Chaucer's Works,

Chaucer's Works, Volume 5 — Notes to the Canterbury Tales

Name: Chaucer's Works, Volume 5 — Notes to the Canterbury Tales
Author: Chaucer, Geoffrey, 1343?-1400; Skeat, Walter W. (Walter William), 1835-1912 [Editor]

作者：Chaucer, Geoffrey, 1343?-1400; Skeat, Walter W. (Walter William), 1835-1912 [Editor]
体例：题　章数：960
字数：1,210,228　来源：Project Gutenberg

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THE COMPLETE WORKS
OF
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
BY THE
NOTES TO THE CANTERBURY TALES
SECOND EDITION
Oxford
AT THE CLARENDON PRESS
M D CCCC
Oxford
CONTENTS.
PAGE
NOTES TO THE TALE OF GAMELYN 477
ADDENDA 490
INDEX TO THE SUBJECTS, ETC., EXPLAINED IN THE NOTES 495
INTRODUCTION TO THE NOTES
I add a few more examples, from Stowe, without comment.
ERRATA IN VOL IV.
VOL. V. ADDENDA, ETC.
NOTES
TO THE
CANTERBURY TALES.
6. _holt_, wood, grove; A. S. _holt_; cf. G. _Holz_.
19. _Bifel_, it befell. _seson_ (saesun), time. _on a day_, one day.
24. _wel_ is here used like our word, _full_ or _quite_.
26. _felawshipe_, company; from M. E. _felawe_, companion, fellow.
30. _to reste_, i. e. gone to rest, set.
31. _everichon_, for _ever-ich oon_, every one, lit. ever each one.
32. _of hir felawshipe_, (one) of their company.
37. 'It seemeth to me it is reasonable.'
40. _whiche_, what sort of men; Lat. _qualis_.
41. _inne._ In M. E., _in_ is the preposition, and _inne_ the adverb.
THE KNIGHT.
50. Pron. ([*e]nd ae·vr onuu·red for iz wur·dhines·s[*e]).
62. _foghten_ (f[o,]uhten), pp. fought; from the strong verb _fighten_.
64. _ilke_, same; A. S. _ylca_.
65. _Somtyme_, once on a time; not our 'sometimes.' See l. 85.
67. _sovereyn prys_ (suv·rein priis), exceeding great renown.
THE SQUYER.
83. _of evene lengthe_, of ordinary or moderate height.
96. 'Joust (in a tournament) and dance, and draw well and write.'
THE YEMAN.
103. Archers were usually clad in 'Lincoln green'; cf. D. 1382.
110. 'He understood well all the usage of woodcraft.'
117. _forster_, forester. Hence the names Forester, Forster, and Foster.
THE PRIORESSE.
118. 'A nunne, y wene a pryores'; Rob. of Brunne, Hand. Synne, 7809.
124. _faire_, adv. fairly, well. _fetisly_, excellently; see l. 157.
125. _scole_, school; here used for _style_ or pronunciation.
129. _wette_, wet; pt. t. of _wetten_. _depe_, deeply, adv.
132. _ful_, very. _lest = list_, pleasure, delight; A. S. _lyst_.
144. _sawe_, should see, happened to see (subjunctive).
156. _hardily_ is here used for _sikerly_, certainly; so also in E. 25.
THE NONNE AND THREE PREESTES.
THE MONK.
165. _a fair_, i. e. a fair one. Cf. 'a merye' in l. 208; and l. 339.
And again, at l. 5712--
182. _text_, remark, saying (as above, in l. 177). _held_, esteemed.
184. _What_ has here its earliest sense of _wherefore_, or _why_.
189. _a pricasour_, a hard rider. _priking_, hard riding (l. 191).
190. Cf. 'Also fast so the fowl in flyght'; Ywaine and Gawin, 630.
193. _seigh_, saw; A. S. _s[=e]ah_, pt. t. of _s[=e]on_, to see.
In Lydgate's Dance of Macabre, the Cardinal is made to regret--
198. _balled_, bald. See Specimens of Early English, ii. 15. 408.
199. _anoint_, anointed; O. F. _enoint_, Lat. _inunctus_.
203. _botes souple_, boots pliable, soft, and close-fitting.
THE FRERE.
210. _ordres foure_, four orders (note to l. 208). _can_, i. e. 'knows.'
214. _post_, pillar or support, as in Troil. i. 1000. See Gal. ii. 9.
216. _frankeleyns_, wealthy farmers; see l. 331. _over-al_, everywhere.
217. _worthy_, probably 'wealthy'; or else, 'respectable.' Cf. l. 68.
224. _wiste to han_, knew (he was sure) to have.
227. _he dorste_, he durst make (it his) boast, i. e. confidently assert.
232. _Men moot_, one ought to. Here _moot_ is singular; cf. l. 149.
242. _Bet_, better, adv.; as distinguished from _bettre_, adj. (l. 524).
244. 'It was unsuitable, considering his ability.'
247. The line is imperfect in the first foot.
248. _riche_, i. e. rich people.
251. _vertuous_, (probably) energetic, efficient; cf. _vertu_ in l. 4.
THE MARCHANT.
271. _In mottelee_, in a motley dress; cf. l. 328.
273. _clasped_; fastened with a clasp fairly and neatly. See l. 124.
274. _resons_, opinions. _ful solempnely_, with much importance.
THE CLERK.
293. 'For it was dearer to him to have,' i. e. he would rather have.
294. The first foot is defective: Twen | ty bo | kes, &c.
305. 'With propriety (due form) and modesty.'
307. _Souninge in_, conducing to; cf. note to l. 275 above.
THE MAN OF LAWE.
309. _war_, wary, cautious; A. S. _wær_, aware. Cf. l. 157.
325. _Therto_, moreover. _make_, compose, draw up, draught.
326. _pinche at_, find fault with; lit. nip, twitch at.
THE FRANKELEYN.
332. _dayes-ye_, daisy; A. S. _dæges [=e]age_, lit. eye of day (the sun).
334. _by the morwe_, in the morning.
In the Anturs of Arthur at the Tarnewathelan, st. 37, we read that
335. _wone_, wont, custom; A. S. _wuna_, _ge-wuna_.
347. _After_, according to; it depended on what was in season.
348. _soper_ (supee·r), supper; from O. F. infin. _soper_; cf. F. 1189.
358. _Heng_ (or _Heeng_), the past tense of _hongen_ or _hangen_, to hang.
THE HABERDASSHER AND OTHERS.
376. _y-clept_, called; pp. of _clepen_; see l. 121. [37]
THE COOK.
THE SHIPMAN.
388. _woning_, dwelling; from A. S. _wunian_, to dwell.
392. _laas_, lace, cord. Seamen still carry their knives slung.
395. _a good felawe_, a merry companion; as in l. 648.
399. _hyer hond_, upper hand.
402. _stremes_, currents. _him bisydes_, ever near at hand.
404. Cf. Rom. de la Rose, 5394--'Qui cercheroit jusqu'en Cartage.'
408. _Gootland_, Gottland, an island in the Baltic Sea.
409. _cryke_, creek, harbour, port.
THE DOCTOUR.
422. _parfit practisour_, perfect practitioner.
424. _his bote_, his remedy; A. S. _b[=o]t_, a remedy; E. _boot_.
440. _taffata_ (or _taffety_), a sort of thin silk; E. _taffeta_.
441. _esy of dispence_, moderate in his expenditure.
