(preae

CfarCM^on

^evteet

CHAUCER

THE

PROLOGUE,

THE

THE

NONNE

PREESTES

MORRIS

TALE

KNIGHTES

TALE

HENRY

PUBLISHER

LONDON,

FROWDE,

TO

EDINBURGH,

THE

M.A.

UNIVERSITY

OF

AND

NEW

OXFORD

YORK

CHAUCER

THE

KNIGHTES

THE

PROLOGUE,

THE

TALE
TALE

PREESTES

NONNE

FROM

THE

TALES

CANTERBURY

BY

EDITED

Author
Editor

The

Story

MORRIS,

RICHARD

REV.

of Hainpole's
and

of Genesis

'

of

Member

'

Historical

Pricke

of the

The

'

of the

maister

My

dere

maister

Old

NOTES

and

SKEAT,

fader

Chaucers,

CLARENDON

Litt.D.

reverent,

flour

of
De

eloquence!
Regim.

Ojefor6
THE

Crc.

THE

HocCLEVE,

AT

Homilies,'

English

Philological Society

W.

WALTER

'

Pocins

Alliterative

English

of Inivyt,'

ADDITIONAL

AND

BY

REV.

Early

EDITION

NEW

COLLATIONS

Ayenbite

Council

'

of Ettglish Accidence

of Conscience,^

Exodus,'

WITH

Outlines

LL.D.

PRESS

MDCCCXCVIII

\^Allrightsreserved']

'

P^-inc.

st. 281.

\'

EDUCATION

PRINTED

DEPT,

BY

PRINTER

CLARENDON

THE

AT

HORACE

HART,

TO

THE

PRESS

M.

UNIVKRSTTY

A.

INTRODUCTION.
"

Chaucer

was,

Londoner

born

father's

like

former

citizen and

vintner

membrane

2). His

Chaucer's

grandfather

who

married

vintner.)

This

father.

As

Chaucer's

the spot where

near

street)now

the

poet spent his earliest

1374-1386, he did
and

marriage
he

have

must

boy

cellar,and
Young
the

(John) was

Philippa

in

v.

51) ;

the

no

doubt

son

The

and

The

Testament

its writer, contains

to

owed
of

his
the

to

of Love,

which

of

M193.154

Cannonthe

later,
there

Near

play, the

wineshop

and

first

was

his queen

with

the

in

1338

court,

appointment.

as

not

at

Chaucer's

and

Chaucer

Household

London

either

Cologne

Geoffrey

that it

been

bank,

after

III

connection

names

have

pages.

and

trainingand

evidence

as

Flanders

name

Wal-

House, after his

and

Edward

father's

poet's

by

their education

house

on

the

his

they required.

finished

leaves, fragments of

internal

by

half years

father in his

wine

the

Aldgate.

of school

nobleman's

the

sold

Thames

and

at

help his
time

some

London

was

Custom

rooms

Out

expedition

first records

parchment
""

school.

in attendance

their

(Rymer,

two

in

University,or

father

in the

in his

in Chaucer's

it must

on

don,
Lon-

Thomas

Railway (from

There,

fill citizens' pots with

men

and

son

be

to

"

there for twelve

probably sometimes

would

Chaucer,

Moor

Eastern

dailywork

to

gone

with

is

who

in 1349.

Ipswich

in Thames-street

Finsbury

South

down
settling

of

left his land

house

days ;

his

5 Ric. II,

Chaucer

John

Richard

Thames-street.

crosses

John Chaucer,

half-blood)
John Chaucer,

flowingfrom

stream

of the

of

Heyroun,

was

Henry

one

Agnes Chaucer,

Chaucer,

Heyroun

(thatis,brother

"

Robert

husband

brother

brook

wife

the

as

was

Thomas

John

doubt

no

widow, Maria

third

(Her

Heyroun.

was

Roll

of

son

as

to

his

right to

(City Hustings Roll, no,

mother

in another

of his

Release

himself

of London

described

Milton, etc.,

Jonson,

Thames-street, London,

describes

poet

his

In

^^

in

house

the

Herbury,

bred

and

Ben

Spenser,

the

the

are

on

Account,
birthplace of

poet'swork.

vi

INTRODUCTION,

for the

third

1356

years

to

III ; and

of Edward

son

of

1359,

Elizabeth,wife

Lionel,

of Prince

things,

other

they contain,besides

ing
(i)in April 1357, An entire suit of clothes, consistblack
of a paltock (or short cloak), a pair of red and
^^
breeches, with shoes, provided for GeoffreyChaucer
(2)on
;
is lost by a
May 20, 1357, an article of dress,of which the name
in London
defect in the leaf,
purchased for GeoffreyChaucer
;
of 2s. 6d. to
of the same
(3) in December
year, a donation
'

entries of

"

'

'

'

GeoffreyChaucer,

the poet is almost

was

record

1386, at

Grosvenor.

doubt

no

by

upwards, and

him

we

seventeen

Chaucer

entered

the

as

page,

in the

the Third's

us.

used

be

"

was

army,

taken

retinue

which

of Prince

that

date of 1340
of

dress,and given

also make

invaded

the traditional date

his

allotted

those

would

prisonerin

(Againstthis
set

date

paid for

as

to

other

bers
mem-

teen
nine-

Chaucer

Lionel,he joined

France

country,

in the
he

as

But

autumn

himself

poet'sbirth

that of the

1328.

make

Lionel's household,

in Prince

was

sums

this would

; and

1340

than

deal lower

when, doubtless

at

he

old when

years

This

informs

Sir

'

of his birth

of the household.

to

in October

"

probablyas a
him, are a good

of 1359, and

ment,
state-

own

Scrope and

Lord

then

important

authority as fortyyears of age and

poet'sown
for twenty- seven
as
having borne arms
years.
and
take Chaucer's
upwards as fortyfortyyears

the

fix the date

Edward

his

'

If then

six,we

It heads

Westminster

Council-clerk

The

very

Richard

trial between

Geoffrey Chaucer

and

the next

But

is

Chaucer

the famous

Robert

certain.

this

That

necessaries.'

quite certain.
depositionmade by him at

to

as

in

to

'

for

Petition of

the

GeffreyStace in 1328 st^ Rolls of Parliament, ii.14 expressly

Stace and his
that John Chaucer
states
(thepoet'sfather,whom
in December
carried off from London
had forcibly
confederates
1324)was then stillunmarried, tmkore dismarie^ and livingwith
over,
Morehis mother
Maria, and his stepfatherRichard Chaucer.
Roll of Trinity Term, 5 Edward
the Coram-Rege
III,
1 33 1, shows
no
A.D.
plea by Geffrey Stace that John Chaucer
"

"

'

"^
our

At

cost

of 7J-.(ofwhich

present money.

the

paltockwas

4J.),
equalto

about

5/.of

LIFE

had

married

then

him

in

the

OF

CHAUCER.

Vll

they tried

Joan de Esthalle whom

to

marry

hold
positionin Prince Lionel's housewould, says Mr. Bond, have given him 'the benefit of society
of the highestrefinement,in personalattendance
and
on
a young
spirited
princeof the blood. He would have had his imagination
of the most
fed by scenes
brilliant court
festivities^^ rendered
more
imposing by the splendid triumphs with which they were
to

connected
in the

1324.)

Chaucer's

he would

; and

earlyexercise

had the

have

advantage of royal patrons

of his

genius.' He would have been helped

in perfecting
that giftwhich so transcendently
him
distinguishes
of expressionin his
from the versifiers of his time
refinement
show
well as his
own
a
as
language
giftwhich his first poems
last. It is quitecertain that Chaucer
student and
was
a diligent
of the most
extensive learning.
The
a
man
acquaintance he
with astronomy, with
with divinity,
possessed with the classics,
much
then known
of chemistry,and indeed with every
so
as
was
'

"

'

"

'

other branch

of the

his education

had

Chaucer's
the year

scholastic

been

of the

learning

attended
particularly

militarycareer
which

commenced,

time

he

^.^

to

as

that

age, proves

we

have

in

seen,

have

the
joined Edward
which
invaded
Third's army,
in the beginning of NoFrance
vember
of that year.
the
After ineffectually
besiegingRheims
ing
English army laid siegeto Paris (1360),when at length,sufferand fatigue,
made
from famine
Edward
at Bretigny
peace

1359,

at

Chartres.

near

This

must

treaty, called the

'

Great

in the

set
followingOctober, and King John was
In this expeditionChaucer
made
was
prisoner,and on
III paid 16/. towards
Chaucer's
1360, Edward
ransom;

less than
That

he gave

another

man

for

fied
rati-

Peace,' was
at

liberty.

March

13J.

i,

4c/.

horse.

III (in 1358)to

splendidentertainment given by Edward
then
in
the
royal personages
England including
King of France, the
Queen of Scotland,the King of Cyprus, and the sister of the captive
King
of France, and Edward's
almost
Isabella
the
own
mother,
forgottenQueen
"=

most

the

"

at

"

what

was

ever

after called

probably also present, with

was

Gaunt

and

Life of Chaucer

the Great

Feast

of St.

George.' Chaucer

Lionel, at the wedding of John of

Lancaster, at Reading, and at the famous

of
Lady Blanche
held at
joustings
subsequently
'^

'

by

Sir H.

Prince

London
Nicolas

in honour
;

see

of the event.

Chaucer, ed. Morris,i. 4.

INTRODUCTION.

Vlll

We

have

no

of his

years

Issue

for life was

of the
'

In

hints in

the

king

to

as

the

'

king'schamber

or,

"

Chaucer

as

and

marks

20

'

valets

called,

sometimes

was

on

occurs

of the

one

the

'

of the

valet

pension of

office

poet

six

next

officialrecords"

our

Exchequer, when

granted by

he spent the

the first notice of the

1367

of the

Rolls

ascertaininghow

from

life,
except
works.

poet's own
the

of

means

in consideration
of former
and
king's household
future services.
This pension for 'former' services as well as
hold
entered the king'shousefuture,leaves littledoubt that Chaucer
"

after his

soon

return

In this service the

England.

to

poet,

fallen desperatelyand
to
probably twenty-one, seems
hopelesslyin love,probably with a lady above him in rank, who
His earliest originalpoem,
his Compleynte to
rejected him.
then

have

which
(pity),

Pite

written

been

have

may

1367, after his

about

tells us that for many

rejection
by his lady-love,
years he dared
not
speak his feelingstowards her, and when at last he did so,
he found Pity dead in her heart ; but still he pleadspathetically
with her for her love, and declares
that,though she still refuses
it,and he desires only death, he will love her alone till that
ed. Skeat,pp. 213-7.
Poems
death comes
8. See also his Minor
^

Issue

Rolls

are

works

of the

in the Aldine

horse

mark

of

series of the Poets.

of money
but the buying power
3J-.^d. of our
money,
times greater than at present. In 1350 the average
price
\%s.

was

^d.\ of
9^.; of

2s.(id.;of a goose
In Oxford, in 13 10, wheat
in

October,
The

the
of

old

cow

7^'.2d. ; of

sheep

in husbandry 3^/.
a day'slabour
2d.\
ioj.
a quarter ; in December
"js.^d. ; and

hen

was

of

the

de Roet

whom
'Philippa'

on

Chaucer.

Katherine,widow
mistress,and wife to John
heraldic grounds. The
Then

Thomas

Chaucer

of Sir
of

King
sively
Hugh Swynford, succesarms

made

the

court

of Constance

death

of the
of

queen

she

to have

appears
Castile,second wife of

John

of

Duke

Lancaster,

adopted by

were

(without the slightest

then
evidence)Geoffrey's
PhilippaRoet was
son, and
wife.
Chaucer's wife Philippawas
of the ladies
one
marks
of
and
in
10
was
Queen Philippa,
1366 a pension
After

was

of Arms

and

Gaunt,

Roet

was

married

Chaucer

(a native of Hainault

sister to

governess,

founded

i/. 4jr.(id.; of

ox

suppositionthat

Guienne)and

Thomas

an

131 1, 45'. lod.

daughter of Sir Paon

was

The details here

Chaucer's
to
poetical
prefixed
Rolls.

the Tower

was

at least ten

was

Exchequer and

Nicolas' Life of Chaucer,

Sir H.

from

made

Geoffrey's

in attendance

been

granted

to

attached

of Gaunt.

to

on

her.
the

LIFE

CHAUCER.

OF

the years 1368 and

his pension in person.

1369, Chaucer

During
received

IX

in

was

London, and

1369 (Aug. 15)the death of Queen Philippatook place,and

less than a month
later,Blanche, the wife of John of Gaunt,

In
in

died, at

the

memory

of his
of Blaunche

Deth

'

the

his

will

what

'

Criseyde loveth
And

Troilus

ech

In
God

leve

'

be left ; or,

the

of

sone

in

for to

he

as

which

he

to

above,
'

I holde

it for the

beste !

of

[moot]

him

me

hele.

But

over

until

eft ;

we

wil

the

never

but
phisicien

be,

not

his
the

760-4.)

hopelesslove,
question why

the
was

Venus, yet

be

left.'

; and

moon

stillthrown
and

poet

our

is doon.

that

sorrow,

although
over

the

Chaucer's

early
life,

sing the Complaint

henceforth

was

brightnessthat

and

freshness

nere

oon

nede

moot

tell of Troilus'

to

And

goode

faire

my
bothe

was

She

w^as

She

hadde

not

allow,grant.

whyte
lady name
fair and
hir

name

of Blaunche

she

heet

still draw

(was called),

right.
bright,

wrong.'
the

of

work

springsunshine.

to

(Deth
=

eight yere

may

That

'

is

boote

That

as

'

suffred this

is

into the

out

be

yet my

for his lost

to

'

as

there

him

made

men

I gesse,
siknesse

Trewely,

good crying for

disappointedlove

no

shadow

himself

in Troilus,

St. ccli. 11.

to

answer

For

That

Mars

in

And

Passe

was

hit

I have

That

and

cured,

sleepat night.

cannot

It

is

tells

reste !

(35-42)about

are

says

it biholde

kan

take

lines in the Blaunche

referred

are

he

The

colde.

(Bk. V.
Chaucer's

'

the

Tydeus,

cares

is litil hertes

us

in this poem

'

mot

estat

to

entitled

poem

"^.^ And

wepe
is this world, whoso

Swich

honour

hopelesseightyears'love

own

needs

be, must

not

funeral

Duchesse

though sadly,that

us,

in

patron's wife

did

Chaucer

twenty-nine.

of

age

Duchesse, 11. 948-951.)

INTRODUCTION.

In

the

course

attached

of the

next

court,

and

the

to

diplomaticservices.
received

and

Two

establishment.

He

with

have

to

twelve

months,

well

to

Genoa.

the

22nd

as

before

pension in
This

with

treat

of

choice

an

commercial

the end

before

received

the

sum

of

Italynearly

in

remained

was

as
king's service to Florence
have taken place
His return
to England must
this day he received his
of Nov.
1373, as on

and

went

the

on

^.

person

Chaucer's

was

He

June till

to

for the

December

having on the 1st of

in aid of his expenses.
\'}^s.\d.

seven

king'sservice,
from

might form
left England

Genoese

was

1372) Chaucer

12,

of Genoa,

of the year,
6^1.

(Nov.

poet

than

citizens of Genoa

two

merchants

appears

in the

in force

be

the

less

no

abroad

was

after this

the

in

employed

to
protection,

years

joined in a commission
the doge, citizens,
and
English port where

(i370-1 380)

years

1370 he

In

letters of

Michaelmas.

ten

first important mission.

It

no

was

doubt

executed, and gave entire satisfaction to the king, who

skilfully
of the feast of
the celebration
the 23rd of April, 1374, on
on
him a grant of a pitcherof wine
St. George, at Windsor, made
from the hands of the
daily,to be received in the Port of London
king'sbutler 1. On the loth of May the Corporationof London
a lease for his life of the dwelling-houseabove
granted Chaucer
gate of Aldgate, with

the

cellar

with

beneath,on

In this

embassy

Petrarch, who

that he

Chaucer

supposedto

But

to be trusted

version

the date

Chaucer,

learned

If the date

acquaintances'hip

made

in 1373, from
the tale of the patient

Padua,

from
him

from

that the old

(thereis

have

buildingsin good

biographersof

of the later editions

Chaucer

are

of Petrarch's

trarch
Pein Ulrich Tell's first edition),
into Latin
Boccaccio's Decameron

date

no

translate this tale from

of

that asserts

that he learned

the tale of

worthy clerk

poete,'
yet there can
enlarged and adorned

Petrarch, the laureate

Fraunces

Chaucer's

Clerk's Tale

Latin
This

to have

certain

these

certain

copiesgive
Sept.1373, after Chaucer's return [but some
and not
of
it
the
Clerk
And
is
Oxenford,
though
June 8, 1373].

until the end

miles

two

in this matter.

did not

'

it is not

kept

Arqua,

at

was

be trusted

can

is

and

built over,

rooms

condition

January tillSeptember,and
Griselda.

the

was

version

commuted

is

an.

of Boccaccio's
in

1378

for

be

'

at

Padua,

that
question

no

translation

of Petrarch's

Italian story.
a

yearlypayment

of

20

marks.

LIFE

repair. About four weeks

appointed Comptroller of
Skins,and Leather, in the
the
Duke

the

pension

good

June, he was
Subsidy of Wools,

"\ and

of London

of

Sth

and

Customs

Port

for the

of Lancaster

XI

the

later,on

received

he

month

same

CHAUCER.

OF

of

13th of

the

on

10/. for life from

the

and

his

service rendered

him

by

Philippato the said Duke, to his Consort,and to his mother

of Philippa Chaucer
as
This is the first mention
the Queen.
of
is named
one
as
Geoffrey'swife,though a Philippa Chaucer
the Ladies of the Chamber
to Queen Philippaon
Sept. 12, 1366,
a
was
and subsequently. It is possiblethat Philippa Chaucer
wife

relative

Geoffrey,and

of

namesake

or

her before

Italian
of

consequence
and

opened

Lyf

of

In

and
were

of

rent"

income

his

on

writings,

development, in which his

Foules, Compleynt of Mars,
of
Age, Troilus,and House

his
of

augmented by receivingfrom

was

custody

of

which

lands

the
he

retained

and

for three years,

(on Dec.

in

Kent.

Toward

Chaucer

were

he

in Soles

of which

is

not

received

as

'

employed

known.

On

the
in
the

end
some

23rd

of

of

person

wardship and marriage fee

28) the custody of five solidates

time

104/.; and

Burley and
nature

in the

married

have

must

influence

marked

Arcite,Boece, Former
probably composed.

Staplegateof Kent,

during which
sum

period of

the second

(Nov. 8) the

crown

Edmond

it,exercised

Chaucer's

1375

the

her

study of Italian literature in

his

journey,and

Seynt Cecile, Parlement

Anelida

not, he

married

Sept. 12, 1366.

Chaucer's

Fame,

; if

of 1374

springor earlysummer

that he

the
'

of

1376 Sir John

secret

of the

the
service,
same

month

and Burley twice that sum, for the

4"/.,
work upon
which they had been employed.
In February 1377, the last year of Edward's
reign,the poet was
associated with Sir Thomas
Percy (afterwardEarl of Worcester)

the poet received

6/. 13^.

July1 376,Chaucer, as Comptroller of Wool Customs, received from

being the fine paidby John Kent of London
thekingthesumof 71/.4J-.6r/.,
without having paid the duty thereon.
for shippingwool to Dordrecht
land (probably
an
A solidate of land was
acre)as was worth
as much
a shilling.
^

In

xii
in

INTRODUCTION,

mission

secret

Flanders", and

to

with

sent

the

his

he

return

along with Sir

Edward

of Milan

Lord

In

the

France

to

treat

with

Tale) and Sir John Hawkwood,

touching the expeditingthe king's wari.'
this embassy he appointed Gower
as
out
on
in the

him

for

appear

in

courts

during his

being instituted againsthim

By deed
from

his

of

May

of
7'aptiis

Comptroller of
office of

i,

On

to hold

of

the 8th

the Wool

certain

legal proceedings
^.

released Chaucer

the

These

made

was

time

same

emoluments

i, i386,andinFeb. 1385 was

tillDec.

set

of his trustees

May, 1382, he

Customs.

affairs

Chaucer

absence

at
Petty Customs, retaining

the

Comptroller of

continued

one

1380, Cecilia Chaumpayne

her.

Visconti,

brought into

When

of any

case

Lombardy,

Bernard

'on

of France.

to

afterwards

Chaucer

for

treat

king

mission

new

his Monk's

to

II succeeded

to

of the

daughter

death

(whose

of peace

treat

reappointedone
probably
January, 1378, he was

employed in
Berkeley,to

was

(afterwards

been

to have

Huntingdon

with

Richard

marriage of
On

of

Earl

Sturry to

In 1377 Richard

p.

appears

king's esquires.

the

of

Chaucer

throne, and

the

to

Richard

Huntingdon) and Sir

Charles
V, King of France
of

with

d' Angle

Sir Guichard

probably joined with

(April)
Earl

shortly afterwards

was

allowed

his
he
the

of nominating a deputy,so that he had perhaps now, or

privilege
leisure to devote himself to
perhaps soon after the loss of his office,
his great work, the Canterbury Tales,which, though never
pleted,
comwritten

was

"

Chaucer

received

different

at

of his

times

for this service 10/.

on

Feb.

from
life,

17, and

20/.

on

1373

Aprilii.

April 30, as part payment for

he
and
of 22/.
in
was
service,
1381 (March)
paid an additional sum
1
service
from
Chaucer
absent
this
was
on
May 28 to Sept.19,
he received 56/.13^. J^d.
not paid till 1380, when
was
,
1'

""

Chaucer

This

between

Gower;
Venus

received

26/. 13^.

4^. on

to

this

but

of an
intimate
the existence
friendship
proves
dedicated
the two
his Troilus and Criseydeto
poets. Chaucer
makes
and the latter poet, in the Confessio Amantis
(Bookviii.),

circumstance

speak

of Chaucer
'

And
As

as

sondry

floures
wyse,

"

Chaucer,

discipleand

my
For in the

In

follows

grete wel

as

whan

ye

mete,

poete.
my
of his youthe,
he

wel

couthe,

prefacedby

1400, and

in

xiii

CHAUCER.

OF

LIFE

Prologue, written

about

or

on

journey

also belong
this,the third periodof his poeticallife,
(writtenabout 1385),and Truth.
Legende of Good Women
To

1388.

The

'

(The

1386

In

'

of God

Moder

Chaucer

was

in the

Parliament

abroad

at this

formerlyattributed to him
elected a knight of the

held

the government,

brother,with
p7'otegeoi'Wx's,

he

whom

of

for

Kent,

Gaunt
the

Gloucester,at

was

head

of

disposed towards

well

likelynot

most

was

of

the Duke

time ; and

Hoccleve's.)

shire

John

Westminster.

at

is

was

now

on

the

ill terms.

On

from
his offices of
dismissed
was
December, Chaucer
Comptrollerof Wool, Woolfells,and Leather, and of Comptroller
others were
of Petty Customs, and
appointed in his place ^.
the

of

1st

poverty

beautiful

his

"

probably speaks his

find him

we

which

appointed

was

at

salary of

The

whiche

The

land

Whereof

Thou

to

The

began

1387 : yet

in

into his

King's
i/. of

to

power,

and

at

minster,
West-

Works

our

The

money.

thou

special
holde

most

am

dayes

^beholden).

olde

him

whiche

is myn
his Testament

of

hast
my

clerke,
Love,
thy shrift above,

doon

owne

of

it may

court

recorde.'

1386 compelled Richard

the state
their

al ;

over

telle this message.

his
latter age,
upon
end of al his werke,
an

make
that

in

now

sette

As

him

in his

he,

Parliament

oflicers may

restored

a-day,about

is.

other, I

he

So

enquire into

in

of government

were

of the

Clerk

fulfilled is

shalt

That

Do

party

alle

Forthy

pensions of 20 marks,
cancelled
and assignedto
two

of songes
glade,
sake made.
he for my

to

Above

To

and

"

dytees and

Of

As

')

Canterburypilgrimage.Richard,in 1389,

Lancastrian

; the

hands

to

fro the prees

of his distress

trouble,his wife died

his

to

('Flee

time

council,and took the reins

his

Chaucer

add

To

his

upon

May, 1388, were

his merry

1388 he made

own

of

ist

John Scalby.
dismissed

feelingsin this

own

'

affluence

from

poet

of Truth

balade

raisingmoney

the

on

'

the

reduced

loss of his emoluments

The

of the

duties in

subsidies

and

to

appointa

customs.

November, and the

investigations.

be attributed to their

commission

The

removal

sioners
commisof

certain

xiv

INTRODUCTION.

next

(1390)he

year

also

was

appointed Clerk

of the Works

at

to
George'sChapel,Windsor, and made one of a Commission
between
and Greenwich, but
Woolwich
Banks
repairthe Thames
In 14 Rich. II (June,1390-1),he was
was
superseded in 1391.
of North
Petherton
appointed jointForester,with Rd. Brittle,
He
had besides,10/.
Park in Somerset, by the Earl of March.
yearlyfrom the Duke of Lancaster, and 40^. as the king'sesquire.
is allowed
In a writ,dated
the costs
of
July i, 1390, Chaucer
puttingup scaffolds in Smithfield for the King and Queen to see
the joustswhich took placein May, 1390. Compare this with Kn.
In Sept.,1390, he was
robbed, at Westminster,
Tale, 1023-1034.
the
and
of 9/.3^".Zd. near
foule
of 10/. of the King's money,
ok' (fouloak) at Hatcham,
Surrey; but the repayment of it was
Chaucer
translated
and
In 1391
compiled his
forgiven him.

St.

'

Treatise

probably

followed

his

nesse,

by

Envoys
his

and

Venus,

Astrolabe, for his 'little son' Lewis.

the

on

Feb.,

; but

Michaelmas

and

Skogan

to

of 20/. a-year

king

Lak
Fortune, Gentilesse,

Compleynt

the 28th of

On

his

for

grant from

the poet appears

circumstances,for

of

to

the
and

Easter

life,
payable half-yearlyat

this time

at

of Stedfast-

Compleynt
(inSept.1399).

obtained

Chaucer

1394,

was

the

Bukton,

his Purse

to

This

have

in

been

find him

making application
of his annuity,and
from
the Exchequer on account
for advances
these
to him
not
were
personallyduring the
as
always made
he
few
next
was
probably ill. In 21 Rich. II (June,
years,
very

distressed

of

1397-8),Alianor, Countess
Easter

In

sheriff

The

twice

inventus, though

in

issued

forbiddingany

to

to

sue

or

Five

land.
a

tun

John

Chaucer
arrest

of wine
of

after he

made

him

him

months
a-year

Buckholt

1398, Isabella

Term,

\\d.

14/. is.

March,

sole

1398 (May

on

later

any

returned

4)
one,

letters

for the

sued

the
of

poet
of

year

to

the

throne

Chaucer's

71011

two

years,

connected

(Oct. 15)the king made

for life. Next

as

protectionwere

term

plea except it were

for

Chaucer

him

with

grant of
of

Henry Bolingbroke,son

Gaunt, supplantedhis cousin Richard, and within

came

Forester

in Somerset.

Petherton

of North

we

pension of

20

four

marks

days
was

LIFE

doubled
him

Richard

by

of his

him

as

On

in addition

"

II

OF

annuity of

the

to

CHAUCER.

in

doubtless

"

20/. which
the

to

answer

addressed
poverty*,which was
King by lyne and free
verray
'"

had

given
hailed

and

IV,

Henry

to

been

poet'sCompleynt

eleccioun.'
for

poet covenanted

Eve, 1399, the

Christmas

XV

the

lease

in his fifty(a long agreement for a man

fifty-three
years
in the garden of the Chapel of
ninth year to make), of a house
his
St. Mary, Westminster, where
it is probable that he ended
days. The date (Oct.25, 1400)assignedto his death by Nicholas
by the entries in the Issue Rolls,no
Brigham is corroborated
of payment
note
being found after June 5th, 1400.

for

"

Thus

on

the bank

which

bred, on

river

of the noble
his

for years

he

As

poet passed away.

which

by

dailylife was

spent,

least

at

was

he

born

was

great early

our

sixtywhen

and

he

died, he

justlyentitled to the epithetsold and reverent, applied to

him by his contemporariesGower
and Hoccleve".
had
Chaucer
one
Lewis, who probably died young, to
son,

was

'To

yow,

Purse, and

my

Compleyne

to

am

lady
light,
hevy chere,

For

so

whiche

Beth

your

hevy

ageyn,
voucheth

Now
That
Or

unto

or

sauf

I of yow
the
colour
your

mercy
elles mot
this

blisful

wight,

dere ;

that ye be
sory now
me
For, certes, but ye make
leef
Me
be
were
as
leyd upon
I

other

non

I, for ye be my

my
thus
I

day,
soun

bere.
I crj^e,
dye !

or

hit be

night,

here.

may

lyk the Sonne

bright.
That
[as] of yelownesse hadde never
pere ;
Ye be my
lyf,ye be myn hertes stere,
Quene of comfort and of good companye
;
Beth
I dye.
hevy ageyn, or elles mot
Now
Purs, that art to me
lyves light,
my
And
Out
Sin

see

saveour,

that

ye wole
shave

For

But

yit I pray

Beth

doun

as

of this toune

am

hevy

help
nat
as

unto

ageyn,

in this worlde

or

me

ben
nye

as

thurgh
my
any

might,

your

tresorere

frere.

your curtesye,
elles mot
I dye.'

