88. Emily applied the funeral torch. The “guise” was, among the
ancients, for the nearest relative of the deceased to do this, with
averted face.
89. It was the custom for soldiers to march thrice around the
funeral pile of an emperor or general; “on the left hand” is
added, in reference to the belief that the left hand was
propitious — the Roman augur turning his face southward, and
so placing on his left hand the east, whence good omens came.
With the Greeks, however, their augurs facing the north, it was
just the contrary. The confusion, frequent in classical writers, is
complicated here by the fact that Chaucer’s description of the
funeral of Arcite is taken from Statius’ “Thebaid” — from a
Roman’s account of a Greek solemnity.
90. Lyke-wake: watching by the remains of the dead; from
Anglo-Saxon, “lice,” a corpse; German, “Leichnam.”
91. Chaucer here borrows from Boethius, who says:
“Hanc rerum seriem ligat,
Terras ac pelagus regens,
Et coelo imperitans, amor.”
(Love ties these things together: the earth, and the ruling sea,
and the imperial heavens)