such hardy boldness was restrained,
9 And of his luckless lot and cruel love thus plained:

plained > complained

305.45

Vnthankfull wretch (said he) is this the meed,
2 With which her soueraigne mercy thou doest quight?
Thy life she saued by her gracious deed,
4 But thou doest weene with villeinous despight,
To blot her honour, and her heauenly light.
6 Dye rather, dye, then so disloyally
Deeme of her high desert, or seeme so light:
8 Faire death it is to shonne more shame, to dy:
Dye rather, dy, then euer loue disloyally.

1 "Unthankful wretch," said he, "is this the meed

meed > reward

2 With which her sovereign mercy you do quit?

quit > requite

3 Your life she saved by her gracious deed,
4 But you do ween with villainous despite

ween > imagine, think it possible
despite > outrage

5 To blot her honour, and her heavenly light.
6 Die rather, die, than so disloyally
7 Deem of her high desert, or seem so light:

Deem > [To] think
desert > merit

8 Fair death it is to shun more shame, to die:

to shun more shame, to die > [to die in order to shun more shame]

9 Die rather, die, than ever love disloyally!

305.46

But if to loue disloyalty it bee,
2 Shall I then hate her, that from deathes dore
Me brought? ah farre be such reproch fro mee.
4 What can I lesse do, then her loue therefore,
Sith I her dew reward cannot restore:
6 Dye rather, dye, and dying do her serue,
Dying her serue, and liuing her adore;
8 Thy life she gaue, thy life she doth deserue:
Dye rather, dye, then euer from her seruice swerue.

1 "But if to love disloyalty it be,
2 Shall I then hate her, that from death's door
3 Me brought? Ah, far be such reproach from me.

reproach > shame

4 What can I less do, than her love therefore,
5 Sith I her due reward cannot restore?

Sith > Since

6 Die rather, die, and dying do her serve,
7 Dying her serve, and living her adore;
8 Your life she gave, your life she does deserve:
9 Die rather, die, than ever from her service swerve.

305.47

But foolish boy, what bootes thy seruice bace
2 To her, to whom the heauens do serue and sew?
Thou a meane Squire, of meeke and lowly place,
4 She heauenly borne, and of celestiall hew.
How then? of all loue taketh equall vew:
6 And doth not highest God vouchsafe to take
The loue and seruice