(Chaucer'sMinor

Poems,

cd.

Skeat,p. 210.)

lived to the period of grey

says that Chaucer
old
found
his
length
greatest disease.' In Hoccleve's
age
he
is
representedwith grey hair and beard.
poet
'I

Leland

here.

'

hairs,and

at

portraitof the

INTR

XVI

is

evidence

no

immense

whatever

that

In the
a

Prologue

'

age

and

have

to

seems

de

been

novelties he

relative.

of

making

'

and

books,
'

and

pored

Our

hoste

iapen

tho

loked

upon

And

seyde thus,

"What

man

lokest

thou

woldest

Thou

For

ever

Now
He
This
For
He

war

in the
were

as

the

upon

Approche

he

erst

and

is

in

an

smal

any womnian,
semeth
elvish

of

House

head

aching

the

of rest

until his eyes

were

followed
was

he in

began,
me.

fynde
thee

se

quod he;
hare,

an

stare

up merily.
lat this man
have

shape

popet

working
hard-

loke

sirs,and

waast

was

quirements
ac-

'reckonings'at

artow?"
I

ground

neer,

you,

extensive

he

pression
ex-

with whom

in The

his books

than

of those

home, instead

an

dazed

weird

ditties.' So absorbed

and

songs,

and

night

at

that

returned

over

small,

was

or

His

'a

Tabard,

attention

reticent.

And

"

the

allusions

he

Hoccleve'^.

'

elvish

writings show

often

at

an

his labours

1388,

meditative,but
*

attracted

incidental

dull ; and

and

had

ably
prob-

in

his face

and

over,

sat

and

of the

reserved

when

were

; but

to

la Pole

have

we

for the first time, and

from

that

House

'

like his host

downcast

voluminous

learn

we

Custom

the

have

with him

been

student

dased

attained

heir-apparentto

Thopas^,

embrace

to

which

contact

and

'

of Sir

study. Altogether, he
into

came

'

eye

of countenance,

and

III

he may

though

Rime

poppet

no

his
intelligent,

fair,and

Fame,

Richard

by

corpulent,and,

was

large man,' and

he

who

pictureof Chaucer's personal appearance

some
points with his later portraitby

he

In person

who

Chaucer,

There

faithful

agreeing in

by

in 1391.

great-grandson, John

son,

The

to

the Astrolabe

on

declared

Chaucer's

throne,was

TION.

Thomas

whose

and

wealth,

(Earl of Lincoln),was
the

UC

his treatise

he addressed

whom

on

wel

as

place;

I ;

tenbrace

arm

and

as

fair of face.

by his conlenance,
For
unto
no
wight doth he daliaunce."
This is a coloured
portraitfound in the margin of Hoccleve's
Regimine Principum in Harl. MS. 4866. Other MSS. contain
'

"^
'

De

of Chaucer;
paintings

work

'

but the

bestowed

care

has
reallylooks like a portrait,
^
renders
elvish
Tyrwhitt
by

made
'

on

the Harleian

critics believe

shy.'

it a

one,

t)ther
which

genuine likeness.

xviii

INTRODUCTION.

his love

Even

desire

eager

'

his

perceptionof

in the

'

of the

'^

'

And

as

On

bokes

thogh that

for me,
for to

hem

to

And

in myn

rede

But

Is comen,
And
that
Farwel

is game
maketh

that

and
the

the

(Legend
*

"

who

For

For

wele

Sche

and

that

"

"

"

is

Mariage
"

wol

"

and

here

wyf
help
paradis terrestre and

Thay
O
A

a!

not

Seinte

How

mighte

That

hath

serve,

he

sterve.

man

wyf?

and

his

desport.

is sche,

lyve

herte

oon

forsake.

ye prove,
may
and
his comfort.

vertuous

thay ben,

but

wyf?

so

neede

mosten

fleisch

Have

is his make?

as

"

mannes

and

3, 11. 29-39.)

"

"

"

see,

ye
is

Skeat, p.

wyf ?
ententyf,

him

"

may

buxom

ed.

'

yifteverrayly;

Her

So

in unite ;
I gesse,
as
in distresse.

blood,

on

and

in wele

Mary, I"cneduite,
have
certes

The
See

so

ful gret sacrament

"

of

May
singe,
springe,

for to

as

That
His

month

foules

Women,

"

is Goddes

wyf

the
the

hool,

sche

goon,

devocioun

eek

and

to

him
to love and
wery
til that
he lay bedred

is not

Theigh

noon,

buxom

so

woo

or

ful credence,

reverence

me

ginnen

my
of Good

trewe

so

that

and

kepe him, seek

To

be

can

is

Who

185, 297.

Wom.

holy day,

I here

floures

book,

my

in

there

Save, certeynly,whan

fit representative

delyte,

hem

on

alle,'

lyte (little),

but

can

the

was

; Good

me

have

bokes
fro my
hit be seldom,

That

it

(give)I feyth and

yeve
herte

hertelythat

So

of floures

flour

him

to

of womanhede'

trouthe

And

and

emperice

the

and

Of all the flowers

^.'

woman

favourite,because

Chaucer's

was

daisy,

the

mead,

loveliness*.

in
indestructible,

and
bond, spiritual
and

an

of the

season

of women,

high estimation

man
'

in that

manifesting life and

was

sacred

between

marriage

true

him

before

way

gave

of nature

is Chaucer's

less evident

Not

beauties

enjoy the

to

for books

reverence

all around

when

year

and

eny
I

can

adversite
not

Marchaundes

Morley'sEnglishWriters,vol. ii. pp.

saye.'
Tale

41,

135, 256, 286.

67, 75, 86.

POETRY

THE

As

Mr.

well

has

Morley

xix

CHAUCER.

OF

remarked,

'

Ditties in

praiseof

the

popular with the French fashionable

Marguerite,or daisy,were
of them, like Chaucer, among
all their allegorical
poets ; but none
dreamed
of celebratingin that flower
dreamings, ever
of womanly truth and purity,
emblem
as
a
an
wearing its crown
gentle,innocent,devoted wife.'
was
so
intimatelyconnected with the court,
Though Chaucer
and enjoyedno small share of courtlyfavours,he protested
nobly
and fearlessly
againstthe popular opinionthat churls or villains
of the term, that is,persons
of plebeianrank)
(inthe legalsense
of base and unworthy actions ;
were
necessarily
prone to be guilty
and
at the present day we
can
hardly appreciatethe boldness
which

him

made

is
gentility
mere

assert

nobleness

than

more

of life and
^

ancestral rank

and

which

that the

once

courtesy of manners,
made

him

test

true

and

in the Persones

of
not

Tale

oppression of thralls or 'villeins' by their lords.

(See Persones Tale, ed. Morris, iii.pp. 301, 332-334.)
As we have alreadysaid,Chaucer's
great work, the Canterbury
Tales, was not put together tillafter the year 1386. His earlier
imitations from
or
literary
productionswere
mostly translations,
and have therefore
foreignsources, Latin, French, and Italian,
but little claim to originality,
except so far as he altered or
in these efforts there are many
added to his originals
; but even
and
of the poet'sgenius,especially
excellences
of his
traces
his ability
lator
transas
a
language,which made
great power over
and
known
poraries.
contemhighly appreciated by his literar}^
Francis Eustace
Deschamps, in a Ballade a Geoffroi
of praise as
terms
Chaucer,' speaks of him in the warmest
noble
But it is to the
grant!translateur,
GeoffreyChaucier !
his fame and rank as the
owes
Canterbury Tales that Chaucer
denounce

the

'

'

'

who

Lok
Prive
To

Crist

is most

alway,

vertuous

pert ;open),and most

the gentildedes that he

do

Tak

that

and
him
wol

Nought

entendith

aye

can,

for the grettest gentilman.

we
clayme of him oure
gentilesse,
of

oure

eldres for her

The

Wife
2

olde

richesse.'

of Bath's

Tale, 11. 257-262.

INTRODUCTION.

XX

and in this
English literature,
labour and study the genius and
stronglyexpressed s.

first poet of modern

of

result of years
the

poet

Canterbury

The

Tales

"

power

"

most

are

work

the
of

of stories related

collection

by
to
together in true English fellowship
at the shrine of the
holy and blisful

are

certain

pilgrimswho rode
worship and pay their vows
Thomas
a Becket.
(blessed)martyr
The
firsthint of thus joiningtogethera number
bond
from
common
one
was
probably borrowed
better than
Decameron
h; 'but Chaucer's plan was
'

'

who

died

looked

and

Decameron,

in

to

had

retired with three

that devastated

bandying of

garden,

in

greater result.

of Chaucer

Boccaccio,
scene

fashionable

seven

The

1348.

rich,with no
compliments. They shut
works

that of the

of

ladies

gentlemen, during the plague

and

chief minor

by

Boccaccio's

Chaucer, placed,the

which

fashionable

Florence

class,young

The

much

before

Decameron

twenty-fiveyears

his

same

to

of stories

in life

concern

are

:
"

The

beyond

up in

themselves

Romaunt

the

delicious

of the Rose

a
Rose, a work in
(a translation,7iow
de Lorris(
J.200-1
two
230),
by Guillaume
parts,the firstpart,of 4,070 lines,
and the Sequel,of 18,002 lines,by Jean de Meung, written nearly half a
Assembly of Fowls, or the Parliament of Birds (?1 38 2);
; The
century later)

lost,of

portionof the Roman

all of the

were

persons

de la

de Guilevile's Pelerinage
ABC, translated out of Guillaume
The
of the Duchesse
Book
de I'Homme,' writtea about
(1369);
1330;
and
of
Boccaccio's
Filostrato
version
Troylus
Criseyde,an enlarged
(?written 1380-83); The Complaint of Mars (91374); The Complaint

Chaucer's

of Venus
The
a

Legend

of Good

prose Treatise
The
of
Court

Cuckoo

and

Flower

and

ascribed

to

of not

the

; The

of Fame

House

(?I384);
(about1385) ; Anelida and Arcite ; and
the Astrolabe
on
(1391).
Love, Lydgate'sComplaint of the Black Knight, The

from
(translated

Gransson)

Women

Nightingale,The

Isle of Ladies

or

Chaucer's

Dream, The

of the Rose, are also usually

Leaf, the extant Romaunt
but
Bradshaw
holds
that they bear internal evidence
Mr.
Chaucer,
the

CanterburyTales
for 'all these poems
the laws of rhyme observed
contravene
by Chaucer in
the works, both of youth and old age, that are certainly
his.' (SeeTemporary
Preface to the Six-Text Edition of Chaucer's CanterburyTales,ed. FurMr. Bradshaw, "c., have adduced
nivall,
good reasons
p. 108.) Hertzberg,
for excludingThe Testament
from the list of Chaucer's works.
of Love
^
of the 'Seven Sages,'
Mr.Wrightthinksthatthe widespread Romance
of which there are several Englishversions,
gave Chaucer the idea of his plot
being the productionof

the author

of the

"

POETRY

THE

CHAUCER.

OF

XXI

courtlyinventions of the middle

occupied in sittingabout idly,tellingstories to
ages, and were
The
tales were
each other.
times
usuallydissolute,often witty,someand always told in simple charming
poetical,
exquisitely
other
of the story-tellers
The
to help each
was
purpose
prose.
of the

garden

to

sort

forget the duties

of their

substituted

Chaucer

largea group as he could

in hearty human
differing,
down

lounge in

to

them

set

on

something to do.
acquaintance and a

go and

in

indeed

not

form

be

as

to

which

had

fellowshipwas

and

of his

It

day,

heartiness.

of the

one

able
fashion-

not
was

popular form

of Thomas

shrme

to

religion;
seemly,
laughter and jestun-

make

custom

the

somewhere

them

gave

selfishness.

common

entered with much

men

custom

of

bond

The

according to the
the pilgrimage to
religion,

into which

miles

few

fellowshipwith the world, as

of English people,of rank widely
form
fellowshiptogether. Instead of setting
them
back,
horseon
a
garden, he mounted

yet

of

dying

were

griefs

courtly Italian ladies

for the

solemn

so

for the terrible

had

high road, and

the

backs, and

their

turned

from

withdrew

who

gentlemen

them

they had

which

on

sympathies they might have

friends and
neighbours who

stifle any

away.

in

common

best

Becket,

It

happened to
in
of religion,

uses

fellowshipin which conventional divisions

of the
of rank
for a time disregarded; partly because
were
exercise of any sort, that
less joined to religious
or
more
sense,
are
men
equal before God, and also,in no slightdegree,because

serving as

of all ranks

men

of

bond

trottingupon
they might

whom

high road with chance

see
again, have been
and
restraint,
enjoy such

the

never

generationsdisposed to put off

as
might relieve the tediousness
take

It would
of the

several

up

much

too

stories which

It will suffice to consider

Tales

as

order

and

"

are

included

importance

make

up

such
briefly

in this volume
comes

the

in all
course
inter-

of travel ^.'
to

space

panions,
com-

enter

upon

collection.

this wonderful

portionsof

the

of Selections

Prologue,

Canterbury

; and

in which

to Dunbar,
Morley'sEnglishWriterSjfromChaucer

analysis

any

first in
we

vol. ii.pp.

have

287,288.

INTRODUCTION.

XXU

laid before
the

whole

general plan, and

the

characters

several

of

work.

In the

chief

AprilJ,as Chaucer
lay at the Tabard,
public entertainment, situated in the

of

pleasant season

of the

one

the

us

of

houses

High-streetof Southwark, nine-and-twenty

pilgrimson their
to Canterbury arrived at the
hostelry.'The poet, being on

way

'

errand

same
was

as

The

company.

and

each

presided over

and

from

this

other

tales

'

merry

tales

that

accounted

or

and
left,

probable stages

made

Preface

Temporary
'After

spring,the

of

and
the

the

he

of the

their

journey to

agreed

Becket's

more,

that each

shrine,and

number

the

of the

wanting, which

are

had

died before
settled

may

the

pletion
com-

the exact

upon

the order of those

he has

journey to Canterbury,
Furnivall

Mr.

Six-Text

Edition
the

have

in the latter's

of

Chaucer,

most

cheerful

Part

lines,and of

This
course

the

of each.

features

descriptionextends
affords space

physicalaspect,
This

author's

plan

traits of

character,and

to

allow

his personages
thus

to

and

because

an

to

it was

depict and

the
of

about

spirited

outline

of

description
a

bring out

to

very

latter part of the

rapidlysketched,

generally more

for

i.

images

of the

graphic portrayal of
moral

tales

tales,though

of the party.

hundred

seven

as

one

pilgrimage,the poet commences

descriptionof the person and the character

member

each

to

of the

only twenty-four stories,

are

filledwith
introduction,

season

with

narrative

is

brief

there

Bradshawand

Mr.

by

out

to

; but

before

even

of the several

been

their road
home

arrangement
the

during

by supposing that Chaucer

work,

time

miember

suggestionit was

four-fifths of the

for

of his

company

on

^,and
thirty-two

pilgrimswas
it is clear

their way

on

short

made
inn, Harr)^ Bailly,'

At his

tell two

in

'

of the

Canterbury.

pilgrimshould

with

friendlyterms

host

and

be

and

intimate

on

two

themselves, joined them,

the

part of the

their

individualise

special
them-

given,the i8th of April,being,probably,tlie

day
pilgrimage; see Introd. to Prior. Tale, p. xi.
^
The
and
his yeoman
canon
joined them at lioughton-under-Blean,
side of Canterbury ; but the master's
miles on the London
seven
doings
he
for
his
ride
to
sorrow
was
servant,
glad
being exposed by
away
very
j

Elsewhere

second

date

is

of the

'

and

shame.'

PROLOGUE.

THE

interludes

selves, in the

the

between

with

pilgrimsis evidently made

the

of the

feature

We

have

each

other

plot.
from

far removed

of

supposed capable

of all the

11

selection

of

this

object of

an

essential

ranks

artificial distinctions

by

too

not

be

to

footingof temporary
travellers
good fellowship,
among

of

law

to

constitutes

persons

that

associatingupon

is the

equalitywhich

reference

therefore

action, and

in

development

The

tales.

XXI

and

journey and accidentallybrought together.

thus represented,
the great classes of English humanity are
and
opportunityis given for the display of the harmonies

the

jealousieswhich

bound
All

the

on

same

The

clerical

very

numerous.

was

doubtless

pilgrims,it
The

series,which

will be

designed

was

with

to

the

observed,

of the

exposure

leading aim

in

vocations

different

and

different orders

interests of

divided, the

united, now

now

proportionately
corruptionsof the Church

the

extend

commonwealth.

are

whole

58 [128]tales,

least

at

to

if the

; and

poet

and
of
recriminations
completed, the criminations
sion
jealousecclesiastics would have exhibited the whole profesin an unenviable
light.
His portrait
could be just as well as severe.
But Chaucer
been

had
the

'

though it does
prioress,
lady, is complimentary ; and

of the

"

of

Persoun

pore

"Cristes
He

been

has

'

to

in the whole

None

of these

foreignsource
;
hardly possibleto

Englishman
tion of the

stories,and

whom

lore, and

his

the

spare
"

good

first he

could

the
religion,"

"

it himselve,"

folwed

beautiful

of the most

conscientious,intelcalling,which

suppose
have

be

can

English literature.

sketches, I believe, has ever been traced

and they are
so
thoroughly national,that

individuals

in the

of

of the

apostlestwelve,

duties of the clerical

range

of

it is said that

of times

the

affectations

man

quoted as one
charity,humility,and generous,

licrentdevotion
found

his

toun," of

taughte, but

hundreds

picturesof

not

that

any

conceived
described

them.
in the

dialogues which

that

imaginationbut

occur

In

the

the

it is

of

an

first introduc-

to
prologfies
at

to

the

pauses

several

between

xxiv

INTRODUCTION.

tales,wherever, in short,the

the

and

characters

the

persons,

times 1.

modern

of

comedies

and

marked
in

in their

appear

own

discriminated,
in

action, as

the

best
is in

Although, therefore,there

form
composition nothing of technical dramatic
summate
incident,yet the admirable
conceptionof character,the conand developed,and
each is sustained
skill with which

the
or

the

plan of

the

nature,

and
life,

had

drama

if the

of
spirit

he might
livingliterature,
in comedy as any English or
comedy is but a contrivance

and

relation with

to
difficulty

mind

form, it is

bring the

to

not

of

to

as

have

excellence

The

story of

into

of

created

contact

suitable

the

plot

slightest

is essentially
a dramatist

Ke

in

appear
of

branch

high

characters

the invention

that

prove

as

writer.

continental

accident

an

of power

want

proves

attained

have

simple to

does

time

in Chaucer's

like Chaucer's.

great work

if his

and

dialogue,abundantly

other,and

each

altogethertoo

matter

the

known

been

of

is

well

as

consistent

and

harmonious

as

are

narrators

the

the conventional

time,

and

originalconception

by

no

or

of

matic
drameans

artistic

skill in the author.

'

literature,
point of interest in the historyof modern
questionable
it is probably the first instance of the exhibition of un-

This

is

because

genius in either

dramatic
I do

languages.

; but

imaginary events
the

the

Canterbury

Mysteriesand

middle

mean

there

that

Europe nothing like histrionic

modern

which

not

the Gothic

ages,

the

neither
Tales

have

or
Moralities,

in which

several

or

the Romance

previouslyexisted
representationof real

had

of

Decameron

compared, nor
imaginativeworks
are

personages

or

Boccaccio, to

been

other

in

any

of

of the

introduced,show

conceivingand sustainingindividual character

oi a
that its author could have furnished the pe7-son7iel
to prove
as
therefore may
fairlybe said to be
respectableplay. Chaucer
Europe, but to
not only the earliest dramatic
genius of modern
such power

any

'

'

see

all the

features,and the
the Tabard

of

pilgrimsin the Cantcrhury Talcs,their humours, their

if I had supped with them
at
as
very dress, as distinctly

in Southwark.'

(Dryden,Preface

to

The

Fables.)

INTR

OD

Hippolyta and

her

XXVI

with

Athens
in

finds the Grecian

triumph ;

marches

and

Thebes

to

Arcita

'

first

seen

Damnati

are

by

Arcita
of

Emilia

to see

is

supposed

with

iv.

Bk.

the

; takes

service

favourite

his

From

'

Bk.

of

thence
of

in

wood,

Upon

the

his

jealousof Arcita,and

is released

both

are

to

be

at

the

pleased
dis-

not

request

afterwards

Athens

known

time

he

he

Pentheo, goes into

to

and
to

which

and

of Peleus
becomes

Emilia, though
overheard
making
to

is

usually resorted

for that

of Palemone.

servant

report of

and

jealousyor rivalship.

name

returns

some

to

heard

Palemone, with embraces, "c.

Theseus, being

by Pamphilo, a
V.

he

Palemone

They

Avindow,and

Mycenae,

at

of Clemenzia

singing,is

any

Arcita

city

presone."

Palemone,

the

at

his leave

else ; till after

complaint

purpose,

them

the

enters

bringshome

and

her, but without

of Menelaus

servant

nobody

to

calls

He

temple

eterna

garden

Arcita,having changed

Aegina.

at

ad

their admiration.

of Perithous

":c.,and

"

'",who

equallyenamoured

'

ladies in the

iii. Emilia, walking in

Bk.

sister Emilia.

; kills Creon,
"

who

UCTION,

Pamphilo,

is desirous

to

get

Palemone
out

of

beginsto be
prison in order

This he accomplishes with the assistance

fightwith him.
Pamphilo, by changing clothes with Alimeto, a physician.

to

of
He

armed

goes

sleeping.
Then

part of

who

sends

In

calls upon

very
Arcita

quest of Arcita, whom

civil and
to renounce

he

finds

friendlyto each other.

his pretensionsto

After many
fightwith him.
long expostulationson
and are discovered
first by Emilia,
Arcita,they fight,

for Theseus.

describingthe

subjectof the remainder

his author

in

to

the

'

the wood

first,
they are

Palemone

Emilia, or

"

At

to

When

commencement

of the poem,

he

finds

who

they are,

and

the

which
of this amour,
is to be the
has entirely
departed from

Chaucer

principalcircumstances,and, I think,in each with very

(i) By supposing Emilia to be seen first by Palamon, he
advantage over his rival which makes the catastrophemore
consonant
to poetical
hibited
justice; (2) The picturewhich Boccaccio has exenamoured
of
the
of two
same
object,
princesviolently
young
if not absolutely
without jealousyor rivalship,
unnatural,is certainly
very
is to follow from
their
insipidand unpoetical; (3) As no consequence
being seen
by Emilia at this time, it is better,I think,to suppose, as
has done, that they are not seen
Chaucer
by her.' Tyrvvhitt.
in three

good reason:
giveshim an

"

THE

method

of

deciding

hundred

on

each

'

send

out

claim

side,to which
and
to

messengers

principalof

the

their

vi. Palemone

Bk.

xxvii

TALE.

difference,he forgivesthem,

of their

cause

KNIGHTES

live

Arcita

of

combat

and

splendidlyat Athens,

their

; and

arrive

friends,who

severallydescribed, viz. Lycurgus,

are

"c. ;

Peleus, Phocus, Telamon,

by

the

proposes

they gladly agree.

summon

them

Emiha

to

and

Agamemnon,

Castor

Menelaus,

and

Pollux,"c.; Nestor, Evander, Perithous, Ulysses, Diomedes,

"c.

; with

'

partiesof

hundred

the

all the

gods, makes

to

Venus

viii. Contains

Bk.

is taken
'

Bk.

from

at

to

prayer
for

the

of the

;
to

goddess,

morning they proceed

does

the

same.

which

battle,in

the

mone
Pale-

the

desire
in

Athens

Arcita,being frightedby
of

Venus,

triumphal

dangerously

him.

throws

ill ; and

Fury,

However,

with

chariot

Emilia

by his

there

sent

by

own

is

he

his

desire

Emilia.

espouses
X.

funeral of the persons

The

being given over

with

same

of Emilia

sacrifice

the

In

descriptionof
of

horse

side ; is put to bed

'Bk.

the

In

for the
respectivetroops, and prepare
privateprayer to Emilia, and harangues

Palemone
a

message,

is also described

the appearance

fires.

Thrace,

prisoner.

ix. The

Hell

earned

the

Then

prayer,

their

puts up

in

Temple

Arcita.

to

Citherone, which

two

and
publicly,

his troop
'

the

with

Arcita

action.

given

day

temples of
prayer, being

with
observances
religious
bei7igalso personified^sets out

Mount

on

The

his

described, her

theatre

the

prayer

signs of

the

and

be

the

the

The

in his

and

combat,

understandingthe

upon

petitionis granted.

is

Diana

Mars,

closes

His

Venus.

the

mythology.

formed.

are

Mars.

to

find Mars

signs to

Palemone

and

to

; and

favourable

temple of

side

prayer

and

to go

is described

manner

of the

laws

each

on

formal

is said
personified^

causes

the

historyand

combat, Arcita, after having visited

before

which

ancient

declares

vii. Theseus

Bk.

two

displayof

great

Theseus,
and

and

by

his

desires

also Emilia.

killed in the combat.

his

physicians,makes
that Palemone
He

then

takes

may

will,in

Arcita,
discourse

inherit all his possessions

leave of Palemone

and

INTRODUCTION.

XXVlll

Emilia, to

he

whom

Arcita

orders

performs for him,

'

xi.

Bk.

imitated

the

Descriptionof

and

the

sacrifice

Their

request.

same

Mercury, which

to

tations.
lamen-

Palemone

dies.

with

Opens

from

repeats the

the

Ninth

Book

wood

of Arcita's

passage

of Lucan.

felled takes

The

six

up

soul

heaven,

to

of Arcita.

funeral

Palemone

stanzas.

of him, in which
his whole
temple in honour
history
is painted. The
descriptionof this painting is an abridgment
of the preceding part of the poem.

builds

'

xii.

Bk.

will

Theseus

by 4he marriage of

decline

for

married.

in

remains"

Palemone

Palemone

Emilia.

and

Arcita's

into execution

carry

This

they

both

time' in formal

some

and

to

proposes

speeches,but at last are persuaded

The
kings, "c. take their leave, and
gioiae in diportocon la sua dona nobile

corteseP.'
The

IN"onne

genius,that Dryden,

is

Tale

Prestes
who

Chaucer's

characteristic of

so

it as

modernised

the fable of the

invention ;
Fox,' thought it to be of the poet'sown
doubt
taken from
fable of about
a
fortylines, Dou

and

dou
in

Werpil,'in the poems

the fifth chapterof the

entitled 'Si

comme

the

Renart

of many

language

France, which

metrical

of the present

that

earlier

Roman

le Coc'

pristChantecler

analyticlanguage,and

or

of

old French

English, like

Chaucer's

flected

of Marie

Cock
it is

but

'

no

'

Coc

et

is amplified
de

Renart,
p. liii.

See

day, is

an

unin-

in this respect it differed from

from that
especially
Anglo-Saxon, which was
is to say, it expressed

authors, and

of

English usually termed

originallyinflected or synthetic,that
grammatical relation by a change in 'dx^formof words, instead of
which led to this
employing auxiharywords. The circumstances
conversion
well known, forming as they do a part of the history
are
first in order of time is the invasion,
of the English people. The
oldest

form

settlement, and
over

The

Danish
p

conquest

of the

country by the

period of nearlya century

influence upon

the

and

language

Tyrwhitt,IntroductoryDiscourse

half

seems

to the

ing
Danes, extend-

(a.D.867-1013).
to

have

affected

Canterbury Tales.

