Britomart herself arrayed,
3 And her bright arms about her body dight:

arms > armour
dight > arrayed, put on

4 For nothing would she longer there be stayed,

stayed > detained

5 Where so loose life, and so ungentle trade

so loose > such promiscuous
ungentle trade > ignoble conduct

6 Was used of knights and ladies seeming gent:

used of > practised by
gent > high-born, noble

7 So early, ere the gross Earth's griesy shade

gross > massive; dense, thick
griesy > grim

8 Was all dispersed out of the firmament,
9 They took their steeds, and forth upon their journey went.

They > [Britomart, her "aged Squire" (301.4:3), and the Redcross
Knight]

CANTO II

_The Redcrosse knight to Britomart
2 describeth Artegall:
The wondrous myrrhour, by which she
4 in loue with him did fall._

1 The Redcross Knight to Britomart
2 describes Artegall:

Artegall > (The hero of Book V. The name "Arthgal" is used by
Geoffrey of Monmouth (_HRB_ 9.12). Artgallo, son of Gorlois, was
the brother of Cador, king of Cornwall, and half-brother of
Arthur; in _FQ_ "Artegall" signifies "Equal to Arthur")

3 The wondrous mirror, by which she

mirror > magic glass, crystal

4 in love with him did fall.

302.1

HEre haue I cause, in men iust blame to find,
2 That in their proper prayse too partiall bee,
And not indifferent to woman kind,
4 To whom no share in armes and cheualrie
They do impart, ne maken memorie
6 Of their braue gestes and prowesse martiall;
Scarse do they spare to one or two or three,
8 Rowme in their writs; yet the same writing small
Does all their deeds deface, and dims their glories +all.+

9 all. > all, _1596_

1 Here have I cause in men just blame to find,
2 That in their proper praise too partial be,

proper > own

3 And not indifferent to womankind,

indifferent > fair, impartial

4 To whom no share in arms and chivalry

arms > {Feats of arms}

5 They do impart, nor make memory

memory > memorial; historical record

6 Of their brave gests and prowess martial;

gests > exploits, deeds
prowess > valour

7 Scarce do they spare, to one or two or three,
8 Room in their writs; yet the same writing small

writs > writings, books
small > {Sparse, inconsiderable; falling short of the usual
standard}

9 Does all their deeds deface, and dims their glories all.

deface > disgrace