chiefs did torment;

mischiefs > misfortunes, evils; injuries

4 Death better were: death did he often desire,
5 But death will never come when needs require.
6 Whom so dismayed, when that his foe beheld,

so dismayed > thus overcome
that > [that entity, that dragon]

7 He cast to suffer him no more respire,

He cast > [The dragon] resolved
suffer > allow
respire > [to] draw breath, live

8 But began his sturdy stern about to wield,
9 And him so strongly struck that to the ground him felled.

111.29

It fortuned (as faire it then befell)
2 Behind his backe vnweeting, where he stood,
Of auncient time there was a springing well,
4 From which fast trickled forth a siluer flood,
Full of great vertues, and for med'cine good.
6 Whylome, before that cursed Dragon got
That happie land, and all with innocent blood
8 Defyld those sacred waues, it rightly hot
_The well of life_, ne yet his vertues had forgot.

1 It fortuned (as fair it then befell)

fair > favourably

2 Behind his back, unweeting where he stood,

unweeting > unwittingly; _hence:_ unnoticed

3 Of ancient time there was a springing well

well > {Spring, spring with supernatural powers}

4 From which fast trickled forth a silver flood,
5 Full of great virtues, and for medicine good.

virtues > powers

6 Whilom, before that cursed dragon got

Whilom > Of yore, in ancient times; formerly

7 That happy land, and all with innocent blood

happy > happy; fortunate

8 Defiled those sacred waves, it rightly hight

hight > was called

9 "The Well of Life", nor yet its virtues had forgotten.

forgotten > lost

111.30

For vnto life the dead it could restore,
2 And guilt of sinfull crimes cleane wash away,
Those that with sicknesse were infected sore,
4 It could recure, and aged long decay
Renew, as +one+ were borne that very day.
6 Both _Silo_ this, and _Iordan_ did excell,
And th'English _Bath_, and eke the german _Spau_,
8 Ne can _Cephise_, nor _Hebrus_ match this well:
Into the same the knight backe ouerthrowen, fell.

5 one > it _1590 etc.: FE; lection defended by Collier_

1 For to life the dead it could restore,
2 And guilt of sinful crimes clean wash away.

clean > entirely; cleanly

3 Those that with sickness were infected sore
4 It could recure, and aged long decay

recure > cure, restore to life

5