ous with, Hermes, the
envoy of the gods; employed by them to conduct the souls of the
dead from the upper into the lower world. According to Virgil,
his wand also allows him to summon these souls back from hell.
Mercury is identified as the god of reason and wisdom)

4 With which he wonts the Stygian realms invade,

wonts > is accustomed to
Stygian > {Of the River Styx, one of the five rivers of hell; hence:
infernal}
invade > enter (SUS); _hence:_ explore

5 Through ghastly horror, and eternal shade;

ghastly > {Evoking fear of the supernatural}

6 The infernal fiends with it he can assuage,

assuage > pacify, appease

7 And Orcus tame, whom nothing can persuade,

Orcus > (Another name for Pluto, god of the underworld)

8 And rule the Furies, when they most do rage:
9 Such virtue in his staff had eke this palmer sage.

virtue > power, efficacy, occult power
eke > also, likewise

212.42

Thence passing forth, they shortly do arriue,
2 Whereas the Bowre of _Blisse_ was situate;
A place pickt out by choice of best aliue,
4 That natures worke by art can imitate:
In which what euer in this worldly state
6 Is sweet, and pleasing vnto liuing sense,
Or that may +dayntiest+ fantasie aggrate,
8 Was poured forth with plentifull dispence,
And made there to abound with lauish affluence.

7 dayntiest > dayntest _1590_

1 Thence passing forth, they shortly do arrive
2 Where the Bower of Bliss was situate;

situate > situated

3 A place picked out by choice of best alive

best > [the best artisans]

4 That Nature's work by Art can imitate:
5 In which whatever in this worldly state
6 Is sweet and pleasing to living sense,
7 Or that may daintiest fantasy aggrate,

that > [that which]
daintiest > [the] most fastidious; [the] choicest
aggrate > gratify (SUS)

8 Was poured forth with plentiful dispense,

dispense > dispensation; liberality

9 And made there to abound with lavish affluence.

212.43

Goodly it was enclosed round about,
2 Aswell their entred guestes to keepe within,
As those vnruly beasts to hold without;
4 Yet was the fence thereof but weake and thin;
Nought feard +their+ force, that fortilage to win,
6 But wisedomes powre, and temperaunces might,
By which the +mightiest+ things efforced bin:
8 And eke the gate was wrought of substaunce light,
Rather for pleasure, then for batter