9. Ered: ploughed; Latin, “arare,” Anglo-Saxon, “erean,”
plough.
10. Sours: Soaring ascent; a hawk was said to be “on the soar”
when he mounted, “on the sours” or “souse” when he
descended on the prey, and took it in flight.
11. This is only one among many instances in which Chaucer
disclaims the pursuits of love; and the description of his manner
of life which follows is sufficient to show that the disclaimer
was no mere mock-humble affectation of a gallant.
12. This reference, approximately fixing the date at which the
poem was composed, points clearly to Chaucer’s daily work as
Comptroller of the Customs — a post which he held from 1374
to 1386.
13. This is a frank enough admission that the poet was fond of
good cheer; and the effect of his “little abstinence” on his
corporeal appearance is humorously described in the Prologue
to the Tale of Sir Thopas, where the Host compliments Chaucer
on being as well shapen in the waist as himself.
14. “To make the beard” means to befool or deceive. See note
15 to the Reeve’s Tale. Precisely the same idea is conveyed in
the modern slang word “shave” — meaning a trick or fraud.
15. Love-days: see note 21 to the Prologue to the Canterbury
Tales.
16. If this reference is to any book of Chaucer’s in which the
House of Fame was mentioned, the book has not come down to
us. It has been reasonably supposed, however, that Chaucer
means by “his own book” Ovid’s “Metamorphoses,” of which he
was evidently very fond; and in the twelfth book of that poem
the Temple of Fame is described.
17. Saint Julian was the patron of hospitality; so the Franklin, in
the Prologue to The Canterbury Tales is said to be “Saint Julian
in his country,” for his open house and liberal cheer. The eagle,
at sight of the House of Fame, cries out “bon hostel!” — “a fair
lodging, a glorious house, by St Julian!”
18. The laurel-tree is sacred to Apollo. See note 11 to The
Assembly of Fowls.