rthur's]

211.35

Well weened he, that field was then his owne,
2 And all his labour brought to happie end,
When suddein vp the villein ouerthrowne,
4 Out of his swowne arose, fresh to contend,
And gan himselfe to second battell bend,
6 As hurt he had not bene. Thereby there lay
An huge great stone, which stood vpon one end,
8 And had not bene remoued many a day;
Some land-marke seem'd to be, or signe of sundry way.

1 Well weened he, that field was then his own,

weened > supposed
field > [that] battle, field of battle

2 And all his labour brought to happy end,
3 When suddenly up the villein overthrown

villein > villain, serf

4 Out of his swoon arose, fresh to contend,
5 And gan himself to second battle bend,

gan > did
bend > direct, apply

6 As hurt he had not been. Thereby there lay

As > [As though]
Thereby > There, nearby

7 A huge great stone, which stood upon one end,
8 And had not been removed many a day;

removed > moved [for]

9 Some landmark seemed to be, or sign of sundry way.

sundry > distinct; other, separate, sundry; _hence:_ some
(indifferently, in the sense "some road or other")
way > road, track

211.36

The same he snatcht, and with exceeding sway
2 Threw at his foe, who was right well aware
To shunne the engin of his meant decay;
4 It booted not to thinke that throw to beare,
But ground he gaue, and lightly leapt areare:
6 Eft fierce returning, as a Faulcon faire
That once hath failed of her souse full neare,
8 Remounts againe into the open aire,
And vnto better fortune doth her selfe prepaire.

1 The same he snatched, and with exceeding sway

sway > force; momentum

2 Threw at his foe, who was right well aware

right > at once; very
aware > watchful

3 To shun the engine of his meant decay;

engine > instrument
meant decay > intended death

4 It booted not to think that throw to bear,

booted not to think > [did not bear thinking about: cf. 108.7:9]
throw > throw; blow

5 But ground he gave, and lightly leapt arrear:

lightly > lightly; quickly
arrear > backwards

6 Eft fierce returning, as a falcon fair,

Eft > Afterwards, then

7 That once has failed of her souse full near,

souse > swoop, stoop (cf. 105.8:7)
full near > [very nearly, by very little]

8 Remounts again into the open air,
9 And to better fortune does herself