1030. In Religious Pieces, ed. Perry (E. E. T. S.), p. 9, the seven 'works
of mercy' are (1) feeding the hungry; (2) giving drink to the thirsty; (3)
clothing the naked; (4) sheltering the homeless; (5) visiting the sick; (6)
visiting prisoners; (7) burying the dead poor.
1031. Cf. P. Plowman, C. ii. 20 (B. i. 20), and the note.
1034. Compare Ayenb. p. 192, l. 5.
1036. From Matt. v. 14-16. Chaucer's translation is smoother than Wyclif's.
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1040-2. Compare Ayenbite, p. 99.
1043. Here again Chaucer really speaks in his own person; cf. note to 957
above. The reason for his mentioning the 'exposition' of the prayer is,
that a long exposition, which he wished to avoid, is given in the Fr. text
(see Ayenb. pp. 99-118).
1045. Epitomised from the Fr. text; see Ayenb. p. 207.
1048. _wakinge_, watching; see Matt. xxvi. 41.
1049. Cf. Ayenb. p. 53, where _iolyuete_ answers to _ioliuete_ in the Fr.
text, and to _Iolitee_ in Chaucer.
1051. On eating, see P. Plowman, C. ix. 273 (B. vi. 263). _in untyme_, at a
wrong season; see P. Plowm. B. ix. 186.
1052. Observe that, in 1038, Chaucer says that _bodily pain_ stands in (1)
prayers; (2) watching; (3) fasting; and (4) virtuous teachings. He speaks
of _prayers_ in 1039-1047; of _watching_ in 1048-9; of _fasting_ in 1050-1.
He now takes up 'teaching,' by which he means, in the first place, _bodily_
'discipline'; and the words 'or techinge by word or by writinge or in
ensample' are, practically, parenthetical. The word _discipline_ is due to
the Fr. text; cf. Ayenb. p. 250, l. 2: 'ase ine _uestinges_, ine
_wakiinges_, ine _dissiplines_,' &c.
_heyres_, hair-shirts; see P. Plowman, C. vii. 6, and the note.
_haubergeons_, habergeons, shirts of mail. It is surprising to find, in the
Romance of Tristan, ed. Michel, ii. 36, that the heroine (Yseult) is
described as wearing a 'byrnie' or shirt of mail next her skin:--'Vest une
brunie à sa char nue.' Michel quotes from Le Voyage de Charlemagne à
Constantinople, I. 635:--'Il lur a cumaundet que aient vestu brunies.'
1054. Tyrwhitt puts a comma after _herte_, and none after _God_, and other
editors follow him. But the text (Col. iii. 12) has: 'Induite uos ergo,
sicut electi Dei, ... uiscera misericordiae, benignitatem, ... patientiam.'
Hence 'in herte of misericorde' simply translates 'uiscera misericordiae.'
1055-6. _Not_ in the Fr. text. Cf. P. Plowm. C. viii. 61, and the note.
1057. The Fr. text mentions _five_ things; the fifth is a wicked love of
sin; see Ayenb. p. 179.