THE WYF OF BATHE.
448. _passed_, i. e. surpassed.
457. _streite y-teyd_, tightly fastened. See note to l. 174.
467. 'She knew much about travelling.'
469. _amblere_, an ambling horse.
470. _Y-wimpled_, covered with a wimple; see l. 151.
471. _targe_, target, shield.
THE PERSOUN.
482. _parisshens_, parishioners; in which _-er_ is a later suffix.
487. _yeven_, give; A. S. _gifan_. _out of doute_, without doubt.
489. _offring_, the voluntary contributions of his parishioners.
490. _suffisaunce_, a sufficiency; enough to live on.
492. _lafte not_, left not, ceased not; from M. E. _leven_.
493. _meschief_, mishap, misfortune.
497. _wroghte_, wrought, worked; pt. t. of _werchen_, to work.
516. _despitous_, full of _despite_, or contempt; cf. E. _spite_.
525. _wayted after_, looked for. See line 571.
527. 'But the teaching of Christ and his twelve apostles, that taught he.'
528. Cf. Acts, i. 1; Gower, Conf. Amant. ii. 188.
THE PLOWMAN.
530. _y-lad_, carried, lit. led. Cf. prov. E. _lead_, to cart (corn).
531. _swinker_, toiler, workman; see l. 186. Cf. _swink_, toil, in l. 540.
541. _mere._ People of quality would not ride upon a mare.
THE MILLER.
547. 'That well proved (to be true); for everywhere, where he came.'
554. _cop_, top; A. S. _copp_, a top; cf. G. _Kopf_.
557. _nose-thirles_, lit. nose-holes; mod. E. _nostrils_.
560. _Ianglere_, loud talker.
561. _that_, i. e. his 'Iangling,' his noisy talk.
566. 'And with its music he conducted us out of London.' [50]
THE MAUNCIPLE.
568. _which_, whom.
571. _Algate_, in every way, always; cf. prov. E. _gate_, a street.
572. _ay biforn_, ever before (others).
575. _heep_, heap, i. e. crowd; like G. _Haufe_.
581. 'To make him live upon his own income.'
582. 'Unless he were mad.' See l. 184.
583. 'Or live as economically as it pleases him to wish to do.'
584. _al a_, a whole. Cf. '_all a_ summer's day'; Milton, P. L. i. 449.
THE REVE.
592. _Y-lyk_, like. _y-sen-e_, visible; see note to l. 134.
593. 'He knew well how to keep a garner and a bin.'
597. _neet_, neat, cattle. _dayerye_, dairy.
598. _hors_, horses; pl. See note to l. 74. _pultrye_, poultry.
599. _hoolly_, wholly; from A. S. _h[=a]l_, whole.
602. 'No one could prove him to be in arrears.'
604. _That ... his_, whose; as in A. 2710.
606. _woning_, dwelling-place; see l. 388.
609. _astored_ (Elles. &c.); _istored_ (Harl.); furnished with stores.
611. _lene_, lend; whence E. _len-d_. _of_, some of.
614. _wel_, very. _wrighte_, wright, workman.
617. _pers._ Some MSS. read _blew_. See note on l. 439.
THE SOMNOUR.
627. _scalled_, having the scall or scab, scabby, scurfy. _blake_, black.
629. _litarge_, litharge, a name given to white lead.
630. _Boras_, borax. [53]
644. 'But if any one could test him in any other point.'
661. _assoilling_, absolution; from the vb. _assoil_.
662. _war him of_, i. e. let him beware of; _war_ is the pres. subj.
665. _and was al hir reed_, and was wholly their adviser.
THE PARDONER.
677. _By ounces_, in small portions or thin clusters.
679. _colpons_, portions; the same word as mod. E. _coupon_.
682. _the newe Iet_, the new fashion, which is described in ll. 680-683.
683. _Dischevele_, with his hair hanging loose.
694. _male_, bag; cf. E. _mail_-bag.
696. _gobet_, a small portion; O. F. _gobet_, a morsel; _gober_, to devour.
698. _hente_, caught hold of; from A. S. _hentan_, to seize.
701. Cf. Wyclif's Works, ed. Matthew, p. 154; and the note to C. 349.
CHAUCER'S APOLOGY.
721. 'How we conducted ourselves that same night.'
727. _pleynly speke_ (Elles. &c.); _speke al pleyn_ (Harl.).
731. _shal telle_, has to tell. _after_, according to, just like.
734. _Al speke he_, although he speak. See _al have I_, l. 744.
738. 'He is bound to say one word as much as another.'
744. 'Although I have not,' &c. Cf. l. 734. [58]
THE HOST.
753. _stepe_, bright; see note to l. 201.
754. _Chepe_, i. e. Cheapside, in London.
760. _maad our rekeninges_, i. e. paid our scores.
770. 'May the blessed martyr duly reward you!'
772. _shapen yow_, intend; cf. l. 809. _talen_, to tell tales.
783. 'Hold up your hands'; to signify assent.
792. As to the number of the tales, see vol. iii. pp. 374, 384.
798. 'Tales best suited to instruct and amuse.'
810. _and our othes swore_, and _we_ swore our oaths; see next line.
819. _fet_, fetched; from A. S. _fetian_, to fetch, pp. _fetod_.
822. _day._ It is the morning of the 17th of April. See note to l. 1.
825. _riden_, rode; pt. t. pl., as in l. 856. The _i_ is short.
833. _be_, may be (subjunctive mood).
844. _sort_, lot, destiny; O. F. _sort_; cf. E. _sort_.
847. _as was resoun_, as was reasonable or right.
853. _shal biginne_, have to begin.
854. _What_; used interjectionally, like the modern E. 'why!'
856. _riden_, rode; pt. pl. See l. 825. [60]
THE KNIGHTES TALE.
908. _that thus_, i. e. _ye_ that thus.
911. _clothed thus_ (Elles.); _clad thus al_ (Harl.). [63]
913. _a deedly chere_, a deathly countenance or look.
941. _for despyt_, out of vexation; mod. E. 'for spite.'
942. _To do the dede bodyes vileinye_, to treat the dead bodies shamefully.
948. _withouten more respyt_, without longer delay.
960. _ferforthly_, i. e. _far-forth-like_, to such an extent.
965. _abood_, delay, awaiting, abiding.
970. _lay_, lodged for the night.
975. _státue_, the image, as depicted on the banner.
988. _In pleyn bataille_, in open or fair fight.
1120. 'And except I have her pity and her favour.'
1151. _I dar wel seyn_, I dare maintain. [67]
1257. 'And another man would fain (get) out of his prison.'
1385-8. Probably from Claudian, De Raptu Proserpinae, i. 77:--
1509. So in Troilus, ii. 920:--
1566. Compare Legend of Good Women, 2629:--
1665. _hath seyn biforn_, hath foreseen. Cf. Teseide, vi. 1. [74]
1739. 'Therefore I ask my death and my doom.'
The custom is old. Cf. Zenobius, i. 19 (Paroem. Graec. I. p. 6):--
1982. _Mars armipotente._
1997, 8. Cf. the Teseide, vii. 33:--
1999. Cf. Rom. of the Rose, 7419-20. [80]
2022. From Statius, Theb. vii. 58:--
2187. _alle and some_, 'all and singular,' 'one and all.' [86]
2238. 'I care not to boast of arms (success in arms).'
