:_ slyly, cleverly

212.50

Thus being entred, they behold around
2 A large and spacious plaine, on euery side
Strowed with pleasauns, whose faire grassy ground
4 Mantled with +greene+, and goodly beautifide
With all the ornaments of _Floraes_ pride,
6 Wherewith her mother Art, as halfe in scorne
Of niggard Nature, like a pompous bride
8 Did decke her, and too lauishly adorne,
When forth from virgin bowre she comes in th'early morne.

4 greene > grenee _1596_

1 Thus being entered, they behold around
2 A large and spacious plain, on every side
3 Strewn with pleasances, whose fair grassy ground

Strewn > Spread, covered
pleasances > pleasure-grounds, ornamental gardens

4 Mantled with green, and goodly beautified

Mantled > [Was mantled]

5 With all the ornaments of Flora's pride,
6 Wherewith her mother, Art, as half in scorn

Wherewith > With which
as > [as though]

7 Of niggard Nature, like a pompous bride

niggard > mean, parsimonious
pompous > splendid (derives from Latin _pompa_, a solemn procession,
display)

8 Did deck her, and too lavishly adorn,
9 When forth from virgin bower she comes in the early morn.

bower > bedroom

212.51

+Thereto+ the Heauens alwayes Iouiall,
2 Lookt on them louely, still in stedfast state,
Ne suffred storme nor frost on them to fall,
4 Their tender buds or leaues to violate,
Nor scorching heat, nor cold intemperate
6 T'afflict the creatures, which therein did dwell,
But the milde aire with season moderate
8 Gently attempred, and disposd so well,
That still it breathed forth sweet spirit and holesome smell.

1 Thereto > Therewith _1590_

1 Thereto the heavens, always jovial,

Thereto > Moreover, also
jovial > {Azure (heraldic term); under the influence of Jove,
joyful, happy}

2 Looked on them lovely, still in steadfast state,

lovely > lovingly
still > ever, always; motionless
in steadfast state > [unchanging; there are no seasons here]

3 Nor suffered storm nor frost on them to fall,

suffered > permitted

4 Their tender buds or leaves to violate,

violate > spoil, corrupt

5 Nor scorching heat, nor cold intemperate
6 To afflict the creatures which therein did dwell,
7 But the mild air with season moderate
8 Gently attempered, and disposed so well,

attempered > regulated; tempered, moderated
disposed > regulated

9 That still