fe,
That sure I weene, the hardest hart of stone,
8 Would hardly find to aggrauate her griefe;
For misery craues rather mercie, then repriefe.

1 So oft as I this history record,

history > history; story

2 My heart does melt with mere compassion

mere > pure, complete, sheer

3 To think how causeless of her own accord

causeless of her own accord > [through no fault of hers]

4 This gentle damsel, whom I write upon,

gentle > gracious; gentle; noble
upon > [about]

5 Should plunged be in such affliction,
6 Without all hope of comfort or relief,
7 That sure, I ween, the hardest heart of stone

That sure > [So that surely]
ween > think, believe

8 Would hardly find to aggravate her grief;

find > contrive
grief > suffering, pain

9 For misery craves rather mercy than reproof.

reproof > reproof, scorn; shame, disgrace

308.2

But that accursed Hag, her hostesse late,
2 Had so enranckled her malitious hart,
That she desyrd th'abridgement of her fate,
4 Or long enlargement of her painefull smart.
Now when the Beast, which by her wicked art
6 Late forth she sent, she backe returning spyde,
Tyde with her +broken+ girdle, it a part
8 Of her rich spoyles, whom he had earst destroyd,
She weend, and wondrous gladnesse to her hart applyde.

7 broken > golden _1590_

1 But that accursed hag, her hostess late,

hostess late > [erstwhile hostess]

2 Had so enrankled her malicious heart

enrankled > embittered (the "en-" prefix denotes "inward" action,
and is also an intensive)

3 That she desired the abridgement of her fate,

fate > {Life, term of life allotted by the Fates}

4 Or long enlargement of her painful smart.

smart > anguish, sorrow

5 Now when the beast (which by her wicked art
6 Late forth she sent) she back returning spied,

Late > Recently

7 Tied with her broken girdle, it a part
8 Of her rich spoils (whom he had erst destroyed)

whom > [she whom, i.e. Florimell]
erst > recently; first (before apparently making free with "her rich
spoils")

9 She weened, and wondrous gladness to her heart applied.

weened > supposed
applied > administered [as a remedy]

308.3

And with it running hast'ly to her sonne,
2 Thought with that sight him much to haue +reliued+;
Who thereby deeming sure the thing as donne,
4 His former griefe with furie fresh reuiued,
Much more