er nimble thigh,
buskins > boots, half-boots (not extending to thigh; they are silver
because she is also goddess of the moon)
nimble > swift; agile
thigh > [feet, legs]
4 And her lank loins ungirt, and breasts unbraced,
lank > lean, slender
loins > flanks, waist (to "gird up one's loins" is to prepare
oneself for action)
unbraced > freed (from confining bands or braces forming part of
armour, etc.)
5 After her heat the breathing cold to taste;
6 Her golden locks, that late in tresses bright
late > recently
bright > bright; beautiful
7 Embraided were for hindering of her haste,
Embraided > Plaited
for hindering of > [to prevent them from hindering]
8 Now loose about her shoulders hung undight,
undight > unarranged; _hence:_ loose, loosely
9 And were with sweet ambrosia all besprinkled light.
ambrosia > (Possibly the unguent of the gods: cf. _PL_ 5.55, _Aen._
1.403-4, though this meaning came into currency rather later than
1590. In his _Herball_ (1597) 950 (quoted Fowler (1971) 101),
Gerard remarks that "The fragrant smell that this kinde of
_Ambrosia_ or Oke of Cappadocia yeeldeth, hath mooved the Poets
to suppose that this herbe was meate and foode for the gods."
The "Oak of Cappadocia" is a plant of the daisy family. Perhaps
we are simply to take it that Diana's hair, after the chase, is
left sprinkled with perfumed fragments of leaves and flowers)
besprinkled > {Sprinkled all over; the prefix is intensive}
306.19
Soone as she _Venus_ saw behind her backe,
2 She was asham'd to be so loose surprized
And woxe halfe wroth against her damzels slacke,
4 That had not her thereof before auized,
But suffred her so carelesly disguized
6 Be ouertaken. Soone her garments loose
Vpgath'ring, in her bosome she comprized,
8 Well as she might, and to the Goddesse rose,
Whiles all her Nymphes did like a girlond her enclose.
1 Soon as she Venus saw behind her back,
Soon > [As soon]
2 She was ashamed to be so loose surprised
loose > ungirt, naked
3 And waxed half wroth against her damsels slack,
waxed half wroth against > half grew angry with
4 That had not her thereof before advised,
advised > informed, apprised
5 But suffered her so carelessly disguised
suffered > allowed
disguised > {Dressed in a fashion different from that which is
customary or considered appropriate}
6 Be overtaken. Soon her garmen
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