he ashes cold,
And enuie base, to barke at sleeping fame:
8 Was neuer wight, that treason of him told;
Your selfe his prowesse prou'd and found him fiers and bold.
1 To whom the palmer fearless answered:
2 "Certes, sir knight, you been too much to blame,
Certes > Assuredly
been > [are]
3 Thus to blot the honour of the dead,
4 And with foul cowardice his carcase shame,
5 Whose living hands immortalized his name.
6 Vile is the vengeance on the ashes cold,
7 And envy base, to bark at sleeping fame:
bark > {Speak angrily or aggressively}
8 Was never wight that treason of him told;
wight > person, anyone
9 Yourself his prowess proved and found him fierce and bold.
prowess > valour
proved > tested, tried
208.14
Then said _Cymochles_; Palmer, thou doest dote,
2 Ne canst of prowesse, ne of knighthood deeme,
Saue as thou seest or hearst. But well I wote,
4 That of his puissance tryall made extreeme;
Yet gold all is not, that doth golden seeme,
6 Ne all good knights, that shake well speare and shield:
The worth of all men by their end esteeme,
8 And then due praise, or due reproch them yield;
Bad therefore I him deeme, that thus lies dead on field.
1 Then said Cymochles: "Palmer, you do dote,
2 Nor can of prowess, nor of knighthood deem,
deem > judge, form an opinion
3 Save as you see or hear. But well I wot,
wot > know
4 That of his puissance, trial made extreme;
puissance > strength, power
made > [made it]
5 Yet gold all is not that does golden seem,
6 Nor all good knights, that shake well spear and shield:
shake > wield
7 The worth of all men by their end esteem,
8 And then due praise, or due reproach them yield;
9 Bad therefore I him deem, that thus lies dead on field."
208.15
Good or bad (gan his brother fierce reply)
2 What doe I recke, sith that he dyde entire?
Or what doth his bad death now satisfy
4 The greedy hunger of reuenging ire,
Sith wrathfull hand wrought not her owne desire?
6 Yet since no way is left to wreake my spight,
I will him reaue of armes, the victors hire,
8 And of that shield, more worthy of good knight;
For why should a dead dog be deckt in armour bright?
1 "Good or bad," gan his brother fierce reply,
gan > did
2 "What do I reck, sith he died entire?
reck > care
sith > since
entire > entirely, altog
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