2286. _a game_, a pleasure. [87]
In Sir Bevis, ed. Kölbing, p. 134, we find--
2511. Cf. House of Fame, 1239, 1240:--
Also Tes. viii. 5:--'D'armi, di corni, nacchere e trombette.'
2546. 'Nor short sword having a _biting_ (sharp) point to stab with.'
2565. Cf. Legend of Good Women, 635:--'Up goth the trompe.'
2885. 'And surpassing others in weeping came Emily.'
So in Matt. Paris, ed. Luard, i. 20. Cf. Horace, Carm. i. 24:--
THE MILLER'S PROLOGUE.
THE MILLERES TALE.
3220. 'According to the money provided by his friends and his own income.'
3299. 'A clerk would have employed his time ill.'
3316. _shode_, not 'hair,' as in Tyrwhitt, but 'parting of the hair.'
3392. Gower has the like, ed. Pauli, i. 343:--
3456. 'That knows nothing at all except his Creed.'
3507. 'That, if you betray me, you shall go mad (as a punishment).' [107]
And again, id. ii. 310:--
3821. This singular expression is from the French. Tyrwhitt cites:--
THE REVE'S PROLOGUE.
THE REVES TALE.
3959. _wold-e_, wished, seems to be dissyllabic; see note to l. 3941. [119]
And, again, in the same, l. 355:--
3980. 'And raised difficulties about her marriage.'
4112. The first foot is 'trochaic.'
4278. _poke_, bag; cf. the proverb, 'To buy a pig in a poke.'
THE COOK'S PROLOGUE.
THE COKES TALE.
NOTES TO GROUP B.
INTRODUCTION TO THE MAN OF LAWES TALE.
8. _as in lengthe_, with respect to its length.
15. _plighte_, plucked; cf. _shrighte_, shrieked, in Kn. A. 2817.--M.
18. _seint Iohn._ See the Squire's Tale, F. 596.
21. _what._ We now say--what with. It means, 'partly owing to.'
23. Cf. Ovid, Art. Amat. iii. 62-65:--
34. _as forward is_, as is the agreement. See Prologue, A. 33, 829.
38. _devoir_, duty; see Knightes Tale, A. 2598.
56. _What_, why, on what account? cf. Prologue, A. 184.
90. _of_, as to, with regard to. _doon_, accomplish it.
94. 'But, nevertheless, I care not a bean.' Cf. l. 4004 below.
PROLOGUE TO THE MAN OF LAWES TALE.
129. _fadres_, fathers, originators; by bringing tidings from afar.
THE TALE OF THE MAN OF LAWE.
134. _Surrie_, Syria; called _Sarazine_ (Saracen-land) by N. Trivet.
143. _Were_ it, whether it were.
144. _message_, messenger, _not_ message; see l. 333, and the note.
156. _God him see_, God protect him. See note to C. 715.
I. e. and they shall consider themselves as evilly deceived.
211. Compare Squieres Tale, F. 202, 203, and the note thereon.
242. _noot_, equivalent to _ne woot_, know not.
That thém | peróur || --óf | his grét | noblésse ||
Line 621 below may be read in a similar manner:--
But ná | thelées || --thér | was gréet | moorning ||
The original is--
Compare also the following passage:--
332. _Alkaron_, the Koran; _al_ is the Arabic article. [153]
340. 'Because we denied Mahomet, our (object of) belief.'
380. _moste_, might. It is not always used like the modern _must_.
449-62. Not in the original; perhaps added in revision. [155]
464. _see of Grece_, here put for the Mediterranean Sea.
474. _Ther_, where; as usual. _knave_, servant.
475. 'Was eaten by the lion ere he could escape.' Cf. l. 437.
491. See Revelation vii. 1-3.
510. _of al a tyde_, for the whole of an hour.
512. _the constable_; named _Elda_ by Trivet and Gower.
527. _forgat hir minde_, lost her memory.
609. See Troil. iv. 357.
639. _Susanne_; see the story of Susannah, in the Apocrypha.
647. 'Where that he gat (could get) for himself no favour.'
703. _What_, why. Cf. Squyeres Tale, F. 283, 298.
722. _knave child_, male child; as in Clerkes Tale, E. 444.
738. _If ye wol aught_, if you wish (to say) anything.
743. _sadly_, steadily, with the idea of long continuance.
748. _direct_, directed, addressed; French text 'maundez.'
751. Pronounce _horrible_ as in French.
778. 'O Donegild, I have no language fit to tell,' &c.
801. _croude_, push; see ll. 296, 299 above; and note to l. 299.
852. _refut_, refuge; see G. 75, and A. B. C. 14.
859. _As lat_, pray, let. See note to Clerkes Prologue, E. 7. [161]
912. _gauren_, gaze, stare. See note to Squ. Tale, F. 190.
934. _Golias_, Goliath. See I Samuel xvii. 25.
982. _she_, i. e. Helen; for Constance knew Helen.
1034. _aught_, in any way, at all; lit. 'a whit.'
THE SHIPMAN'S PROLOGUE.
Also in book v., id. ii. 187,--
THE SHIPMANNES TALE.
1209. _perilous._ Cf. D. 339: 'it is peril of our chastitee.'
1298. Accent _labóured_ on the second syllable. [170]
1329. 'This I do, not for kinship, but out of true love.'
1399. 'As cheery as a magpie.'
1476. 'God defend (forbid) that ye should spare.'
THE PRIORESS'S PROLOGUE.
1626. 'Now long mayest thou sail along the coast!'
1632. 'Never entertain monks any more.'
THE PRIORESSES TALE.
1664. Partly imitated from Dante, Paradiso, xxxiii. 16:--
1764. 'O accursed folk (composed) of Herods wholly new.'
1840. 'And, in the ordinary course of nature.'
PROLOGUE TO SIR THOPAS.
THE TALE OF SIR THOPAS.
Readers of Scott will remember Fitz-James's lament over his 'gallant grey.'
Line 21 of the Milleres Tale (A. 3207) runs similarly:--
1956. Compare Amis and Amiloun, ed. Weber, ii, 391:--
1993. _So wilde._ Instead of this short line, Tyrwhitt has:--
Sir Libius says:--
2060. Cf. Libeaus Desconus, ed. Kaluza, 1657-8:--
In Sir Degrevant, 1429, a roof is said to be--
Quite near the beginning of the Vie de Seint Auban, ed. Atkinson, we have--
2071. _cipress_, cypress-wood. In the Assembly of Foules, l. 179, we have--
In the same romance, p. 84, we find--
PROLOGUE TO MELIBEUS.
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS.
2166. _Ovide_, Ovid. The passage referred to is--
Lat. text--'Filia tua, dante Domino, bene liberabitur.'
2209. 'Made this matter much worse, and aggravated it.'
MS. Lansdowne 793, fol. 68. [207]
2315. Lat. text:--'iratus semper plus putat posse facere, quam possit.'
2406. _Catoun_, Dionysius Cato; Distich. iii. 15:--
2431. _First and forward_; so in l. 2684. We now say 'first and foremost.'
2467. Cf. Lat. text:--'scilicet, Contraria contrariis curantur.'
2523. _Swiche as han_, 'such as castles and other kinds of edifices have.'
2526. _With gret costages_, at great expense: Fr. text, 'a grans despens.'
2573. _That nay_; Fr. text--'que non.'
2605. From Ovid, Amor. i. 8. 104:--'Impia sub dulci melle uenena latent.'
2618. _Falle_, befall, come to pass; F. text--'advenir.'