CHAUCER

the
chiefly

dialects of the north

of which
much
than
the

which

commenced

sequence
con-

structure
syntactical

in the year

followed
a

England, and
utterlydespisedboth
only fit for churls and
be

the

were

Church, the

far

the

language

the

was

of Law,

and

certain

thus

isted
ex-

and
fullysensible,

about

language of

of the upper
the

made

to

as

English ceased

sense

for

literature with

though the English were

before

ever

literature of the Saxons

and
a

had

were

of literature ^, and

divided

society,and

than

quest,
Con-

rule introduced

Norman

higher order

villains. In

-French
Courts

1066.

the Norman

by

of this the Normans

language

Norman

years

accelerated

was

in

of

parts of the island,in

east

their inflexions and

civilization of

new

to

and

and they assumed

modern
a more
simplified,
appearance
the speech prevailing
in other districts. Doubtless
it caused
volution
language generallyto be in a very unsettled state, and the rethus

xxix

ENGLISH.

hundred

two

Court, the

the

and

middle

Latin

classes
But

tongue.

feel their

positionas

the speech
to
subject people, they clung most
pertinaciously
of their forefathers,and after a long and
continuous
struggle
its
the language of literature
as
English regained
supremacy
and

the

Englishmen, while
provincialdialect.
the

the

and

Saxon

of

tongue

common

Norman-French
This

Norman
of

was

races,

claimed

all who

reduced

was

brought about
about

the

the

time

by
of

of

name

to

the

mere

fusion

Henry

II ;

'

of

by

from

Normandy

England and its annexation

of John ; by the wars
of Edward
to France, in the time
III,
which did much
and
to promote
religiousand political
liberty,
by the adoption of English as the household
speech by that
previously spoken French, which
part of the nation that had
happened about the middle of the fourteenth century.
severance

The

Norman

language

It is

the

Conquest wrought a
first,which extended

erroneous
altogether

to

Conquest English ceased

we
are

have

able

grammar

an

almost

to

and

unbroken

determine

with

to

twofold
over

revolution

nearly

the

whole

the
of

that immediately
after the Norman
suppose
be written,for from ^.Ifric to Chaucer

series of vernacular

literature

tolerable

the various

vocabularywhich

in

exactness

occurred

by

which

we

changes in

duringthis interval.

INTR

XXX

twelfth

the

UCriON.

the

affected

century,

; final vowels

language

OD

grammatical-

changed,

were

of

the

became

consonants

some

inflexions

of the older

forms

of nouns,

adjectives
their place being supplied by
and
of use,
verbs
went
out
This
words.
a
was
period of great
prepositionsand auxiliary
unchanged.
grammatical confusion,but the vocabulary remained
softened,and

beginning

the

At

many

forms

grammatical
unknown

the

to

middle

of this

substance
French

fourteenth

the

ivritten

The

he
a

terms.

such

stamped
became

had

have

note

to

additions

they

century

that

terms

them
current

has

In

been

large and
But
as

with

find

we

the

provincialelements
the
about
crept in, and

English

language, caused

language.

language by
only

century,

further

to

the

vocabulary were

accused

use

of

these

first

middle

the

of

part of

loans

are

so

corruptingthe English
admixture

few

in the

impress of his
the literary
realm.

the

coin of

works

unnecessary
with

about

at

inconsiderable

no

Chaucer's

in

were

in the

the infusion of the Norman-

formed

Chaucer,

change

by

they gradually increased, and

the

French

thirteenth

settled ; but many

more

oldest

element.

numerous

the

period we

of the

small, but

of

of

Norman-

exceptions,employed
spoken language, and
genius, so that they

of great literary
one
period in which Chaucer lived was
and
such names
Rolle
of Hampole, Minot,
Richard
as
activity,
that
the
Mandeville, Langland, Wicfiffe,and Gower, prove
and
English language was in a healthy and vigorous condition,
reallydeservingof the importance into which it was rising.But
national
no
as
yet there was
language^ and consequently no
7iational literature ; the English of the twelfth,thirteenth,
and
fourteenth
centuries diverged into many
dialects,each having
its own
literature
intelligible
only to a comparatively small
The

circle of
the

readers,and

one

form

of

English

can

be

considered

period. Of these dialects

the
East
the
some
Midland, spoken, with
variation,from
Humber
the
to
was
Thames,
perhaps the simplest in its
those broad
free from
grammatical structure, the most
cialisms
provinwhich particularised
and
the speech of other districts,

as

type of the

no

language

of the

CHAUCER

presented the

language of

the present

evidence

have

Wicliffe

and

in the hands

language

^.

Hfe which

new

the

In

Enghshmen.
we

approach in

nearest

day
works

of

and

form

spoken

as

XXxi

ENGLISH.

and

Ormin

substance

written

and

the

to

by educated

Robert

of

Brunne

of its great

capacity for literarypurposes.

added
Gower
considerablyto its importance,but
of Chaucer
it attained
to the
dignityof a national
He
represented,and identified himself with, that
the English people at this time were
mencing,
just comhis

and

works

reflect

his

only

not

inimitable

own

It was
genius,but the spirit,
tastes, and feelingsof his age.
with
the
his thorough mastery
this,combined
over
English
Chaucer
to become
to others
language, that caused
(what no
had
been
of literary
excellence
for
one
before)a standard
; and
hundred

two

the

as

after

years

father of

he

had

English poetry,

equal, but

no

the

Homer

regarded

was

of his country, and

the well of

English undefiled.
the Canterbury Tales

With
of

English literature.

for their
the

aid

of

are

earlier authors

Our

philological
importance, and
a

understood
terms

commences

and

grammar
as

and

Spenser

but

few

are

usually studied
them

Chaucer

is

Shakespeare.

wholly obsolete,and

modem

of

most

glossary,but

the

Not

period

as

many

require
easily
his

of

of his inflections have

But as some
wholly out of use.
specialacquaintancewith
Chaucer's
English will be of great service in mastering the
outline of his grammatical
an
poet's system of versification,
gone

forms

(forthe

Chaucer)
'

'From

dialects

is here

from

subjoined, which

Prof. F.
will be

J. Child's Essay
found

useful

the numerous
Babylonish confusion of speech [i.e.
in
the
fourteenth
English language
century]the

example of
other singlecause

Chaucer

did

to

his native

on

should

this

of the

and

part taken

most

local
influence
than

tongue
any
his dialect with that of any writer
compare
of an earlier date,we shall find that in compass,
flexibility,
expressiveness,
and
all
the
o
f
he
higher qualities poeticaldiction, gave it at once
grace,
the utmost

; and

if

more

rescue

we

perfectionwhich the materials at his hand would admit of.'

(Marsh. Origin and History of the English Language, p. 381.)
In the first place,as he (Chaucer "iis the father of English poetry,
him
in the same
I hold
so
degree of veneration as the Grecians held
the
Romans
or
Homer,
Virgil.' (Dryden'sPreface to The Fables^)
s

'

xxxii
the

INTRODUCTION.

feel

student

young

of earlier

with the works

himself

disposed to make
English writers.

acquainted

NOUNS.
Number.
-es'.

The

"

plural

for

the

part terminates

most

in

"

with

'And

silver

The

dryeth in the greves

drop'eshanging on the leves.^

his stremes

(KnightesTale,

11. 637-8.)

terminatingin a liquid
frequentlyadded, {a) to nouns
nadomts, palmers,pilgryms, "c. ; {b)to
or
dental,as baj'gay?is,
than one
words of more
most
syllable.
1.

is

-J-

In

MSS.

some

find

we

-is,-us,

for

-es

"

bestis,beasts

as

dialectical
to
seem
leggus, legs ; othtis, oaths" which
and probably due to the scribes who
copied the MSS.
varieties,
few nouns
Some
2.
(originally
forming the pluralin -aii)have
bees ; eyen, yen,
asses
; bee7i,
-ett, -n ; as asschen,ashes ; assen,
; ton, toon, toes ; sdioon,
; Jleen,fleas ; Jlon, arrows
; oxe7i
eyes
be

shoon, shoes.
The

followinghave

-n, which

has

been

added

to

older forms

"

in -ii); [b')
in -y.
{a)in -e (originally
brothers.
(a) Brethren (A.S. brothru,O. E. brothre,brethre),
Doughtren (A. S. dohtru, O. E. dohtre),daughters.

(A. S. sTjeostru,

swustre),sisters.
children*.
childre),

Szstren,sustren
Children

in

O. E.

(A. S. cildru,O. E.
{b) Kyn (A. S. cy),kine".
Addfo7t,foon (A.S./dn),foes.
followingnouns, originally
3. The
neuter, have no termination
the plural:
deer^folk,good, hors, neet, scheep,swin, thiiig,
"

ycr, yecr

as

in the

older

fj'cond(A.S.frynd) are
4.

Feet,gees,

men,

stages of the language

used

teeth,are

as

plurals.
examples of

the

night,winter,

pluralby

vowel-

change.
*-

In

some

of the O.E.

childer
(brothers),
"

Li

some

Northern

and

Midland

dialects

we

find brether

(children),
deghter(daugliters).

of the Northern

and

Midland

dialects

we

find

kye (cows).

XXXiv

INTRODUCTION.

Enghsh elder^
examples of vowel-change ; as seen in the modern
the comparative of old.
and mo
Bet {bettre)
contracted forms.
are
The
nest
or
Superlativedegree terminates in -este {-est)^\
abbreviated
forms.
are
next, and hext (highest)
Number.

is denoted
pluralof adjectives

The

"

'And

fowles

sma/e

by the

final

-e

"

melodye.' (Prol.1. 9.)

maken

and adjectives
used prethan one
Adjectivesof more
syllable,
few adjectives
dicatively,
mostly drop the -e in the plural. Some
of Romance
originform the pluralin -es ; as ^placesdelitables^

DEMONSTRATIVES.

pluraltho (A. S. thd) of the definite article is still

used.
frequently
by Chaucer,but the uninflected the is more
which
in some
lects
diathe phrases that oon,' that other
that is the old form of
became
the tot her
the toon [ton),

The

1.

used

old

'

In

'

"

"

the

Chaucer

article ; but

neuter

that

uses

never

except

as

in the present stage of the language.

as
adjective,
^//^=at
the (A.S."^///z^7;/
tha?t,atta7t,atta,Ti\2i
; O.Y^.at
neut.); the feminine would be atter (O. E.),cEt \(2re(A.S.).

demonstrative
2.

and

'

3.

Tho

and

tho

oon

of tho

'

4.
some

be rendered

must

bent.'

were

those,as

as

this

as

tho

wordes,'

pronominally,as

(A.S. thds,thks). In

for thise.

occurs

thylc=the
(A. S. thyllic,

5. Thilk'e

'

that.

of those

This has for its pluralthise,

thes,these
MSS.

the

used
occasionally

It is

that,'one

well

like ;

O. E.

thet/ich,
pi.

the like,that.
thet/iche),
6. That

like,that

old demonstrative
7. Soni

'

He
Sopi
Som

same

base
so7n

;
onQ

(A.S. ylc, same

-/^=/zV=like).

;j

is

remnant

The

ben deed, the king as shal a page

his
in the depe see,
in
bed, som
se.'
in the large fceld,as men
may

moot

of
superlatives

"este; cp. p. 76, 11. 1340,

an

another.
.

(KnightesTalc,
y

of

adverbs

always

1349, with

seem

11. 1342,

to

end

in

11. 2172-4.)

-es^, and

1343, 1344, 1345.

not

in

CHAUCER

GRAMMAR.

XXXV

also
which
are
Independent forms of the pronouns,
used predicatively,
min
are
(pi.mine) ; oure, oures, ours ; thin
hers ; here,heres,
(pi.thi7ie)
; youre, y oures, yours ; hire,Jieres,

The

1.

theirs.
The

2.

oures,

Midland

"c.,

youres,

youre.

Sec, are

3. The

dialect

not

dative

from

the

have

to

seems

dialect,in which

Northern

of the pronouns

with

pronoun

some

thow

verbs

of

used

are

loth, /ee/ {\ie();Avith impersonal verbs,

4. The

oure,

used.

cases

thoughte';and
rydethhim.'

the forms

borrowed

'

we/, wo,

mette,' Wmn

7ne

as

motion, as

is sometimes

after

'

goth him,'

he

the

verb, as

(gen.whos;

dat. and

joined

to

schaltow,wiltow.
5. The
ace.

Interrogative
pronouns
which
and
what.
whom),
{a)

Which
'

has
Which

often
a

the

miracle

who

are

sense

ther

of

what, what

o/i
"

bifel anoon.'

(KnightesTale, 1S17
C

sort

see

Prol. 1. 40.)

xxxvi

INTR

used

It is not

is

but

wepith
What

{b)

is

was)

"

in modern

as
relative,

that\

love the which

'Hem

as

lish,
Engthat

whiche

that he oweth.'

why (cp.Lat. quid^ Ger.

for

occasionallyused
"

sholde

What

'

exactlyas
joined with

'His

'

UCTION.

on

he

and

studie

himselven

make

wood

'

(Prol.1. 184.)
'

What

sholde

alday

of his

endyte ?

wo

'

1.

(KnightesTale,
is

That

6.

relative

That

{a)

'

knight ther

tyme

his

Al

"

first

worthy
began

man,

chivalrye.'

(Prol.11. 43-45.)

whose.

they

were

with

That

that

that he
loved

he

ryden out,

That

and

was,

fro the

To

y-hurt, and

sore

spere

namely

thirled

was

oon,

brest-boon.'

his

(Knightes Tale,

(c)

him

That

yborn
last I

That

construction

This

not

was

will I

who

own

sent

hither.

was

seith'

1. 741)

as

if that

and

8. Me

Me, which
in

use

as

considered
'And

one

says;

a?iy

viejt

one

can

used

are

be

must

me

ThcetncBS

?td edwres

hiderdsend

wcfs

that

whose

through God, through

but

who

so

used

are

'Who

that

so

read

let any

like the

pronoun

one

'

As
indefinitely
; as,
rede' (Prol.
him
can

him.
French

much

by English grammarians

stop

Cp.

willan

HIS

chirche

saugh him wirche.*

(MilleresTale, 1. 243.)

distinguishedfrom

indefinite

an

1851-52.)

(Gen. xlv. 8.)

and

who

words

7. The

accord

of your

to

writers.

in A.S.

occurs

God, J)Eic \urh

thurh

\ancesac

11.

whom.

"

saugh to-day a corps

on
now
Monday

'

the

he=vfho.

Thai

{b)

followingmanner

in the

personal pronouns,

with

used

it is often

but

pronoun,

522.)

stop)

on,

the

English

one.

dative

me,

is

than

later

was

usually

"

his

dice, you

(Lodge,

are

Wits

villaine.'

Miserie.')

CHAUCER'S

xxxvil

GRAMMAR.
.

VERBS.
I. WEAK

VERBS.
Mood.

Indicative

Tense.

Present

Plural.

Singular.
lov-e,

1.

2.

Thou

3. He

lov-en,lov-e.

We
Ye

lov-est,

lov-en,lov-e.

They lov-en,lov-e.

lov-eth,
Past

Te7ise.
Plural.

Singular.
1.

I lov-ede

2.

Thou

3. He
In

tense

They lov-eden,lov-ede.

person

of the

always

in

in the

considered

been

Midland

East

in the

verb

of Saxon

(and

root

riseth,rises

or

in the

; stont

some

"

MSS.

clerical

was

tendency

dialects

have

that

two

sto7ideth

of the

In this edition I have often

mostly

This

contraction

Nonne

Prestes

of the 2nd

terminating

t for the

or

last letter

s), sometimes

have

JzV=-

3rd sing,as

keep

sitteth,sits;

holds
/^(a;//=holdeth,

the

ivrit

; 7-ist=

stands.

oi

Cant.

-eth,as jr^^/'//z
speaketh ^.
=

Tales, the plural of

in -eth

given the

{-th),which

full form

of the

the
was

sent
prethe

in -ede,
preterite

write

of Chaucer's
-^d ; but in the best MS.
the preterite
ends in ede {-ed,-te}^very seldom

f}-osetranslation of Boethius
in -ed (-d,-t). Either the medial
See

mere

Northumbrian

ends
occasionally

although the MSS.

dost,has

as

circumstance

often find -th instead

indicative

"^

some

dos

the

finds
writeth,writes ;y?;^/=findeth,

4. In

MS.

dialects,there

origin,which

one

form

contracted

3. W^e

Harl.

by

sing,present

person

-es.

Verbs

of the

/ of the 2nd

the /, probablyarisingfrom

drop

2.

has

in the

; but

error

to

lov-ede,

This

lov-eden, lov-ede.

Ye

some

hast.

lov-edest,

manuscripts the
is sometimes
dropped, as

1.

lov-eden,lov-ede.

We

^,

or

the final

occasionallytakes place in

Tale, 1. 620, where

read

dropped.
frequently

was

the

Tak'th.

imperativeplural.

INTRODUCTION,

XXXVlll

ordinary inflexion

for all persons

in the Old

English

Southern

dialects.
And

heed

his

over

ther

schyneth two

figures.'

(KnightesTale,
5. There
form

the past

by

tense

-de

or

To

-t'e.

PRES.

PAST.

hear,

herde.

Hiden,

to

hide,

hidde.

keep,
have
a change

kepte.

to

of vowel

PRES.

If the

deal,

dalte.

Leden,

to

lead,

ladde.

Leven,

to

leave,

lafte.

ends

in d

2.
so

have

ends
participle

p.p. storven
Some

that

we

or

STRONG

as

"

consonant,

starve.

double

VERBS.

change

in

-en

-e

or

of vowel
;

as

in the past tense, and

sterven^ to die

(See Participles,
p.

few strong verbs

have

tense

"

the past

/, preceded by another

or

II.

verbs

past

PAST.

to

root

These

in the

Delen,

only is added, as

"

to

few verbs

Some

the

conjugationwhich
first class belong

Heren,

Kepen,

1185, Harl. MS.)

classes of the weak

other

two

are

i.

take

forms

the

for.the

xxxix.

pret. sfa?-f;

3.)

inflexions of the weak

past tense,

Slepen, sleep,slep, and slep-te.

Crepen, creep, crep, and crep-te.
Wepen, weep, wep, and wep-te.

as

"

verbs,

1st and

3. The
do

verbs

this

3rd

take

not

an

The

4.

dropped

the

Chaucer

'

forms

be due

may

5. The
6. Some

change

of vowel

Ryden,

in the past

ride,

or

ber-e^

spakest, thou

-e.

plural,as
SING.

"

PAST

PL.

rood, rod,

riden

(riden).
(smiten),

Smyten,

to

smite,

smoot, smot,

smiten

Sterven,

to

die,

starf,

storven.

Mood.

Subjunctive
The

1.

singularnumber, terminates
present subjunctive,

pluralin

-en

2.

Such

forms

spekewe,

as

go

Verbs

conjugatedlike

sing,imperativein -e ;
have
properlyno final
choose

as

was

speak, let

tet/en have

thou, tel/e thou.

/ter thou

The

us

'
=

hear

2nd

the

go.

person

All other

thou,

'

verbs

ekes

but sometimes
usually in -etk,

thou

'

infinitive ends

dropped

at

in

-en

very

dialect of the fourteenth

the -t/i

Mood.

Infinitive

The

\et us

thou.

pluralterminates
is dropped.
2.

lo7/en and

'

e,

Mood.

love

as

all persons.

'we,

Imperative
1.

in -e,

verbs)in -ede^-de^-ie,the

past (of weak

; the

pluralin -eden,-den, -ten,through

-n

thou

stages of the language,have

tense

PRET.

to

-en

older

verbs, as in the

few

in

ends

pluralindicative

INFINITIVE.

(O. E.

merely to the scribes.

English ; as bygonnest,

-est,as in modern

find

find in

we

est ^ "c.

knew

the

'

df'onk

thou

'

spak^

; and

Occasionallywe

past indicative

person

thou

these

But

drankest.

of

dialect,in the Early English period,

drtmk-e), t\iOVi barest, thou

spek-e,thou

thou

'

bar'

thou

singularnumber
; the addition
plurals. Cf. 6 (below.)

into

in the 2nd

-e

of strong

in the

-e

Midland

East

XXXlX

past indicative

of the

persons

them

turns
syllable

GRAMMAR.

CHAUCER

speken,speke,to speak. The

English
earlyperiodin the Southern
or

-e

as

century, and

-e

is

to
preferred

-en.

xl

INTR

The

OD

UCTION.

dative case
of the infinitive (preor
gerundialinfinitive,
ceded
to doon-e
as
by to),occasionally
{ to don-ne),to
occurs,
{=to sen-7ie),to do, to see.
(See Kn. Ta. 177.)
=

sen-e

"

Participles.
The

of

ends usuallyin -iiig.

The A. S. suffix
participle
which is used by Gower
dialect
-e?ide,
; but in the Southern
Early English we find -i7tde ^\which has evidentlygiven rise

to

-mge,

1.
was

present

of which

-ing

is

shorter

form

occasionally
employed by Chaucer,
in

verb
The

to

; but

the

is
longer -i7ige

with

rhyme

infinitive

an

-e.

suffix

-ing,of

like

nouns

vwrning,

was

in the

-tmg

older

stages of the language.

2.

The

past

of
participle

in -et,-t
occasionally
3. The

past

prefixJ/-

weak

; that of

or

z-

as y-ronne
participle,

verbs

strong verbs

Ben, been,to

beth,is

2nd

ist

"

Con7ie,to know, be
ca7i,

ca7ist \

cowthe, cowde

indie,

sing.pres.

are', past, ist

; p.p.

able

pi. co7inen,

; p.p.

-en

-ed,-d,and

or

-e.

the

VERBS.

pi. been, ben, aren,

Imperativepi.beth

were.

2.

be

in

in

(A.S.^^-) occurs
frequentlybefore
"c.
(run),
i-falle
(fallen),

ANOMALOUS
1.

terminates

"

am

; 2nd

and

3rd

art', 3rd
was',

2nd

ben.
beeii,

indie,

pres.

co7i7ic

past,

1st

ist

and

and

3rd

can

3rd coiithe,

couth,coud.

Dare7i,da7'e \ pres. indie, sing.,ist and 3rd dar\ 2nd

darst ; pi.dar, dorre ; past dorste,durste.
3rd mow
4. May :
pres. indie, sing.,ist and
7nay ; 2nd
77iowe7i
77iight
subjunctive
7nayst, 7)iaist,
; pi. 77iowe,
; pres.
3rd 7nighte,7uoghte,2nd 7/iightest
past tense, ist and
7nowe',
(Kn. Ta. 797).
indie, pres. sing.,
ist and
:
3rd 77iot,
7noot',
5. Mot, must, may
2nd 77iust,77ioot
77ioote ; past 77ioste.
pi.77ioote7i,
3.

"

"

"

',

'"

The

Northern
occurs

Midland

form

of the

in the Romaunt

dialect had

the double

was
participle

of the
forms

Rose,

as

-^""/and

-atide,-and, which

sionally
occa-

lepand,leaping. The

East

-and.

xlil

INTRODUCTION,

hennes
-en
:
(A. S. heonan) ; thennes
(b) -es for -e or
(A.S.thanon) ; whennes (A.S.hwanoii) ; hence, thence,
"

whence,

(r)-^j

-St :

(A.S. ongean), against;

amyddes (A. S.
gemang), amongst;
ayens

agaynes,

"

(A. S.

amonges

amidst.
imdda7i, dviiddaii),

071

recently; as-now^
newly (cp. of yore, of late),
a hu7iting,
"c.).
asleep(cp.07t ho7tting,
present ; 07i slepe,
Two
or
more
negatives(more common
7. Negative Adverbs.
affirmative.
in Chaucer) do 7toi make
than one
an
6.

Of -new

e^

'He

yet

7tevere

al his

In

sayde,
wight.' (Prol.11. 70, 71.)

vileinyene

no

lyf,unto

maner

no

negativebeforeit ;
(Knightes Tale, 1. 416.)
8. As, used before i7i,to,for, by, ^,

(only)takes

But

to,

far

so

is used

As

as

'

7ia77i

but

deed.'

considering,with

in

imperativemood

before the

as,

spect
re-

Prol. 1. ^'j.

See

concerns.

at

Knightes Tale, 11. 1444, 1459.

signifywhere,
9. Ther, tho,occasionally

supplicatory
phrases.

See

when^

PREPOSITIONS.

OccasionallytiI=to, unto =unt\\,up=upon,

up-on=on.

CONJUNCTIONS.
;^^=neither

Ne

or

...

the

the

Saxons, like
For

Child's

and

both
.

of
are

more

of the

detailed

and

written

other ^either
.

Persones

rhyming verse
into generaluse

come

The

I have

old

in

Germanic

grammar,

derived much

Tale,

; but

of the

poetry

and

of Chaucer's

which

the

in

Scandinavian

from

^.

Melibeus

account

Essay on Chaucer,

Conquest.

Norman

that

; other

VERSIFICATION.

AND

of versification did not

until after

; ot/ier=or

nor

Except the Tale

Canterbury Tales

system

and"

; what

METRE
I.

see

this

England
Angloraces,
Professor

assistance.

CHAUCER'S

xliii

METRE.

written in
are
rhythmical and alliterative. Their poems
that
in each
couplet there are
couplets,in such a manner
two
three (or two) emphatic syllables,
(orone) in the first line
letter ; and
in the second,commencing with the same
and one
this letter is also the initial of the chief emphatic syllablein the
was

second

line.
'

Ge/ic

he

wses

/of sceolde

thoes /eanes

ac

the

him

//eofnes

Bi

of

have

the

end

as

gone

country,

Zike

use

Romance

he

in

:
"

reste

syde ;

/ay

on

in

jownede

West

/eonede
the

watres,

jlepyng,

so

of

of the

murie.'

England

(11.7-10, A-text.)

alliteration

fifteenth century, but

in the

early in

which

classical and
"^

of

out

to

and

/okede

I j-lumberde
Hit

written

wandringe,

me

/bourne

as

And

late

p. 17, 11. 7-16.)

/n'od (Janice

a
a

And

as

wealdend,

Piers

zt^ente

Undur

and

thinge,

/mlgan stole '^Z

(Credmon, ed. Thorpe,

weori

was

North

zcyrsan

Ploughman, partly
of this form of verse
peculiarities

And

In the

to

tham

on

of

all the
'

/ange

gescerede,

wealdan

up-ahebban

/^ehstan

Vision

/eohte

tham

on

his hine

wmw

the siteth

Langland's
1362,presents

him

he

hit him

aTcende

ongan
with thone

heofonum,

his ^/rihtne thancian

/ete he

thonne
he

wyrcean,
his ^reamas
on

he

sceolde

and

steorrum,

drihtnes

he

sceolde

^yran

/eohtum

tham

Southern

the

forms

and

thirteenth

Eastern

century

was

employed

it appears

to

parts of the

adopted

the

of versification.

the

/^ght stars ;
ought he to have wrought,
his delights(joys)in heaven,
he hold
Z"ear should
And
thank
should
he his /director (Lord)
the /oan (gift")
he had bestowed
him in that h^\. (heaven),
For
on
Then
him
would
he have
/et
/ong possess it ;
But he did wend
(turn)it for himself to a ze'orse purpose,
for
his
Began,
part, to raise up w^x
Against the /dghest Ruler of /^eaven
Who
the "^olystool (seat).
sitteth on
The

was

/aud

(Satan) to

(praise)of the

Ruler

xliV

INTR

OD

UCTION.

Canterbury Tales is wTitten in

heroic couplets,
lines containingfive accents.
.In this metre
or
have ten syllables
often find eleven,and occasionally
we
; but we
Of these variations the former is obtained
nine.
by the addition
of an unaccented
syllableat the end of a line ".
The

2.

Him

'

"

part of the

greater

wolde
bet

|he

| ben

snib

I tre preest | I

sharp | ly for | the

| that no | wher non

trowe

nones.

is.'

(Prol.11. 523-4.)
'

Th'

answere

But

wel

| of

le

|I

this

I I woot

I that

in

|te to |divynis,
| this world |gret pyne

is.'

(Knightes Tale, 11. 465-6.)

So

in lines
Whan

'

and

accented

Prologue

| April | le
droght'| of Marche
second

the

of the

that

The

In

with

| hath

variation,the

syllable. See

|his

it

not, had

soote

to

roote.'

| the

consists

of

single

371, 391 ; Kn.

171, 1172,

Ta.

