2 But th'only forme and outward fashion;
For euery substance is conditioned
4 To change her hew, and sundry formes to don,
Meet for her temper and complexion:
6 For formes are variable and decay,
By course of kind, and by occasion;
8 And that faire flowre of beautie fades away,
As doth the lilly fresh before the sunny ray.

1 The substance is not changed, nor altered,
2 But the only form and outward fashion;

the only > [only the]
fashion > {Appearance; form as opposed to matter}

3 For every substance is conditioned
4 To change its hue, and sundry forms to don,

hue > appearance, form

5 Meet for its temper and complexion:

Meet > Suitable
temper > {Character, quality; temperament, i.e. the combination of
bodily "humours"}
complexion > {Nature; bodily or mental habit; temperament}

6 For forms are variable and decay,
7 By course of kind, and by occasion;

kind > nature
occasion > necessity; course of events, force of circumstance

8 And that fair flower of beauty fades away,
9 As does the lily fresh before the sunny ray.

306.39

Great enimy to it, and +to+ all the rest,
2 That in the _Gardin_ of _Adonis_ springs,
Is wicked _Time_, who with his scyth addrest,
4 Does mow the flowring herbes and goodly things,
And all their glory to the ground downe flings,
6 Where they doe wither, and are fowly mard:
He flyes about, and with his flaggy wings
8 Beates downe both leaues and buds without regard,
Ne euer pittie may relent his malice hard.

1 to > _omitted from 1611, for the sake of the metre_

1 Great enemy to it (and to all the rest,
2 That in the Garden of Adonis springs)

springs > grows

3 Is wicked Time, who, with his scythe addressed,

addressed > armed, equipped

4 Does mow the flowering herbs and goodly things,

goodly > beautiful

5 And all their glory to the ground down-flings,
6 Where they do wither, and are foully marred:

marred > spoiled; debased; ruined

7 He flies about, and with his flaggy wings

flaggy > drooping

8 Beats down both leaves and buds without regard,
9 Ne ever pity may relent his malice hard.

Ne ever > Nor ever; never
may > can
relent > soften, cause to relent

306.40

Yet pittie often did the gods relent,
2 To see so faire things mard, and spoyled quight:
And their great mother _Venus_ did lament
4 The losse of her deare