2620. _Were_, would be; F. text--'ce seroit moult grant dommage.'
2679. From Dion. Cato, Dist. iv. 39:--
2707. From James, i. 4:--'Patientia autem opus perfectum habet.'
2730. _Of that that_, in a matter that. [219]
2740. From Ecclesiastes, x. 19:--'pecuniae oboediunt omnia.'
2784. From Dionysius Cato, Distich. i. 2:--
2792. From Dionysius Cato, Distich. iv. 16:--
2795. From Dionysius Cato, Distich. iii. 22:--
2863. _The werre ... nothing_, 'war does not please you at all.'
2915. Fr. text:--'ie met tout mon fait en vostre disposition.'--Mr. [223]
3036. Also from P. Syrus, Sent. 293:--
3042. _Which I trowe ... do_; Lat. 'quod non concedo.'
3045. _Ye moste ... curteisly_; Lat. 'remissius imperare oportet.' [224]
THE MONK'S PROLOGUE.
THE MONKES TALE.
LUCIFER.
ADAM.
SAMPSON.
HERCULES.
And in his House of Fame, book iii. (l. 1413), he mentions--
NABUGODONOSOR.
BALTHASAR.
ZENOBIA.
PETER, KING OF SPAIN.
PETER, KING OF CYPRUS.
BARNABO OF LOMBARDY.
UGOLINO OF PISA.
NERO.
HOLOFERNES.
ANTIOCHUS.
ALEXANDER.
3826. 'They were glad to send to him (to sue) for peace.'
3860. 'Which two (fortune and poison) I accuse of all this woe.'
JULIUS CAESAR.
CROESUS.
THE NONNE PRESTES PROLOGUE.
3970. 'By the bell of Saint Paul's church (in London).'
THE NONNE PREESTES TALE.
4044. Cf. Parl. of Foules, 350:--
4060. _damoysele Pertelote._ Cf. our 'Dame Partlet.'
4128. 'That cause many a man in sleep to be very distressed.'
4237. _outsterte_ (Elles., &c.); _upsterte_ (Hn., Harl.)
4346. _never a del_, never a whit, not in the slightest degree. [255]
4467. In Douglas's Virgil, prol. to Book xi. st. 15, we have--
4490. 'As I hope to retain the use of my two eyes.' So Havelok, l. 2545:--
And l. 1743:--'So mote ich brouke finger or to.'
And l. 311:--'So brouke i euere mi blake swire!'
4547. _streite swerd_ = drawn (naked) sword. Cf. Aeneid, ii. 333, 334:--
EPILOGUE TO THE NONNE PREESTES TALE.
NOTES TO GROUP C.
THE PHISICIENS TALE.
A little further on, Nature is made to say (l. 16970):--
37. I. e. she had golden hair; cf. Troil. iv. 736, v. 8.
49. Perhaps Chaucer found the wisdom of Pallas in Vergil, Aen. v. 704.--
50. _fácound_, eloquence; cf. _facóunde_ in Parl. Foules, 558.
54. _Souninge in_, conducing to; see A. 307, B. 3157, and notes.
58. _Bacus_, Bacchus, i. e. wine; see next note.
98. Cf. Prov. xiii. 24; P. Plowman, B. v. 41.
135. From Le Roman, l. 5620-3; see vol. iii. p. 436.
165. Cf. Le Roman, l. 5623-7; see vol. iii. p. 436.
184. Cf. Le Roman, l. 5628-33.
203. From Le Roman, 5648-54.
WORDS OF THE HOST.
327, 328. The Harleian MS. has--
THE PARDONERES PROLOGUE.
366. For _heleth_, MS. Hl. has _kelith_, i. e. cooleth.
402. _namely_, especially, in particular; cf. Kn. Ta. 410 (A. 1068).
413. In Piers Plowman (B-text), v. 87, it is said of Envy that--
440. _for I teche_, because I teach, by my teaching.
THE PARDONERES TALE.
Barclay, in his Ship of Fools (ed. Jamieson, i. 97), says--
478. _fruytesteres_, female sellers of fruit; see note to last line.
487. Cp. Ln. have here two additional spurious lines. Cp. reads--
504. Cf. Pers. Tale, I. 819.
534. See the quotation in vol. iii. p. 445.
538. See the quotation in vol. iii. p. 445.
There is a somewhat similar passage in John of Salisbury, as follows:--
558. _sepulture_, burial; see Pers. Tale, I. 822.
571. 'Not at Rochelle,' where the wines are weak.
590. Compare Pers. Tale, I. 793.
646. 'They that understand his commandments know this,' &c.
684. _my dame_, my mother; as in H. 317; Piers Plowman, B. v. 37.
709. _to-rente_, tare in pieces, dismembered. See note to l. 474 above.
731. _leve moder_, dear mother Earth; see 'genetrix' above.
807. _That oon_, the one; _that other_, the other (vulgarly, _the tother_).
838. _rolleth_, revolves; cf. D. 2217, Troil. v. 1313.
848. _leve_, leave. 'That he had leave to bring him to sorrow.'
O glút | oný' | luxú | r_ie_ and hás | ardrýë ||
920. _male_, bag; see Prol. 694. Cf. E. _mail-bag_.
937. _which a_, what sort of a, how great a, what a.
945. _Ye, for a grote_, yea, even for a groat, i. e. 4d.
946. _have_ I, may I have; an imprecation.
962. _right ynough_, quite enough; _right_ is an adverb. Cf. l. 960.
NOTES TO GROUP D.
THE WIFE OF BATH'S PROLOGUE.
6. So in A. 460, with _she hadde_ for _I have had_; see note to that line.
11. In E., a sidenote has:--'In Cana Galilee'; from John, ii. 1.
35. _here_, hear; a gloss in E. has 'audi.' See 1 Kings, xi. 3.
I know of no other example of _scoler-ing_, i. e. young scholar.
65. See 1 Cor. vii. 25, here quoted in the margin of E.
75. Tyrwhitt aptly quotes from Lydgate's Falls of Princes, fol. xxvi:--
81. Alluding to 1 Cor. vii. 7, here quoted in E.
84. 'Haec autem dico secundum indulgentiam'; 1 Cor. vii. 6.
87. Alluding to 1 Cor. vii. 1, here quoted in E.
89. _tassemble_, for _to assemble_, to bring together.
96. _preferre_ is evidently a neuter verb here, meaning 'be preferable to.'
101. _tree_, wood; alluding to 2 Tim. ii. 20.
105. See Rev. xiv. 1-4, a line or two from which is here quoted in E.
147. Alluding to 1 Cor. vii. 20, here quoted in E.
151. _daungerous_, difficult of access; cf. l. 514.
156. Alluding to 1 Cor. vii. 28, here quoted in E.
158. Alluding to 1 Cor. vii. 4, here quoted in E.
161. Alluding to Eph. v. 25, here quoted in E.
One of Gower's French Balades contains the lines:--
226. _and bere hem_, i. e. and wrongly accuse them, or make them believe.
227. Tyrwhitt quotes two corresponding lines from Le Roman de la Rose:--
He refers to l. 19013; but in Méon's edition, these are ll. 18336-7. [297]
229. Cf. Le Rom. de la Rose, 9949:--'Ce ne di-ge pas por les bonnes.'
255. Cf. Ovid, Heroid. xvi. 288:--
263. Clearly from Le Rom. de la Rose, l. 8637--
265. Immediately after, we have--
269. See in Hazlitt's Proverbs: 'Joan's as good as my lady in the dark.'
277. _welked_, withered; see C. 738, and Stratmann.
