her +auisd+, that he, which made
2 That mirrhour, wherein the sicke Damosell
So straungely vewed her straunge louers shade,
4 To weet, the learned _Merlin_, well could tell,
Vnder what coast of heauen the man did dwell,
6 And by what meanes his loue might best be wrought:
For though beyond the _Africk Ismaell_,
8 Or th'Indian _Peru_ he were, she thought
Him forth through infinite endeuour to haue sought.

1 auisd > aduis'd _1609; cf. 402.22:7_

1 At last she her advised that he who made

her advised > bethought herself, reflected, recalled

2 That mirror (wherein the sick damsel

mirror > magic glass, crystal ball

3 So strangely viewed her strange lover's shade),

strange > {Foreign, not of this region}
shade > spectre

4 To wit, the learned Merlin, well could tell

tell > [relate]

5 Under what coast of heaven the man did dwell,

coast > tract, region

6 And by what means his love might best be wrought:
7 For though beyond the African Ismael,

African Ismael > (The north African territories of the Arabs or of
Mohameddans generally, who were held to be descendants of
Ishmael)

8 Or the Indian Peru he were, she thought

Indian > (America was thought to be India; like "the _Africk
Ismael_", it was an outpost of the known world. Cf. 200.2:6)

9 Him forth through infinite endeavour to have sought.

303.7

Forthwith themselues disguising both in straunge
2 And base attyre, that none might them bewray,
To _Maridunum_, that is now by chaunge
4 Of name _Cayr-Merdin_ cald, they tooke their way:
There the wise _Merlin_ whylome wont (they say)
6 To make his wonne, low vnderneath the ground,
In a deepe delue, farre from the vew of day,
8 That of no liuing wight he mote be found,
When so he counseld with his sprights encompast round.

1 Forthwith, themselves disguising both in strange
2 And base attire, that none might them bewray,

that > [so that]
bewray > reveal, make known; betray

3 To Maridunum, that is now by change
4 Of name Caer-merdin called, they took their way:

Caer-merdin > (Carmarthen, in Wales; the traditional birthplace of
Merlin)

5 There the wise Merlin whilom wont (they say)

wise > {Sage; skilled in magic arts}
whilom > formerly, of old
wont > was accustomed
they > (The chroniclers, e.g. Geoffrey of Monmouth in _HRB_ 6.17)

6 To make his wone, low underneath the grou