1269, 1631, 1653,

reynethfaste.' (KnightesTale, 1. 677.)

frequentlycontracts
ne
nis,nath, 7iadde=ne
am,

is not, hath

| ced

first foot

3. Chaucer
iiain,

|res

shou

Prol. 170, 247, 294,

I it shyneth,now

Now

"

per

156,324, 368, 652, 677, 1072, 1073,

1855, 1979, 1996, 2094.
E.g. :"
'

two

zs,

ne

syllablesinto one
hath, ne hadde, am

as

not,

tabzde
\.\\e.
thasse,theffect,
ass, the
In Troilus and Criseyde we
find ny=?te
to abide, "c.
/,
effect,
But
not
it seems
to me.
me
I,nor I ; viathinketh
athitiketh,
this contraction is not always so expressed in writing,
though
observed
in reading :
not

"

'

And

By

|tes

cer

eter

I ne

lord

word

| to aby \den
| to dy [en

your

|presence.'
(KnightesTale, 1, 69.)

[prisoun.' (lb.1. 251.)

in

often
syllables-en, -er, -eth,-el,-ow {-we, -ewe),are
slurred o\g.v
to be contracted,but properly speaking they are
nearly,but not quite,absorbed by the syllablepreceding:

4. The

said
and
"

"

For

fuller information

the

reader

and

to the

is referred
Introd.

to

Prof

Chaucer's

Child's

haustive
ex-

Prioresses

Essay on Chaucer,
Tale, "c., ed, Skeat ; also to Mr. A. J. Ellis' valuable work on Early
EnglishPronunciation,with specialreference to Chaucer and Shakespeare
(ChaucerSoc).

For

the

see
pronunciation,

to

Introd. to Man

of Lawes

Tale.

CHAUCER'S
*

of

Weren

|te

sal

| tre

bit

|his

xlv

METRE.

wete.*

|res

te

(KnightesTale, 1. 422
though | that

And

Thou

With

these

'And
And

'

As

'

I noot

Add

'

I ny

flou

li

| tel

gro

| ve pace.' (lb.1. 744-)

| than pas.' (Prol.1. 825.)

more

| res

\my

par

\ hir

also many

further

BXid

Many

nouns

(lb.1. 195.)

rede.'

| ty whyte [ and

| tel sone I y-taught.'

Tale; Group B,
(Prioresses

li

1.

1699.)

back,

are

-ure,

final

{-aunce^-t?tce),

-ance

-e),but

other

at

English

in modern

as

accented

often

(of French

origin)ending

in

[a)

The

is

genitivecase
(Prol.1. 556) ;
pluralof

{b) The

[c] Adverbs
^
g

The
The

distinct

as

spellingivher\n
forms

-ande), and

of the

many

changed
gradually

-le,-re,

French
probably pronounced,as in modern
propre=tabl\ teinpl\miracV
table,temple,miracle,obstacle^
-es

times
e.

g.

(See Knightes Tale, 11. 821, 1450.)

written,and

7. Final

on

forttinesxiA/ortime,"c.
in -iitg
of A. S. origin,
{-inge,-ynge^),as

hunting.

nouns

T286.)

(lb.1. 785.)

| nemy.'

originending in

of French

bdtaille ;

1.

|goddesse.' (lb.1. 243.)

| tel

mor

{-ere),
-une,
-(("g^-,
syllable(not counting the

batdille and

or

(^Kn.Ta.

\ at his | lanteme.'
(Cant.Tales, 1. 5916,Wright'sedition.)

candel

is thrown

| for-blak.'

| man

worn

cometh

widzve

words

the accent

6.

| this

-er
(-ye),

the final

hunting

| this place.' (lb.1. 733.)

"

| be

she

|to lightj a

man

5. Many

So

in

following:

|a

\ heer

|this

hath

-ie

2034.)

\ have

fether | it shoon

I \enes

ra

I dereth

ga

'Cun^

the

1 zvhether^

Thus

of

1.

see

| derly |deliverer \ and greet | of strengthe.'(lb. 1. 84.)

thinketh

'She

wepne

\ out

riden

| we

won

[no

nevere

compare

forth

'

j dest

shol

e.

;
,

g.

"c.

syllablein
sowes
eres
; as
singularof nouns
kingesQ.Q\xx\.'(Knightes Tale, 1. 323).
(seeProl. 11. i, 7, 9, "c.).
"

'

'

'

nouns

nones,

elles,twy'es.

the text

represents zvhether

in M.
present participle

verbal

were

nouns

into the affix

ended

in

-ing,which

see

footnote

E. ended

-latg.

These

3, p. 39.
in -itide {-ende,

endings

both.
represented

were

xl VI

OD

TNTR

UCTION.

-ed of past

8. The

is generally
sounded
participles
enttmed,pinched {VroX.11.2, 123, 151).
9. The

of

tense

past

weak

verbs

ends

hadde
wolde, bledde,fedde,
tuente^coud'e^

in

-de

perc'ed,

^.s

-ie ;

or

{Vxol.11.78, 94,

as

144, 145,

146, 163).
fuller form

A
or

lovede

as
-ed'-,

to

of the suffix is -ede ; shortened

have

we

lov' de

written
and sight'e
shright'e
Final

10.

gerund

or

wenden, yeven,

the

part

and

niaken

Criseyde we often
and sighed'e.

distinct

syllablein
;

(Prol.11. 13,
verbs ;

as

-de

whilst in 1. 133 of Prologue

infinitive mood

of strong
{b) Past participles
11.18, 31)-

{c)Present

and

for shriked'e

is for the most

-e7i

{a) The

Troilus

In

wyped.

(Prol.1. 97) ;

to
occasionally

to

as

find

^
"

seken, to

487,775).
holpen,spoken (Prol.
21,

pluralof verbs ; as inaken,slepen,

weren
long'eny
(Prol.11.9, 10, 12, 29) ; bisekm^maken,
lost'en (Knightes Tale, 11. 60, j"],'jZ).
or conjunctions
{d) Adverbs, prepositions,
ending
(originally
in -071 or -an) ; as withontm, sithen (Prol.461, 5 38;
Kn.
Final

past tenses

663).

Ta.

manuscriptsof the Canterbury Tales are

not
always grammatically correct, an attention to the final e
is of great importance. The
will enable the
followingremarks
reader to understand
and why it is employed.
when
11.

a.

In

the

As

-e.

and

nouns

adjectives(ofA.
of the

one

cuppe
77iere

final

sounded

Who

bana, cuppa

S.

origin)the
as

a, tc, e ;

herte,77iere

bealu,cam,

final
asse,

A. S

presents
re-

ba7te,

/icorte,

wtidtc]dere,

de'ore,
dryge,"c.

(unaccented)in

in French

as

silent)
; as
'

assa^

final vowels

bale,care, 'wode=h.

drye=A.S.
l". The

S.

words

of French

(but it

verse

is also

originis
frequently

"

springethup

for

loyi'but

Arcite.'

(Knightes Tale, 1. 1013.)

*

Ne

wette

hir

iingresin

liir

sauce

1. 1 29.)
depe.' (Prol.

Chaucer's

c.

Final

is

(i) It

sign

grammaticalinflexions

dative

of the

in

case

nouns

"

roote^

as

(Prol.11. 2, 30).

reste

/is

of various

is a remnant

-e

xlvii

metre.

/^ in the MSS.) before

changed into v (written
nom.
lyf\ dat. wyve, lyve (Kn. Ta. 1002).
"tJuyf,

often

"?,as

bedde,brigge (bridge),"c.,
brig,".C.
it marks
(2) In adjectives
definite form

{a) The

'

the

are

"

of the

adjective
;
'

pluralof adjectives
; as
1.9).

{b) The

sma/i'

'

(c) The vocative case of adjectives

;
(KnightesTale, 1. 15 15).
verbs

final

the

-e

is

'

as

the yonge

gerundialinfinitive.

; as,

Kn.

(Prol.

strange god

'

11.27,
ryde,wryt'e (Prol.

{b) Of

See

'

"

infinitive mood

p. xxxix.

as

fowles

sign

(a) Of the
96).
the

bed,

(Prol.1. 7).

Sonne

(3) In

of

datives

Ta.

See

Infinitive

Mood,

177.

of strong verbs ; as yroftne,

{c) Of the past participles
yfalle(Prol.11.8, 25) ; dronk'e,know'e (Knightes
Tale, 11.404, 406, 1442).

id)

the past

Of
p.

{e) Of

tense

to -ed,-d,or -/).
(attached

See

xlv,sect. 9.
moods.
subjunctiveand optative

the

See

Prol.

11. 131, 770.

(/)

Of

the

3rd

person

of the

Mood,

(4) In

adverbs

3rd person (properlythe

junctive
subjunctivemood). See Sub-

imperativemood

the

p.

xxxix,sect.

is very

common

2.

"

{a) It represents an older vowel-ending; as, son'e (soon),

(A.S. sona, twiwa, thriwa).
twy'e,thry'e

xlviii

INTRODUCTION.

adverbs
from adjectives
{b) It distinguishes
; 2L.sfaire.
righte^idJirly,
rightly(Prol.94).

{c) It

represents
about

{d)

the other
In the

1.

'

'

For

words

of

is often

as

E.

E.

silent
"

and
syllable,

one

Cf. p.

hire,Jiere.

oure^youre,

than

more

origin.

word

in words

xlv," 6.

and

wep^

before

with

commencing

in the grov^

Often

final

personal pronouns

I mot

And

"

Before

1.

aboute, above
abiUan, abi'ifan.

distinct

of Romance
It is elided

A. S.

hand, the

In many

2.

as

syllablein adverbs ending in -'ely\

lust'ely,
ned'cly^
sejfi'ely,
trew'ely
(Prol.136J.

-eas

On

-en

aboven

en

is

an

at

weyle whyl
tynii?and

vowel

I live.'

(KnightesTale,1.437.)

plac^yset.' (lb.1. 777.)

some

few

dressy

his takel

beginning with h ; as he,

his,him, hem, hire,hath, hadde, have, how, her^heer :

2.

Wei

'

Then

coud(?

he

wold^

he

he

wep^,

words

yemanly.' (Prol.1. 106.)

mighte

be

nat

stent.'

(KnightesTale, 1. 510.)
*

That

in that

In all other

grov^

he

wold^

him

hyde;al day.' (lb.1. 623.)

'

h is

to feme
regardedas a consonant
; as
halwes
(Prol.1. 14) ; of smale houndes' (Ibid.1. 146);
'thefaire hardy queen' (Knightes Tale, 1. 24).
cases

'

'

The

followingmetrical analysisof the opening lines of the

Prologue will enable the reader to apply the rules already given.
The mark
accented
an
syllable
represents an unaccented,and
;
"

"

the italic e represents that

*

Whan

that

| April| le

The

dr6ght(?| of March^

And

ba

is elided.
with

| his

shou

| res

soote

|hath

per | ced to | the roote,

| in swich | licoiir,

|thed' eve | ry veyne

Of which
I vertu ] engen | dred is | the flour ;
Whan
Ze | phirus | eek with | his swe
| te breeth
InsplI red hath | in ev^ | ry holt | and heeth
The
ten
|dre crop | pes, and | the yon |ge sonne
Hath
in
|the Ram | his hal | fe cours
| y-ronne,

Licour, verfu, 7iature, and

13.

in Old

as
syllable,

second

gladly take

INTRODUCTION.

THE

TO

POSTSCRIPT

the

friends
valuable

the

Rev.

opportunity of thanking
and

Skeat

W.

Furnivall

Mr.

kind

my
for

many

M.

R.
King's

the

on

suggestions.

and

notes

accented

are

French.

present

W.

co?'ages,

College,

London,

September,1872.

POSTSCRIPT

TO

THE

(By
The

Tales

clerical

free from

by

British

It

printed in

MSS.

Dr.

Canterbury Tales ^.
in

MSS.

the

but
difficulty,

blunders
The

not

prove

of the Harleian

present text,

not

the

basis

at

appear,

They
of

well-known
is

Harl.

MS.

by

means

no

revised

Six-Text

of Chaucer's

edition

also

of much

in

consulted

service

in

Petworth
cases

of

correcting the

MS.

though extremely numerous,

may

bury
Canter-

throughout
Ellesmere, Hengwrt, and Corpus

were

revised

as

the

Cambridge, Lansdowne, and

The

edition

same

did

the

afterwards

Furnivall's

reprintedthroughout.

been

as

was

careful collation with the

and

from

Museum), which, however,

errors.

1888.

Skeat.)

of this selection from

editions

OF

EDITION

Professor

first taken

at

was

(inthe

7334

Rev.

the

of former

text

REVISED

in

The
are

1888, is entirely
ncAV, having
differences

almost

all of

introduced,

thus

minute

character,

first sight,of any

are,

in

the

text, instead

fact,due

to

value
particular
taking the Ellesmere

of the

Harleian

MS.

or

portance.
imMS.

This

produces very little change in the wording, but the result is

from a phoneticpointof view, as the spelling
in
more
satisfactory
the

Ellesmere

and

"'

MS.

is

uniform
fairly

This

work, which

should

is remarkable
in

for clearness

character.

There

and

is also

is itself a great tribute to the memory

be in the hands
of every Chaucerian
scholar.

intelligibility
a

great adof

Chaucer,

present selection

vantage in conforming the spellingin the

that in the other

series i ; for in both

the chief

as

render

the text
of

regularuse

The

MS.

the

the

to

same

taken

was

the text.

have

A few modifications

MS.

the Ellesmere

books

of these

authorityfor

publishedin

of selections

books

two

INTRODUCTION.

THE

TO

POSTSCRIPT

in the

made

been

in
spelling

order

to

exactlyphonetic. Of these, one is a more

in
i and _y, symbols which are needlesslyconfused
short vowel is here usuallyprintedas /,as in the
more

his,swich, is, Zephirtis,"c. ; whilst the long vowel is

tion
as
melodye, nyne, ryde,wyde. This distincusuallydenoted by jj/,
in all the words
in the MS., and occurs
made
is frequently
words

The

cited.

here

in words

followed

is also

MS.

like

ifispired,

hardly be any mistake ; the modern

sound is here a sure
guide to the lengthof the vowel,though we
i
substitute the sound of the ei in heightfor the Chaucerian
now
(as in Mod, E. machine). It must suffice to say that the text is
there

shires,where

much

now

time

the

before,whilst

exactlyphoneticthan

more

readingsof

those of any

can

MS.

the Ellesmere

student

The

other MS.

wishes

of Chaucer's English,which
\.\\"prominciation

matter, is referred

printedin

as

pp.

the clear and

Preface

The

to

full account

to

important

of it by Mr.
Man

than

understand

is a very

of the

Tale

same

Ellis,

of Lawe,

is fully
of the MS.
explained.
spelling
present edition,the opportunityhas also been taken
the

ix-xix,where

In the

givingall

the Ellesmere

the variations from

importance in
The

the

to

the

usuallybetter

are

who

at

the form

of footnotes at the bottom

here

abbreviations

that

MS.

used

are

the

same

as

are

of every
in the

of

of any
page.
other

the
explained. Briefly,
the
symbols,E., Hn., Cm., Cp.,Pt.,Ln., HI.,denote respectively
Ellesmere
MS., the Hengwrt MS., the Cambridge MS. (marked
Gg. 4. 27 in the Cambridge UniversityLibrary),the MS. in
MS.
(belonging
Corpus Christi College,Oxford, the Petworth
MS.
the Lansdowne
851 (in the British
to Lord
Leconfield),

selections from

See

The

Lawe,' "c.

Chaucer, and

Prioresses

; edited

by

Tale,'"c.

the Rev.

there

are

W.

W.

and

'

Skeat.

The

Tale

of the

Man

of

Hi

Museum),
follows

and

Harleian

the

the

throughout. In
Knightes Tale,

of

Group

Introduction

Six-Text

the

variation.

no

the

In

in that

of

marks

Tale,

1.

Nonne

Preestes

in that

edition,denoted

Index

Proper Karnes, the

07tly\but can easily

of

edition

within

by

parenthesis.

of

marks

Tale, "c., contains,

Prioresses

The

to

In the

on.

by help of the numbers

found
The

the

In

on.

so

corresponds to 1. 401 1
printing(4011); and so
references are given to
be

is

there

Prologue,

corresponds to 1. 860 of Group

denoted
by printing(860) within

and

parenthesis
;

text

edition is noted

Six-Text

1. 2

is

edition,which

(inthe same). The

is given to the contrary.
7334

lines in the

of the

numbering

The

MS.

notice

where

E., except

TNTRODUCTION.

THE

TO

POSTSCRIPT

of grouping the Tales,

things; (i) the method
according to the rightdates ; (2)remarks on Chaucer's varieties
on
of rhythm ; (3) further remarks
grammatical forms ; (4)
and versification ; (5) an
metre
analysisof
further remarks
on
other

amongst

Squire'sTale
understanding Chaucer; (7)

the

of the

metre

on

(8) a

discussion

some

information
here

be

(6)hints
list of

works, with

Chaucer's

falselyattributed
of the

Romaunt

; and

him

to

of this

Some

Rose.

is

useful for

books

to

as

but
indispensable,

is almost

full of detail to

too

repeated.
Introduction

The
the

of the

been

have

that

notes

account,

by

the

to

Man

of Lawes

Tale, "c., contains

Ellis,of the pronunciationof Chaucer's

Mr.

English,as already stated.

Introduction

The

Minor

times

the

are

so

K7iightesTale
It appears,
was

Some

Arcite'

for the

the substance
internal

and

the

the

of Chaucer's

pieces

numerous

gives some

account

of the

remarks

'The

Parlement

upon

right understanding of
of them
is here repeated.
and

evidence, that 'Anelida

beforethe Knightes Tale, and

probable that Chaucer actuallywrote

Knightes Tale, with

Edition

Chaucer, and

written

It is

the

from

to

and

important
that

genuineness of

poet'sworks.

of 'Anelida

poems

Foules'

the

attributed

of the editions of the

Press

the Clarendon

discusses

Poems

at various

to

title of Palanion

never

was
an

earlier
and

of
the

Arcite'
finished.

draught of

Arcite, which

POSTSCRIPT

he afterwards
Palamon
as

Arcite

if it were

'

in the

translated
originally
seven-line
a
closely,
substituting

Italian poet ; this formed

which

poem
to

of the

was

abandon

lines

over

the Parlement

is now

of Foules

known

to

of

source

(2)of part
of three

us

and

of

must

suppose

for the ottava

stanza

original'Palamon

of

Good

of Boccaccio

rather
rima

and

elsewhere.

At

of

Arcite,'

later

pairsof five-accent
Knightes Tale. Whatever

The

as

be, we

at

are

(i)sixteen

of the

stanzas

We

the Teseide

the

Love

Legend

story in rimed

explanationmay
is the

the

to

The

'

ever,
Not
finished.
wishing,howperhaps never
it altogether,Chaucer
probably used some
again in 'Anelida,'and introduced others into

the whole

rewrote

mentions

Prologue

that Chaucer

the

for he

independent work.

an

liii

INTRODUCTION.

partially
rejected;

and

Women

THE

TO

the

Parlement

of Anelida

stanzas

end

certain that the

rate

in the

stanzas

first ten

near

any

period,he
which
lines,
the right

of Troilus

and

of

and

Teseide

Foules'^;

Arcite

(3)
Creseida'"; (4)of
;

the

and Arcite ; (5)of the Knightes Tale.

originalPalamon
For
further information,see
Ten
Brink, Chaiccer-Studien^
Miinster,1870; and Essays on Chaucer, publishedby the Chaucer
Society. It must be added that Professor Ten Brink has written

another

valuable

work

Chaucer, entitled Chancers

on

Sprache

tmd

Verskunst^Leipzig,1884 ; from which much may be learnt.

W^ith regard to the Nonne
Preestes
Tale,it has already been
remarked
(atp. xxviii)that the germ of it is to be found in a
short fable by Marie
de France, afterwards
amplifiedin the old
French
Roman
du Renart.
de France
The
fable by Marie
consists of 38 short lines,and
is printed in Dr. Furnivall's
MS.
Originals and Analogues (Chaucer Society),
p. 116, from
Harl. 978, leaf 56 (formerly
76). The correspondingportionof
Le

Roman

also

du

Renart,

as

printedin the same,

1720). Professor Ten
'^
1

LI.
From

edited
p. 117;

Brink

by

Meon

in

1826,vol. i. p.

it comprises 454 lines

shews

that

Marie's

49, is

1267(11.

fable

closely

183-294; from the Teseide,bk. vii. st. 51-66.

the Teseide,
bk. i. st. 1-3 ; bk. ii. st. 10-12.

Viz. St. 7, 8, 9 from the ^"^of

bk. v.
xi. 1-3.
Boccaccio here follows Lucan's
"

translated from

Pharsalia,bk.

ix.

the

Teseide,

liv
resembles

POSTSCRIPT

TO

in

found

THE

INTRODUCTION.

Latin

collection of

yEsopian fables in
he quotes in full (id.p. 114),and
at Gottingen,which
MS.
a
refers us for it to Oesterley,
Rotnulus^Berlin,1870, p. 108.
A translation of Marie's fable,by myself,was
printed in The
Academy^ July 23, 1887 (p.56) ; and is here reprintedfor the
of comparison with Chaucer's
story.
purpose
one

The

Cock

Cock

and

Fox.

the

story tells of, who

our

dunghill stood and crew.

drew
A Fox, attracted,straight
nigh,
soft
of
And
words
flattery.
spake
High

on

Sir ! ' said

Dear

'

never

saw

never

heard

bird

so

voice

look 's divine

'

he,

your
fine !

clear

so

dear!
your father's ah!
poor
voice rang clearly,
but
loudly
shut !'
clearly,when his eyes were

Except
His

"

"

Most

The

'

witii

'

Cock

the

Each

replies,
flapshis wings, and shuts his eyes.
note
rings clearer than the last

The

Fox

And

same

me

"

fast ;
up, and holds him
he hies apace.
wood
crossed an
open
space.

starts

Towards

the

But

he

as

The

shepherds spy him ;

dogs give chase with

The

Fox

The

still holds

Suggestshis
'

Tush

"

The

The

Fox

Too
For

trice,has
the

'

queer.

Fox

gained
begins

angry

He

'ginsto

speak, when

to

the

Just when
Lest

the

curse

has

They

play'd;

been

that 's bold

mouth

it should
that

silent be.
with

when

me;

to

to

keep

befall.'

do all :
contrariously
should
be dumb.
they
tlieyought to speak,are mum.

fools
chatter

And, when

same

sleep
eyes
go
they ought sharp watch

evil to their lord

Thus

slipsout,
see

'Well,' says the Cock, 'the

curse

"

repaid.
language, uncontrolled,

once

To
I

tree.

his game

Cock

grieve'em,
him

shout,

Cock

; the

"

leave
to

scorn,

his tricks have

cry.

out, to

cry

! I'll never

his mouth

well

How

and

Cock, though fear

Cock,

is mine

late the

they fly;

hue

growing

attempts, in

opes
in a

And,

is

case

cries the

cock

And

In

'

the

off

'

POSTSCRIPT

The

TO

have

Notes
has

opportunity
wherever

Glossarial

absolutely

The

about

third

has

alterations
For

and

etymologies

few

of

the

the

some

revised,

purpose,

in

cases,

the

references,
number

of

that

so

the

whole.

spelling

this

the

stores),

own

been

misprints
in

have,

all

considerable

my

also

in

necessary.

verified,

been

(from

and

throughout,

verifying
this,

added

Index

slight

revised

of

Besides

to

amount

numerous

this

taken

been

have

additions
The

been

Iv

INTRODUCTION,

carefully

practicable.
Notes

new

been

THE

of

the

every
the

because

text

the

rendered

reference

numbers

has

corrected.

reconsidered

been

and

altered.
The

List

Proper

addition.

new

We

to

of

hope

all

See
the

that

students

and

Cambridge,

Jtcly

9,

1888.

Names,
p.

the

Glossarial

Index,

Hi.

present
readers.

following

reprint

will

be

of

increased

service

is

Iviii

HISTORICAL

A.D.

HOME.

AT

EVENTS.

ABROAD.

Clement

A.D.

VI
.

Boccaccio

crowned

in

the
the

Robert

Capitol by

1342

Good
.

Settlement
.

Jacob

of Turks
.

"

.1343

ward
(Ed-

Arteveldt

van

in Europe

the Third's

in

partisan
Flanders)killed
.

Battle

of Neville's Cross

Battle

of

Cre9y

1346

Charles

Hampole,
Pricke

of

Order

author

the

of

of

The

Plague

The

Black

Germany

1347

of Florence

1348-9

of The

Conscience

U49

Death

1349

Pestilence

First Great

The

IV

of

Rolle

of Richard

Death

1345

tuted
insti-

Garter

....

John
Papal

forbidden

Provisions

Poems

III, by
Minot

King

of France

1350

1351

ward
of Ed-

the Wars

on

II

Lawrence

....

Polychronicon, by
Higden

1352

Innocent

1354

Death

VI

1352

Ralph

....

Sir
The

John Mandeville
Scots

Battle
Last

surpriseBerwick

of Poictiers

byWycliffe)
Chaucer
Prince

1356

{iiot
j"

probably a Page
LioneVs
wife

to

1357
La

Jacqueriein

Charles
Edward

III invades

Chaucer

cojnmences
career

by

1354

1355

Age of the Church

of Rienzi

France

1359

crown

France

the Bad

claims

of France

1358

the
.

1359

tary
his mili-

; is taken
the French

soner
pri.

"

Peace
and

between
French

English
Bretigny

the
at

1360

The

Second

Pestilence

Great

II Ts

ruard

service
.

15)

lish
Eng-

III,

Edward

(36

"

pleadings,"c. in

Law

36 1

Ed-

probably in

Chaucer

c.

1362

....

man

land
.

Diet

apparel
the community
by Statute
regulated
receives

Chaucer

pension of
Chaucer

Englishauxiliaries

employed by

the Pisans
.

"

1363

Third

Compleynte

Chaucer

has

love

to
jected
re-

1367-8

1369

Pestilence

Great

ofBlaunche

Deth

the Duchesse

1369

War

re-commenced

France

Gregory
Eobert

II

1364

1367

him)

of France

annual

an

marks

20

(his

Pile

and

between

England

1370

XI

j"

(the first of the

familyin Scotland) 1371

Stuart

employedon

Chaucer

and

to Pisa

of Sir

ville

sion
mis-

Genoa

John

1372

Mande-

....

Lyfe of St. Cecile

pension of a pitcherof
tvine
daily granted to

1373

Chaucer

1374

Chaucer
A

and

Florence

between

Charles

Death

of

class

The

each

of

and

"

.1362

Pisa ;

Urban
War

of Piers Flowby Lang(A-text),

Vision

The

A.D.

ABROAD.

A.D.

HOME.

AT

lix

EVENTS.

HISTORICAL

Truce

troller
appointed Compofthe Cttstoms and
Subsidy of Wools, "^c.
Chaucer's
Compleynt of

Chaucer

between

France
.

England and
.

Death

of Petrarch

Death

of Boccaccio

"

"

i374
5"

Mars
The
Death

....

Bruce, by
of Edward

Prince

....

Barbour

1375

the Black

1376

1375

EVENTS.

HISTORICAL

ix

AT

Chaucer

sent

France

mission

Boece

of Piers

(B-text)

by Wycliffe
must

in

have

by
.

VII

1378

Clement

1380

Charles

137S

1380

lish
Eng.about

of France

VI

begun

of

B-text

the

1377

"

it is alluded

earlier,

"

to Rome

man
Plow-

into

translated

as

work

,,

returns

"

Wycliffe condemned
papal bull

(The

Gregory XI

II

Bible

1377

III, and

of Richard

Vision

A.D.

ABROAD.

to

of Edward

accession
The

on

(Stowe,Annals)

? Chancer
Death

A.D.

HOME.

to

Piers

Plozvi?ian.)
12
pence levied
above
all
persons
upon
of
fifteen years
age

of

Poll-tax

,,

Tyler'sRebellion

Wat

1381

is appointed
troller
Comp-

Chaucer

of the Petty

toms
Cus-

1382

....

? Chaucer
of

Death

Troilus

Wycliffe

.1384

of Fame

? Chaucer

Hous

? Chaucer

Legende of Good

Women
Chaucer

"

"

1385

....

dismissed

from

John

I of

1385

Portugal

his

of Comptroller of
offices
Wool

Truth

? Chaucer's

1386

Petty Customs

and

"

The

lated
Polychronicon transinto
English by
.1387
John Trevisa

Chaucer

wHtes

Canterbuiy
Chaucer's
Chaucer

of

the

so^ne

of his

Tales

dies
jvife

of

Conversion

the

anians
Lithu-

1387

....