311. _of our dame_, of the mistress, i. e. of myself.
312. _Seint Iame_, St. James; see A. 466, and the note.
322. _at our large_, free, at large; we now drop _our_. Cf. A. 1283.
342. From 1 Tim. ii. 9, here quoted in the margin of E.
357. Clearly from Le Rom. de la Rose, 14583:--
399. _colour_, pretext; as in Acts, xxvii. 30.
406. _grucching_, grumbling; mod. E. _grudge_. Hl. has _chidyng_.
414. 'Everything has its price.'
430. _conclusioun_, purpose, aim, object.
433. _ba_, kiss; see note to A. 3709.
435. _spyced conscience_, scrupulous conscience; see note to A. 526.
467. From Le Roman de la Rose, 13656:--
469. Cf. Le Roman de la Rose, 13136:--
And again, just above, l. 13128:--
495. She went thrice to Jerusalem; see A. 463.
503. There is a parallel passage in Le Rom. de la Rose, 14678-99.
514. _daungerous_, sparing, not free; cf. l. 151.
553. 'How could I know where my favour was destined to be bestowed?'
555. From Le Rom. de la Rose, 13726:--
572. From Le Rom. de la Rose, 13354:--
603. _Gat-tothed_; see note to A. 468.
604. 'I bore the impress of the seal of saint Venus.'
618. The phrase 'la chambre Venus' occurs in Le Rom. de la Rose, 13540.
621. _wis_, surely, certainly: 'for, may God so surely be my,' &c.
624. 'Ne vous chaut s'il est _cors_ ou _lons_'; Rom. de la Rose, 8554.
662. 'Si het quicunques l'en chastoie'; Rom. de la Rose, 10012.
721. Cf. the Monkes Tale, B. 3205, 3256.
725. Cf. the Monkes Tale, B. 3285, 3310.
769. Alluding, doubtless, to Jael and Sisera; see note to A. 2007.
784. From Prov. xi. 22.
816. This is _one_ of the ways in which our MSS. have perished.
824. Cf. 'from Hulle to Cartage'; A. 404; and see C. 722.
844. _now elles_, now otherwise; i. e. and so you may; I defy you.
THE TALE OF THE WYF OF BATHE.
861. Hence the 'fairy-rings,' as Dryden tells us:--
871. _Thropes_ = _thorpes_, villages; see E. 199.
922. _cost_, coast, i. e. region; as in 1 Sam. v. 6; Matt. viii. 34, &c.
924. The scansion is--Two cré-a-túr-es áccordínge in-fére.
925. Cf. Gower, Conf. Amant. i. 92:--
I leave it to the reader to settle this nice question.
961. Cf. Rom. de la Rose, 16724-32.
997. Cf. Gower, Conf. Amantis, i. 93:--
Also, in the Marriage of Sir Gawaine, st. 15:--
1038. Cf. Gower, Conf. Amantis, i. 96:--
So also in the Marriage of Sir Gawaine, st. 28:--
1069. The scansion is--'Shold' ev'r | so foul | e dis | pará | ged be.'
1081. So in Gower's Conf. Amantis, i. 100:--
1114. Cf. _privee n'apert_ in l. 1136; 'in private and in public.'
1128. Cf. Dante, _Purgat._ vii. 121:--
Cary's translation is:--
1158. Cf. Rom. of the Rose, 2181:--
1196. This translates 'remotio curarum.'
1197. This translates 'sapientie reparatrix,' not 'repertrix.'
THE FRIAR'S PROLOGUE.
THE FRERES TALE.
1314. 'No fine could save the accused from punishment.'
1323. _espiaille_, set of spies; see note to B. 2509, p. 213. [324]
1365. 'You need not take any more trouble in this matter.'
1439. 'Were it not for my extortion, I could not live.'
1528. This much resembles A. 1132, q.v. [328]
THE SOMPNOUR'S PROLOGUE.
THE SOMNOURS TALE.
1794. Cf. 2 Cor. iii. 6. In the margin of E., 'Litera occidit, &c.'
1931. 'All as full of wine as a bottle in the buttery.'
Lo, 'buf!' they seye, '_cor meum eructavit!_'
2098. So in I. 1008: 'but-if it lyke to thee of thyn humilitee.'
2219. _Shewe_ here means 'to propose' or 'propound.'
NOTES TO GROUP E.
THE CLERKES PROLOGUE.
1. _clerk._ See the description of him, Prol. A. 285.
6. See Eccles. iii. 1; 'To every thing there is a season,' &c.
18. _Heigh style_, lofty, learned, somewhat pedantic style; see l. 41.
33. _of poetrye_, with his poetry. _Of_ is similarly used in l. 34.
56. _this_, contraction for _this is_ (see footnote); common.
THE CLERKES TALE.
115. Cf. Barbour's Bruce, ed. Skeat, i. 266-8.--M.
118-119. Expanded from--'uolant enim dies rapidi.'
121. _still as stoon_; Latin text, 'tacita.' Cf. F. 171.
129. _we wol chese yow_, we will choose for you.
147. _Ther_, where. This line is Chaucer's own.
172. _as ever_, &c., as ever I may thrive, as I hope to thrive.
234. For this line the Latin has only the word _transiens_.
237. _in sad wyse_, soberly; Lat. 'senili grauitate.' [345]
257. Scan--Bý | a maýd | e lýk | to hír | statúrë. ||
393. Repeated, slightly altered, from l. 341.
413. Nearly identical with Troil. i. 1078.
421. _royally_; alluding to the royal virtues of Griseldis.
504. _thing_, possession. Lat. 'de rebus tuis igitur fac ut libet.'
607. This must mean--'no accidental sign of any calamity.'
625. _sikly berth_, hardly bear, dislike. Lat. 'populum _aegre ferre_,' &c.
643. Lat. 'ne te inopinus et subitus dolor turbet.'
663. _plesancë_, three syllables; _stabl'_, one syllable.
700. _And he_; cf. _And ye_, l. 105.
704. _a stake_; cf. Macb. v. 7. 1; Jul. Caesar, iv. 1. 48.
714. _more penible_, more painstaking; Lat. 'obsequentior.'
722. _sclaundre_, ill fame, ill report concerning Walter. See l. 730.
866. Lat. 'neque omnino alia mihi dos fuit, quam fides et nuditas.'
871. Probably suggested by Job, i. 21. So l. 902 is from Job, iii. 3.
THE MARCHAUNTES PROLOGUE.
THE MARCHANTES TALE.
1560-1. From Le Rom. de la Rose, 14055-6:--
2107. 'What might it avail thee if thou couldst see to the very horizon?'
2109. 'For it is just as good to be deceived when blind.'
2229-30. Tyrwhitt prints these lines differently, thus:--
Eche after other, right as any lyne.'
Tyrwhitt reads:--
2264. 'So you shall, if you so wish.'
2310. 'That would wish (to do) us a disgrace.'
2321-2. Cf. Rom. de la Rose, 10131-2:--
2410. 'He who misapprehends comes to a false conclusion.'
EPILOGUE TO THE MERCHANT'S TALE.
NOTES TO GROUP F.
THE SQUIERES TALE.
