1 The knight, approaching nigh, of him inquired
2 Tidings of war, and of adventures new;
3 But wars, nor new adventures, none he heard.

wars > [of wars]
he > [he had]

4 Then Una gan to ask, if aught he knew,

gan to > began to; did

5 Or heard abroad, of her champion true,
6 That in his armour bore a crosslet red.

in > [on]
crosslet > small cross (term in heraldry)

7 "Ay me, dear dame!" quoth he, "well may I rue

Ay me > Ah me! Alas! (chiefly in northern dialect)

8 To tell the sad sight which my eyes have read:

read > seen

9 These eyes did see that knight both living and eke dead."

eke > also

106.37

That cruell word her tender hart so thrild,
2 That suddein cold did runne through euery vaine,
And stony horrour all her sences fild
4 With dying fit, that downe she fell for paine.
The knight her lightly reared vp againe,
6 And comforted with curteous kind reliefe:
Then wonne from death, she bad him tellen plaine
8 The further processe of her hidden griefe;
The lesser pangs can beare, who hath endur'd the chiefe.

1 That cruel word her tender heart so thrilled

thrilled > pierced

2 That sudden cold did run through every vein,
3 And stony horror all her senses filled
4 With dying fit, that down she fell for pain.

dying > deathly
that > [so that]

5 The knight her lightly reared up again,

lightly > easily, quickly

6 And comforted with courteous kind relief;
7 Then, won from death, she bade him tell plain

him > [the pilgrim]

8 The further process of her hidden grief:

process > story, account

9 The lesser pangs can bear, who has endured the chief.

can > [one can]

106.38

Then gan the Pilgrim thus, I chaunst this day,
2 This fatall day, that shall I euer rew,
To see two knights in trauell on my way
4 (A sory sight) arraung'd in battell new,
Both breathing vengeaunce, both of wrathfull hew:
6 My fearefull flesh did tremble at their strife,
To see their blades so greedily imbrew,
8 That +drunke+ with bloud, yet +thristed+ after life:
What more? the _Redcrosse_ knight was slaine with Paynim knife.

8 drunke > dronke _1590_
8 thristed > thirsted _1609_

1 Then began the pilgrim thus, "I chanced this day,
2 This fatal day, that shall I ever rue,
3 To see two knights in travel on my way
4 (A sorry sight) arranged in battle new,

new > [hav