s too haughtie hardines might reare
6 Some hard mishap, in hazard of his life:
For thy she oft him counseld to forbeare
8 The bloudie battell, and to stirre vp strife,
But after all his warre, to rest his wearie knife.

2 scath > scathe _1609_

1 Thereto he was a doughty dreaded knight,

Thereto > Moreover, also

2 Tried often to the scathe of many dear,

Tried > Tested [in his prowess]
scathe > harm, damage
dear > grievously

3 That none in equal arms him match might,

That > [Such that; so that]
equal arms > impartial combat
might > could

4 Which, his mother seeing, began to fear

began > [she began]

5 Lest his too haughty hardiness might rear

haughty > high; proud, arrogant
rear > arouse, bring into existence

6 Some hard mishap, in hazard of his life:
7 For-thy she oft him counselled to forbear

For-thy > For this reason

8 The bloody battle and to stir up strife,

to stir up > [the stirring up of]

9 But, after all his war, to rest his weary knife.

knife > sword

304.25

And for his more assurance, she inquir'd
2 One day of _Proteus_ by his mightie spell,
(For _Proteus_ was with prophecie inspir'd)
4 Her deare sonnes destinie to her to tell,
And the sad end of her sweet _Marinell_.
6 Who through foresight of his eternall skill,
Bad her from womankind to keepe him well:
8 For of a woman he should haue much ill,
A virgin strange and stout him should dismay, or kill.

1 And, for his more assurance, she inquired

more > greater
assurance > security

2 One day of Proteus, by his mighty spell

Proteus > (The Old Man of the Sea, a god who can foretell the future
(see _Met._ 11.249-56, _Odyssey_ 4))
spell > occult power

3 (For Proteus was with prophecy inspired)
4 Her dear son's destiny to her to tell,
5 And the sad end of her sweet Marinell.
6 Who, through foresight of his eternal skill,

Who > [Proteus]
eternal skill > [knowledge of eternity]

7 Bade her from womankind to keep him well:
8 For of a woman he should have much ill,

of > from, by
ill > evil, suffering, misfortune

9 A virgin strange and stout him should dismay, or kill.

strange > foreign, new-come
stout > bold, brave
dismay > overcome

304.26

For thy she gaue him warning euery day,
2 The loue of women not to entertaine;
A lesson too too hard for liuing clay,
4 From loue in course of natur