e of Charlemagne's douzepers,
his twelve peers or paladins; in history, one of the twelve great
peers of France}

2 At last he thus: "You, clod of vilest clay,
3 I pardon yield, and with your rudeness bear;
4 But weet henceforth that all that golden prey,

weet > understand
prey > plunder

5 And all that else the vain world vaunt may,

else > otherwise
vain > foolish; empty
vaunt may > may boast of

6 I loathe as dung, nor deem my due reward:
7 Fame is my meed, and glory virtue's prey.

meed > reward
prey > spoil (see Textual Appendix)

8 But minds of mortal men are mickle marred,

mickle > much, greatly
marred > damaged morally, corrupted

9 And moved amiss with massy muck's unmeet regard.

massy > solid, weighty (applied esp. to precious metals)
unmeet > unfitting, unseemly
regard > [Minds of mortal men are ... moved amiss with unmeet regard
for massy muck]

310.32

And +more+, I graunt to thy great miserie
2 Gratious respect, thy wife shall backe be sent,
And that vile knight, who euer that he bee,
4 Which hath thy Lady reft, and knighthood shent,
By _Sanglamort_ my sword, whose deadly dent
6 The bloud hath of so many thousands shed,
I sweare, ere long shall dearely it repent;
8 Ne he twixt heauen and earth shall hide his hed,
But soone he shall be found, and shortly doen be ded.

1 more > mote _1590_

1 "And more, I grant to your great misery
2 Gracious respect; your wife shall back be sent,
3 And that vile knight, whoever he be,
4 Who has your lady reft, and knighthood shent,

reft > taken away
shent > disgraced

5 By Sanglamort my sword, whose deadly dint

Sanglamort > "Bloody Death" (French)
dint > blow, stroke

6 The blood has of so many thousands shed,
7 I swear, ere long shall dearly it repent;

dearly > grievously

8 Nor he 'twixt heaven and earth shall hide his head,
9 But soon he shall be found, and shortly done be dead.'

done be dead > [shall be killed]

310.33

The foolish man thereat woxe wondrous blith,
2 As if the word so spoken, were halfe donne,
And humbly thanked him a thousand sith,
4 That had from death to life him newly wonne.
Tho forth the Boaster marching, braue begonne
6 His stolen steed to thunder furiously,
As if he heauen and hell would ouerronne,
8 And all the world confound with cruelty,
That much _Malbecco_ ioyed in his iollity.