s
disdain > indignation; anger

3 The stone-dead quarry falls so forcibly
4 That it rebounds against the lowly plain,
5 A second fall redoubling back again.
6 Then, thought the prince, all peril sure was past,
7 And that he victor only did remain;

victor > [as victor; victorious]
only > solely

8 No sooner thought, than the carl as fast

carl > villain, churl

9 Gan heap huge strokes on him, as ere he down was cast.

Gan > Did; began to

211.44

Nigh his wits end then woxe th'amazed knight,
2 And thought his labour lost and trauell vaine,
Against this lifelesse shadow so to fight:
4 Yet life he saw, and felt his mightie maine,
That whiles he marueild still, did still him paine:
6 For thy he gan some other wayes aduize,
How to take life from that dead-liuing swaine,
8 Whom still he marked freshly to arize
From th'earth, and from her wombe new spirits to reprize.

1 Nigh his wits' end then waxed the amazed knight,

waxed > grew, became
amazed > astounded; confounded

2 And thought his labour lost and travail vain,

travail > toil

3 Against this lifeless shadow so to fight:
4 Yet life he saw, and felt his mighty main,

main > strength, power

5 That while he marvelled still, did still him pain:
6 For-thy he gan some other ways advise

For-thy > For this reason, therefore
gan > did
advise > consider

7 How to take life from that dead-living swain,

swain > youth, young man; _with further connotations, as:_
attendant, serf (of the hags); lover (of the lame hag)

8 Whom still he marked freshly to arise

still > continually, ever
marked > observed

9 From the earth, and from her womb new spirits to reprise.

reprise > take anew (SUFQ)

211.45

He then remembred well, that had bene sayd,
2 How th'Earth his mother was, and first him bore;
She eke so often, as his life decayd,
4 Did life with vsury to him restore,
And raysd him vp much stronger then before,
6 So soone as he vnto her wombe did fall;
Therefore to ground he would him cast no more,
8 Ne him commit to graue terrestriall,
But beare him farre from hope of succour vsuall.

1 He then remembered well, that had been said,

that had been said > (A reference to the slaying of Antaeus by
Hercules. Antaeus was a huge giant, the son of Neptune and
Earth, and was invincible as long as he remained in contact with
his mot