,
4 And darkesome night he eke could turne to day:
Huge hostes of men he could alone dismay,
6 And hostes of men of meanest things could frame,
When so him list his enimies to fray:
8 That to this day for terror of his fame,
The feends do quake, when any him to them does name.

1 For he by words could call out of the sky
2 Both sun and moon, and make them him obey:
3 The land to sea, and sea to mainland dry,
4 And darksome night he eke could turn to day:

eke > also

5 Huge hosts of men he could alone dismay,

hosts > armies
alone > acting by himself; _hence:_ unaided, single-handedly
dismay > defeat

6 And hosts of men of meanest things could frame,

frame > make, fashion

7 Whenso him list his enemies to fray:

Whenso > Whenever
him list > it pleased him, he chose
fray > frighten; assault, attack

8 That to this day, for terror of his fame,

That > [So that]
fame > evil reputation

9 The fiends do quake when any him to them does name.

any > anyone

303.13

And sooth, men say that he was not the sonne
2 Of mortall Syre, or other liuing wight,
But wondrously begotten, and begonne
4 By false illusion of a guilefull Spright,
On a faire Ladie Nonne, that whilome hight
6 _Matilda_, daughter to _Pubidius_,
Who was the Lord of _Mathrauall_ by right,
8 And coosen vnto king _Ambrosius_:
Whence he indued was with skill so maruellous.

1 And sooth, men say that he was not the son

sooth > truly, in truth

2 Of mortal sire, or other living wight,

sire > father
wight > creature

3 But wondrously begotten, and begun

begun > brought into being

4 By false illusion of a guileful sprite,

sprite > (See _HRB_ 6.18)

5 On a fair lady nun, that whilom hight

whilom > formerly, of old
hight > was named

6 Matilda, daughter to Pubidius,

Matilda > "Might of Battle" (Teutonic); _also:_ "Noble or honourable
Lady of Maids" (Camden (1605) noted by Hamilton (1980); this name
and that of Pubidius do not occur in _HRB_)

7 Who was the Lord of Matraval by right,

Matraval > (One of the ancient divisions of Wales)

8 And cousin to King Ambrosius:

cousin > kinsman

9 Whence he endued was with skill so marvellous.

skill > skill; knowledge, science

303.14

They here ariuing, staid a while without,
2 Ne durst aduenture rashly in to wend,
But of their first intent gan make new