Dare not adventure on the stubborn prey,

adventure > venture, make an attempt
stubborn > dogged, unyielding

4 Nor bite before, but roam from place to place

before > in front

5 To get a snatch when turned is his face.
6 In such distress and doubtful jeopardy,

doubtful > apprehensive, fearful; undecided

7 When Britomart him saw, she ran apace

apace > quickly

8 To his rescue, and with earnest cry

earnest > ardent; warlike

9 Bade those same six forbear that single enemy.

forbear > spare, desist from
single > solitary

301.23

But to her cry they list not lenden eare,
2 Ne ought the more their mightie strokes surceasse,
But gathering him round about more neare,
4 Their direfull rancour rather did encreasse;
Till that she rushing through the thickest preasse,
6 Perforce disparted their compacted gyre,
And soone compeld to hearken vnto peace:
8 Tho gan she myldly of them to inquyre
The cause of their dissention and outrageous yre.

1 But to her cry they list not lend ear,

list > chose, pleased
lend > [to lend an]

2 Nor aught the more their mighty strokes surcease,

aught > in any way
surcease > [to] leave off, [to] stop

3 But, gathering him round about more near,
4 Their direful rancour rather did increase;
5 Till she, rushing through the thickest press,

press > throng

6 Perforce disparted their compacted gyre,

Perforce > Forcibly
disparted > clove, parted
gyre > ring, circle; vortex

7 And soon compelled to hearken to peace:

soon > immediately; soon
compelled > [compelled them]

8 Tho began she mildly of them to inquire

Tho > Then
mildly > graciously; mildly

9 The cause of their dissention and outrageous ire.

outrageous > violent; intemperate; excessively fierce

301.24

Whereto that single knight did answere frame;
2 These sixe would me enforce by oddes of might,
To chaunge my liefe, and loue another Dame,
4 That death me liefer were, then such despight,
So vnto wrong to yield my wrested right:
6 For I loue one, the truest one on ground,
Ne list me chaunge; she th'_Errant Damzell_ hight,
8 For whose deare sake full many a bitter stownd,
I haue endur'd, and tasted many a bloudy wound.

1 Whereto that single knight did answer frame:

Whereto > To which
single > solitary
frame > fashion, direct

2 "These six would me enforce by odds of migh