"

"

appointedClerk
at
Kifiifs Works

is

Westminster

Victory of
1389

the

the Austrians

Swiss

over

at Niifels

13S9

HISTORICAL

HOME.

AT

Ixi

EVENTS.

A.D.

ABROAD,

Ottoman

A.D

over
victory

tians
Chris-

at Kossova

Boniface

1389

IX
.

Chaucer

Restoration

has

put
scaffolds
ing
for seeS7nithfield
the jouststhere

up in

is

Chaucer

of the

Language in Italy by
Manuel
Chrysolaras

[390

"

of

20/.

King's money

of

.'5

III of Scotland

Chmiccr

appointed joint

Forester'^

of North

crton, Sofnerset

Peth1
.

Chaucer

Gower's

ConfessioAinantis

Ast7'olabe
.

Greek

Wiitdsor.

robbed

Robert

the

appointed clerk

loorks at

Chaj(cer
the

1390

of

pension of ^20
lifegranted to

1391

ear

a-y
Chaucer

1393

for

1395

Death

1394

of Lollards

Persecution

390-1

of Barbour
.

of

Some

Chaucer

Poems

Benedict

XIII

1394

Battle of

Nicopolis

1396

,,

Minor

1392-8

Chaucer

ester*
appointedsole ForNorth
Petherof
ton, So??ierset
1397-8
sued
Chaucer
for -^14
A grant of a tun
of ivine
to Chaucer
139S
a-year made
becomes
Henry IV
King
1399

Union

of Calmar

1397

sends

Chaucer
Poem

to

Chaucer''
Death

of
on

les

IV
doubled

of Gaunt

Richard

the Rede-

of Chaucer

Death

See
The

the

Pension

Purse

(probably by Lang-

land)

Henry

John
'

Poem

his

p. xiv. Chaticer as
Earls
of March

King,-and
are

these

,,

"

1400

Forester
were

of North
Foresters

Petherton
of

North

appointedsubstitutionaryforesters.
;

set.
Park, Co. SomerPetherton

Among

the

under

ments
appoint-

Ixii

UCER

CHA

Ric.

lo

Earl

the

14

the

OF

Richard

1386-7).

(June

TON

PETHER

N.

Brittle,

the

by

PARK.

of

appointment

March.

of

(June

II

Ric.

by

II

FORESTER

AS

Richard

1390-1).
of

appointment

the

Earl

Brittle

of

March

Chaucer,

Gefferey

and

died

who

(Roger,

July

20,

1398)-

March.'

of

that

on

Chaucer,
hold

that

until

his

June
own

continued

ii.
as

14

doubt."

the

joint
Ric.

in

appointed

J.

that

that

died

read

that

is,

22

Ric.

Brittle

July

20,

continued
II

(June

1390,

22,

till

Forester

1398,
him

and
in

1398-9),

I,
ester
For-

was

June

remained

and

of

than

authorities

is, between

him,

Mr.

who

Records

Life

R.

unusual,

Lady

Selby,

D.

and

better

that

year,

Roger

Chaucer,

both

most

succeeded

Walford

1886,

by

death-bed.

his

on

Mr.
20,

1886),
is

in

and

Nov.

Soc.

Earl

therefore
F.

was

and

Brittle,

Forester

sole

lying

entries,

one

made

was

AthencEu?)i,

1400.

should

the

Chaucer

1391,

Chaucer

joint

with

62.

iii.

of So77ierset,

Co.

Countess

Alianor,

by

the

of
be

to

appointment

II

Chaucer,

Antiq.

husband

(Chaucer

117

p.

death

F.

found

in

21,

till

her

who

and

appointment

while

them

widow

Collinson
I

this

however,

Floyd,
wrote

Hist,
first

probably

March,

Gefferey

1397-8).

Chaucer's

suppose

his

(June
Collinson,

take

and

II

Ric.

'21

after,

soon

office.

his
not

21.

a.)

{group
The

hoi}

That

hem

hath

Southwerk

In

Redy

that

the

at

that

seke^

they were
sesoun^ on
a
day.
I lay
Tabard
as
pilgrimage
my

on

Caunterburywith
night was* come

To

seke,

to

holpen, whan

wenden

to

prologue.

for

bhsful martir

that,in

BifeP

the

ful devout

20

corage,

in-to that

e
hostelry
Wei
nyne and twenty in a compaignye,
Of sondry folk,by aventure
y-falle
In felawshipe^and pilgrims^were
they alle,
That
toward
Caunterbury wolden ryde;
The
chambres
and the stables weren
wyde,

At

wel

And

we

esed

weren

25

beste.

atte

the sonne
whan
to reste,
was
shortly,
I spoken with hem
So hadde
everichon,
That I was
of hir felawshipe^anon,
forward erly for to ryse,
made
And
take our'^ wey, ther as I" yow
To
devyse.
But natheles^,whyl I have tyme and space,
And

Er

30

35

that I ferther in this tale pace,

Me

thinketh

To

telle yow

Of

ech

of

it acordaunt

whiche

And

eek

And

at

so

they

in what
a

resoun.

al the condicioun

hem,

And

to

as

it semed

that

array

knight than

of what

^, and

weren

me,

they

degree;
inne

were

I first biginne.

wol

that

worthy man,
That fro the tyme that he first bigan
To
ryden out, he loved chivalrye,
and
Trouthe
and honour, fredom
curteisye.
A

Knight

E. seeke.

E.

were

; rest

HI.

"

Hi. weren;

ther

pilgryms;

was,

Hn.

was.

E.

rest

were,

weere.

and

^
Bifel ; E. Bitil.
^
E. felaweship^.

pilgrimes.

40

'

E.

oure.

e^

45

geson.

E. nathelees.

[group a.)
Ful

in cristendom

wel

As
And

Alisaundre

At

ofte tyme

Ful

hadde

Lettow

No

cristen

In

Gernade

the

At

mortal

noble

bigonne
in

Ruce,

in
at

he

hadde

eek

sege^

and riden
Algezir,
At Lyeys was
he, and
Whan
wonne
they were

many

wonne

in Pruce.

reysedand

Of

At

50

ofte of his degrree.

so

at

was

the bord

hadde

he

man

it

whan

he was,
he

hethenesse,

for his worthinesse.

alle naciouns

Aboven
In

as

honoured

evere

ferre)

(no man

riden

he

therto hadde

And

in his lordes werre,

he

worthy was

prologue.

the

55

be

Belmarye.
Satalye,

"

hadde

aryve

he

batailles hadde

See

in the Grete

; and

he be.

60

fiftene,

been

foughtenfor our^ feith at Tramissene

and ay slaynhis foo.
In listes thryes,
This ilke worthy knighthadde been also
Somtyme with the lord of Palatye,
Ageyn another hethen in Turkye :
And

And
And
And
He
In
He

for

His

hors

prys.

sovereyn

Al

bismotered
; rest as

HI. ariue ; Cm.

E.

oure.

weren

were'

goode, but he
wered a gipoun
with his

; HI. Ln.

was

; E. Hn.

"

was

nat

gay.
75,

armee

-moore.

Cp. Ln.
So E. Hn.
"

were.

nacions.
'^

; rest

70

habergeoun.
2

in.
aryue
"
E.

wys,

of his array,

were

fustian he

as

he

tellen yow

to

Of

E.

worthy,he was
is a mayde.
of his port as meek
as
ne
nevere
sayde
yet no vileinye
al his lyf,un-to
maner
no
wight.
a
was
gentilknight.
verray parfit

But

Hn.

he hadde

though that

everemore

65

E. seege.

arme.

Cm.

HI. Hn.

he

; rest was.
ne

was.

{group a.)

|.
For

he

And

for to

wente

him

ther

lovyer,and

lokkes

With

Of

his

In

In

him

born

He

Short
Wel

as
was

He

coude

luste and
bote

he

sleep"^
Curtcys he

he

Ln.

E. Hn.

HI.

"

HI.

"

HI.

namore

was,

than

lowly^\

pecok ^*
^

euene.
*

had.

doth
and

the

E. weel.

'^

nightingale.

servisable,
the table.

at

he, and

ryde

and

so

hood

^^
brighte

arwes

E. Hn.
""'

^^

servaunts

liste

clad in cote

was

; rest

of
E.

Pt. Ln.

100

namo

^^

of grene ;
and

kene

greet; Cm. of gret ; rest gretof.

'^
E. fressh.
meede, reede.

Cp. month ; HI. Pt. Ln. moneth.

^
E. -moore.
Cp. sleep; rest slepte.
'^
E, seruantz.
lowly; E. lowely.
Monthe

Cp.

90

purtreye and wryte.

weP

his fader

hadde

sheef of

euen

rede ^.

and

al
floytinge,

or

that tyme, for him

And

mede^

lovede,that by nightertale

Yeman

were

daunce, and

carf biforn

And

it

85

lady grace.

floures,
whyte

was,

eek

He

'

of^

day ;
fresh ^ as is the month ^ of May.
his goune, with sieves longe and wyde.
he sitte on
hors, and faire ryde.
and wel endyte,
songes make
95

coude

lengthe,

litel space,

so

in his

he, as

was

was

At

evene

of

^, as

stonden

to

Singingehe

Ln.

wel

ful of fresshe

So

I gesse.

was,

of

was

presse.

strengthe.
he hadde
been somtyme
in chivachye,
Flaundres, in Artoys,and Picardye,
hope

Al

80

Embrouded

he

stature

he

wonderly delivere,and greet

And

lustybacheler,
crulle,as they were
leyd in
a

twenty yeer of age

And

his

from

viage,
his pilgrimage.
doon
his sone, a yong
was
Squyer,

Of

And

prologue.

late y-come

was

With

the

pocok.

"

E.

bright.

^^

E. dooth.
"

E.

soo

[group a)
Under

his belt he

(Wei
^

His

coude

in his

wode-craft

wel

his

he

Upon

arm

bar

his

And

on

that other

syde

An

horn

forster
Ther

That
Hir

also

of hir

she

and

syde

sharp

bokeler.

point of

as

Nonne,

was

spere ;
115

of grene;

Prioresse,

simple and

coy;

by seynt Loy;

but

was

I gesse.

ful

smyling was

no

daggere,

gay

he, soothly,as

gretteste ooth

And

105

bracer,

gay

bar, the bawdrik

was

was

his brest of silver shene

on

he

al the usage.

swerd

wel, and

Cristofre^

he

coude

by

ful

bar

And

Harneised

not-heed

Of

PROLOGUE,

thriftily,
he dresse his takel yemanly:
drouped noght with fetheres lowe),
hand
he bar
a
mighty bowe.
hadde
he, with a broun visage.

arwes

And

THE

cleped madame

120

Eglentyne.
Ful wel she song
the service divyne,
in hir nose
ful semely;
Entuned
Frensh
she spak ful faire and fetisly,
And
After the scole of Stratford atte Bowe,
was

'

For
At

Frensh
mete

She

leet

Ne

Hir

no

over

E. Hise.

Hn.

hir fingresin
she

drope

Cm.

Pt. moche

carie

she

lippesfalle,
hir sauce
depe.
morsel, and wel kepe,
hir brest '^.

ful moche^

set

with-alle ;

hir

fille up-on

ne

lippewyped

Cristofre ; E.
brest ; E. Hn.

from

morsel

hir unknowe.

to

was

y-taughtwas

curteisyewas

'

"

no

coude

That
In

wel

wette

Wel

of Paris

125

she

hir lest^.

clene,

so

E. baar.

Cristophere.

E. sheene.

brist.

meche
; Cm.
; E. Hn.
HI. lest ; E. Hn. Cm. list.

muchel.

E. oother.
"

E. soong.

130

[group a)

Ful

after hir

semely

And
And
Of

draughte.

raughte,

136

But,

for
was

She

wolde

so

Of

if

al

And
Ful

semely

Hir

nose

Hir

mouth

ful

smal,

But

sikerlyshe

hadde

almost

fetis

Ful

Of

ther-on

And

which

On

ther

hir

rest ther

HI.

E. to

Pt. Ln. had

was;

been;

E. any;

was

'

omit

bar

al with

grene ;,

of

ful

gold
a

E. Hn,
*

to.

; rest hadde.

wympul

oon,
; Hn.

on,

shene,

crowned

160

A,

Ln.

desport;rest disport.
E. saugh,
Hn. sawe;

HI.

wepped

; rest
*

rest

155

war.

she

arm

first write

was.

HI. Hn.

I trowe;

vincit omnia.

after,Amor

And

broche

was

reed ;

undergrowe.

nat

glas;

as

brood,

cloke,as

heng

150

fair forheed.

peire of bedes, gauded

herte.

tendre

ther-to softe and

coral aboute

smal

deed,

were

yerde smerte:

greye

and

was

hir

was

of hem

and

spanne

she
For, hardily,

145

breed.

wastel

and

tretys; hir eyen

was

bledde.

or

wimpel ^ pinched was

hir

deed

if oon^

conscience

was

mous

she, that she fedde

it with

smoot

men

sawe

were

milk

she

weep^

sore

it

had^

flesh,or

rosted

But
Or

trappe, if

houndes

smale

With

if that she

wepe,

in

Caught

140

digne of reverence.
speken of hir conscience,
charitable and so pitous.

to

She

estatlich of manere,

holden

ben

to

been

court, and

And

E.

she

mete

hir

hadde

sikerlyshe was of greet disport^

of port,
ful plesaunt,and amiable
peyned hir to countrefete chere

And

It

sene
ferthing

no

dronken

she

grece, whan

Of

was^

in hir coppe

That

prologue.

the

one.

wympel.

wepte

E.

read\itt^.

semyly.

{group a)

That

ther was,

Monk

and
chapeleyne,

hir

was

manly

lovede

Ful

maistrye,

165

able.

abbot

an

thre.

Preestes

venerye

in stable

he

hadde

deyntee hors

many

been

to

man,

she,

fair for the

that
out-rydere,

An

hir hadde

with

Nonne

Another

prologue.

the

brydelhere
wynd as^ clere,
Ginglen in a whistling^
eek as loude as doth the chapel-belle,
And
this lord was
Ther
as
keper of the celle.
he

whan

And,

reule of seint Maure

The

By-cause

that it

This

ilke monk

And

held^

is to

And

seyde

What

sholde

Upon

swinken

As

Austin
Austin

Therfor

he

Grehoundes

^
3
^

HI.

rekeles
"

bit.?

How

have

his

worth

oistre.

an

good.
him-selven

make

wood,

shal the world

^

swink

to

185

served.?

be

reserved.

him

pricasouraright;
hadde, as swifte as fowel
of hunting for the hare
a

was

'^

he

cloysterles
; E.

of his cloistre.

alwey to poure,
handes, and laboure,

his

with

heeld; Cm.

nat

180

cloistre

Cp. whistlyng;E. whistlynge.

E. Hn.

out

opinioun was

in

prikingand

Of

waterlees;

studie,and

he

book

Or

Lat

his

the space.

is cloisterlees^

he

held'' he

thilke text

But

175

monk

streit.

som-del

world

fish that is

seyn,

of seint Beneit,

pulledhen,
been^ nat holy men;

yaf nat of that text

That seith,that hunters
Ne that a monk, whan
til a

170

thingespace,

newe

He

This

and

leet olde

after the

Is likned

or

old

was

his

mighte

rood, men

held.
Hn.

recchelees ;

als; HI.

E. Cm.
Hn.

been;

Cp.

Pt.

in

flight
;
191

so;

rest

as.

E. beth.

Ln.

recheles ; Cm.

(Ten Y)xm^ proposes recetlees).

E. his

owene

; rest om.

''

owene.

HI.

swifte ; rest swift.

[group a.)

With

grys, and

And,

for to

purfiledat the hond

that the fynesteof a lond;

His

heed

"^

gold y-wroght a

eek

And

his

he

face, as

'^

chin,

curious

as

hadde

195

pin :

ther

balled,that shoon

was

his

under

love-knot'^ in the gretter ende

spare.

festne his hood

of

hadde

he

wolde

cost

no

sieves

seighhis

He

was.

glas.

any

anoint.

been

in

lord ful fat and

good point;
in his heed,
eyen stepe, and rollinge
stemed
as
a
forneys of a leed ;
botes souple,his hors in greet estat*.
fair prelat;
he was
a
certeinly
nat
was
pale as a for-pynedgoost.

He

was

His
That
His

200

Now
He

fat

loved he best of any

swan

palfreywas

His

broun

as

ther was,

Frere

is

as

roost.

berye.

a
^

wantown

205

and

merye,

limitour,a ful solempne man.

A
In

alle the ordres

So

moche^

He

hadde

Of

FuP

he

his ordre
biloved

frankeleyns

With

eek

And

he

For

with

had

his

at
was

of

power

of his ordre

Ful

swetelyherde

HI. Hn.

""'

Cm.

"

E. wantowne.
E. And

; rest

he

; rest

Ful.

cost.

post.
he

was

215

of the toun

wommen

confessioun.
than

curat,

licentiat.

was

220

confessioun,

he

knotte.
'

langage.

'^

owne

purfiled
; E. ypurfiled.

knot

210

over-al in his contree,

worthy

For

can

mariage

noble

seyde him-self,more

As

fair

famulier

and

that

noon

and

ful many

wommen,

wel

is

foure

of daliaunce
maad

yonge

Un-to

lust,for

al his

Was

prologue.

the

HI. moche
"

All but HI.

E. it ; rest he.
; E. muchel.
HI.

Hn.

ins. ful.

E. estaat, prclaat.
HI. owne
; E. owene.
'

eek ; rest omit.

[group a)

TO

Ther
He

nas

no

For

Yet

wolde

His

purchas was

And

he

he

have

in his hous

hadde

noght a sho,
In principio.,
he wente.
a
er
ferthing,

wel

coude

vertuous.

so

beggere

thogh a widwe
plesauntwas his

So

prologue.

nowher

man

the beste

was

the

bettre than

255

his rente.

righta whelpe.
helpe.
love-dayesther coude he mochel
ther he was
nat
lyk a cloisterer^,
rage

In

it

as

were

For

With

thredbare

But

he

Of

worsted

rounded

Somwhat

he

To

his

make

And

in his

as

is

as

maister

lyk a

was

double

That

cope,

or

his

was

povre

pope.

of the presse.

lipsed,for

his wantownesse.

English

up-on

swete

his tonge ;

that he

harping,whan

260

semi-cope,

belle out

scoler,

had^

265

songe,

in his heed

aright,
in the frostynight.
As doon
the sterres
This worthy limitour was
cleped Huberd.
His

eyen

A
In

twinkled

Marchant

and
mottelee*',

Up-on
His

ther with

was

his heed

hye

he

horse

on

Flaundrish

forked

bever

berd,

270

sat,
'^

hat ;

clasped faire and fetisly.

His" resons
he spak ful solempnely,
Sowninge alway thencrees of his winning.
He, wolde the see were
kept for any thing
Bitwixe Middelburgh and Orewelle.
Wel coude he in eschaunge sheeldes selle.
^

Hn.

Noon
^

botes

alone

E.

And

"

cam

muchel; Hl.mochil.

^//worstede

Ln.

inserts

of his bretheren

yaf

for

certeyn ferme

the

275

graunt

ther in his haunt.

^

HI.

{badly'^..
motteley; HI. motteleye; E.
Cp. Pt. elapsed; HI. clapsud.

Cm.

cloysterer
; E. Cloystrer.
^

Hn.

Pt. Ln.

had;

r^j-^
"^

motlee.
"

hadde.

E. beu^re.

E. Hise.

{group a)
This

worthy man

Ther

wiste

*
was
estatly

So
With

his

For

sothe

But

sooth

That

to

lene

And

he

Ful

thredbar^

For

he

w-orldlyfor

x\ristotle and

Than
But

al be

Yet

hadde

But

al that he

On

bokes

and

courtepy;

290

benefice,

no

ofiice.

his beddes

heed

reed

or

or
fithele,

295

sautrye.

gay

philosophre,
but litel gold in cofre;
mighte of his frendes hente,
on^ lerningehe it spente,
was

Of

studie took
o

word

And

that

And

short and

was

he

most

Cp. statly.

and

cure

spak he more
seyd in forme
quik,and ful

Sowninge in moral
And
gladlywolde

soberly^

Of

Noght

bisily
gan for the soules preye
to scoleye.
that yaf him wher-with
hem

And

285

philosophye,

his

that he
he

undertake

at

in blak

riche,or

robes

also,

have

to

levere have

was

Twenty bokes, clad

Of

yet

calle.

rake,

his overest^

was

had*' geten him

him

280

y-go.

ther-to

holwe, and

so

is

as

rightfat,I

nat

nas

loked

For

longe

his hors

him

men

of Oxenford

was

logik hadde
was

was

dette,

in

was

how

I noot

seyn,

But

Ne

bisette;

of his governaunce,

he

ther

un-to

As^

that he

II

bargaynes,and with his chevisaunce.

he was
a
with-alle,
worthy man

Clerk

his wit

ful wel

wight

no

prologue.

the

vertu

E. And
*

All

-bare.

Cp.

Ln. had ; rest hadde.

than
and
of

HI.

HI. Al
ouerest
"^

so

was

hede.

nede.

reverence,

hy

his

was

lerne, and

he

most

305

sentence.

speche.
gladlyteche.
^

; rest As.
; E.

300

Hn.

Cm.

E. HI. his ; rest

e.

sobrely.

ouereste.
on.

[group a.)

12

Sergeant

That

often hadde

Ther

was

been

he

swich, his wordes

% Justice he

and

fees and

In

hadde

he

Therto

coude

315

noon.

effect,
infect.

been
he

and

of

king

320

ther nas.
he

was.

domes

caas

the tyme

from

That

in

bisier than
he

oon.

many
nowher

termes

wyse,

heigh renoun

he

hadde

robes

yet he semed

And

so

weren

for his

purchasourwas
fee simpleto him
Al was
His purchasingmighte nat
as
Nowher
so
bisy a man
greet

reverence

commissioun

by pleyn

his science,and

So

310

ful often in assyse.

was

By patente,
Of

wys,

the parvys,

at

of greet

and

was,

semed

For

and

war

also,ful riche of excellence.

Discreet
He

Lawe,

the

of

prologue.

the

alle.

William
make

endyte, and
^

were
a

falle^.

thing,
wryting;

325

wight pinche at his

And
every statut coude he pleyn by rote.
cote
He
rood but hoomly in a medlee
Girt with a ceint of silk,with barres smale;
Of his array telle I no
lenger tale.
in his compaignye;
A Frankeleyn
was
Whyt was his herd ^5 as is the dayesye.
coude

Ther

no

330

"*

Of his complexioun he
Wei

loved

he

by

the

was

sangwyn.
a

morwe

sop

in wyn.

delytwas evere^ his wone,

For he was
Epicurus owne^ sone,
That heeld opiniounthat pleyn delyt
felicitee parfyt.
Was
verraily''
liven in

To

E.

yfalle
; rest

E. heed

E. Hn.

'HI.

; rest

Cm.

falle.

E. Hn.

herd, befde.

owene

verraily
; rest

; rest

venay,

pynchen ;
*

E.

owne,

verrey, ucry.

; rest

rest

the.

335

pynche,pinche.
''

HI.

al.

[group a.)

that

housholdere, and

An

Seynt lulian he was^

His breed, his ale,was
A bettre envyned man
bake

With-oute

he;

greet, was

alwey^

340

after

nevere^

was
was

of

oon

noon.

his

nevere

that

his hous

in

It snewed

mete

13

in his contree.

flesh,and

fish and

Of

prologue.

the

hous,

plentevous.
and drinke,

so

mete

345

thinke.
coude
deynteesthat men
of the yeer,
After the sondry sesons
and his soper.
So chaunged he his mete
he in mewe*,
fat partrich
hadde
Ful many
a
alle

Of

And
Wo

Poynaunt

and

ofte tyme

An

anlas^
at

Was

they

Of

lord and

sire.

solempne

Hir

knyves were

E.

Cm.

E. Hn.

muwe,

E. Hn.

anlaas ;

^ and
^

and

newe

355

shire.

milk.

a"^ countour;

and

worthy vavasour.
and a Carpenter,

clothed

were

fresh and

360

Tapicer,

alle in

liveree,

greet fraternitee.
hir gere

apyked was ;
y-chaped^^noght with bras.

he ; rest he was.
Ln. alwey; HI. alway; E. Hn.

E. Hn.

alway

longe day.

been,

Dyere

Ful

was

he

350

al his gere.'

was

Haberdassher

Webbe,

And

he

such

nowher

An

he

was

shirreve hadde

al the

*.

stewe

were

knight of the
and a gipser al of silk
his girdel,whyt as morne

Ful

Heng^

ther

sessiouns

At

in his halle

redy covered

Stood

sauce

sharp,and redy

table dormant

His

luce in

many

cook, but-if his

his

was

and

breem

many

alvveys.

HI.

365

Pt. nowher.

stuwe.

Cp.

''

heeng.

All but HI. insert

Pt. Ln.

a.

anelas ; HI. Cm.

E. Hn.
^^

Cm.

om.

a.

HI. ichapud; Cm.

anlas.
^

chapid;

HI.
rest

deyer.

chaped.

[group a)

T4
But

al with

Hir

girdlesand

Wei

semed

wroght ful clene and weel,

hir pouches everydeel.
of hem
fair burgeys,
a
on
a
yeldhalle^
deys.

silver

ech

sitten in

To

prologue.

the

Everich, for the wisdom

that he

Was

an

shaplyfor
catel hadde

For

been

to

eek

And

elles certein

hir wyves

wolde

can,

alderman.
and

they ynogh

And

370

rente,

it wel

assente

they to blame.
375
It is ful fair to been y-clept^ma
dame^
And
al bifore,
to vigilyes
goon
roialliche y-bore.
And
have a mantel
A Cook
they hadde with hem for the nones,
boille'^ chiknes with the mary-bones,
To
380
And
poudre-marchanttart, and galingale.
ale.
he knowe
Wel
coude
a
draughte of London
coude
He
roste, and sethe,and broille *, and frye,
Maken

were

and

mortreux,

greet harm

But
That

Shipman

A
For

aught I woot,

He

rood

In
A

made

he

somer

he

with

had

he
And, certeinly,

he ;
the beste.

his

E.

E. Hn.

All but HI. ifisert the.

E. HI.

good

he

al broun

felawe.

yeldehalle.

ycleped;
boille; Cm.

HI.

390

adoun.

arm

his hewe

maad
a

weste

couthe,

laas hadde

was

385

the knee.

faldingto
under

he

as

rouncy,

his nekke
hote

thoughteme,

of Dertemouthe.

was

daggere hanging on

Aboute

The

of

gowne

pye.

ther, woning fer by

was

up-on

hadde

mormal

blankmanger, that

For

it

it,as

was

his shine

on

bake

wel

clept;

boyle;

rest

rest

clepid.
cleped,

broille,broile.

;
395

(group

A.)

PROLOGUE.

THE

y-drawe^
From
Burdeux-ward, whyl that the chapman sleep.
took he no
Of nyce conscience
keep.
the hyer hond,
If that he faught,and hadde
lond.
to every
400
By water he sente hem hoom
But
of his craft to rekene wel his tydes,
and his daungers him bisydes,
His stremes
his lodemenage,
and his mone,
His herberwe
swich from Hulle to Cartage.
Ther
nas
noon

Ful

Hardy
With

he

to

wys

had

wyn

he

undertake

tempest hadde his berd been shake.

weP
alle the havenes, as they were,

Gootlond

the cape

to

of

Finistere,

cryke in Britayne and in Spayne;

barge y-clepedwas the Maudelayne.

And

every

His

With

ther

us

was

Doctour
ther

him

al this world

To

speke of phisikand of surgerye;

he was
grounded in astronomye.
kepte his pacienta ful greet deP
houres, by his magik naturel *.

He
In

Of

his^

He

the

He
The
Anon

Ful
^

Cm.

HI.

E. Hn.

lyk

415

pacient.

of everich

cold, or

or

maladye,
moiste, or drye,

engendred,and of what humour

was
a
practisour.
verrey parfit
cause
y-knowe, and of his harm the
his bote.
he yaf the seke' man
redy hadde he his^ apothecaries,
^

where

And

for his

cause

it of hoot

noon

the ascendent

fortunen

images

knew

Were

Cm.

he

coude

Wel

was

ne

I-drawe

; rest

wondurly
Ln.

hise;

drawe.

wel ; rest
hese.

