8. Virelays: ballads; the “virelai” was an ancient French poem
of two rhymes.
9. Lucina the sheen: Diana the bright. See note 54 to the
Knight’s Tale.
10. In a Latin poem, very popular in Chaucer’s time, Pamphilus
relates his amour with Galatea, setting out with the idea
adopted by our poet in the lines that follow.
11. Sursanure: A wound healed on the surface, but festering
beneath.
12. Orleans: Where there was a celebrated and very famous
university, afterwards eclipsed by that of Paris. It was founded
by Philip le Bel in 1312.
13. Every halk and every hern: Every nook and corner, Anglo-
Saxon, “healc,” a nook; “hyrn,” a corner.
14. Tregetoures: tricksters, jugglers. The word is probably
derived — in “treget,” deceit or imposture — from the French
“trebuchet,” a military machine; since it is evident that much and
elaborate machinery must have been employed to produce the
effects afterwards described. Another derivation is from the
Low Latin, “tricator,” a deceiver.
15. Lissed of: eased of; released from; another form of “less” or
“lessen.”
16. Gironde: The river, formed by the union of the Dordogne
and Garonne, on which Bourdeaux stands.
17. Nor gladly for that sum he would not gon: And even for
that sum he would not willingly go to work.
18. “Noel,” the French for Christmas — derived from “natalis,”
and signifying that on that day Christ was born — came to be
used as a festive cry by the people on solemn occasions.
19. Tables Toletanes: Toledan tables; the astronomical tables
composed by order Of Alphonso II, King of Castile, about 1250
and so called because they were adapted to the city of Toledo.
20. “Alnath,” Says Mr Wright, was “the first star in the horns of
Aries, whence the first mansion of the moon is named.”