The Hengwrt MS. has--
Pitous and Iust, and ever-more y-liche--
39. _longing for_, belonging to. Cf. _longen_, Kn. Ta. 1420 (A. 2278).
53. _agayn_, against, opposite to. So also in Kn. Ta. 651 (A. 1509).
54. _What for_; cf. Mod. Eng. _what with_. See Kn. Tale, 595 (A. 1453).
81. _stede of bras_, &c. See note to I. 209, and vol. iii. pp. 465, 475.
106. _style_, stile. Such puns are not common in Chaucer; cf. E. 1148.--M.
122. _the air_, pronounced _th'air_, as usual with Chaucer; see D. 1939.
200. _goon_, i. e. move, go about, have motion.
224. 'They are very prone to put down things to the worst cause.'
And again--
247. _Canaceës_; four syllables, as in l. 631.
316. 'You must twirl round a pin (which) stands in his ear.'
318. 'You must also tell him to what place or country you wish to ride.'
334. _Ryde_, ride; so in the Six-text; Hl. has _Byd_, i. e. bid.
374. _maistresse_, governess; as appears from the Phis. Tale, C. 72.
383. _wel a ten_, i. e. about ten. Cf. Prol. l. 24.
458. _as dooth_, so do, pray do. See Note to Cler. Tale, E. 7.
474. _aswowne_ = _a swowne_ = _on swoune_, in a swoon.
480. _similitude_ is pronounced nearly as _sim'litude_.
483. _kytheth_, manifests. Cf. Rom. Rose, 2187-2238 (vol. i. p. 172).
516. Read _k[=e]p'th_. MS. Hl. gives lines 514-6 thus:--
517. _sowneth in-to_, tend to, are consonant with; see Prol. 307.
518. Cf. P. Plowm. B. xv. 109. Both passages are from Matt. xxiii. 27.
555. Imitated, but not with good taste, from Mark, i. 7.
558. This line resembles Troil. ii. 637.
579. 'Whether it was a grief to me, does not admit of doubt.'
583. 'Such grief I felt because he could not stay.'
607. From Boethius, De Cons. Phil. lib. iii. met. 2:--
640. Compare ll. 153-155, which shew that Canace knew what herbs to choose.
THE WORDS OF THE FRANKLIN.
683. _pound_, i. e. pounds worth of land.
686. _possessioun_, i. e. property, wealth. Cf. D. 1722.
688. _and yet shal_, and shall still do so.
THE PROLOGUE OF THE FRANKLIN'S TALE.
723. I. e. he knows no 'colours' of rhetoric; cf. F. 511. [388]
THE FRANKELEYNS TALE.
729. _Armorik_, Armorica, the modern Brittany.
Compare also ll. 8489-90 of the same:--
830. Cf. 'Gutta cauat lapidem'; Ovid, Epist. iv. 10. 5.
861. Cf. 'That she ne hath foot on which she may sustene'; Anelida, 177.
879. Cf. 'a fayr party of so grete a werk'; Boeth. bk. i. met. 5. 38.
889. _this_, short for _this is_; as in many other places.
913. _The odour_ is to be read as _Th'odóur_.
918. _At-after_, after; as in F. 302.
963. _And hadde_, and _she_ had; with a sudden change of subject.
992. _Lok-e_, for _Lok-en_, imper. _plural_.
1370. 'They commanded (men) to arrest his daughters.'
1541. 'But let every woman beware of her promise.' [400]
NOTES TO GROUP G.
THE SECOND NONNES TALE.
15. _though men dradden never_, even if men never feared.
21. Compare Piers Plowman, B. prol. 21, 22--
40. _nobledest_, didst ennoble; Dante's 'nobilitasti.' [404]
56. _hir lyves leche_, the physician of their lives (_or_ life).
64. See James, ii. 17.
68. _advócat_, accented on the penultimate.
159. _me gye_, rule me, keep me; lit. guide me.
178. _secree nedes_, secret necessary reasons; Lat. 'secreta mandata.'
181. _purged yow_, viz. by the rite of baptism.
208. _Cristendom_, baptism; Lat. 'baptisma.' See l. 217.
232. _for_, because; Lat. 'quia.'
236. Afterwards repeated, very nearly, in Kn. Tale, l. 338 (A. 1196).
243. _savour undernom_, perceived the scent; Lat. 'sensisset odorem.'
246. Cf. the South-E. Legendary (see note to l. 120), l. 89.
Compare the words of Theophilus in the Virgin Martyr, v. 1:--
320. _skilfully_, reasonably; the usual meaning at this date. See l. 327.
327. 'And all that has been created by a reasonable Intelligence.'
341. The word _Three_ stands alone in the first foot. See note to l. 353.
367. _thise martirs_; note that this is an accusative case.
413. _encense_, offer incense to; see note to l. 395.
434. Lat. 'de conscientia bona et fide non ficta'; cf. 1 Tim. i. 5.
485. Lat. 'es igitur minister mortis, non uitae.'
490. To scan the line, elide _e_ in _suffre_, and read _phílosóphre_.
492. _spekest_; to be read as _spek'st_.
515. _bath of flambes rede_; Lat. 'in bulliente balneo.'
533. Lat. 'eam semiuiuam cruentus carnifex dereliquit.'
545. _do werche_, cause to be constructed.
549. Lat. 'inter episcopos sepeliuit.'
THE CANON'S YEOMAN'S PROLOGUE.
566. _male tweyfold_, a double budget or leathern bag; see Prol. l. 694.
588. _now_, &c.; lately, in the time of early morning.
And yé | him knéw | e, ás | wel ás | do I ||
611. _leye in balaunce_, place in the balance, weigh against it.
620. _can_, knows, knows how to exercise.
632. _worship_, dignity, honour; here, respectable appearance.
648. Cf. Butler's description of Hudibras:--
652. _Ther-of no fors_, never mind about that.
659. _theves by kinde_, thieves by natural disposition.
THE CHANOUNS YEMANNES TALE.
721. _neer_, nearer; this explains _near_ in Macbeth, ii. 3. 146.
724. _Ther_, where; observe the use. In l. 727, we have _wher_.
739. 'I consider his prosperity as done with.'
And again, in iii. 2:--
774. Note the accents--'súblyméd Mercúrie.'
Of tártr' | alúm | glas bérm | wort ánd | argoíle ||
834. 'Whosoever pleases to utter (i. e. display) his folly.'
838. _Ascaunce_, possibly, perhaps; lit. 'just as if.' See note to D. 1745.
848. _bothe two_, both learned and unlearned alike.
921. _chit_, short for _chideth_; so also _halt_ for _holdeth_.
933. _eft-sone_, for the future; lit. soon afterwards.
934. 'I am quite sure that the pot was cracked.'
975. _Alisaundre_, Alexandria, _and othere three_, and three more as well.
1096. _Algates_, at any rate. Observe the context. [430]
1362. _nere_, for _ne were_; meaning 'were it not for.'
1411. In Hazlitt's Proverbs--'Never is a long term.'
1416. 'As to turn aside from an obstacle in the road.'
NOTES TO GROUP H.
THE MANCIPLE'S PROLOGUE.
12. _Do him come forth_, make him come forward. Cf. Group B, 1888, 1889.
24. _Than_ constitutes the first foot; _beste_ is dissyllabic.
29. _as now_, for the present; a common phrase.
33. _not wel disposed_, indisposed in health.
