nted

7 No foot to foe. The flashing fire flies,
8 As from a forge, out of their burning shields,
9 And streams of purple blood new dye the verdant fields.

purple > red

102.18

Curse on that Crosse (quoth then the _Sarazin_)
2 That keepes thy body from the bitter fit;
Dead long ygoe I wote thou haddest bin,
4 Had not that charme from thee forwarned it:
But yet I warne thee now assured sitt,
6 And hide thy head. Therewith vpon his crest
With rigour so outrageous he smitt,
8 That a large share it hewd out of the rest,
And glauncing downe his shield, from blame him fairely blest.

1 "Curse on that cross," quoth then the Saracen,
2 "That keeps your body from the bitter fit;

the bitter fit > [death]

3 Dead long ago, I wot, you had been,

wot > know

4 Had not that charm from you forwarned it:

charm > talisman (an insult, since the use of magic is forbidden by
the code of chivalry)
forwarned > prohibited; _hence:_ spared

5 But yet I warn you, now assured sit

assured > (Derisively) in safety [in the protection of your cross]

6 And hide your head." Therewith upon his crest

Therewith > With that

7 With rigour so outrageous he smote,

rigour > violence
outrageous > excessively fierce

8 That a large share it hewed out of the rest,

share > portion; piece sheared away

9 And, glancing down his shield, from blame him fairly blessed.

blame > injury
fairly > actually, really [from blame it really did him bless];
completely
blessed > spared, preserved

102.19

Who thereat wondrous wroth, the sleeping spark
2 Of natiue vertue gan eftsoones reuiue,
And at his haughtie helmet making mark,
4 So hugely +stroke+, that it the steele did riue,
And cleft his head. He tumbling downe aliue,
6 With bloudy mouth his mother earth did kis,
Greeting his graue: his grudging ghost did striue
8 With the fraile flesh; at last it flitted is,
Whither the soules do fly of men, that liue amis.

4 stroke > strooke _1609_

1 Who, thereat wondrous wroth, the sleeping spark
2 Of native virtue gan eftsoons revive,

native > innate
virtue > strength, worth; valour
gan > did
eftsoons > thereupon

3 And at his haughty helmet making mark,

haughty > proud; lofty

4 So hugely struck that it the steel did rive,
5 And cleft his head. He, tumbling down alive,

cleft > split

6 With bloody mo