arth was his couch, the hard steele his pillow.

1 Tho, when her ways he could no more descry,

Tho > Then
ways > way

2 But to and fro at disadventure strayed

at disadventure > unfortunately, lucklessly; _hence:_ without
success ("disadventure" = "misfortune", "mischance")

3 (Like a ship whose lodestar, suddenly
4 Covered with clouds, her pilot has dismayed),
5 His wearisome pursuit perforce he stayed,

stayed > ceased

6 And from his lofty steed dismounting low,
7 Did let him forage. Down himself he laid
8 Upon the grassy ground, to sleep a throw;

throw > turn; _hence:_ spell, while

9 The cold earth was his couch, the hard steel his pillow.

couch > bed

304.54

But gentle Sleepe enuyde him any rest;
2 In stead thereof sad sorrow, and disdaine
Of his hard hap did vexe his noble brest,
4 And thousand fancies bet his idle braine
With their light wings, the sights of semblants vaine:
6 Oft did he wish, that Lady faire mote bee
His Faery Queene, for whom he did complaine:
8 Or that his Faery Queene were such, as shee:
And euer hastie Night he blamed bitterlie.

1 But gentle Sleep envied him any rest;

gentle > gentle; high-born, noble
Sleep > (The adjective and the capital letter indicate that Spenser
means Somnus, the god of sleep; or perhaps his son, Morpheus (see
101.40:6), so preparing us for the forthcoming theologism)
envied > begrudged

2 Instead thereof sad sorrow, and disdain

disdain > indignation, anger [... at]

3 Of his hard hap, did vex his noble breast,

hap > fortune, lot

4 And thousand fancies beat his idle brain

idle > inactive; empty

5 With their light wings, the sights of semblants vain:

sights > appearances, visions
semblants > images
vain > weak, foolish; unavailing

6 Oft did he wish that lady fair might be

that > [that that]

7 His Faery Queen, for whom he did complain:

complain > suffer, ail; groan, lament

8 Or that his Faery Queen were such as she:
9 And ever hasty Night he blamed bitterly.

ever hasty > (Both alternatives are probably intended: "ever,
hasty", and "ever-hasty". Cf. 102.37:9)
Night > (Nox is here taken as the antithesis of the effulgent
Gloriana)
blamed > reproved

304.55

Night thou foule Mother of annoyance sad,
2 Sister of heauie death, and nourse of woe,
Which wast begot in heauen, but for thy bad
4 And brutish shape t