427. #fest# is taken by Mätzner as the _pp._ of esten; so, ‘with burdens
fastened’: it might be _adj._ #fæst#, ‘with burdens loaded,’ Morris. In
either case it is a strange phrase. Probably lest, OE. #hlæst#, is to be
read, meaning, with the burden of a horse load.
434. He did not know them in their rich dresses; ‘þai com ham noght als
prisuns like, | Bot als þai war knigthes rik; | Cled þai war wit riche
wede,’ CM 5133.
438. #in--cliueð#, remains fixed, stands at his disposal. ‘Joseph viuit
et dominatur in egypto,’ C. Comp. 209/426.
441. #Wel me#: see 2/13 note, 21/92 note, 195/634. If #wel is me wel# is
correct it must mean, it is very wel for me: perhaps we should read, me
is wel wel; comp. ‘wol wel he dede,’ GE 724, ‘Wel wel was hit bitoȝe,’ L
MS. O, 23253; ‘Hijs lauerd he kneu wel wel biforn,’ CM 11033: or, fel it
me wel; comp. ‘Niðede ðat folk him fel wel,’ GE 1521.
442. That I have thus lived to see such good fortune. #swil[c] sel#
usually means in GE such time, as ‘it wurð soð binnen swilc sel,’ 1032,
it came true within the stated time, so GE 417, 1204, and it may have
that meaning here.