t of cancred guile,
2 Whom Princes late displeasure left in bands,
For falsed letters and suborned wile,
4 Soone as the _Redcrosse_ knight he vnderstands,
To beene departed out of _Eden_ lands,
6 To serue againe his soueraine Elfin Queene,
His artes he moues, and out of +caytiues+ +hands+
8 Himselfe he frees by secret meanes vnseene;
His shackles emptie left, him selfe escaped cleene.

7 caytiues > caytiue _1609: i.e. the adj., caitiff, captive, vile
(improving on the sense of 1596, which may well be a misprint)_
7 hands > bands _conj. some editors, even though this duplicates the
rhyme_

1 That cunning architect of cankered guile,

cankered > festering; malignant

2 Whom prince's late displeasure left in bonds

late > recent (see 112.35 ff.)

3 (For falsed letters and suborned wile),

falsed > forged
wile > deceit, subtlety

4 Soon as the Redcross Knight he understands

Soon > [As soon]

5 To be departed out of Eden lands,
6 To serve again his sovereign Elfin queen,
7 His arts he moves, and out of caitiffs' hands

moves > puts in motion; _hence:_ employs
caitiffs > wretches (?his gaolers: see 112.35:3, and Textual
Appendix)

8 Himself he frees by secret means unseen;
9 His shackles empty left, himself escaped clean.

clean > cleanly, entirely

201.2

And forth he fares full of malicious mind,
2 To worken mischiefe and auenging woe,
Where euer he that godly knight may find,
4 His onely hart sore, and his onely foe,
Sith _Vna_ now he algates must forgoe,
6 Whom his victorious hands did earst restore
To +natiue+ crowne and kingdome late ygoe:
8 Where she enioyes sure peace for euermore,
As weather-beaten ship arriu'd on happie shore.

7 natiue > natiues _1596, 1609_

1 And forth he fares, full of malicious mind,

mind > intention; memory

2 To work mischief and avenging woe

mischief > injury, disaster; evil

3 Wherever he that godly knight may find,
4 His only heart-sore, and his only foe,

only > pre-eminent [the only one worth considering]
heart-sore > cause of grief

5 Sith Una now he algates must forgo,

Sith > Since
algates > after all; altogether

6 Whom his victorious hands did erst restore

his > [the Redcross Knight's]
erst > lately

7 To native crown and kingdom late ago:

late ago > lately

8 Where she enjoys sure peace for evermore,
9 As weather-beaten