> [it may]

2 So strange example of conception;

So > [Such a]

3 But reason teaches that the fruitful seeds
4 Of all things living, through impression
5 Of the sunbeams in moist complexion,

complexion > combination of humours ("cold" or "hot", "moist" or
"dry". The "humours", in medieval physiology, were the four
chief fluids of the body: blood, phlegm, choler and melancholy.
A person's temperament was said to be determined by the relative
proportions of these four cardinal humours)

6 Do life conceive and quickened are by kind:

quickened > given life
by kind > by nature; by their natures

7 So after Nile's inundation,

Nile > [the River Nile; see 101.21]

8 Infinite shapes of creatures men do find
9 Informed in the mud, on which the sun has shone.

Informed > Formed; arranged

306.9

Great father he of generation
2 Is rightly cald, th'author of life and light;
And his faire sister for creation
4 Ministreth matter fit, which tempred right
With heate and humour, breedes the liuing wight.
6 So sprong these twinnes in wombe of _Chrysogone_,
Yet wist she nought thereof, but sore affright,
8 Wondred to see her belly so vpblone,
Which still increast, till she her terme had full outgone.

1 Great father he of generation

he > [the sun]

2 Is rightly called, the author of life and light;
3 And his fair sister for creation

his fair sister > (The moon: Phoebe (Diana) is the twin sister of
Phoebus Apollo)

4 Ministers matter fit, which, tempered right

Ministers > Manages; furnishes; dispenses (Spenser's chief source
for this account of spontaneous generation is _Met._ 1.416-37)

5 With heat and humour, breeds the living wight.

humour > moisture
wight > creature

6 So sprang these twins in womb of Chrysogone,
7 Yet wist she naught thereof, but sore affright,

Yet wist she naught thereof, but sore affright > (Two inter-
pretations seem possible: (1) "Yet knew she nothing thereof, but,
sorely terrified," in which case "Wondered" at the start of line
8 means "Marvelled"; and (2) "Yet she knew nothing thereof but
sore terror," giving "Wondered" the meaning "Filled with wonder")

8 Wondered to see her belly so up-blown,

up-blown > swollen

9 Which still increased, till she her term had full outgone.

still > continually

306.10

Whereof conceiuing shame and foule disgrace,
2 Albe her guiltlesse cons