three-square > equilaterally triangular

5 As if age bade him that burden spare,
6 And yield it those, that stouter could it wield:

those > [to those]
stouter > more robustly; more bravely

7 He, them espying, gan himself prepare,

gan > did

8 And on his arm address his goodly shield

address > set, place ready
goodly > fine, beautiful

9 That bore a lion passant in a golden field.

passant > (In heraldry, used to describe a beast walking, looking
towards the right, with the right fore-paw raised)
field > (The surface of a shield or one of its divisions. The
heraldic arms described are those of Brutus, first of the kings
in the chronicle of 210 and an ancestor of Britomart)

301.5

Which seeing good Sir _Guyon_, deare besought
2 The Prince of grace, to let him runne that turne.
He graunted: then the Faery quickly raught
4 His poinant speare, and sharpely gan to spurne
His fomy steed, whose fierie feete did burne
6 The verdant grasse, as he thereon did tread;
Ne did the other backe his foot returne,
8 But fiercely forward came withouten dread,
And bent his dreadfull speare against the others head.

1 Which seeing, good Sir Guyon dear besought

besought > asked earnestly

2 The prince of grace to let him run that turn.

of grace > as a favour
turn > contest, round in a tournament (at which the jousting knights
would converge on horseback, lances advanced, and, having passed
one another, turn at the end of the course to repeat the action)

3 He granted: then the Faery quickly raught

raught > reached, took hold of

4 His poignant spear, and sharply began to spur

poignant > sharp-pointed, piercing

5 His foamy steed, whose fiery feet did burn
6 The verdant grass, as he thereon did tread;
7 Nor did the other back his foot return,
8 But fiercely forward came without dread,
9 And bent his dreadful spear against the other's head.

bent > inclined, aimed

301.6

They bene ymet, and both their points arriued,
2 But _Guyon_ droue so furious and fell,
That seem'd both shield and plate it would haue riued;
4 Nathelesse it bore his foe not from his sell,
But made him stagger, as he were not well:
6 But _Guyon_ selfe, ere well he was aware,
Nigh a speares length behind his crouper fell,
8 Yet in his fall so well him selfe he bare,
That mischieuous mischance his life and limbes did spare.