At last he came to an iron door
4 That fast was locked, but key found not at all

fast > firmly

5 Amongst that bunch to open it withal;

withal > therewith

6 But in the same a little grate was pight,

grate > grating, grille
pight > placed

7 Through which he sent his voice, and loud did call
8 With all his power, to weet if living wight

weet > find out
wight > person

9 Were housed therewithin, whom he enlarge might.

enlarge > set free

108.38

Therewith an hollow, dreary, murmuring voyce
2 These piteous plaints and dolours did resound;
O who is that, which brings me happy choyce
4 Of death, that here lye dying euery stound,
Yet liue perforce in balefull darkenesse bound?
6 For now three Moones haue changed thrice their hew,
And haue beene thrice hid vnderneath the ground,
8 Since I the heauens chearefull face did vew,
O welcome thou, that doest of death bring tydings trew.

1 Therewith a hollow, dreary, murmuring voice

Therewith > Thereupon
murmuring > murmuring; complaining

2 These piteous plaints and dolours did resound:

plaints > complaints, lamentations
dolours > griefs, sorrows

3 "O who is that, who brings me happy choice

choice > alternative [to a living death]

4 Of death, that here lie dying every stound,

stound > moment (of time)

5 Yet live perforce in baleful darkness bound?

baleful > deadly, miserable

6 For now three moons have changed thrice their hue,

hue > appearance

7 And have been thrice hidden underneath the ground,
8 Since I the heavens' cheerful face did view,
9 O welcome you, that do of death bring tidings true!"

108.39

Which when that Champion heard, with percing point
2 Of pitty deare his hart was thrilled sore,
And trembling horrour ran through euery ioynt,
4 For ruth of gentle knight so fowle forlore:
Which shaking off, he rent that yron dore,
6 With furious force, and indignation fell;
Where entred in, his foot could find no flore,
8 But all a deepe descent, as darke as hell,
That breathed euer forth a filthie banefull smell.

1 Which when that champion heard, with piercing point
2 Of pity dear his heart was thrilled sore,

dear > grievous
thrilled > pierced

3 And trembling horror ran through every joint,

joint > limb

4 For ruth of gentle knight so foul forlorn:

ruth > pity
gentle > noble

5 Wh