ch he follow should his brethren bad),

brethren > brothers

6 His bootless bow in feeble hand upcaught,

bootless > unavailing

7 And therewith shot an arrow at the lad;

therewith > with that; thereupon

8 Which, faintly fluttering, scarce his helmet raught

raught > reached

9 And, glancing, fell to ground, but him annoyed naught.

annoyed > injured; vexed
naught > not at all

305.25

With that he would haue fled into the wood;
2 But _Timias_ him lightly ouerhent,
Right as he entring was into the flood,
4 And strooke at him with force so violent,
That headlesse him into the foord he sent:
6 The carkas with the streame was carried downe,
But th'head fell backeward on the Continent.
8 So mischief fel vpon the meaners crowne;
They three be dead with shame, the Squire liues with renowne.

1 With that he would have fled into the wood;
2 But Timias him lightly overhent,

lightly overhent > quickly overtook

3 Right as he entering was into the flood,

Right > Just, exactly
flood > river; water

4 And struck at him with force so violent,
5 That headless him into the ford he sent:
6 The carcase with the stream was carried down,
7 But the head fell backward on the continent.

continent > {Land, that which contains [the water]; hence: bank,
margin}

8 So mischief fell upon the meaners' crown;

mischief > misfortune, disaster
meaners' > (Or meaner's: they or he who intended mischief)

9 They three be dead with shame: the squire lives with renown.

be > [are]

305.26

He liues, but takes small ioy of his renowne;
2 For of that cruell wound he bled so sore,
That from his steed he fell in deadly swowne;
4 Yet still the bloud forth gusht in so great store,
That he lay wallowd all in his owne gore.
6 Now God thee keepe, thou gentlest Squire aliue,
Else shall thy louing Lord thee see no more,
8 But both of comfort him thou shalt depriue,
And eke thy selfe of honour, which thou didst atchiue.

1 He lives, but takes small joy of his renown;
2 For of that cruel wound he bled so sore
3 That from his steed he fell in deadly swoon;

deadly > death-like; (potentially) fatal

4 Yet still the blood forth gushed, in so great store

so > such

5 That he lay wallowed all in his own gore.

wallowed > prostrate _and hence_ immersed; wallowing

6 Now God you keep, you gentlest squire