prepare.

211.37

So braue returning, with his brandisht blade,
2 He to the Carle himselfe againe addrest,
And strooke at him so sternely, that he made
4 An open passage through his riuen brest,
That halfe the steele behind his back did rest;
6 Which drawing backe, he looked euermore
When the hart bloud should gush out of his chest,
8 Or his dead corse should fall vpon the flore;
But his dead corse vpon the flore fell nathemore.

1 So brave returning, with his brandished blade,
2 He to the carl himself again addressed,

carl > villain, churl

3 And struck at him so sternly, that he made

sternly > fiercely, mercilessly

4 An open passage through his riven breast,

riven > split, torn open

5 That half the steel behind his back did rest;

That > [So that]
rest > remain; _hence:_ protrude

6 Which drawing back, he looked evermore
7 When the heart-blood should gush out of his chest,
8 Or his dead corse should fall upon the floor;

corse > body
floor > ground (catachr. prompted by the rhyme, as at 208.42:5)

9 But his dead corse upon the floor fell nathemore.

nathemore > not at all

211.38

Ne drop of bloud appeared shed to bee,
2 All were the wounde so wide and wonderous,
That through his carkasse one might plainely see:
4 Halfe in a maze with horror hideous,
And halfe in rage, to be deluded thus,
6 Againe through both the sides he strooke him quight,
That made his spright to grone full piteous:
8 Yet nathemore forth fled his groning spright,
But freshly as at first, prepard himselfe to fight.

1 Nor drop of blood appeared shed to be,
2 All were the wound so wide and wondrous

All > Although

3 That through his carcase one might plainly see:
4 Half in amaze with horror hideous,

amaze > confusion, amazement
hideous > terrific

5 And half in rage, to be deluded thus,
6 Again through both the sides he struck him quite,

quite > thoroughly, entirely

7 That made his spirit groan full piteous:

That > [That thrust; or: so that it]
full > exceedingly

8 Yet nathemore forth fled his groaning spirit,

nathemore > not at all

9 But freshly, as at first, prepared himself to fight.

211.39

Thereat he smitten was with great affright,
2 And trembling terror did his hart apall,
Ne wist he, what to thinke of that same sight,
4 Ne what to say, ne what to doe