224. _Mahoun_, Mahomet. The French version does not mention Mahomet. This
is an anachronism on Chaucer's part; the Emperor Tiberius II. died A. D.
582, when Mahomet was but twelve years old.
228. _I prey yow holde_, I pray you to hold. Here _holde_ is the infinitive
mood. The imperative plural would be _holdeth_; see _saveth_, next line.
[148]
236. _Maumettrye_, idolatry; from the Mid. E. _maumet_, an idol, corrupted
from Mahomet. The confusion introduced by using the word _Mahomet_ for an
idol may partly account for the anachronism in l. 224. The Mahometans were
falsely supposed by our forefathers to be idolaters.