ay she spied,
3 To which her steps directly she did frame.

frame > shape, direct

4 That castle was most goodly edified,

goodly > beautifully, excellently
edified > built

5 And placed for pleasure nigh that forest side:
6 But fair before the gate a spacious plain,
7 Mantled with green, itself did spread wide,
8 On which she saw six knights, that did deraign

deraign > {Challenge; fight in order to settle a dispute}

9 Fierce battle against one, with cruel might and main.

cruel > savage; cruel
main > force, strength

301.21

Mainly they all attonce vpon him laid,
2 And sore beset on euery side around,
That nigh he breathlesse grew, yet nought dismaid,
4 Ne euer to them yielded foot of ground
All had he lost much bloud through many a wound,
6 But stoutly dealt his blowes, and euery way
To which he turned in his wrathfull stound,
8 Made them recoile, and fly from dred decay,
That none of all the sixe before, him durst assay.

1 Mainly they all at once upon him laid,

Mainly > Powerfully

2 And sore beset on every side around,
3 That nigh he breathless grew, yet naught dismayed,

That > [So that]
dismayed > overcome, defeated; dismayed

4 Nor ever to them yielded foot of ground
5 All had he lost much blood through many a wound,

All > Although

6 But stoutly dealt his blows, and every way

stoutly > bravely, robustly

7 To which he turned in his wrathful stound

stound > peril, time of peril; fierce attack; _also (mainly northern
usage):_ roaring, violent noise; _so:_ uproar

8 Made them recoil, and fly from dread decay,

fly > flee
decay > death

9 That none, of all the six before, him dared assay.

That > [So that]
before > [before him, in front of him]
assay > assail; test, put to proof

301.22

Like dastard Curres, that hauing at a bay
2 The saluage beast embost in wearie chace,
Dare not aduenture on the stubborne pray,
4 Ne byte before, but rome from place to place,
To get a snatch, when turned is his face.
6 In such distresse and doubtfull ieopardy,
When _Britomart_ him saw, she ran a pace
8 Vnto his reskew, and with earnest cry,
Bad those same sixe forbeare that single enimy.

1 Like dastard curs, that (having at abay

at abay > barking, baying; at bay

2 The savage beast embossed in weary chase)

savage > wild
embossed > driven to extremity

3