e the six Islands, comprouinciall
In auncient times vnto great Britainee,
8 Shall to the same reduce, and to him call
Their sundry kings to do their homage seuerall.

1 "Behold the man, and tell me, Britomart,

the man > [Malgo; Spenser diplomatically ignores his sexual habits]

2 If ay more goodly creature you did see;

ay > ever
goodly > handsome

3 How like a giant in each manly part
4 Bears he himself with portly majesty,

portly > stately, magnificent; dignified, imposing

5 That one of the old heroes seems to be:

That > [So that]
seems > [he seems]

6 He the Six Islands, comprovincial

the Six Islands > (Ireland, Iceland, Gotland, the Orkneys, Norway,
Denmark)
comprovincial > {Belonging to the same province}

7 In ancient times to Great Britain,
8 Shall to the same reduce, and to him call

reduce > bring back (Latin _reducere_)

9 Their sundry kings to do their homage several.

several > [individual, different; variously]

303.33

All which his sonne _Careticus_ awhile
2 Shall well defend, and _Saxons_ powre suppresse,
Vntill a straunger king from +vnknowne+ soyle
4 Arriuing, him with multitude oppresse;
Great _Gormond_, hauing with huge mightinesse
6 Ireland subdewd, and therein fixt his throne,
Like a swift Otter, fell through emptinesse,
8 Shall ouerswim the sea with many one
Of his Norueyses, to assist the Britons fone.

3 vnknowne > vnkowne _1596_

1 "All which his son Careticus awhile
2 Shall well defend, and Saxons' power suppress,
3 Until a stranger king from unknown soil

stranger > foreign

4 Arriving, him with multitude oppress;

multitude > [a multitude]
oppress > [shall] take by surprise; [shall] overwhelm

5 Great Gormund, having with huge mightiness
6 Ireland subdued, and therein fixed his throne,
7 Like a swift otter, fell through emptiness,

fell > fierce, terrible
emptiness > [hunger]

8 Shall overswim the sea with many
9 Of his Norwegians, to assist the Britons' foes.

303.34

He in his furie all shall ouerrunne,
2 And holy Church with faithlesse hands deface,
That thy sad people vtterly fordonne,
4 Shall to the vtmost mountaines fly apace:
Was neuer so great wast in any place,
6 Nor so fowle +outrage+ doen by liuing men:
For all thy Cities they shall sacke and race,
8 And the greene grasse, that groweth, they shall bren,
Tha