1 They been met, and both their points arrived,

been met > were met, did meet

2 But Guyon drove so furious and fell

fell > fiercely, terribly

3 That seemed both shield and plate it would have rived;

seemed > [it seemed]
plate it > [armour Guyon's spear]
rived > split, punctured

4 Natheless it bore his foe not from his sell,

Natheless > Nevertheless
sell > saddle

5 But made him stagger, as he were not well:

as > [as though]

6 But Guyon himself, ere well he was aware,
7 Nigh a spear's length behind his crupper fell,

crupper > {The strap fastened to the back of the saddle and passed
under the horse's tail; the horse's rump}

8 Yet in his fall so well himself he bore
9 That mischievous mischance his life and limbs did spare.

mischievous > {Disastrous, producing harm}

301.7

Great shame and sorrow of that fall he tooke;
2 For neuer yet, +sith+ warlike armes he bore,
And shiuering speare in bloudie field first shooke,
4 He found himselfe dishonored so sore.
Ah gentlest knight, that euer armour bore,
6 Let not thee grieue dismounted to haue beene,
And brought to ground, that neuer wast before;
8 For not thy fault, but secret powre vnseene,
That speare enchaunted was, which layd thee on the greene.

2 sith > since _1609_

1 Great shame and sorrow of that fall he took;

of > in, from

2 For never yet, sith warlike arms he bore,

sith > since

3 And shivering spear in bloody field first shook,

shivering > quivering
field > field of battle, battle
shook > wielded

4 He found himself dishonoured so sore.

He > [Had he]

5 Ah, gentlest knight that ever armour bore,

gentlest > noblest

6 Let not you grieve dismounted to have been,
7 And brought to ground, that never was before;
8 For not your fault, but secret power unseen:

not > [it was not]

9 That spear enchanted was, which laid you on the green!

301.8

But weenedst thou what wight thee ouerthrew,
2 Much greater griefe and shamefuller regret
For thy hard fortune then thou wouldst renew,
4 That of a single damzell thou wert met
On equall plaine, and there so hard beset;
6 Euen the famous _Britomart_ it was,
Whom straunge aduenture did from _Britaine_ fet,
8 To seeke her louer (loue farre sought alas,)
Whose image she had seene in _Venus_ looking glas.

1 But weened you what wight you overthrew,