he somewhat had to say,
And to the vulgar beckning with his hand,
4 In signe of silence, as to heare a play,
By liuely actions he gan bewray
6 Some argument of matter passioned;
Which doen, he backe retyred soft away,
8 And passing by, his name discouered,
_Ease_, on his robe in golden letters cyphered.

1 Proceeding to the midst, he still did stand,
2 As if in mind he somewhat had to say,

somewhat > something

3 And to the vulgar beckoning with his hand,

vulgar > common people (typically, the groundlings in the pit of the
theatre)

4 In sign of silence, as to hear a play,
5 By lively actions he gan bewray

gan bewray > did reveal

6 Some argument of matter passioned;

argument > subject-matter [of the show about to be performed]
matter passioned > [the] matter expressed [in the show]

7 Which done, he back retired soft away,
8 And, passing by, his name discovered:

discovered > revealed

9 _Ease_, on his robe in golden letters ciphered.

ciphered > written

312.5

The noble Mayd, still standing all this vewd,
2 And merueild at his strange intendiment;
With that a ioyous fellowship issewd
4 Of Minstrals, making goodly meriment,
With wanton Bardes, and Rymers impudent,
6 All which together sung full chearefully
A lay of loues delight, with sweet +concent+:
8 After whom marcht a iolly company,
In manner of a maske, enranged orderly.

7 concent > consent _1596_

1 The noble maid, still standing, all this viewed,
2 And marvelled at his strange intendiment;

intendiment > intention, purpose

3 With that, a joyous fellowship issued

fellowship > body, company

4 Of minstrels, making goodly merriment,

merriment > entertainment (cf. _Midsummer-night's Dream_ III ii 146)

5 With wanton bards, and rhymers impudent,

wanton > playful; lewd
rhymers > versifiers; "Chroniclers" (cf. 105.3)
impudent > shameless, indelicate

6 All which together sang full cheerfully

full > very

7 A lay of love's delight, with sweet concent:

lay > song
concent > harmony, accord

8 After whom marched a jolly company,

jolly > handsome; fine; jolly

9 In manner of a masque, enranged orderly.

enranged > arranged
orderly > in an orderly fashion; in order

312.6

The whiles a most delitious harmony,
2 In full straunge notes was sweetly heard to sound,
That the rare sweetnesse of