aw
8 His hart in twaine with sad melancholy,
As one that loathed life, and yet despisd to dye.

1 Naught booted it the paynim then to strive;

booted it > it availed
paynim > pagan, heathen

2 For as a bittern in the eagle's claw,
3 That may not hope by flight to scape alive,

scape > escape

4 Still waits for death with dread and trembling awe;
5 So he, now subject to the victor's law,

he, now > (Or: "he now,")
law > command

6 Did not once move, nor upward cast his eye,
7 For vile disdain and rancour, which did gnaw

disdain > indignation, anger

8 His heart in twain with sad melancholy,

twain > two
sad > heavy; grievous; sad
melancholy > irascibility

9 As one that loathed life, and yet despised to die.

208.51

But full of Princely bounty and great mind,
2 The Conquerour nought cared him to slay,
But casting wrongs and all reuenge behind,
4 More glory thought to giue life, then decay,
And said, Paynim, this is thy dismall day;
6 Yet if thou wilt renounce thy miscreaunce,
And my trew liegeman yield thy selfe for ay,
8 Life will I graunt thee for thy valiaunce,
And all thy wrongs will wipe out of my souenaunce.

1 But, full of princely bounty and great mind,

bounty > goodness, virtue; kindness, generosity
great mind > magnanimity

2 The conqueror naught cared him to slay,
3 But, casting wrongs and all revenge behind,
4 More glory thought to give life than decay,

thought > [thought it]
decay > death

5 And said, "Paynim, this is your dismal day;

Paynim > Pagan, heathen
dismal day > {_Dies mali_, [one of] the evil or unlucky days of the
medieval calendar}

6 Yet if you will renounce your miscreance,

miscreance > false belief, false faith

7 And my true liege man yield yourself for ay,

liege man > {Vassal; faithful follower or subject}
ay > ever

8 Life will I grant you for your valiance,

valiance > valour, bravery

9 And all your wrongs will wipe out of my sovenance."

sovenance > remembrance, memory

208.52

Foole (said the Pagan) I thy gift defye,
2 But vse thy fortune, as it doth befall,
And say, that I not ouercome do dye,
4 But in despight of life, for death do call.
Wroth was the Prince, and sory yet withall,
6 That he so wilfully refused grace;
Yet sith his fate so cruelly did fall,
8 His shining Helmet he gan soone vnlace,
And left