she was pure from blame of sinfull blot,
Yet wist her life at last must lincke in that same knot.

1 But, as it falls, in the gentlest hearts

gentlest > gentlest; noblest; most courteous

2 Imperious Love has highest set his throne,

Love > [Cupid]

3 And tyrannizes in the bitter smarts

smarts > pains

4 Of them, that to him buxom are and prone:

buxom > yielding
prone > ready [in mind], eager; given, inclined

5 So thought this maid (as maidens use to do)

thought > considered (esp. in connexion with marriage)
use > are accustomed

6 Whom Fortune for her husband would allot,

Whom > [He whom]

7 Not that she lusted after anyone;
8 For she was pure from blame of sinful blot,

blame > fault; charge, accusation

9 Yet wist her life at last must link in that same knot.

wist > knew

302.24

Eftsoones there was presented to her eye
2 A comely knight, all arm'd in +complete+ wize,
Through whose bright ventayle lifted vp on hye
4 His manly face, that did his foes agrize,
And friends to termes of gentle truce entize,
6 Lookt foorth, as _Ph{oe}bus_ face out of the east,
Betwixt two shadie mountaines doth arize;
8 Portly his person was, and much increast
Through his Heroicke grace, and honorable gest.

2 complete > complet _1596, 1609_

1 Eftsoons there was presented to her eye

Eftsoons > Thereupon

2 A comely knight, all armed in complete wise,

armed > [with arms and armour both]
wise > manner, fashion (i.e. he is "armed to point": cf. 102.12:6)

3 Through whose bright ventail, lifted up on high,

ventail > {Visor, movable part of helmet}

4 His manly face (that did his foes agrise,

agrise > terrify

5 And friends to terms of gentle truce entice)
6 Looked forth, as Phoebus' face out of the east
7 Betwixt two shady mountains does arise;
8 Portly his person was, and much increased

Portly > Magnificent; stately, dignified, imposing
increased > made more powerful; _hence:_ enhanced

9 Through his heroic grace, and honourable gest.

gest > bearing, mien

302.25

His crest was couered with a couchant Hound,
2 And all his armour seem'd of antique mould,
But wondrous massie and assured sound,
4 And round about yfretted all with gold,
In which there written was with cyphers old,
6 _Achilles armes, which Arthegall did win_.
And on his shield enueloped seuenfold
8 He b