Cm.

seke ; rest sike.

410

Phisyk,

of

In

For

405

knew

From

and

was,

many

He

draughteof

many

HI.

ful greet deel.

^

E. Cm.

HI.
^

420

rote,

425

ins. wel ; rest om.

*
E. Hn. natureel.
ins.

they; Hn.

E. hise.

ins. it.

{group a.)

16

the

drogges\

him

To

sende

For

ech

Hir

frendschipenas

his

and

other for

made

of hem

prologue.

nat

letuaries,
;

biginne.

to

newe

winne

to

the olde

Esculapius,
And
Deiscorides,and eek Rufus^;
Old Ypocras,Haly, and Galien;
Serapion,Razis, and Avicen;
Averrois,Damascien, and Constantyn;
Bernard, and Gatesden, and Gilbertyn.
Of his diete mesurable
was
he,
he

knew

Wei

of

For

it

But

of greet

His

studie

In

was

sangwin

Lyned

norissingand
but

with

and

435

superfluitee.

no

was

430

digestible.
the Bible.

litel on

in pers

clad

he
with

tafFata and

al,

was

sendal;

440

of

dispence;
in pestilence.
He
kepte that he wan
For gold in phisikis a cordial,
he lovede gold in special.
Therfor
ther of bisyde Bathe,
A good Wyf
was

And

yet he

was

but

esy

But

she

was

deef, and

som-del

that

445

scathe.

was

cloth-makingshe hadde swiche an haunt,

of Ypres and of Gaunt.
She passed hem
ther noon
In al the parisshewyf ne
was
That to the offringbifore hir sholde goon ;
was
she,
if ther dide,certeyn, so wrooth
And

Of

she

That
Hir

was^

That

on

E. Hn.

Pt. Rufus

HI.

Cm.

of alle charitee.
^

of ground ;
fyne were
swere
they weyeden ten pound
a
Sonday were* upon hir heed.

coverchiefs

I dorste

out

ful

drogges; Cp.

450

Pt. Ln,

Rufijs; Hn.
; Cm.
thanne.
inserts

Cp.

drugges;
Ln.

HI.

HI.

Rusus
*

E.

dragges.
; E.

weren.

Risus.

455

[group a)

i8
Ful

looth

But

rather wolde

Un-to

Of
He

Wyd
In

of

out

yeven,

tythes,

doute,

parisshensaboute
eek

of his substaunce.

lafte nat, for reyn

ne

in meschief

nor

ferreste in his

Up-on

for his^

cursen

thinghan- suffisaunce.
and houses fer a-sonder,
parisshe,

his

siknes^

The

prologue.

in Htel

was

he

to

he

and
offring,

coude

But

him

were

his povre

his

the

his

This

noble

That

first^ he

thonder,

ne

visyte

to

moche
parisshe,

feet,and

in his hand

ensample

his

to

he

afterward

wordes

495

yaf,
^

he

taughte
;

of the

And

figurehe added eek ther-to,

if gold ruste, what shal yren do?
whom
if a preest be foul,on
we
truste,
wonder

And

shame

lewed

is

it

is,if^

to

man

ruste;

clene

sheep.
Wei
oghte a preest ensample for to yive^,
By his clennesse,how that his sheep shold live.
He
his benefice to hyre,
sette
nat
in the myre,
And
leet his sheep encombred
And
to London, un-to
ran
seynt"Poules,
seken him a chaunterie^^ for soules,
To
Or
But
So

1
^

5
"
8
'"
12

with

bretherhed

dwelte^^

at

ne

been

to

hoom, and

that the wolf

500

preest take keep,

shepherdeand
[spotted]

caughte;

this

That

No

tho

lyte,

Out

For

gospel he

and

staf

sheep

wroghte, and

490

made

withholde

kepte^^wel
it nat

505

510

his

folde,

miscarie;

Pt. han ; E. Hn. Cp. haue.

E. Hn. muche.
HI. Cp. moche;
E. siknesse.
'
^
E. firste.
E. ins. that {by mistake).
Tyrvvhittins. that.
^
HI. Cp. seynte.
HI. 5iue ; E. yeue.
"
E. dwelleth ; rest dwelte.
HI. chaunterie ; E. chauntrie.

", hise.

HI.

Cm.

E.

keepeth ;

Ln.

keped

; rest

kepte.

[group a)

prologue.

the

shepherdeand
though he holy were,

He
And

no

was

19

mercenarie.

and

vertuous,

515

despitous,
Ne of his speche daungerousne digne,
But in his techingdiscreet and benigne.
folk to heven by fairnesse
drawen
To
:
By good ensample,this was his bisynesse
He

to

was

But

it

What

he

he

wolde

He

wayted ^

Ne

maked

But

Cristes

With

him

sharplyfor

snibben

him

no

520

estat,

the

that nowher

trowe

after

and

pompe

*.

nones

non

is.

reverence,

525

spyced conscience,
lore,and his apostlestwelve.
a

first he

taughte,but

He

"

persone obstinat.
of heigh or lowe
were,

bettre preest, I

nat

man

any

were

so

Him

sinful

ther

was

folwed

it him-selve.

Plowman,

his

was

y-lad of dong ful many a

swinkere and a good was
A trewe
he,
Livingein pees and parfitcharitee.
That

hadde

God

loved he

best with

brother,
fother,
530

al his hole herte

thogh him ^ gamed or smerte,

thanne his neighebourrightas him-selve.
And
535
and ther-to dyke and delve,
He wolde thresshe,
For Cristes sake,for^ every povre wight,
Withouten hyre,if it lay in his might.
His tythespayed he ful faire and wel,

At

alle tymes,

of his propre

Bothe
In

tabard

he

^"

rood

and

swink
upon

his catel.

mere.

HI.

HI. to senful man

nought; rest nat to sinful
Hn. lowe ; E. lough.

^
'
^

no

; rest not

a.

E. waiteth ; rest waited,wayted.

E. Pt. Ln. he ; rest him.

Cp. Pt.

540

payed ; Cm.

HI.

payede; E. Hn.
C

man.
*

E. nonys.
j^jsg

"

"

Hn. HI. with.

payde.

^'^

HI.

owne.

[group a.)

20

Ther

also

was

Reve

and

prologue.

the

and

Pardoner

also,

Somnour

Maunciple,and my-self;ther
The

Ful

Miller

big

he

was

proved wel, for

That

He

Or

breke

His

berd

it,at
as

A
His

and

mouth

greet

bar

it

spade.

were

he

hade

tuft ^ of heres

sowes

eres^;
by

^,

was

And
Wel
And

langlereand

whyt cote
baggepype

And

weF

therwithal

his

syde ;

greet forneys.

he

For

hood
he

coude

broghte us
was

wered

blowe

and

sowne,

noolde ; E.

ther of

temple,
exemple
a

Cp. HI.

^
E. herys,erys.
E. toft ; Ln. tofte ; rest tuft.
HI.
Hn. bristles ; E. brustles ; Pt. brysteles
;
Cp. beistles.
'
^
HI. oui.
HI. wyde ; rest greet,gret.
All but Cp. hts. a.

*
*
*

E. Hn.

wheither.

570

wolde.

*
'

ne

565

of towne.

out

achatours

nolde ; Hn.

560

he.

mighte take
in bying of vitaille.
to be wyse
that he payde, or took by taille,
whether*

which

For

blew

gentilMaunciple

Of

and

555

wyde.

and

as

was

reed,

he

550

his heed.

nose

were

bokeler

as

harre,

goHardeys,
of sinne and harlotryes.
that was
most
he stelen corn, and tollen thryes
coude
;
of gold,pardee.
yet he hadde a thombe

He

his

stood

nose-thirles blake
swerd

right of

of

heve

was

though

as

the bristles* of

as

His

fox

or

ther-on

werte, and

Reed

sowe

brood,

the cop

nolde

renning,with

any

ther-to

Up-on
A

cam,

have

that he

dore

no

nas

And

545

alwey the ram.

short-sholdred,
brood, a thikke knarre,

was

Ther

nones,

bones;

ther he

over-al

wolde

wrastlinghe

At

of

eek

braun, and

of

was

namo.

were

carl,for the

stout

Millere,

wel.

{group a.)
Algate

wayted

That

he

Now

is

That

swich

The
Of

was

lewed

of

maistres

hadde
^

were

of lawe

Worthy

to

been

Of

lord that is in

any

make^

To

than

were

stiwardes

him

of

in that

Hve

Or

scarslyas

able for

And
In
And

yit this

The

Reve

was

was

shave

His

heer

was

by

His

top

Ful

longe

Wei

Wei

were

as

his

eres

colerik man,

as

ny
^

585

he

ever

round

can.

y-shorn.

he
noon

lyk a preest biforn.

legges,and ful lene,

his

staf,ther

was

wood,

dokked^"

was

coude

Ther

good,

Hst desire ;

sclendre

herd

him

580

to

His

Y-lyk

lond

helpen al a shire
that mighte falle or happe ;
maunciple sette hir aller cappe.

cas

any

hous,

Engelond,

In honour
as

and

rente

by his propre
but'^ he were
dettelees,

hve

575

curious ;

doseyn ^

men

thryes ten,

expert and

ther

which

of lerned

mo

Of

^.

stat

shal pace

wit

mannes

he

good

ful fair grace,

heep

an

in

21

in his achat

so

that of God

nat

prologue.

biforn and

ay

wisdom

That

was

kepe

calf y-sene.

no
a

gerner

auditour

590

and

coude

binne ;

on^^

him

winne.

The

he, by the droghte,and by the reyn,

yeldyng of his seed, and of his greyn.

His

lordes

His

swyn,

Was

he

the

wiste

sheep,his
his

hoollyin

E. Achaat.

'"'

Cm.

'^

Cm.

All but HI. Ln.

neet, his

dayerye.

hors, his stoor, and

this

E. staat.

ins. ful.

his

pultrye,

governing.

reves

doseyn ; E. dnszeyne.
but ; Cp. Pt. but if that

595

E.

; 7-est but
^^

weren.

if.

E. doked.

E. whiche.

E. maken.

E. Hn.

caas,

E.

rest

"

of;

on.

{group a.)

22

And

that his lord

Sin

coude

Ther

nas

ne

knew

woning

He
Ful
His
To
And
In

This

reve

That

was

long

605

heeth,

an

his

syde he

his

by

And

That

^^

hadde

with

was,

and

was,

HI. fair ; E. faire.

E. Hn. shadwed
; HI. i-schadewed

So Hn.
E. baar.

telle,

; j-est ne.

eyen

HI.

route.

our

in that

place,

face,
625

narwe.
a

they.
Cm.

620

sparwe,

E. Cm.

I-schadewid

ojn.

ne.

Cp. Pt.

schadowed.

; Ln.
owne

us

of

as
[chirped]

E. Hn.

nor

of which

ther with

Pt.

hade,

rusty blade.

the hindreste

was

he

[And quik]he
Cp.

he

fyr-reedcherubinnes

sawceflem

For

as

rood

he

SoMNOUR

610

615

clepenBaldeswelle.
is a frere,aboute,

men

was,

evere

bar"

this reve,

was

toun

he

Tukked

was

of pers up-on

surcote

Bisyde a

deeth.

good wrighte,a carpenter.

ful good stot,
sat up-on
a
al pomely grey, and highteScot.

Northfolk

Of

HI.

wel

was

And

""'

hyne,
his covyne

and
sleighte
him, as of the

shadwed^

trees

grene

He

shadewed

place.
coude bettre than his lord purchace.
astored prively,
riche he was
he plesensubtilly,
lord wel coude
good,
yeve and lene him of his owne^
have a thank, and"^ yet a cote^,and hood.
youthe he lerned hadde^ a good mister ^*^;

With

other

ful fair* up-on

was

600

in arrerage.

his

of

adrad

were

of age

yeer

man

no

he

His

"

twenty

was

rekening,

They

the

bringe him
ne
herde, ne
baillif,

Ther

That

c^

yaf

his covenaunt

by

prologue.

the

; E.

owene.

HI. ; E. and
^^

E.

rest hadde

Cp. Pt. Somnour;

and.
lerned.

07?i.

HI. sompnour

**

E. gowne
^^

Cp.

; E. Hn.

; rest coie.
mester.

HI.

Somonour.

[group a.)

visage children

his

Ther

Wei

loved

And

for

fewe

That

termes

eek

Can

clepen Watte,' as

But

who-so

hadde

'

Ay
He

was

felawe

good

twelf-month, and

And

privelya

And

if he

In

wolde
swich

But-if
For

and

to

techen

thre,

or

in his purs

E. Hn. Cm. scaled.

E. the ; rest his.

lay
the pope.

can

he

grope,

his

[wikkedsin]

coude

owher

him

to

he

crye.

kynde ;
noght fynde.

him

excuse

soule

645

atte

he

have

were

sholde
^
*

650

fulle:

pulle.

good felawe,
non

of the erchedeknes*

mannes

640

quart of wyn

finch eek

fond

cas,

men

wood.

Latyn.

but

thing him

wolde

have

He

sholde

suffre for

wolde

'

gentilharlot

felawe

bettre

He

iuris

635

the wyn,

hadde

that
as

were

;
spent al his philosophye

he

Questio quid

he

as

day;

in other

coude

blood.

as

it al the

well

'

Thanne

ye

lekes,

decree ;

wel, how

knowen

And

eek

som

of

out

chekes.

reed

dronken

herde

is,he

wonder

No

wel

lerned

had

he

byte.
whelkes
whyte,

crye

speke no word
hadde
he, two

he

wolde

Than

and

strong wyn,

that he

630

noon,

dense

speke,and

he

wolde

whan

And

that wolde

drinken

to

Thanne

tartre

mighte helpen of his ^

his
knobbes
on
sittinge
he garleek,
oynons, and

him

of the

Ne

piledherd;

aferd.

were

oille of

ne

oynement

That

23

ne
brimstoon^,
litarge,
quik-silver,

nas

Boras, ceruce,
Ne

prologue.-

blake, and

scalled^ browes

With
Of

the

awe,

655

curs,

in his purs;

be.
y-punisshed

Cp. Pt. bremston.

Cp. erche- ; E. erce-

; HI. arche-.

{group a)

H4

Of

cursingoghte

For

curs

wol

slee

war

him

also

And

daunger

In

The

yonge

And

knew

saveth^
rightas assoilling
of a significavit.
he

greet

bokeler^

it

as

That

was
streight

This

somnour

Was

nevere

and

trompe

heed,

of

cake.

his compeer,

fro the

comen

670

of Rome.

court

me.'

hider,love,to

him

to

665

gentilPardoner

frend

bar

his

him

'
song ", Com

he

loude

Ful

gyse

ale-stake;

an

maad

ther rood

"

al hir reed.

was

up-on

for
he

660

"

diocyse,

set

were

Rouncivale,his

Of

the

he

hadde

him

his owne^

at

counseil,and

hir

drede

him^

gulty man

girlesof

As

With

ech

hadde

gerlandhadde

helle/seyde he.

lyed rightin dede;

he

I woot

wel

But

prologue.

is the erchedeknes

Purs

'

the

of half

stif burdoun,
so

greet

soun.

pardonerhadde heer as yelow as wex,

But smothe
it heng'^,as doth a strike of flex;
henge his ^ lokkes that he hadde,
By ounces
ther-with he his ^ shuldres overspradde
And
;
and oon;
But thinne it lay,by colponsoon
he noon,
But hood, for lolitee,
ne^ wered

This

For

it

trussed up

was

675

680

in his walet.

let ;
thoughte,he rood al of the newe
his cappe, he rood al bare.
Dischevele ^^,save
Swiche
glaringeeyen hadde he as an hare.
Him

vernicle hadde

His
*
^

Cp.
HI.

"'"'

E.

*
^^

; E.

owne
was

; rest

E. hise.
HI,

; HI,

Cp.

Pt. to ; rest

on

om.
""

rood, rode,
HI.

; rest vp

ne

685

lappe,

HI. saveth

; E. sauith.

E. bokeleer.
''

E. soong.
; rest omit.
^^

on.

his cappe.

in his

him

owene.

on^^

sowed

lay^^biforn

walet

Ln. him

he

HI.

^^

E,

heeng.

E, Discheuelee.

lay; which

the rest omit.

[group a)

26

prologue.

the

assembled

that

Why

this

was

eek

and

Thestat\ tharray,the nombre,

the

cause

compaignye

vSouthwerk,at^ this gentilhostelrye,

In

faste

highte the Tabard,

That
But

is

now

to

tyme

the Belle.

by

for to telle

yow

720

that ilke

night,
in that hostelrye
Whan
we
were
alight.
after wol I telle of our
And
viage,
of our^ pilgrimage.
And
al the remenaunt
of your* curteisye,
But first I pray yow
That ye narette^ it nat my
vileinye,
Thogh that I pleynlyspeke in this matere,
and hir chere;
hir wordes
telle yow
To
Ne thogh I speke hir wordes
proprely.
that

How

us

al-so wel

this ye knowen

For

shal telle

Who-so
He

word, if it be

rudeliche

Or

feyne thing,or fynde wordes

nat
spare, al-thoghhe
may
moot

Crist

spak

wel

And

wel

Eek

Plato

The

wordes

mote

Also

I prey

yow

Al

have

Here

woot,

nat

in this

be

another.

holy writ,
it.

can

7^0

him

rede.

the dede.

to

foryeveit me,
folk in hir degree

to

set

tale,as

that

they

Thescaat ; E. The

E.

^
E. youre ; HUyour.
E. or ; HI. ne ; rest and.

as

in

cosin

his brother;

were
as

that'^

735

newe.

vileinyeis

no

seith,who-so

Thestat ; Hn.

HI.

word

seye

him-self ful brode

ye

large;

telle his tale untrewe,

moot

as

and

elles he

so

can,

charge,

in his

Or

He

he

evere

speke he

never

730

man,

Al

He

"

as

ny

725

I,

as

tale after

reherce, as

moot

Everich

baren

we

; rest at.

'*

E. Hn.

E.

staat ; Cm.

oure

{Initour

stonde ;

Cp.

The

in 1.

narette

745

estat.

723).

; Cp. Pt. HI.

that.
All but HI. om.

Cm.
^

sholde

ne

rette.

[group a.)
short,ye

is

wit

My

the soper

And

to

And

served

For

anon

us

wel

and
'^

hoste

our

man

been

marshal

in

eyen

burgeys was

ther

noon

fairer

he

speche,and

Bold

of his

And

of manhod

Eek

therto he

And

after soper

wys,

lakkede^

him

beste.

drinke

leste. 750

us

with-alle

was

with

large man

to

was

everichon,

us

with vitaille at the

us

han^

to

he

sette

the wyn,

Strong was
A semely

hoste

our

27

understonde.

wel

may

chere* made

Greet

prologue.

the

halle;

an

stepe,

Chepe:
and wel y-taught,
rightnaught.
in

righta mery man,

pleyen he bigan,

was

othere

thinges,
maad
hadde
our
Whan
that we
rekeninges;
And
trewely
seyde thus: 'Now^ lordinges,
Ye ben to me
hertely:
rightwelcome
For by my
trouthe,if that I shal nat lye,
I ne
saugh*^this yeer so mery'^ a compaignye
spak

And

At

Fayn

of

To

doon

blisful martir

And

wel

yow

as

To

ryde by

Cm.

HI.

HI.

ye

the weye

therfore wol
"^

HI.

goon

talen and

to

trewely,confort

E. chiere.

it shal

quyte yow

For

And
1

I woot,

shapen

mirthe, wiste I how.

bithoght.
coste
noght.

Caunterbury; God

to

goon

and

ne

mede.

770

the weye,

by

pleye;

to

doumb

spede,

yow

your

mirthe

I maken
ooste

760

765

now.

rightnow

am

ese,

yow

is

as

yow

mirthe

The

Ye

amonges

I doon

wolde

And

Ye

of mirthe

in this herber-we

ones

755

is

noon

a^

as

stoon;

disport,

yow

; E. boost.
^

HI.

HI. han

; rest om.

lo.

Cp. lakkede ; E. lakked.

ne
saugh ; rest saugh nat (seighnot, "c.).
E. the ;
Cm.
mery ; E. myrie.
'

775

Hn.

om

; rest

a.

[group a)

28
As
And

lykethalle,by

if yow

Now^

werken

for to

Now, by
^

Hold

up

And
And

seye,

the weye,

nat

was

him

speche.*

more

is the poynt, to
of yow,

ech

to

'

aventures

that

which

of yow

And

is to

That

han

that

Whan

for to

I wol

with

om.

two,
795

of

alle,

that telleth in this cas^

and

at

our

Now.

',

aller cost

the

this post,

fro

agayn
yow

solas

most

800

Caunterbury.

more

my-selvengladly" with

All hut HI.

790

weye,

best

him

that bereth

come

make

our

pleyn,

bifalle.

han

by
place,sitting

we

for the beste ;

it so,

mene

whylom

soper

in this

Here

And

leste.

and

speken short

of best sentence

Tales
Shal

seyn,

him

shal tellen othere

he

hom-ward

And

785

desdeyn;

in

shorte

it wys,

avys,

herkneth

now

yow,

I
Caunterbury-ward,

To

make

to

telle tales tweye.

viage,shal

this

seche ;

his verdit^,as

seye

heed.

myn

yow

for to

longe

780

deed,
*

yeve

withoute

tak"^ it not, I prey

That

mery

ryde,

yow

'

E. But

HI.

^",

if; rest But.

'

smytethof.

HI.

HI. merye

Cp.verdit;Pt.veredit; Hl.Ln.verdite; Cm.verdoit; E.Hn.voirdit.

'

E. taak ; Ln. tak ;

E. caas, solaas.

^
"

lugement,

I shal yow

quod he,
Lordinges,'

This

bond,

your

bad

But

Of

assent,

thoughteit was^ noght worth

grauntedhim with-outen more

Us

In

oon

my

^, I wol

merye

counseil

Our

som

ryden by

ye

confort.

yow

fader soule, that is

my
be

ye

at

as

whan

To-morwe,

'

stonden

for to

And

But

doon

seyde erst, and

prologue.

the

HI.

; E.

myrie.
Cp.

Pt. take ; HI.

myseluengladly;E.

'"

my

"

taketh.
E. Hn.

self goodly.

Cp.

mury.

nas.

HI. ther.

{group a.)
Right at
And

who-so

Shal

paye

al that

And

if ye

vouche-sauf

Tel

me

woP

be

29

that it be

so,

wordes

mo.

therfore.'

me

With

thing was
graunted,and our
ful glad herte,and preyden him

That

he

othes

This

And

that he

And

of

And

sette

And

we

In

tales

our
a

heigh and

We

roos

And
And
Un-to
And
And

his

at

devys,

thus, by

his

oon

assent,

lugement.
fet

was

wyn
reste

anoon

echoon,

wente

820

that^

springe^,
aller'^ cok,
a
flok.

day bigan
was

our

to

825

'

woot

Lat

se

your

E. wole

HI.

HI.

forward
and

mote

{but wol

^, and

^"

it yow

recorde.

acorde,

morwe-song

830

shal telle the firste tale ".

who

now

evere

815

gadrede us togidre,alle in
than pas-,
forth we
riden,a litel more
the watering of seint Thomas.
there our
host bigan his hors areste.
seyde; Lordinges,herkneth if yow leste.

If even-song

^^

been

host, and

our

reportour,

certeyn prys;

; and

to

so,

lenger taryinge.

any
whan

A-morwe,

Ye

810

also

do

to

swore

governour.

our

and

to

dronken, and

With-outen

'

lowe

ther-up-onthe

We

Up

at

reuled

acorded

been

And

As

been

luge

soper

wold

for

vouche-sauf

wolde

805

the weye.

spenden by

we

erly shape

wold^

gyde.

your

lugement withseye

my

with-outen

anon,

I wol

And

prologue.

cost, and

owne

myn

the

I drinke

wyn

or

E. would.
wil.
y^o\,
wiln,
rest
wolen,

in 1. 809).

wolde; Pt. wold;

lowe ; E. lough.

ale,

^
^

So E. Hn.

; HI.

that the ; rest the.

E. gan for to sprynge.

HI. althur ; Cp. alther ; Pt. Ln. alder.
'"
^
E. paas.
I.
E. foreward {badly).
E- Hn. onu
HI. ferst

tale.

(group A.)

30
Who-so
Shal

dravveth

Sire

Cometh

And

we

my

and

lady prioresse
;
shamfastnesse '^j

'

my

Were
The

sothe

And

telle he
forward

As

ye

And

cut

and

this

that wys

goode

nedeth

knight,
every wight;

845

resoun,

wordes

saugh^ it

man

and

was

'

the

glad was
his tale,as was
by composicioun,

herd ; what

whan

fil to

blytheand
moste

han

he

As

this,the

is
ful

By

840

noght; ley hond to, every man/

drawen
every wight bigan,

to

which

lord,

my

acord.

shortlyfor to tellen,as it was,

it by aventure, or sort, or cas.

Of

835

biginne/

shal

maister

'

clerk,lat be your

studieth
Anon

spent.
ferrer twinne;

the shortest^

neer/ quod he,

ye, sir

Ne

is

cut, for that is myn

draweth

And

that

knight/ quod he,

Now

the weye

by

er

that hath

which

He

cut,

lugement

my

for al that

paye

Now

'

rebel to

be

PROLOGUE.

THE

mo
was

850

so,

obedient

To

kepe his forward^ by his free assent,

He
seyde : Sin I shal biginne the game.
be the " cut, a Goddes
What, welcome
name
'

Now

lat

And
And

with

herkneth

that word

riden

we

what
forth

seye/
our

weye

855
;

he

bigan with righta mery^ chere

and seyde in this manere.
tale anon,

His
Heere

ryde,and

us

endith

bigynneth

the
the

of

prolog
first

tale

this

which

book
is the

; and

heere

Knyghte[s]

Tale.
'

E. Hn.

'

E. foreward

HI. thou.

Colophon

shorteste.

[badly').

All

E. shamefastnesse.
insert that
*

from MS.

Sloane

Cm.

1685.

mery

aftersaugh (^needlessly).
; E. myrie.

THE

KNIGHTES

TALE.

II.859-3108

(Group A,

in the Six-text

edition.)

patrias^Scithice post aspera gentis

^c.
laurigerOy
Theb. xii. 519.]
[Statius,

lamqtie domos
Prelia

Whylom,
Ther

was

And

he

gretter

Ful

He

with

ther

whylom

And

broghte hir
eek

And

thus

Lete

I this noble

And

al his

Cp.

HI.

han

weddede

suster

duk

hoost, in

; Cm.

chivalrye

him

10

in his contree

greet solempnitee,

victorie and

told

Ipolita,

with

hoom

certes, if it

I wolde

wonne

of

regne

queen

hir yonge

with

his

sonne.

Femenye,
y-clepedScithia;

the

And

And

and

the

he

hadde

glorie and

muchel

governour,

under

contree

was
^

(860)

conquerour,

noon

al the

weddede

and
a

his wisdom

And

With

swich

was

conquered

That

highte Theseus

lord

was

riche

many

That

that

his tyme

in

That

stories tellen us,

duk

Athenes

Of

olde

as

to

nere

Emelye.
with melodye

Athenes
him

armes

to

long

yow^ fullythe
weddide

(870)

ryde,

15

bisyde.
to

here,

manere,

; the rest wedded.

E. faire ; Pt. yenge

; the rest yonge.
HI. han told yow ; E. yow
haue toold

; the rest haue

toold(told).

[group A.)

32
How

wonnen

and

By Theseus,

Femenye
chivalrye
;

his

by

of the grete bataille for the

And

Athenes

Bitwixen
how

The

faire

And

of the feste that

And

of the tempest

But

have, God

woot,

And

wayke

The

remenant

I wol
Lat

every

And

lat

And

ther I

This
When

see

He

was

Wher

plough,
long ynough;

shal the soper

wol

almost
in his

and
he

caste

that ther kneled

cry

and

That

in this world

That

herde

And
Til

of this cry

they

'What
Perturben
^
^
3

swich

35

pryde,
eye asyde,
hye weye

moste

his

in the

swich

nis

winne,

the toun,

unto

compaignye of ladies,tweye
Ech after other,clad in clothes
swich

(890)

mencioun,

But

30

biginne.

ageyn

I make

of whom

as

ere,

of^ this route,

noon

come

war,

to

in my

oxen

who

al his wele

In

25

forbere.

now

large feeld

I
lefte,

was

hir

telle his tale aboute,

now

duk,
he

as

of the tale is

felawe

(880)

weddinge,
hoom-cominge ;

hir

moot

letten eek

nat

Amazones

at

was

the

been

nones

of Scithia ;

at

thing I

20

IpoHta,

assegedwas
hardy queen

al that

the

and

And

of

the regne

was

TALE.

