed angels He sends to and fro,

That > [Such that]

9 To serve to wicked Man, to serve His wicked foe.

serve > minister; act as an instrument of God
serve > oppose; punish

208.2

How oft do they, their siluer bowers leaue,
2 To come to succour vs, that succour want?
How oft do they with golden pineons, cleaue
4 The flitting skyes, like flying Pursuiuant,
Against foule feends to aide vs millitant?
6 They for vs fight, they watch and dewly ward,
And their bright Squadrons round about vs plant,
8 And all for loue, and nothing for reward:
O why should heauenly God to men haue such regard?

1 How oft do they their silver bowers leave,

bowers > chambers [heaven]

2 To come to succour us, that succour want?

want > need; want

3 How oft do they, with golden pinions, cleave
4 The flitting skies, like flying pursuivant,

flitting > unsubstantial, yielding
pursuivant > {Royal messenger with power to execute warrants}

5 Against foul fiends to aid us militant?

militant > {Engaged in warfare; hence: comb