teacheth her this lesson hard and rare,
4 That fortune all in equall launce doth sway,
And mortall miseries doth make her play.
6 So long she trauelled, till at length she came
To an hilles side, which did to her bewray
8 A little valley, subiect to the same,
All couerd with thick woods, that quite it ouercame.

1 And forced to alight: on foot might algates fare,

might algates fare > [she must proceed; algates = at any rate,
anyhow]

2 A traveller unwonted to such way;

unwonted > unaccustomed
way > manner of travel

3 Need teaches her this lesson hard and rare,

rare > (An intensive, qualifying "hard")

4 That Fortune all in equal launce does sway,

equal > [an] impartial; [the] same
launce > scales, balance (WU)
sway > weigh; press down; sway

5 And mortal miseries does make her play.

play > game, sport; play (i.e. side-to-side motion of the scales)

6 So long she travelled, till at length she came

So > Thus

7 To a hill's side, which did to her bewray

bewray > reveal

8 A little valley, subject to the same,

subject to > under

9 All covered with thick woods, that quite it overcame.

overcame > overran; dominated

307.5

Through +the tops+ of the high trees she did descry
2 A litle smoke, whose vapour thin and light,
Reeking aloft, vprolled to the sky:
4 Which, chearefull signe did send vnto her sight,
That in the same did wonne some liuing wight.
6 Eftsoones her steps she thereunto applyde,
And came at last in weary wretched plight
8 Vnto the place, to which her hope did guyde,
To find some refuge there, and rest her weary syde.

1 the tops > th'tops _1609_

1 Through the tops of the high trees she did descry
2 A little smoke, whose vapour, thin and light,
3 Reeking aloft, uprolled to the sky:

Reeking > Rising (used of smoke, vapour, etc.)
uprolled > rolled up

4 Which cheerful sign did send to her sight
5 That in the same did won some living wight.

That in the same > [The impression that under the smoke]
won > dwell
wight > person

6 Eftsoons her steps she thereto applied,

Eftsoons > Thereupon
thereto applied > directed to that place

7 And came at last in weary wretched plight
8 To the place, to which her hope did guide,

guide > [guide her]

9 To find some refuge there, and rest her weary side.

side > sides, body; _hence:_ self

307.6

There in a