KNIGHTES

THE

and

wo

creature

another

they nolde

tweye,

40

blake ;

(900)

they make,
livinge,

weymentinge ;
nevere

stenten,

45

brydelhenten.
folk been
hoom-cominge
ye, that at myn
feste with cryinge?
so
my

the

reynes

of his

'

the ; which
the MSS.
omit.
of al ; the rest have letten,and
HI. lette eek non

Tyrwhitthas
E.

o?n.

hye

; the rest

omit

hye, heighe,hihe,highe,high.

al.

[group a.)

34

And

lay.
Creon, weylaway !
the citee,
of Thebes
ther-aboute

that the sege

Whyl

yet

the olde

lord is

That

now

tale.

knightes

the

80

of

Fulfild of ire and

iniquitee,
He, for despyt,and for his tirannye,
To
do the dede bodyes vileinye,
Of alle our
lordes,whiche that ben slawe,
Hath^

alle the
wol

And

Neither

maketh

And

with

Have

lat

And

This

whan
pitous,^

herte

With

doun

gentilduk

som

wommen

in

sinken

sorwe

our

respyt,

more

his

sterte

courser

hem

herde

he

speke.

And
And

hem

And

swoor

his

wolde

doon

Whan
That

He

Upon

in ful

conforteth

the tyraunt Creon

That

al the

peple of

How

Creon

was

he

As
And
His
To

that hadde

entente

Grece

of Theseus
his deth

100

trewe

was

hem

95

knight.
his might
ferforthly
he

oth, as
so

good

(950)

herte/

thyn

from

mercy,

thoughtethat his herte wolde breke,

he saugh hem
so
pilous and so mat^
of so greet estate
whylom weren
alle up hente.
he hem
in his armes

Him

90

cryden pitously,

wrecched

us

despyt/

in

that word, with-outen

on

assent,

noon

y-brent,

hem

ete

fillen gruf,and

They
'

houndes

85

heep y-drawe,

an

y-buried nor

been

to

on

hem, by

suffren

nat

But

bodyes

(940)

to

(960)

wreke.

speke

sholde

y-served,
ful wel

deserved.

with-outen
abood,
more
rightanoon,
and forth rood
baner he desplayeth,
Thebes-ward, and al his host bisyde;

All

E. maat, estaat.

but HI. ins.

'^

now.

E. He

hath ; rest Hath.

105

{group a)
neer

Ne

take his

sente

And

Emelye

forth he

The

alle the

Of

dwelle;
to

115

telle.

with spere and

whyte baner large,

feeldes gliteren
up and doun;
his penoun
ther

y-bete

was

sloughin

that he

which

120

(980)

Crete.

The

Minotaur

Thus

thus rit this conquerour,

the flour,
in his host of chivalrye

And

targe

his

by his baner born is

gold ful riche,in which
rit this

(970)

shene,

namore

of Mars

statue

shynethin

That
And

rede

is

rit;ther

no

quene,

hir yonge
suster
of Athenes
the toun
to

Un-to

So

the
Ipolita

anoon

rjde,

ne

day,
nighthe lay;

that

his wey

on

And

And

fullyhalf

ese

But onward

he go

wolde

Athenes

No

Q^e^

tale.

KNIGHTES

the

duk,

and

alighte
ther as he thoughtefighte.
Faire in a feeld,
for to speken of this thing,
But shortly
of Thebes
With Creon, which that was
king,
and sloughhim manly as a knight
He faught,
and putte the folk to flight
In pleyn bataille,
;
Til that he

And

by

And

rente

And

to

The

bones

To
But

cam

assaut

the

to

he

Thebes,

wan

bothe

adoun

ladyeshe

after,

wal, and

sparre, and

that

of hir housbondes

grete clamour

and

(991)

were

135

devyse
the waymentinge
at the brenninge

for

HI. Which
D

slayn,

tho the gyse.

to

ladyesmade
Of the bodyes,and the grete honour
That Theseus, the noble conquerour,
whan
Doth to the ladyes,
they from
That^

the

was

130

rafter;

restored agayn

as
dopn obsequies,
al to long
it were

The

the citee

125

that.

140

him

wente;

3^
But

{group a.)

the

shortlyfor

telle is myn

Whan

to

that this

Hath

Stille in that feeld he

took

And

contree

dide

To

with

ransake
for to

Hem
The

al the

Theseus,

Thebes

al

the

And

bifel,that

so

of

wede^

cure,

disconfiture.

in

the

tas

thei

150

founde,

Thurgh-girtwith many a grevous blody wounde,

Two
knightesliggingby and by,
yonge
Bothe in oon
wroght ful richely
armes,
;
Of whiche
two, Arcita hight^that oon,
And
that other knight hight^ Palamon.
Nat fullyquike,ne
fullydede they were,
But by hir cote-armures, and by hir gere,
The
heraudes
knewe
hem
best in special.
As they that weren
of the blood roial
Of

Thebes, and

of sustren

Out

of the tas^ the

And

han

Of

hem

Theseus,

To

and

Athene's^,to

ful sone*

dwellen

nolde

And

worthy

whan
took

With
And

this
his

laurer

there he

.Terme

of

hem

E. Hn.

E. of the; Hn. Cm.

E. ful soone
he.

taas ; HI.

cas

duk

HI.

165

hath

thus

y-don.

he

rood

anon

conquerour;
in honour

wordes

Cp. Pt.'Ln. caas

""

of.
''

sente

raunsoun.

loye and
his*^ lyf; what nedeth

160

(1020)

torn,

prisoun

hoom
as

155

the tente

liveth in

Cm.

in

no

host, and
crowned

hem

softe un-to

he
Perpetuelly,

He

he

(loio)

y-born.

two

pilourshan

caried

145

bodyes dede.

strepe of barneys and

bataille and

reste,

leste.

him

as

piloursdiden bisynesseand

After

thus,

night his

the tas^ of-

in

(looo)

entente.

this

worthy duk,
slayn,and wonne

Creon

tale.

knightes

Tathenes

for.

HI.

; read

170

mo?

\.7l%.

hight; E. highte.
^

E. Cm.

07n.

his.

{group

a)

the

And

in

This

Palamon, and

For

in

Emelye, that
fressher than

And

with

For

I noot

the

which

it

She

was

For

May

arisen,and
wol

al

have

And

maketh

And

seith,'Arys, and

This

maked

Y-clothed

him

honour

to

she

was

"

to

wone

two

180
"

(1040)

do,

gentilherte,

185

of his

out

Emelye

newe

strof hir he we,

prikethevery

sesoun

doon

floures

redy dight;
^
anight.
slogardye

no

The

To

stalke grene,
with

hir

was

175

sene

the fairer^ of hem

day, as

were

to

May

colour

was

(1030)

Arcite,

was

his

the

rose

in wo,

no

fairer

is the lilie vpon

Than

^y

gold hem quyte.

by yeer, and day by day,
of May,
morwe

passethyeer

Til it fil ones,

Er

his felawe

ther may

everemore,

That

tale.

tour, in angwish and

This

knightes

sleepto sterte.
thyn observaunce/

do
have

remembraunce

May,

and

fresh,for

for

to

to

ryse.

devyse;

190

broyded^ in a tresse,
yelow heer was
Bihynde hir bak, a yerde long,I gesse.
in the gardin,at the sonne
And
up-riste.
Hir

walketh

She
She
To
And

grete tour, that

Which

of the castel

(Ther

*
^

doun, and

as

hir Hste

as

the
'"*

was
was

so

and
tl;iikke

the chief

knightesweren

in

195

strong,

dongeoun,

prisoun,

200

fyner; Cm. fynere; Hn. Cp. Pt. fairer.

slogardye(sloggardye,
slnggardie).
E. Hn. Cm.
Cp. broyded ; Pt. breided ; Ln. HI. browded.
subtil ; Pt. subtile ; HI. certeyn.
Ln. sotil : Cp. sotyl
; E. Hn. Cm.
heueneliche ; E. Hn. Cp. Ln. heuenysshly.
HI. Pt. heuenly; Cm.
HI.

E.

"

and

gaderethfloures,party whyte and rede,

hir hede,
make
sotiP gerland foi;
a
as
an
aungel hevenly^ she song.

The

up

(1050)

on

hire.

slogardrie
; rest

E. HI,

{group a)

38

the

knightes

Of

which

I tolde yow,

In

which

he

al the noble

the

gardin,ful

and

tale.

tellen

shal)
Was
evene
loynant to the gardin-wal,
(1060)
this Emelye hadde
Ther
hir pleyinge.
as
Brightwas the sonne, and cleer that morweninge,
And
Palamon, this woful prisoner,
205
his wone,
As was
by leve of his gayler,
Was
on^ heigh,
risen,and romed in a chambre
eek

And
Ther

this fresshe

as

Was

in hir

citee

of braunches

grene,

the shene

Emelye

walk, and

seigh,

romed

doun.

and

up

210

this Palamoun,
prisoner,
(1070)
Goth in the chambre, roming to and fro,
And
to him-self compleyning of his wo;
That
he was
born, ful ofte he seyde,'alas!'
215
And
so
bifel,by aventure
or
cas,
barre
That thurgh a window, thikke of many
a
sorweful

This

Of

greet, and

iren

He
And
As

caste

his eye

And

seyde,

that cry
'

Cosin

That

art

Why

crydestow?
Goddes

Our

prisoun,for

Fortune

myn,

what

who

it may
us

yeven

eyleththee,
to

thee

hath
in
non

see

doon

So

stood

the heven
*

offence?

225

pacience
other

be;

this adversitee.

disposicioun
Of Saturne,by sum
constellacioun,
Hath
hadde
yeven us this,al-thoughwe
aspect

(1080)

up-sterte,

deedly on

love, tak al

hath

wikke

anon

220

the herte.

un-to

were

Arcite

pale and

so

For

Som

bleynte,and cryde 'a!'

though he stongen
with

sparre,

any

Emelya,

upon

ther-with-al he

And

as

square

or

whan

1^1,on

that
; E. an.

we

were

230

it

sworn

born ;

(1090)

{group a.)
We

'

Palamon

hast

Thou

But

answerde, and

of

cause

Venus

And

seyde:

Yow

in this

on

Venus,

'

of this prisoun help that

And

if

By

eterne

Of

our

That

Hnage
is

Arcite

lady romed
that sightehir

is hurt

with

And
The

And

I have

E.

Cm.

Pt. ye ; Hn.

Cm.

whel)er; HI.

E.

om.

250

prisoun,

(mo)

espye
fro.

and

wounded

he,

as

255

hurte

beautee

sleeth
in the

hir mercy

it ; the rest retain

om.
"wrongly

scapen.

may

or

him

so,

sore,
more.

:
sigh he seyde pitously

fresshe beautee

but

we

gan

to

was

moche

as

hir that rometh

Of

Arcite

if that Palamon

That

245

som

this

with

fil,

shapen

be

in

dyen

he

compassioun,
y-broghtby tirannye.'

have

that word

with

And

to

lowe

so

destinee

my

word

Wher-as

'

be

goddesse;

creature.

Out

so

(iioo)

wo.

thy wil
transfigure,

sorweful wrecche

me

fro,

my

doun*

to

240

gesse/

if it be

gardin thus

see

or

knees

ye^

be.

and

womman

as
it,sothly,

is

ther-with-al

Bifore

that I

lady

she be

And

And

ageyn,
235

bane

my

to
gardin romen
al my
crying and

wher^

noot

But

seyde

pleyn.'

imaginacioun.

veyn

herte,that wol

in the

Yond

39

this is the short and

fairnesse of that

The

tale.

prisoncaused me nat for to crye.

hurt rightnow
I was
thurgh-outmyn

In-to myn

Is

knightes

sothe, of this opinioun

for

Cosyn,

This

it^

endure

moste

This

the

was.

K. eye.
*

HI.

Cp.

260

(1120)

hir grace,

and

it.

lye; Cp. yhe ;

whethur.

sodeynly
yonder place;
me

doun.

{group

40

I may

That
I

a.)

deed

but

nam

nis'^

; ther

he

Palamon, whan

This

leste weye,

hir atte

seen

tale.

knightes

the

to

more

no

tho wordes

he loked, and
Dispitbusly

answerde

seye/
herde,

in

pley?
Nay/ quod Arcite, in ernest, by my fey!
God
help me so, me list ful evele pleye/
^

Whether

'

this in ernest

seistow

265

or

'

'

This
'

Palamon

nere,'quod he,

It

For

me,

that

Y-sworn

ful

To

That

of

Ne

in

But
In

in love

us

other

non

I wot
Thus

artow^

And

now

thou

other,

thee.

280

withseyn.

darst it nat

woldest

me

also, certeyn;

myn

counseil,out

of my

tweyne,

us

trewely forthren

and

was

275

peyne,

I shal forthren

and
cas;':

thyn 00th,
rightwel, thou

This

thy brother
tiP other.
us

brother;

leve

my

cas,

sholdest

that thou
every

and

hindren^

to

270

(1130)

traytour

departe shal

deeth

Til that the*

tweye:

greet honour

no

be

cosin

thy

am

thee

to

depe, and ech of

for to dyen in the

nevere,

Neither

'

for to

fals,ne

be

to

knitte his browes

gan

(1140)

of doute.
aboute

been
falsly

I love and serve,

lady,whom
And
evere
shal,til that myn herte sterve.
Now''' certes, fals Arcite,thou shalt nat so.
and tolde thee my
I loved hir first,
wo

To

love my

As

to

To
For
To
^
*

my

counseil,and

forthre me,
which

thou

helpen me,

E. is ; rest nys.
E. Ln. HI. om.
the.

E. Hn.

**

E. Cm.

art

if it
g

brother

lay in
Wheither.
^

sworn

told biforn.

E.

290

knight
thy might,

y-bounden

; rest art thou.

ins. to.

artow

my

I have

as

285

as

q^

pt

l^.

("5")
HI. to.

hyndre ; Cm. hynderyn.

'
E. Nay ; rest Now.

{group a.)

42

Ther

cam

bar

And

therfore

Love
And
Here

for

that^

him-self,ther is

if thee

other.

non

list;for I love and

shal;

ay

Greet

of

take

us

his aventure/

the

stryfand long bitwixe

If that I hadde
leyserfor to seye;
But to theffect. It happed on
a
day,
(To telle it yow as shortlyas I may)
A worthy duk that hightePerotheus,
That

was

felawe
thilke

Sin

for to

pleye,as

wel

That

of that story hst

Duk

Perotheus

And

hadde

Frely to
In
E.

swich

om.

knowe

that,

him

goon,
a

gyse,

as
^

Cp. Pt.

so

bokes

335

do,
:

seyn,

to

nat

wel

Arcite,

leet out

wher

lyte,
visyte,

to

man

no

me

at

Thebes

340

I you

in helle ;

(1201)

wryte.

yeer

by

yere;

345

raunsoun,

of

prisoun,
liste over-al,

tellen shal.

All but Cm.

*

doun

preyere

that him

E. to ; HI. to the; r^j/ un-to.

E. als; Hn. Cm.
HI. as.

HI.

wont*

at requeste and
fynally,
Perotheus,with-oute^ any

Theseus

to

soughte him

loved

him

(1190)

deed, sothlyto telle,

was

and

wente

felawe

was

olde

oon

But

Duk

'

that

330

tendrelyageyn.

they loved,as

whan

tweye,

"'"'

as

felawe

Of

him

children

loved

His

And

he

in this world

loved

he

hem

Theseus

were

Athenes, his

And

he

duk

they

to

So

'

that

day

come

And

un-to

was

Was

For

325

leve brother, this is al.

sothly,
in this prisoun mote
we
endure,
everich

'And

tale.

they were'^ wrothe,

the boon
bothe.
bitwixe hem
(1180)
at the kinges court, my
brother,

awey

man

knightes

kyte,whyl

And

Ech

the

HI.

E. won;

with-oute ; rest with-outen.

ins.
Cm.

350

so.
wone

; r^j-Zwont.

[group a.)
This

Bitwixen
That

he

And

lyf,by day
of this

contree

any

That

with

Ther

nas

But

taketh

Let

him

war,

greet

y-founde
night,o ^ stounde

or

reed,

ne

homward

him

he

wedde

lyth to

suffreth

sorwe

thus.

lese his heed ;

remedye

his nekke

355

"

acorded

was

leve,and

his

be

How

other

noon

(1210)

were

sholde

he

swerd

43

Theseus,

caught,it

were

Arcite

that Arcite

were,

in his

Evere
In

so

him

and

Theseus

if

tale.

knightes

forward,pleynlyfor tendite,

the

was

the

spedde;

Arcite!

now

thurgh his herte smyte;

wepeth,weyleth,cryethpitously;
sleen him-self he waytethprively.
seyde, Alias that ' day that I * was born

He
To

'

He
Now

is my

Now

is

me

in^

Noght^

Alias ! that

Only
Wolde

dere

that I
han

365

Theseus

blisse,and

in

370

(1230)

wo.

that I serve,

hir grace

nevere

in

nat

deserve,

may

rightynough for
Palamon/ quod he,

suffised

cosin

prisoun evere-moo.

sighteof hir,whom

the

Though

with

I dwelled"

I been

hadde

Than

I Perotheus

knew

evere

in his

Y-fetered

than biforn
prisounworse
shape eternallyto dwelle
but in helle.
purgatorie,

elles hadde

For

(1220)

feleth

he

deeth

The

360

me.

375

Thyn is the victorie of this aventure,

in prison maistow
Ful blisfully
dure;
In prison? certes
nay, but in^ paradys!
Wei
hath fortune y-turnedthee the dys,
'

HI.

E. he; rest\.

; rest or.
"'

III. alone\

Hn.

Noght

took.

E.Nat;

Cm.

Not

380

Hn.

HI.

the.

Nought.
; rr'j-/'
'

"'E. {a/one ins.

my.

HI.

dweld.

'

Cp. Pt. En.

orfi.

in.

[group a)

44

hast the

That

the

knightes

tale.

I thabsence.

sightof hir,and

possibleis,sin thou hast hir presence,

(1240)
And
art a knight,
a
worthy and an able,
That
by^ som
cas, sin fortune is chaungeable,
Thou
maist to thy desyr som-tyme atteyne.
385
But I, that am
exyled,and bareyne
Of alle grace, and in so greet despeir,
ther nis erthe,water, fyr,ne
That
eir,
For

Ne

maked

creature, that of hem

That

doon

helpe^ or

me

may

is.
confort

in this.

390

Wei

oughte I sterve in wanhope and distresse;

Farwel
lyf,my lust,and my gladnesse. (1250)
my
Alias,why pleynen folk so in commune
Of purveiaunceof God, or of fortune,
That
yevethhem ful ofte in many a gyse
395
hem-self devyse?
Wei bettre than they can
Som
man
desyrethfor to han richesse,
That
And

som

That

wolde

man

We

witen

nat

We

faren

as

dronke

what

wel'^ he

which

he

And

to

And

certes, in this world

We

seken

But

we

Thus

dronke

may

E.

Cp. Ln. mordre

om.
{alone)

E.

"

HI. seyen;

{alone)om.

the

we

wrong

the wey

ful often

E.

moerdre

an

(1260)

hous,

is thider ;

405

we

Cp. seyn.

trewely.
namely I,

410

{alone)heele.
; Cm.
^

thing.
Cm.

felicitee.

; E. Hn.

400

is slider ;

faren

so

seyen''alle,and

by.

E. Hn.

hath

rightewey

man

faste after

goon

slayn.

here.
prayen
is as a mous;

that dronke

But

noot

prison fayn.

in this matere

thing* we

wot

man

of his

out

been

he

greet siknesse.

or

is of his meynee

in his hous

Infinite harmes

is of his mordre

cause

Pt. mordere

E. Cm.

; HI.

ins. that.

mortbre.

{group J.)
That

wende

That

if I

and

mighte

Ther^

now

nat

seen

Whan

that he

Swich

sorwe

wiste Arcite

he
^

The

fettres

pure

415

remedye.'

was

agon,
tour

clamour.

youlingand

of his

420

his shines grete

on

of his bittre salte

Weren

no

Emelye,

that the grete

maketh,

Resouneth

wele.

my

yow,

(1270)

syde Palamon,

that other

Up-on

prisoun,
loye and perfithele,

deed ; ther nis

but

nam

in

from

exyled fro

am

Sin that I may

greet opinioun,

escapen

I been

hadde

Than

hadde

45

TALE.

KNIGHTES

THE

(1280)

wete.

teres

quod he, 'Arcita,cosin myn,

God
our
stryf,
woot, the fruytis thyn.
in Thebes
at thy large,
walkest now

'Alias!'
Of

al

Thow
And

of my

alle the folk of

Assemblen
make

And
That

by

Thou

For,

art

than

More

I mot

With
And
That

E.

All
HI.

nedes

wyf,

to

lyf.

lese my

(1^90)

of

that

is myn,

and

wepe
wo

with

doubleth

'

wey

al the

eek

mot

and

430

possibilitee,
art at thy large,of prison free,
lord,greet is thyn avauntage,

by

as

lady

citee,

this
tretee,

som

or

hir to

that I

Sith thou

For

have

mayst
whom

And

aventure,

som

kinrede,

our

sharpe on

so

werre

manhede,

and

hast wisdom

mayst, sin thou

Thou

For

yevest litel charge.

thou

wo

425

that
peyne

prison may
that love

{alone)That.
moste,

most,

torment

muste

3yue ; E. yeue.

me
me

and

E. Resouned

; biit read
*

mot

E.

cage.

live,

weyle,whyl

al my

in

here

sterve

435

yive*,
*
also,
yiveth
wo.'

my

; rest Resouneth.
:

see

1. 437.

yeueth.

440

a)

(group

46

fyr of lelousye^up-sterte

Ther-with

the

With-inne

his brest,and

woodly, that

So
The

he

box-tree,or
^

Tho

TALE.

KNIGHTES

the

seyde he

lyk was

to

the asshen
*

with

hente

him

dede

goddes,that

cruel

bynding of

word

And

wryten in the table of athamaunte^

Than
For
And
And

colde.

and

world

What

(iS^O

biholde

This

Your

the herte

by

your

governe

445

eterne,

parlement,and your eterne graunte,

holde
is mankynde more
un-to
yow
is the sheep,that rouketh in the folde ?
450
slaynis man
rightas another beste*,
dwelleth eek in prison and areste",
(1310)
hath siknesse,
and greet adversitee,
,

ofte tymes

And
What
That
And

giltelees^,
pardee.
is in this prescience,
governaunce
gilteleestormenteth innocence ?
^

yet encreseth"^ this al my

That

is bounden

man

Goddes

For
Ther
And

as

Though

doute

wel

Alias ! I
That

he

it may

I woot,
se

many

wille,

hath

moot

have

to

serpent

trewe

man

or

pleyne,
wo:
(1321)

so.

divynis,

that in this world

and
and

care

460

peyne ;

no

wepe

stonden

of this I lete

answere

But

deed, he

in this world

With-outen
The

is

after his deeth

man

of his

al his lust fulfille.

may

beest

penaunce.

his observaunce,

to

sake, to letten
beest

whan

But

455

gret pyne

465
is.

theef,

hath

doon

mescheef,

"

Hi.

lelousye;

HI.

Cm.

Cm. athamaunte
; E. Atthamaunt.
^
HI. beste ; E. beest.
Cm. areste ; HI. arreste ; E. arreest.

Cm.

Cp.

'

HI.

Cm.

Cp. Pt.

So Hn.

Cm.

E. lalousie.

h1. Tho

; E. Thanne.

gilteles
; E. giltlees.
Ln.

HI.

encreseth

; E. encresseth.
his deeth man.
after
rest
;

So HI. ; rest lete I.

[group a)
Goon
I

But

47

list may

him

turne.

prison thurgh Saturne,

in

been

moot

wher

large,and

his

at

tale.

knightes

the

470

thurgh luno, lalous and eek wood,

hath destroyedwel ny al the blood
That
walles wyde.
Of Thebes, with his ^ waste
that other syde
sleeth me
Venus
And
on
Arcite.'
For lelousye^ and fere of him
wol I stinte of Palamon
Now
a
lyte,
lete him in his prison stille dwelle,
And
And

eek

And

of Arcita

The

somer^

Encresen*

double

which

noot

nighteslonge

the peynes

wyse

the

and

to

seyn,

stronge

480

prisoner.

the wofullere

hath

shortlyfor

For

the

475

telle.

yow

passeth,and

of the lovere

Bothe
I

forth I wol

(1330)

(1340)

mester.

thisPalamoun

is dampned to prisoun,
Perpetuelly
In cheynes and in fettres to been deed;
And
Arcite is exyled upon^ his heed

For
Ne

evere-mo

Yow^

loveres

Who

hath

That

oon

But

in

But

For

prisoun he
wher

his

demeth
I wol

'

''

E. hise.
Cm.
Hn.

Cp.
Cp.

him

yow

he

Palamoun?

or

dwelle

E.

(1350)

alway.

ryde

or

go,

that can,

495

bigan.

Sequitur
^

490

nevere-mo.

liste^, ye

Pars.

E. Jalousie.

questioun,

list may

as

see.

lady day by day,

'^

moot

telle forth

Explicit prima
^

Arcite

lady shal
as

lady
this

now

his

seen

may

seen

Now

axe

the worse,

other

That

shal his

he

nevere-mo

of that contree,

out

as

485

secunda.

pars

{alone)sonne.

Pt. vp \pe7'haps
rightly),.
^
Ln. liste; Cm.
he.
Pt. moot

E. Now

lyste; HI.

E. Encressen.

{wrongly).

luste ; rest list.

(group

48

Whan
Ful

a.)

that Arcite

ofte

And
So
That

His

sleep,his

That

lene he

eyen

His

hewe

solitarie he

And

waillingal

And

if he

So
And

wepe,
his

his

And

in his gere,

Nat

qonly lyk the

Hereos,

but

colde,

his

instrument,

he

mighte nat

and
spirits*,

mone.

be

vois, though

it herde.

he

ferde

maladye

515

rather

lyk manye
Engendred of humour malencolyk,
Biforen,in his^ celle fantastyk.
And
al up-so-doun
turned was
shortly,
Bothe habit and eek disposicioun
Of

What

sholde

Whan

he

This
At

lovere

al-dayof

endured

hadde

cruel torment,

Thebes,

HI. Pt. Ln.

HI.

E.

Bifom

this woful

him,

had

and

his
a

; rest hadde.

falwe ; E. Hn. falow.

Biforn his owene
Be-forn
; Cm.

Byforne in

his.

or

yeer

as

hese

(1380)

endyle ?

wo

this peyne

in his contree,

520

Arcite.

daun

Cm.

his ; HI.

510

(1370)

knowe

men

for al the world

stent ;

lowe.

so

coude

man

loveres

505

allone.

evere

no

(136
1)

shaft.

or

that

so,

biraft,

asshen

as

dure.

may

is him

night,making

song

were

chaunged
speche nor

His

that the world

and

the

he

500

creature

pale

was,

herde

feble eek

al his wo,

drye as is a
grislyto biholde

falwe^,and

wolde

nevere-mo.

and

holwe, and

And

Then

seyde alias/

mete, his drink

wex^,

was,
'

nevere

shal,whyl

is,or

His

had^

sorwe

comen

and

muche

tale.

Thebes

to

day he swelte
his lady shal he
seen
shortlyto concluden

For

Of

knightes

the

two

and

wo.

seyde,

525

"^

E. Pt. wexeth.

E.
owene

spiritz.
; Hn.

Cp.

Pt. Ln.

