a lady fair,
3 Whose sovereign beauty has no living peer,
4 Thereto so bounteous and so debonair,

Thereto > Moreover
debonair > affable, gracious

5 That never any might with her compare.
6 She has ordained this law, which we approve,

approve > confirm, make proof of; _hence:_ uphold

7 That every knight which does this way repair,

repair > come, make his way

8 In case he have no lady, nor no love,
9 Shall do to her service, never to remove.

service > {Service; sexual gratification; also: a lover's devotion,
professed love}

301.27

But if he haue a Ladie or a Loue,
2 Then must he her forgoe with foule defame,
Or else with vs by dint of sword approue,
4 That she is fairer, then our fairest Dame,
As did this knight, before ye hither came.
6 Perdie (said _Britomart_) the choise is hard:
But what reward had he, that ouercame?
8 He should aduaunced be to high regard,
(Said they) and haue our Ladies loue for his reward.

1 "But if he have a lady or a love,
2 Then must he her forgo with foul defame,

defame > disgrace, dishonour

3 Or else with us by dint of sword approve

approve > demonstrate; prove

4 That she is fairer than our fairest dame,
5 As did this knight, before you hither came."
6 "Pardie," said Britomart, "the choice is hard:

Pardie > Truly; "by God"

7 But what reward had he that overcame?"

had he > [would he have]

8 "He should advanced be to high regard,"
9 Said they, "and have our lady's love for his reward.

301.28

Therefore a read Sir, if thou haue a loue.
2 Loue haue I sure, (quoth she) but Lady none;
Yet will I not fro mine owne loue remoue,
4 Ne to your Lady will I seruice done,
But wreake your wrongs wrought to this knight alone,
6 And proue his cause. With that her mortall speare
She mightily auentred towards one,
8 And downe him smot, ere well aware he weare,
Then to the next she rode, and downe the next did beare.

1 "Therefore aread sir, if you have a love."

aread > declare

2 "Love have I sure," quoth she, "but lady none;
3 Yet will I not from my own love remove,
4 Neither to your lady will I service do,
5 But wreak your wrongs wrought to this knight alone,

wreak > avenge
alone > acting by himself; _hence:_ unaided

6 And prove his cause." With that her mortal spear

cause > case, suit
mortal > lethal

7 She