t

odds > inequalities

3 To change my lief, and love another dame;

lief > beloved, _hence:_ true-love, lady

4 That death me liefer were than such despite,

liefer > dearer; preferable
despite > [an] outrage

5 So to wrong to yield my wrested right:

So > Thus
wrested > {?Won with effort}

6 For I love one, the truest one on ground,

on ground > in the world

7 Nor list me change; she the Errant Damsel hight,

list me > do I desire; do I please to, do I choose to
Errant Damsel > (The Wandering Damsel, Una; she is so named at
201.19:8)
hight > is called

8 For whose dear sake full many a bitter stound

dear > loving, dear; difficult, grievous (for the truth is not
always easy)
full > very
stound > peril, time of peril

9 I have endured, and tasted many a bloody wound."

301.25

Certes (said she) then bene ye sixe to blame,
2 To weene your wrong by force to iustifie:
For knight to leaue his Ladie were great shame,
4 That faithfull is, and better were to die.
All losse is lesse, and lesse the infamie,
6 Then losse of loue to him, that loues but one;
Ne may loue be compeld by maisterie;
8 For soone as maisterie comes, sweete loue anone
Taketh his nimble wings, and soone away is gone.

1 "Certes," said she, "then been you six to blame,

Certes > Assuredly
been > [are]

2 To ween your wrong by force to justify:

ween > imagine, suppose

3 For knight to leave his lady were great shame,
4 That faithful is, and better were to die.
5 All loss is less, and less the infamy,
6 Than loss of love to him that loves but one;
7 Nor may love be compelled by mastery;

compelled > constrained, overpowered
mastery > superior force

8 For soon as mastery comes, sweet Love anon

Love > [Cupid]
anon > straightway; (catachr.) soon

9 Takes his nimble wings, and soon away is gone.

soon > straightway; soon

301.26

Then spake one of those sixe, There dwelleth here
2 Within this castle wall a Ladie faire,
Whose soueraine beautie hath no liuing pere,
4 Thereto so bounteous and so debonaire,
That neuer any mote with her compaire.
6 She hath ordaind this law, which we approue,
That euery knight, which doth this way repaire,
8 In case he haue no Ladie, nor no loue,
Shall doe vnto her seruice neuer to remoue.

1 Then spoke one of those six, "There dwells here
2 Within this castle wall