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And by his fide he bare a RUSTIE blade*.

I do not perceive the confiftency of the Reve's wearing a ruftie fword; I should rather be inclined to think that the poet wrote truftie blade.

And by his fide he bare a TRUSTIE blade.

But this alteration will perhaps be disapproved by those who recollect, that Chaucer, in another paffage, has attributed the epithet rusty, to the sword of Mars.

And in his hand he had a rousty sword †.

B. iii. c. i. f. lxii.

And to her weapon ran; in mind to GRIDE
The loathed leachour.

Spenfer frequently ufes GRIDE, which fignifies to pierce. This word, as E. K. remarks in the Paftoral, Februarie, is often used by Lidgate, but never once by Chaucer. Spenfer was familiarly verfed in all our antient english bards; but I do not remember that he pays a compliment to any of them, Chaucer excepted t, and the author of Pierce Plowman's Vifions.

GRIDE is found in the following paffages.

*Prolog. ver. 620.

Paffim.

+Teft. of Creffida. 188.

§ Epilogue to the Æglogues.

Through

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Into his heart, which it did forely GRIDE.

3. 9. 29.

Such was the wound that Scudamour did GRIDE.

4. 6. I.

All as I were through the body GRIDE *.

Therewith my foul was fharpely CRIDE t.

A ferpent

With brandifht tongue the emptie ayre did GRIDE .

Milton probably adopted this old word from our

author.

The GRIDING fword with difcontinuous wound
Pafs'd through him §.

B. ii. c. iii. f. xxv.

That was ambition, rash desire to STIE.

The lexicographers inform us, that STIE fignifies. to foar, to afcend; so that the sense of the verse before

* Februarie. Auguft. Virg. Gaat. § Par. Lost. 6. 329.

US,

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us, is, "That was ambition, which is a rafh defire "of still ascending upwards.”

STIE occurs again often.

Thought with his wings to STIE above the ground.

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Long here and there, and round about doth STIE.

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Whilft in the fmoke fhe unto heaven did STIE †.

With bolder wing fhall dare aloft to STY
To the last praises of this Faerie Queene ‡.

This word occurs in Chaucer's Teftament of Love. "Ne fteyrs to STEY one is none §." Where it is ufed actively," to lift one up." Gower has ufed this word in the preter-imperfect tenfe, but neutrally.

And or Chrifte went out of this erthe here,
And STICHED to heven |.

* Muipotmos.

+ Vif. of Bellay. ft. 11.

Pag. 480. Urry's edit.

Sonnet to the earl of Effex.

John Gower unto the noble K, Henry IV. v. 177. Spenfer has himself interpreted the word, in his State of Ireland, STIE, quafi ßay, in mounting.

B. i. c. i. f. iii.

Death is an equall doome

To good and bad, the common INNE of rest.

INNE for Habitation, Seat, or Recefs, is much ufed by Spenfer. In his age this word had not acquired the vulgar idea which it bears in modern language.

The Bowre of Bliffe.

The worldes sweet INNE from paine and wearisom 2. 12. 32.

turmoyle.

He shall his dayes with peace bring to his earthly

INNE.

3. 3. 29.

And where the chanting birds lull'd me asleepe,
The ghaftly owle her grievous INNE doth keepe".

INNHOLDERS is likewise used for inhabitants.

I do poffeffe the worlds most regiment,
And if ye please it into parts divide,

And every parts INHOLDERS to convent.

7.7.17.

B. i. c. xii. f. xxxix.

Driven by FATALL error.

That is, "driven by error ordained by the Fates."

VOL. II.

* December,
K

Again,

Again,

At laft by FATALL course they driven were. 3. 9. 4.

Nor leffe fhe feared that fame FATALL read.

That is," that fame decree of the Fates."

4. 12. 27.

Or did his life her FATALL date expire. 2. 8. 24.

That is," her date affigned by the Fates."

Either FATALL end,

Or other mighty cause, us two did hither fend.

That is, "fome end which the Fates intend to accomplish."

FATALIS has fometimes the fame fignification as Spenfer's FATAL.

So Virgil,

FATALEM Æneam manifefta numine ferri*.

And in other places of the Æneid.

B. vi. c. vii. f. xix.

The whiles his falvage page that wont be PREST.

PREST is very frequently used by Spenfer: in fome places it fignifies ready or quick; in others it seems to

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