llow shaped was,
Like to the world it selfe, and seem'd a world of glas.

1 It virtue had to show in perfect sight

virtue > power

2 Whatever thing was in the world contained,
3 Betwixt the lowest earth and heaven's height,
4 So that it to the looker appertained;

So > Provided; to the extent

5 Whatever foe had wrought, or friend had fained,

fained > rejoiced in; _or:_ feigned, concealed

6 Therein discovered was, nor aught might pass,

discovered > revealed
pass > have passage, _so:_ escape [notice]

7 Nor aught in secret from the same remained;

the same > [the magic globe]

8 For-thy it round and hollow shaped was,

For-thy > Therefore

9 Like the world itself, and seemed a world of glass.

302.20

Who wonders not, that reades so wonderous worke?
2 But who does wonder, that has red the Towre,
Wherein th'{AE}gyptian _Phao_ long did lurke
4 From all mens vew, that none might her discoure,
Yet she might all men vew out of her bowre?
6 Great _Ptolom{ae}e_ it for his lemans sake
Ybuilded all of glasse, by Magicke powre,
8 And also it impregnable did make;
Yet when his loue was false, he with a peaze it brake.

1 Who wonders not, that reads so wondrous work?

wonders > marvels
reads > sees; reads about; considers
so > such; such a

2 But who does wonder, that has read the tower
3 Wherein the Egyptian Phao long did lurk

Phao > (Perhaps from Greek _phaos_, light; the source of this story
is not known)

4 From all men's view, that none might her discover,

that > [so that]

5 Yet she might all men view out of her bower?

bower > room, chamber

6 Great Ptolemy it for his leman's sake

Ptolemy > (Ptolemy II, 309-247 BC, king of Egypt 285-246. Founder
of the museum and library of Alexandria; completed the Pharos,
the lighthouse which was one of the seven wonders of the ancient
world. He was credited with almost magical powers in working
with glass)
leman > lover

7 Built all of glass, by magic power,
8 And also it impregnable did make;
9 Yet, when his love was false, he with a peise it broke.

peise > blow, heavy blow; _or, conceivably, in view of his
supernatural powers:_ pease: pea

302.21

Such was the glassie globe that _Merlin_ made,
2 And gaue vnto king _Ryence_ for his gard,
That neuer foes his kingdome might inuade,
4 But he it knew at home before he hard
Tydings