n dolefull plight,
6 First rooting tooke; but what thing it mote bee,
Or whence it sprong, I cannot read aright:
8 But this I read, that but if remedee,
Thou her afford, full shortly I her dead shall see.

1 He bade tell on; and then she thus began:
2 "Now have three moons with borrowed brother's light

brother > [the sun]

3 Thrice shined fair, and thrice seemed dim and wan,
4 Sith a sore evil, which this virgin bright

Sith > Since
sore > grievous (adj.); sore (sb.: see 302.39:6)
evil > malady, misfortune (sb.); _or, if "sore" is taken as a sb.:_
evil (adj.)
bright > beautiful

5 Torments, and does plunge in doleful plight,
6 First rooting took; but what thing it might be,
7 Or whence it sprang, I cannot read aright:

read > declare

8 But this I read, that but if remedy

but if > [if no, unless]

9 You her afford, full shortly I her dead shall see."

full > very

303.17

Therewith th'Enchaunter softly gan to smyle
2 At her smooth speeches, weeting inly well,
That she to him dissembled womanish guyle,
4 And to her said, Beldame, by that ye tell,
More need of leach-craft hath your Damozell,
6 Then of my skill: who helpe may haue elsewhere,
In vaine seekes wonders out of Magicke spell.
8 Th'old woman wox half blanck, those words to heare;
And yet was loth to let her purpose plaine appeare.

1 Therewith the enchanter softly began to smile

Therewith > With that; thereupon

2 At her smooth speeches, weeting inly well

weeting > knowing, understanding
inly > inwardly

3 That she to him dissembled womanish guile,
4 And to her said, "Beldam, by that you tell,

Beldam > (Respectful form of address to an elderly woman)
that > [that which]

5 More need of leechcraft has your damsel

leechcraft > medicine, medical science

6 Than of my skill: who help may have elsewhere,

skill > skill; knowledge, science, occult powers
who > [he who, whoever]

7 In vain seeks wonders out of magic spell."
8 The old woman waxed half blank, those words to hear;

waxed > grew
blank > nonplussed; white, pale

9 And yet was loath to let her purpose plain appear.

303.18

And to him said, If any leaches skill,
2 Or other learned meanes could haue redrest
This my deare daughters deepe engraffed ill,
4 Certes I should be loth thee to molest:
But this sad euill, which doth her infest,
6 Dot