[the teeth]

3 In glistering steel, and strongly fortified:
4 Tall yeomen seemed they, and of great might,

Tall > Doughty; comely

5 And were enranged ready, still for fight.

enranged > arranged; ranged [in battle-order]
still > continuously

6 By them as Alma passed with her guests,
7 They did obeisance, as beseemed right,

beseemed right > [was rightly fitting]

8 And then again returned to their rests:
9 The porter eke to her did lout with humble gests.

eke > also
lout > bow, stoop
gests > gestures

209.27

Thence she them brought into a stately Hall,
2 Wherein were many tables faire dispred,
And ready dight with drapets festiuall,
4 Against the viaundes should be ministred.
At th'upper end there sate, yclad in red
6 Downe to the ground, a comely personage,
That in his hand a white rod menaged,
8 He Steward was hight _Diet_; rype of age,
And in demeanure sober, and in counsell sage.

1 Thence she them brought into a stately hall,

hall > [the pharynx]

2 Wherein were many tables fair dispread,

dispread > spread out

3 And ready dight with drapets festival,

dight > decked; _hence:_ spread
drapets > coverings
festival > {Befitting a feast}

4 Against the viands should be ministered.

Against > In preparation for [the time when]
ministered > served

5 At the upper end there sat, clad in red
6 Down to the ground, a comely personage,
7 That in his hand a white rod managed,

white rod > {Mark of authority, sceptre, mace; allegorically, the
uvula}
managed > wielded

8 He, steward, was hight Diet; ripe of age,

steward > (The earliest meaning (to 1580) of "spencer")
hight > named

9 And in demeanour sober, and in counsel sage.

209.28

And through the Hall there walked to and fro
2 A iolly yeoman, Marshall of the same,
Whose name was _Appetite_; he did bestow
4 Both guestes and meate, when euer in they came,
And knew them how to order without blame,
6 As him the Steward bad. They both attone
Did dewty to their Lady, as became;
8 Who passing by, forth led her guestes anone
Into the kitchin rowme, ne spard for nicenesse none.

1 And through the hall there walked to and fro
2 A jolly yeoman, marshal of the same,

jolly > fine; gallant; amorous
yeoman > servant; assistant [to Diet]

3 Whose name was Appetite; he did bestow

bestow > place, locate

4