rs of huge Atlas strove

the moist daughters of huge Atlas > (The Hyades or Rainers, a star-
cluster or asterism marking the head of the constellation Taurus.
The most prominent of the Hyades is Aldebaran, the eye of the
bull. At best, seven of the Hyades are visible to the naked eye.
In early legend they were said to be seven nymphs placed by
Jupiter in the sky. Later (_Myth._ 4.7) they became daughters of
Atlas (a mythical giant said to support on his shoulders the
pillars of the universe), and their number increased to twelve or
fifteen. The name is probably derived from the Greek verb _hyo_,
to rain; the V-shaped cluster of the Hyades, when rising
simultaneously with the sun, was said to portend wet weather:
hence the alternative name, and Spenser's epithet)

9 Into the ocean deep to drive their weary drove.

drove > flock, shoal; _hence:_ star-cluster

301.58

High time it seemed then for euery wight
2 Them to betake vnto their kindly rest;
Eftsoones long waxen torches weren light,
4 Vnto their bowres to guiden euery guest:
Tho when the Britonesse saw all the rest
6 Auoided quite, she gan her selfe despoile,
And safe commit to her soft fethered nest,
8 Where through long watch, and late dayes weary toile,
She soundly slept, and carefull thoughts did quite assoile.

1 High time it seemed then for every wight

every > [all severally: all the wights; cf. 312.1:3]
wight > person

2 Them to betake to their kindly rest;

kindly > natural

3 Eftsoons long waxen torches were lit,

Eftsoons > Soon; thereupon

4 To their bowers to guide every guest:

bowers > rooms

5 Tho when the Britoness saw all the rest

Tho > Then

6 Avoided quite, she gan herself despoil

Avoided > Retired, retreated
gan > did
despoil > undress

7 And safe commit to her soft feathered nest,
8 Where, through long watch and late day's weary toil,

long watch > [having been awake for a long time]
late > [the late, the preceding]

9 She soundly slept, and careful thoughts did quite assoil.

careful > anxious
assoil > pardon, absolve; _hence:_ set free, resolve, do away with

301.59

Now whenas all the world in silence deepe
2 Yshrowded was, and euery mortall wight
Was drowned in the depth of deadly sleepe,
4 Faire _Malecasta_, whose engrieued spright
Could find no rest in such perplexed plight,
6 Lightly arose out of her wearie bed,