And again--
76. Read _mauncipl'_, and pronounce _were a_ rapidly.
83. 'Yea, of an excellent vintage.'
THE MAUNCIPLES TALE.
Gower has:--'Wel more white than any _swan_.'
139. Ovid gives her name, Coronis of Larissa.
175. _Not_ from Boethius, but from Le Roman de la Rose, 14241, &c.:--
193. _newefangel_, eager of novelty; see note to F. 618.
220. _wenche_, like _lemman_, was a 'knavish' word; see E. 2202.
262. _wryen_, to turn aside hastily; see A. 3283.
In place of this line, Hl. has the following extraordinary variation:--
294. _songe_, didst sing; A. S. _sunge_.
301. See the Parl. of Foules, l. 363, and the note (vol. i. pp. 520-1).
307. _which_, to whom; i. e. 'to whom I commit him.'
314. _Daun_, Dan, i. e. lord, sir; see note to B. 3119.
340. Cf. Ps. lvii. 4:--'and their tongue a sharp sword.'
NOTES TO GROUP I.
THE PARSON'S PROLOGUE.
32. See 1 Tim. i. 4, iv. 7; 2 Tim. iv. 4.
THE PERSONES TALE.
80. Alluding to ll. 50, 51 of the Prologue to this Tale.
102. _spyces_, species, kinds; of frequent occurrence in this Tale.
105. _naked_, i. e. thinly clad, in little more than a shirt-like garment.
108. Cf. P. Plowman, C. xvii. 29:--
115. Not the words of Christ, but of St. John the Baptist; Matt. iii. 8.
116. See Matt. vii. 20.
119. 'Et in timore Domini declinatur a malo'; Prov. xvi. 6.
125. 'Iniquos odio habui, et legem tuam dilexi'; Ps. cxviii. (cxix.) 113.
126. Cf. Daniel iv. 10-27.
127. The reference is probably to Prov. xxviii. 13.
135. _Ezechie_, king Hezekiah; see Isaiah, xxxviii. 15 (Vulgate).
136. From Rev. ii. 5.
138. Referring to 2 Pet. ii. 22.
141. From Ezek. xx. 43.
142. Really from John viii. 34; but cf. 2 Pet. ii. 19.
151. _Take reward of_, have regard to.
162. From Rom. xiv. 10.
168. This gives the general sense of Prov. i. 28.
174. This passage from Jerome is probably founded upon Ps. xcvii. 3, 4.
176. From Job x. 20-22.
181. Referring to the quotation above; see 177.
186. _defautes_, wants, deprivations; _agayn_, as compared with.
189. Not from Jeremiah, but from 1 Sam. ii. 30; cf. Mal. ii. 9.
195. From Deut. xxxii. 24, 33. Cf. Hampole's Pricke of Conscience, l. 6755.
198. From Isaiah xiv. 11.
201. From Micah vii. 6.
207. The 'five wits' are the five senses. Cf. P. Plowman, B. xiv. 53:--
208. _grintinge_, gnashing; cf. Matt. xiii. 42, xxv. 30.
210. The reference is to the last verse in Isaiah.
216. From Rev. ix. 6. Cf. Hampole, Pricke of Conscience, ll. 6723, 7387.
217. Referring to the words 'et nullus ordo,' in Job x. 22; see 177 above.
220. Referring to Ps. cvii. 34.
227. From Prov. xi. 7.
236. From Ezek. xviii. 24.
252. _to paye with his dette_, to pay his debt with.
281. From Isaiah liii. 5.
284. From the Vulgate version of John xix. 19.
286. From Matt. i. 21.
287. From Acts iv. 12.
288. _Nazarenus_, an inhabitant of Nazareth.
289. From Rev. iii. 20.
307. Ps. xcvii. 10 (xcvi. 10, in the Vulgate).
309. From Ps. xxxii. 5. The words _that is to seyn_ are superfluous.
313. _sone of ire_, i. e. a child of wrath; Eph. ii. 3.
315. _a sory song_, i. e. a mournful song.
322. From Rom. v. 12.
342. From Gal. v. 17.
343. Cf. 2 Cor. xi. 25-27.
344. From Rom. vii. 24.
348. From James i. 14.
349. From 1 John i. 8.
The Seven Sins, in Chaucer's order, are:--
1. _Superbia_, Pride (p. 591); its 'remedy' is _Humilitas_, Humility.
2. _Inuidia_, Envy (p. 598); remedy, _Caritas_, Love.
3. _Ira_, Ire, Wrath (p. 601); remedy, _Patientia_, Patience.
4. _Accidia_, Sloth (p. 612); remedy, _Fortitudo_, Strength.
5. _Auaricia_, Avarice (p. 617); remedy, _Misericordia_, Pity.
6. _Gula_, Gluttony (p. 623); remedy, _Abstinentia_, Abstinence.
7. _Luxuria_, Lechery (p. 625); remedy, _Castitas_, Chastity.
DE SUPERBIA.
393. _Avauntour_, boaster; P. Pl. C. vii. 35; Ayenb. p. 22, ll. 5-15.
399. This is parallel to P. Plowm. C. vii. 41-58.
402. _Contumax_, contumacious; as in P. Plowm. C. xiv. 85.
421. _bete_, remedy, amend, better, relieve; cf. A. 2253.
422. _cutted_, cut short; see Leg. G. Women, 973, and note.
434. From Zech. x. 5.
442. From Ps. lv. 15.
448. _sourden of_, arise from, have their _source_ in; F. _sourdre_.
459. Alluding to Gal. v. 17; see Wyclif's version.
473. Cf. the Clerkes Tale, E. 1000.
483. _to stonde gladly to_, willingly to abide by.
DE INUIDIA.
490. Compare P. Pl. C. vii. 93.
495. Fr. 'il pervertist e torne tout a la pior partie.'
496. Fr. 'il estaint e met a nient touz les biens que li hons fait.'
499. Fr. 'grondiller e murmurer.'
504. See Luke vii. 39.
505. _bereth him_, &c., lays to his charge. Cf. D. 226, 380.
526. From Matt. v. 44.
DE IRA.
536. Cf. Horace, Epist. I. 2. 62:--'Ira furor breuis est.'
537. _trouble_, i. e. troubled, agitated; F. _trouble_, adj. Cf. H. 279.
540. From Ps. iv. 5 (Vulgate).
568. From Prov. xxviii. 15; cf. iii. 27.
569. From Prov. xxv. 21.
582. From Ps. cxlv. 9.
588. See Exod. xx. 7; Matt. v. 34. Cf. C. 642.
597. From Acts iv. 12.
598. From Phil. ii. 10.
614. _Salomon._ Chaucer gives the general sense of Prov. xxviii. 23.
623. _gospel._ See Matt. v. 22, 44.
627. From Matt. xii. 34.
629. From Prov. xv. 4.
630. From 2 Tim. ii. 24.
633. From Prov. xvii. 1. Below, see Col. iii. 18.
639. See 2 Sam. xvii. 1.
640. _fals livinge_, false liver, evil liver.
649. From Ecclesiastes, v. 3.
651. _deffendeth_, forbids; see Eph. v. 4.
654. The word _Mansuetude_ is borrowed from the Fr. text.
657. Jerome seems to be quoting 1 Cor. xiii. 4, 5.
660. Compare Boethius, bk. ii. pr. 7. ll. 91, 92 (vol. ii. p. 48).
664. From Prov. xxix. 9.
DE ACCIDIA.
