e seemes ashamed inwardly.
8 But her old Nourse was nought dishartened,
But vauntage made of that, which _Merlin_ had ared.

1 The doubtful maid, seeing herself descried,

doubtful > fearful, apprehensive
descried > made known, revealed, discovered; seen through

2 Was all abashed, and her pure ivory
3 Into a clear carnation sudden dyed;
4 As fair Aurora, rising hastily,
5 Does by her blushing tell that she did lie
6 All night in old Tithonus' frozen bed,
7 Whereof she seems ashamed inwardly.
8 But her old nurse was naught disheartened,
9 But vantage made of that which Merlin had aread.

vantage > advantage
aread > divined; declared

303.21

And sayd, Sith then thou knowest all our griefe,
2 (For what doest not thou know?) of grace I pray,
Pitty our plaint, and yield vs meet reliefe.
4 With that the Prophet still awhile did stay,
And then his spirite thus gan forth display;
6 Most noble Virgin, that by fatall lore
Hast learn'd to loue, let no whit thee dismay
8 The hard begin, that meets thee in the +dore,+
And with sharpe fits thy tender hart oppresseth sore.

8 dore, > dore. _1596_

1 And said, "Sith then you know all our grief

Sith > Since
grief > suffering, pain

2 (For what do not you know?), of grace I pray,

of grace > as a favour

3 Pity our plaint, and yield us meet relief."

plaint > {Lamentation, complaint; statement of grievance made in
seeking redress}
meet > fitting

4 With that the prophet still awhile did stay,

still awhile did stay > (Two interpretations are possible: (1)
"motionless (or quiet) awhile did remain"; (2) "yet awhile did
hold back" [delay putting them out of their misery])

5 And then his spirit thus gan forth display:

gan > did
display > unfold, expound [a tale]

6 "Most noble virgin, that by fatal lore

fatal lore > predestined command; preordained doctrine

7 Has learned to love, let no whit you dismay
8 The hard beginning that meets you in the door,

in the door > [at the outset]

9 And with sharp fits your tender heart oppresses sore.

303.22

For so must all things excellent begin,
2 And eke enrooted deepe must be that Tree,
Whose big embodied braunches shall not lin,
4 Till they to heauens hight forth stretched bee.
For from thy wombe a famous Progenie
6 Shall spring, out of the auncient _Troian_ blood,
Which shall reuiue the