679. _Salomon_; with reference to Eccl. ix. 10.
687. Referring, probably, to Rev. iii. 16.
688. Cf. Prov. xx. 4; xxi. 25. [467]
705. From Matt. vii. 7, John xvi. 24; compare Wyclif's version.
707. _by the morwe_, early in the morning; cf. D. 755, H. 16; and D. 1080.
709. From Prov. viii. 17.
714. Cf. G. 3, and note; also Ayenb. p. 31, ll. 20-22.
DE AUARICIA.
748. 'Auarus, quod est idolorum seruitus'; Eph. v. 5.
766. See Gen. ix. 26, and note to 755.
793. See Pard. Tale, C. 590; Ayenb. p. 45, l. 13.
799. _Corporel_, bodily theft; see Ayenb. p. 37, l. 3.
804. _misericorde_ answers to 'merci' in Ayenb. p. 185, l. 26.
811. _largesse_, bounty; so also in Ayenb. p. 188, l. 4.
DE GULA.
822. See Pard. Tale, C. 549, 558.
DE LUXURIA.
841. _stank_, pool; 'stagno' in the Vulgate (Rev. xxi. 8).
854. See Prov. vi. 26-9; vii. 26; Ecclus. xii. 13, 14; xiii. 1; xxvi. 7.
858. _roser_, rose-bush; as in Havelok, 2919.
879. 'Him shall God destroy'; 1 Cor. iii. 17.
880. _douted_, feared. See Gen. xxxix. 8, 9.
887. _gladly_, readily; hence, fittingly.
889. 'Iam amplius noli peccare'; John viii. 11.
916. _two maneres_, two ways; cf. the two 'states,' in Ayenb. p. 220.
922. Eph. v. 25, again quoted in 929; 1 Cor. xi. 3.
933. Perhaps the reference is to Rev. xvii. 4, xviii. 16.
934. _Gregorie_; see note to 414 above, p. 458.
939. _three thinges_, three reasons; so in Ayenb. p. 222, l. 14.
944. _widewe_; cf. Ayenb. p. 225, l. 9.
947. _boyste_, box; Mat. xxvi. 7; John xii. 3.
951. See the parallel passage; Ayenb. p. 204, at the bottom.
954. _leyt_, flame; the candle being stuck close to the wall.
960. _that that_, that which, what it is that. [473]
982. _foure_, four; Fr. 'six.' See Ayenb. p. 172, l. 6.
DE SATISFACCIONE.
1059. Fr. 'au regart de la peine d'enfer.'
NOTES
TO
THE TALE OF GAMELYN.
6. _sone he began_, he soon began, viz. to evince his disposition. [478]
16. _hadde_, might have; the subjunctive mood.
57. _plowes_, ploughlands; see the Glossary.
64. 'That my bequest may stand,' i. e. remain good.
100. 'Brother by name, and brother in that only.'
103. 'Thou shall be glad to get mere food and clothing.'
115. _schal algate_, must in any case.
121. _over-al_, all about, all round, everywhere.
122. _stood_, i. e. which stood. The omission of the relative is common.
125. _good woon_, good store; plentifully.
131. 'May ye prosper ill!' Cf. Chaucer, Pard. Tale, C. 947.
150. _of thing_, of a thing; as in Sir Tristram, 406.
154. 'And mind that thou blame me, unless I soon grant it.'
156. 'If we are to be at one,' i. e. to be reconciled. Cf. l. 166.
158. 'Thou must cause me to possess it, if we are not to quarrel.'
164. 'As he well knew (how to do).'
171. 'There was a wrestling-match proclaimed there, hard by.'
207. _wilt thow wel doon_, if thou wishest to do a kind deed.
214. _drede not of_, fear not for.
224. _whyl he couthe go_, whilst he was able to go about.
236. _gonne goon_, did go. _Gonne_ is a mere auxiliary verb.
240. _faste aboute_, busily employed, trying your best. Cf. l. 785.
248. Spoken ironically, 'shall it be counted as a throw, or as none?'
249. _whether_, &c., whichever it be accounted.
In Havelok, l. 277:--
255. 'Who was not at all well pleased.'
257. 'It is full yore ago'; it is very long ago.
262. _wil no-more_, desires no more, has had enough.
273. See note to l. 334.
281. _have_, have, receive, take.
297. See note to l. 334.
324. _largely_, liberally; the usual old meaning.
328. _no cheste_, no strife, no quarrelling.
352. _ful neer_, much nearer. See note to l. 109.
368. 'If thou thinkest the same as thou sayst, may God requite it thee!'
394. _or_, ere, before; not 'or.' _be_, been.
411. 'Upon such an agreement.'
413. 'All as I may prosper'; as I hope to thrive.
433. _that this_, &c., that this is a thing not to be denied, a sure thing.
438. _hem_, them, i. e. the fetters (understood); cf. l. 498.
441. _borwe the_, be surety for thee, go bail for thee.
453. Lodge says: 'When I give you a wincke,' &c.
456. _for the nones_, for the occasion; see note to l. 206.
460. _leste and meste_, least and greatest.
471. _ther that_, where that; as commonly.
489. _so_, &c., 'as I hope to make use of my bones,' lit. bone.
514. 'Pay a liberal allowance,' i. e. deal your blows bountifully.
515. _so ever_, &c., 'as sure as ever I hear mass.' Cf. l. 595.
520. _telle largely_, count fully.
532. 'It had been better for us.' Cf. l. 621.
558. _ther ... inne_, wherein (Gamelyn was).
567. 'As I hope to have the use of my chin.' See note to l. 334.
578. 'I will repay thee for thy words, when I see my opportunity.'
588. 'Make their beds in the fen,' i. e. lie down in the fen or mud.
606. 'It is better for us to be there at large.'
609. Lodge says that they 'tooke their way towards the forest of Arden.'
616. _and loke how he fare_, and let us see how he may fare.
621. _lever me were_, it would be preferable for me.
642. 'Whoso looked aright,' i. e. if one were to look carefully.
651. i. e. I only curse (or blame) myself if I yield. [487]
689. 'His peace was made'; i. e. his pardon had been obtained.
698. 'And caused his brother to be indicted.'
701. _of his men_, i. e. (some) of his men.
710. _doth thee crye_, causes thee to be proclaimed.
718. 'Put down his hood,' lowered his hood, so as to show his face.
738. 'May evil befall such another brother (as thou art)'; cf. l. 485.
752. 'Cause (men) to deliver him at once, and to hand him over to me.'
761. _sitte_ means 'may sit'; cf. l. 749.
785. _fast aboute_, busily employed. See l. 240.
786. _to hyre the quest_, to suborn the jury. See l. 801.
806. _spet_, short for _speedeth_; cf. _stant_ for _standeth_, &c.
840. _the quest is oute_, the verdict is (already) delivered.
852. _the barre_, the bar in front of the justice's seat; see ll. 860, 867.
864. 'It seemed a very long time to him.'
880. 'To swing about with the ropes, and to be dried in the wind.'
889. _of the best assise_, in the truest manner; cf. l. 544.
900. 'Buried under the earth.'
901. 'No man can escape it.'
ADDENDA.
III. (Book of the Duchesse), 1318, 1319. The lines are:--
CANTERBURY TALES.
And just below:--
INDEX TO SUBJECTS AND WORDS EXPLAINED IN THE NOTES.
END OF VOL. V.