(group a)

5"

knightes

the

And

drugge and drawe, what

shortlyof this matere

He

fil in office with

To

The

which

For

he

Of

every

Wei
For

he

hewen

To

Philostrate

'

But

half

Ne

was

He

was

That

wel

so

ther

'

And
Bothe

in

he

of his chambre

That

no

And

thre

And

bar
*

brighte
;
highte.

man

E. Cm.

570

he

as

degree;

his

was

(1430)

renoun.

charitee

enhauncen

his

575

degree,

worshipfulservyse,
vertu

excercyse.

hath taken
he

him

so

made

spronge

580

neer

him

squyer,

(1440)

him

gold to mayntene his degree ;

eek men
broghte him out of his contree
yeer to yeer ful privelyhis rente;
honestlyand slylyhe it spente,
yaf

But

the

is
thus,with-inne a whyle, his name
of his dedes, and his goode tonge,

That

From

were

mighte his

Theseus

And

of bones

devyse.

seide that he

the court

wolde

That

And

him

in court, of his

that jt

putten him
as

big

565

gentilof^ condicioun,

so

Theseus

Ther

here,

for the nones,

and

can

here.

water

Emelye

biloved

nevere

They seyden
And

of

he

thurghout al

That

(1420)

in this servyse,

was

of the chambre

Page
And

wight

he

two

or

yeer

mighty

560

aspye

that serveth

strong

was

that any

doon

devyse.

seyn,

soon

wode, and

and

yong

ther-to he

And

was

for to

coude

which

servaunt,
he

wol

men

and

wys,

coude

so

chamberleyn,
dwellingwas with Emelye.

that

was

tale.

man

yeer
him

wondred

how

in this wyse
so

long ;

in pees
7-est

strong.

and

that he
his

it hadde.

lyf he ladde,

eek
^

in werre,
E. HI.

ms.

his.

585

[group a.)
Ther

nas

the

that Theseus

man

no

knightes

And

in this blisse lete I

And

spake I

wol

derknesse

In

This

seven

Forpyned, what

for

feleth double

Who

(h5o)
strong prisoun

Palamoun,

and
^

590

lyte.

seten

wo

derre.

hath

horrible and

hath

yeer

51

Arcite,

now

of Palamon

and

tale.

for distresse ;

for

martirdom?

His

I passe

Therefore

and

sothe,it

It fel that in the seventhe

That

al this

Were

it

by

(As,whan
That,

sone

tellen
storie^

aventure
a

Of

605

seyn,

pleyn,)

destinee,

or

freend,brak

as

his

he

prisoun,

may

yive^his gaylerdrinke

he had
a

May,

bokes

more

fleeth the citee faste

For

of

clarree,maad

(^470)

so

certeyn wyn,

The
And

thus he

The

nightwas

That

nercotikes

^
^

and

fleeth

as

faste

short,and

nedes-cost

That

So E. Hn.

he

Pt. ;

Cp.

Ln.

om.

E.

Of;

E. moot;

as

evere

faste

by

moste

sore
^

and.

E.

moste, most,
E

he may.
the

him-selven
; Cm.

HI.

day,
hyde,

sorwe.

HI. jiue ; E. yeue.

r^^/With.
rest

610

go,

fyn,
opie of Thebes
wolde him
al that night,thogh that men
gaylersleep,he mighte nat awake;

With*

(14^0)

thing is shapen,it shal be,)

after the midnight,Palamoun,

By helpingof
And

600

I may.

yeer, in

night,(asolde

thridde

The

I;

nat

am

as
lightly

as

595

hevynesse
? that love destreynethso,
But Palamon
of his wit he goth for wo
That wood
out
eek therto he is a prisoner
And
noght oonly for a yeer.
Perpetuelly,
in English proprely
coude ryme
Who
soor

'

muste.

shake,
616

[group a)

52
And

til a

faste ther

grove,

dredful

With

That

in the

besyde,

he

wolde

he

take

To

Thebes-ward, his frendes for

On

Theseus

And

outher
shortly,
winnen
Emelye

un-to

is theifect and

his

Or
This

Now

wol

That

helpe him

to

al

his way

The
Salueth

lese his

lyf.

wyf;
entente
pleyn.
^

ny

Arcite

that

was

the

morwe

630

ageyn,

his care,

had

in hir song

625

preye

broght him in the

bisy larke,messager of daye,

Til that fortune

day,

his

un-to

how

to

werreye

wolde

he

I torne

litel wiste

(1480)

opinioun,
him hyde
wolde

night than
to

620

his

was

in that grove

And

tale.

stalketh Palamoun.

foot than

this
shortly,

For

knightes

the

snare.

graye;

The

rysethup so brighte,
al the orient laughethof the lighte,
with his
stremes
dryethin the greves
the leves.
silver dropes,hanging on

And

Arcite ^ that is in the court

fyry Phebus

And
That

(1490)

635

''

And

roial

principal,
640
the myrie day.
Is risen,and loketh on
to INIay,
(1500)
And, for to doon his observaunce
Remembring on the poynt of his desyr,
the fyr,
a""'courser, sterling^
He
as
on
him
Is riden in-to the feeldes,
to pleye,
645
it a myle or tweye ;
Out of the court, were
of which that I yow
And
to the grove,
tolde,
his wey he gan to holde.
By aventure
With

Theseus, his

E. Hn.

Cm.

E. hise.

'

E. Hn.

Cp.

Cm.

Pt. Ln.

thanne;

r^i'/
*

; rest

HI.

squyer

than.
HI.

Arcite;

E. Hn.

Ln.

to;

r"?j-/vn-to.

r^j'/Arcita.

his.

stertyng ; E. Hn.

startlynge
; Cm.

stertelynge.

{group a)
maken

To

Were

it

gerland of the greves,

of wodebynde or hawethorn-leves,
him

he

loude

And

53

tale.

knightes

the

the

ageyn

song

shene

sonne

(1510)

floures and

thy grene,
faire fresshe May,
be thou, wel
Wel-come
I" hope that I som
grene gete may.'
from his courser, with a lustyherte,
And
In-to the^ grove ful hastilyhe sterte,
alle

with

'May,

thy

650

in

And
Ther

by

as

Was

in

For

sore

he

But

soth

is

al-daymeteth

Ful

litel wot

For

so

And

songen

In-to

in the

Now

up,

Right as

sitteth

it

now

E.
HI.

lyte.

(1520)

yeres.

hath

eres.

665

evene,
stevene.

al his sawe.

ful stille.

now

al his

fille,

lustily,
sodeynly,

670

al the roundel
fil al

in hir

(1530)

queynte geres,
in the

doun

croppe^, now
doun, as

boket

in

breres.

welle.

675

Friday,sothlyfor to telle.
it reyneth faste,
shyneth,now
the

wel ; rest omit.

E. a ; rest the.

felawe.

romed

had

HI.

''

he

thise loveres

Now

Now

herknen

studie he

doon

As

to

that Arcite

him

unset

of his

in the bush

Whan

at

men

Arcite
ny

it ful

the wode

here

to

man

see,
660

Arcite

was

sithen many
and

eyen,

For

was

seyd, gon

him

he.

was

trowed

have

wolde

It is ful fair

That

that it

he

knew

feeld hath

doun,

mighte

man

no

of his deeth^

afered*

wot

and

up

this Palamoun

bush, that

God

That

rometh

aventure

No-thing ne

he

path

655

Hn.

HI.

E. Hn.
afered

In ; rest I.
ofered ; rest aferd.
; Cm.
Cm.

{alone, ins. thanne.

Pt. goon ; Cm.

E. Hn. Cm. crop ;

Ln.

Cp.

gon ; E. Hn. Cp. go.

HI. Pt. croppe.

[group A.)

54

Right

so

Whan
And

Alias !

y-broghtis

more

bulte,or

Thebes

his

By

verray

And

him

I dar

But

ther

Alias
Thus
Save
That
And
Love

so

is my

noght

bigan,

toun

king,
of-spring

his

690

mortal

(1550)

stok roial :

caitif and

me

Amphioun

crouned

so

thral,
695

enemy,

povrely.

his squyer

as

yet doth luno

For

Now

am

he, that

serve

first the

of the

ligne*, as
I

685

the firste man

was

I, and

linage am

now

That

and

citee first was

of the

Of

that

which

Cadmus,

And

confusioun

to

roial of Cadme

blood

And

'

any

the citee ?

Thebes

werreyen

That

day

'"

Woltow

The

hir

quod he, that day that I was bore

longe, luno, thurgh thy crueltee,

Alas !'

Of

with-outen

doun

him

sette

How

'

folk; rightas

680
chaungeth she array.
^
is the Friday al the wyke
ylyke.
that Arcite had songe, he gan to syke, (1540)

Selde

'

overcaste

gerful^, rightso

Is

Venus

gery

hertes of hir

The

'

can

TALE.

KNIGHTES

THE

wel

shame,

more

biknowe

myn

owne

name.

highte*^ Arcite,
700
noght worth a myte.
highteI Philostrate,
! thou felle Mars, alias ! luno,
kinrede al fordo,
hath your ire our
(1560)
only me, and wrecched Palamoun,
Theseus
martyreth in prisoun.
al this,to sleen me
705
utterly'^,
over
hath his fyrydart so brenningly

So E. Hn.

as

Cm.

was

; rest

wont

to

gan.

; r-est "gtx{\\\..
gereful; Cp. geerful; HI. grisful
uouke
wcke
HI. wyke ; Hn. Cp. wike; Pt. Ln.
; Cm.
E. owene.
Cm. Pt. HI. lyne.
Cp. Pt. Ln. owne;
HI. vtterly
; E. outrely.

E.

'''

; E. wowke.
^

HI.

bote.

[group a.)

thurgh my
shapen was my

Y-stiked
That
Ye

sleen

me

with

Ye

been

the

cause

Of

al the
I

the

sette

So

that I coude

nat

long^ tyme

of myn

other

aught

and

to

sherte.

dye.

710

care

of

mountaunce

my

Emelye

that I

felte

For

ire he

And

whan

(^570)
plesaunce/

tare,

your
in

he

fil doun

he

afterward^

traunce

upsterte.

he

He
And

swerd

cold

quook, no

sodeynliche
glyde.
lenger wolde he byde.

had

that he

herd

tale,

Arcites

and

wood, with face deed

were

"*

Now
For

whom

And

art

blood, and

my

and

al this peyne

that I have

I ful ofte have

As

to

told

counseil

my

wo,

sworn,

725

heer-biforn,

thee

by-iapedheer duk Theseus,

thus
And
falslychaunged hast thy name
I wol be deed, or elles thou shalt dye.
shalt nat love my
Thou
lady Emelye,
hast

And

and

I wol

love hir

For

Palamoun, thy mortal

And

am

though

But

olit

I drede
E. Hn.

of

that I

only

wepne

no

prison am

astert

noght

that outher

longe;

Cm.

fo.

Ln.

HI.

bussches

E. Hn.

artow

E. Hn.

namo

; HI.

in this

have

by

730

"

thou

(159")
place,

grace,
shalt

dye,

735

long.

; E. after he ; HI. om.

boschis ; Ln. boskes.
; Cm.
; rest art thou.

he afterwarde

namo*^;

But

715

pale,
720
him
sterte
thikke,
up out of the buskes^
(1580)
seyde: 'Arcite, false traitour wikke,
artow
hent, that lovest my lady so,

As

^^

Palamoun, that thoughtethat thurghhis herte

This
He

than

erst

eyen,

doon

herte,

wherfor

that word

with

And

deeth

your

tale.

careful

trewe

remenant

Ne

knightes

the

Cm.

no

mo.

he ; rest afterward
^

E. Cm.

seyd.

he.

{group a)

^6

tale.

knightes

the

thou

Or

which

Chees

he

Whan

thou

fiers

And

him

seyde

ful

Nere

it that thou
eek

And
Thou
That

thou

For

ne

a^

no

740

(1600)
place,

for love,

hast in this

of this grove

dyen

pace,

bond.

of myn

and

seurtee

herd,

swerd,

wood

wepne
out

sholdest

that thou

asterte.'

that sit above,

sik and

nevere

defye the

Which

art

that thou

sholdest

God

by

'

nat

his tale

hadde

pulled out

shalt

thou

despitousherte,

knew, and

thus

Emelye.
^

wilt \ for

leoun

as

loven

nat

Arcite,with

This

As

shalt

ne

745

the bond

seyst that I have

maad

to

thee.

What, verray fool,think wel that love is fre,

And
I wol love hir, maugre
al thy might !

worthy knight,
750
And
wilnest to darreyne hir by batayle.
heer my
I wol nat fayle,
Have
trouthe,to-morwe
With-outen
{1611)
witing of any other wight,
That
heer I wol be founden
as
a
knight,
And
bringen barneysrightynough for thee;
755
for me.
And
chees the beste,and leve the worste
And
and drinke this nightwol I bringe
mete
Ynough for thee,and clothes for thy beddinge.
And, if so be that thou my lady winne.
But,

for

much

as

thou

art

And

sle

Thou

mayst wel have

This

Palamon

answerde

And

thus

been

When
O

O
^
*

in this wode

me

of hem

ech

Cupide,out

regne,

E. Hn.

Cp.

they

derreyne; HI.

am

thy lady,as
:

inne,

760

for me/

*I graunte it thee.'

departedtil a-morwe,
had leyd his feith to

(1620)

borwe.

of alle charitee !

that wolt

wolt.

ther I

no

felawe

jjl. for ; rest

dereyne.

have
or.

765
with
'

thee I
E. Hn.

his.

(group

58
Thou

And

as

cruel tygre

wilde

As

that this Palamoun

were
fighting

as

bores

tale.

knightes

the

mightest wene

his

In

a.)

wood

leoun,

Arcite

was

they to smyte,

gonne

800

whyte as foom for ire wood.

'^
Up to the ancle foghtethey in hir blood.
dwelle
in this wyse
I lete hem
And
fighting
frothen

That

forth I woP

And
The
That

So

destinee,ministre general,
executeth

in the

contrarie of

The

Yet

certeinlyoure

Be

it of werre,

Al

is this* reuled
I

This

mene

That

for to

And

thing,by

namely

or

had

world
or

sworn

nay,

day

810

thousand

appetytes here,
pees, or hate, or

yere.

(1670)

love,

sighteabove.
by mighty Theseus,

by

now

honten

is

the

815

desirous,

so

May,

the grete hert in

at

biforn,

seyn

ye

on

eft with-inne

falleth nat

For

805

over-al

world

it shal fallen

somtyme

That

telle.

yow

hath
that God
purveiaunce,
strong it is,that though the

The

That

day,
he nis clad, and redy for to ryde
him
hunte and horn, and houndes
bisyde. 820
in his hunting hath he swich delyt.
it is al his loye and appetyt
(1680)

To

been

That
That
With
For

For

And

With
And
HI.

ther daweth

in his bed

him-self

was

the

Theseus,
his

serveth

day,

with

as

alle

no

Diane.

now

told

I have

loye

and

er

this,

blis,

IpoHta, the fayrequeue.

Emelye, clothed
as;

him

the grete hertes bane,

he

after Mars

Cleer

of Theseus

{1660)

rest omit.

'^

al in grene,

E. anclee.

E. wole

HI. it.

825

{group a.)

And
In

the

to

ther

which

Duk

Theseus

And

to

And

the

brook, and
han

wol

This

duk

With

houndes, swiche

Under
He

the

was

So

brighteswerdes
as

what

they

This

duk

his

And

at

stert

two;

(1700)

fro

the leste strook

with

courser

he

and

an

00k;

no-thing he

were,

840

bores

to

felle^

it wolde

launde,

anon

were

wenten

with

hidously,that

it

as

the

Palamon,

and

of Arcite

war

It semed

But

loketh, and

he

sonne

list comaunde.

un-to

come

835

tweye

or

him

that^

was

foughten breme,

That
The

this duk

whan

And

right,
his flight,

him

at

as

(1690)

forth in his weye.

so

cours

tolde,

ful

have

wont

830

holde.

hath

rydeth him.

he

by,

him

men

streighte
wey

the hert

was
a

over

hert, as

an

was

the launde

thider

For

ful faste

that stood

grove,

59

roially.

riden

hunting be they

On

tale,

knightes

the

his spores
hem

bitwix

was

woot.

ne

845

smoot,

two,

pulledeout a swerd and cryed^, ho !

Namore, up* peyne of lesingof your heed.
be deed,
By mighty jMars, he shal anon
That
smyteth any strook,that I may seen!
But telleth me
what^mister^ men
ye been,
been
That
so
hardy for to fightenhere
'

And

luge

With-outen
As

it

in

were

other

or

listes

answerde

This

Palamon

And

seyde: 'sire,what

We
1
^

have

the deeth

Pt. that ; rest

E. cride ; Hn. Cp. Pt.
Hn.

Cp.

'""

Hn.

E. Hn.

Cm.

Cp.

Pt.

disserued.

(171")

officere,

roially?'
hastily.
nedeth

deserved*^

cryed.

855

wordes
bothe
"

om.

myster

850

mo?

two.

E. fille.

E. Hn.

; Ln.
; E. mystiers

Ln.

vp-on

mester

; rest

; HI.

vp.

mestir.

[group a)

6o

the

Two

woful

wrecches

been

That

been

encombred

of

And

as

Ne

thou
us

yeve

But

"^

But

sle my

Or

sle

me

caytyves,

owne^

our

lyves;

eek

wel

as

as

fo, this

thy mortal
fro thy lond

it

his heed,

on

deserved

which

For

this is he

And

seyde,that he hightePhilostrate.
hath he laped thee ful many
a
yeer,
him thy chief squyer;
thou has maked
this is he that loveth Emelye.
that I shal dye,
sith the day is come

Thus
And
And
For

I make
I

That

hath

thy

am

foo, and

mortal

loveth

That

I wol
I

But

sle my

For

bothe

hote

so

it

deeth

felawe
han

875

wikkedly.

and

in the

am

hir
my

same

deserved

we

(1730)

the

Emelye

dye present in
axe

870

Palamoun,

thy prisoun broken

That

Therfore

thy gate,

confessioun,

thilke woful

am

to

un-to

cam

pleynlymy

That

be

deed.

For

that

lyte,865

is Arcite,

is banished

hath

(17^0)

me.

first;for,though thou knowe^

he

860

is

That

two

we,

lord and luge,

rightful
neither mercy
ne
refuge.
for seynte charitee;
first,
art

felawe

sle him

This

tale.

knightes

brighte,
sighte.
luwyse;
wyse,
be

to

880

(1740)

slayn.'

worthy duk answerde anon

agayn,
And
seide, This is a short conclusioun :
Youre owne*
mouth, by your confessioun.
This

'

Hath

I wol

It

yow

dampned you, and

nedeth noght to pyne
'

E. Hn.

HI.

E. Hn.

Hn,

Cm.

owene.

knowe

Cm.

owene

it

with

Cp.

the corde.

So in the MSS.

; rest knowest.

; HI.

recorde.

Pt.

owne.

885

[GROUP A.)
Ye

shul

The

quene

anon,

Gan

for

wepe,

And

alle the

Gret

piteewas

That

And
And
And
'Have

And
Til
For
And
He
The
And
Yet

and

the rede !

890

dide

Emelye,
ladies in the compaignye.
it,as it thoughtehem alle,
a

so

chaunce

lord, up-on

mercy,

knees

hir bare

sholde

us

(1750)

falle;
895

alle!'

wommen

adoun

they falle,
900
have kist his feet ther as he stood.
wolde
his mood;
at the laste aslaked
was
(1760)
in gentilherte.
piteerenneth sone
though he firste for ire quook and sterte,
in a clause,
hath considered
shortly,
905
bothe, and eek the cause :
trespas of hem
al-thoughthat his ire hir giltaccused.
on

in his

he

resoun

hem

bothe

excused;

Wol

that he

And

eek

delivere him-self

of

And

eek

his herte

thus

he

hadde^

out

man

every

can,

(1770)

compassioun

for

wommen,

910

prisoun;

in oon
evere
they wepen
And
in his gentil
herte he thoghte anoon,
And
softe un-to
himself he seyde:
fy
Up-on a lord that wol have no mercy.

Of

'

wommanhede

thoghlewel, that
helpe him-self in love,if

And

TALE.

they were, of greet estat^,

gentilmen
no-thingbut for love was this debat^;
hir bloody woundes
savve
wyde and sore
alle cryden,bothe lasse and more,

For

And

for verray

swich

evere

KNIGHTES

deed, by mighty Mars

be

to

THE

'

But

'
3

been

To

hem

As

wel

leoun, bothe

that been
as

to

in

in word

and

repentaunce and

dede.

drede,

proud despitousman,
"

Hn.

Pt. shul; Cm.

E. debaat.

HI.
"

E. estaal.
schul ; E. shal.
HI. Pt. Ln. had ; rest hadde.

915

[group A.)

62
That

wol

That

lord hath

That

in

But

litel of

He

to

gan

loken

TALE.

first bigan!

divisioun,

no

and

with

(1780)

after oon/

humblesse

his ire is thus

up

920

discrecioun,

can

cas

weyeth pryde
whan
shortly,

And

that he

maynteyne
swich

KNIGHTES

THE

agoon,

lighte,

eyen

925

al on
wordes
highte:
spak thise same
The
god of love, a ! bejtedicite,
How
mighty and how greet a lord is he !
obstacles.
Ayeins his might ther gayneth none
miracles ;
He
be cleped a god for his
may

And

"

For

he

maken

can

Of

everich

Lo

heer, this

That

at

herte, as
Arcite

his ow^ne^

list devyse^.

and

Palamoun,

And
And

witen

And

that hir deth

And

yet hath love, maugree

Y-broght hem
Now
loketh,is
^

Who

nat

may

out

hir mortal

lythin

hider

ben

how

Thus
Hir

they
hath

wages

And

blede ! be

hir
and

lord,the

But

serven

for

she, for

E. hise.

E.

Not

diuyse.
in the MSS.

for

two,

dye !
heigh folye?
to

he

whom
^
"*

love ?

(1800)
they noght wel arrayed?
god of love, y-payed
to

ful wyse

been

E. Hn.

Cm.

owene

I-bronght
HI.

bifalle!

alle.

this

; rest

'

may

of

game

they han

HI.

940

that sit above,

love, for aught that

this is yet the beste

That

an

hir eyen

hir fees for hir servyse !

yet they wenen

That

might also,

my

fool,if that

sake

935

enemy,

bothe

that

nat

Bihold, for Goddes

Se

prisoun,
Thebes
roially,

lived in

am

(1790)

of my

quitlyweren
mighte han
I

gyse

that him
this

930

lolitee,

Cp. Pt. owne.

Broght,Brought.
;

if that ; rest but if.

945

(group
Can

hem

She

woot

as

namore

of al this hote

al moot

But

cokkow

ben

fool,or

in my

tyme

And

therfore,sin I knowe

And

woot

And

eek

And

ye

That

of

they

And

him

And

he
To

whom

For

Ye

woot

At

ones,

when
for my
ye

have

E. Hn.

E. Hn.

E. Pt. trespaas.
E. deel,weel; Hn.
HI.

"^

E.

Pt.

day,

Cp.
Cp.

swore

965

may;

delV

every

preyde.
thus he seyde: 970
richesse,
a
princesse,(1830)

of mercy
and
and

queue

or

is,but nathelees''

tyme
suster

this

Emelye,

975

stryfand lelousye^.

wedden
not
she may
your-self
:
though ye fightenevere-mo

dere,

bothe is worthy, doutelees,

wedden

speke as

(1S20)

axing fayreand weP,

his

were

960

swere,

in al that ye

lordshipeand

she

las ^5

here,

contree*

hem

of yow

To

me

night ne

me

up-on

swore

that

distreyne.

dere.

un-to

grauntethgrace,
speke of roial lynage

Though
Ech

of

oon.

man

suster

shul my

"^

him

955

that kneleth

my

frendes

my

And

foryevethis trespas

I yow

can

anon

ye

werre

been

'

Emelye,

nevere-mo

But

agoon

caught ofte in his

hoolly this trespas^,

shul bothe

make

Ne

old;

or

(1810)

of loves peyne,

requeste of the queue

At

950

cold;

and

was

hare!

an

ben

foryeveal

I yow

it

sore

that hath

he

As

how

me

fare,

yong

yore

servant

as

or^

assayed,hoot

ben

by my-selfful

it

I woot

For

woot

moot

man

thank

moche

63

tale.-

knightes

the

ther-for

than

By God,
A

a.)

of ; rest or.
Pt. laas ; Cm.
Cm.

two

las ; HI. Ln. lace.

^
Cp. Ln. HI. coroune.

Cp. del, wel.

; rest sworen,

svvome,

wrongly repeatsdoutelees.

sworyn.
^

E.

lalousye.

{group a.)

64
That
He

moot

be

Al

him

As

of

ech

That

Lo,

is

heer

With-outen

{i!^4o)

wrothe.

so

in what

herkneth

and

of that I shal

ende

wyse;

985

devyse.

this,for platconclusioun,
replicacioun,
it for the

lyketh,tak

everich

That

bothe,

han

now

his destinee

shal have

yow

any

If that yow

980

putte in this degree,

shape;

wil is

My

nat

lelous^,ne

yow

your

leef.

or

ivy-leef
;

an

may

so

nevere

ye

for-thyI

And

in

pypen

seyn, she

is to

This

go

both

him

al be

of yow,

oon

tale.

knightes

the

leste

him

wher

shal goon

of yow

beste,
990

or
daunger;
Frely,with-outen raunsoun
this day fifty
And
(1^50)
wykes, fer ne ner,
shal bringe an hundred
Everich of yow
knightes,
for listes up at alle rightes,
Armed
Al redy to darreyne hir by bataille.
995

Up-on

trouthe,and

my

That

whether^

This

is to

May

with

as

that hath
he

that whether^

his hundred,

Sleen

his contrarie,or

Him^

shal I yeve

as

out

The

listes shal I maken

in this

And

God

As

I shal

Ye

shul

That

E.

HI.

'

So

wisly on
luge

even

other

non

of yow

oon

0}n.

go.

Him;
K.

Cp.

Cp.

Ln.

Ln. ; HI.

ende

E. Hn.
Hn,

with

shal be

ne

That;

and

been

dryve,

fair

re

Emelye.

grace.

we,

1005

trewe.

maken,

me

deed

or

Thanne

taken.

'

Cp. lalouse.
Hn.

(1S60)

place,

soule

my

tooo

wyve,

yeveth so

so

of now,

of listes

Emelya'' to

might.
thou

or

spak

that fortune

whom

To

knight,

am

bothe

of yow

sevn,

faille

with-outen

I yow

this bihote

And

Cm.

E. wheither.

Pt. Than.

[GROUP A.)

66

in the

West-ward, rightswich another

And

shortlyto concluden,swich

Was

noon

in erthe,

in

as

ther

in the lond

For

TALE.

KNIGHTES

THE

litel space;

so

craftyman,

no

nas

opposit.
place

geometricor ars-metrik can,

kervere of images,
Ne portreyour^,
ne
and wages
Theseus
That
ne
yaf him^ mete
and devyse.
theatre for to maken
The
his ryte and sacrifyse,
And
for to doon
That

est-ward hath

He

worship

In

goddesse of love,

of Venus,

make

Doon

and

auter

an

the gate above,

up-on

Of

"

oratorie;

an

in the

whyt

alabastre

reed

and

oratorie riche for to

An

Hath
But
The
The
That

(1910)

coral

see,

wroght

doon

Theseus

in noble

wyse.

weren

in thise oratories

thre.

The

broken

temple of Venus may stow se

the wal, ful pitousto biholde,
slepes,and the sykes colde;

The

sacred

teres, and

The

fyrystrokes

Wroght

1
"^

3
*

HI.

Cp.

on

oi^

loves servaunts
purtreyour; Hn.
Pt. Cm.

him

waymenting;
the desiring.
in this lyfenduren;

hem

1060

(1920)

the

purtreyour; E. portreitour.

; HI.

HI. ; E. {wrongly) And

E. and ; rest of.

So

1055

foryetento devyse
noble kerving,and the portreitures.
and the figures.
shap, the contenaunce,

yet hadde

First in the

That

1050

of chastitee,

worship of Dyane

In

(1900)

1045

mynde and in memorie^

hath rightswich another,
Of Mars, he maked
That
coste
largelyof gold a fother.
And
north-ward, in a touret on the wal,
west-ward,

And

1040

; rest om.
on

the

westward, in memorie.

1065

[group a)

hir

othes,that

The

tale.

knightes

the

covenants

assuren

67

hope, desyr,fool-hardinesse,
and youthe, bauderie,richesse,
Beautee
and force,lesinges,
Charmes
flaterye,
and lelousye
^,
1070
Dispense,bisynesse,
That wered of yelvvegoldes^a gerland.
hir^ hand;
cokkow
on
And
(1930)
a
sitting
Festes,instruments,caroles,daunces,
and

Plesaunce

Of

array, and alle the circumstaunces

love,whiche that I rekne and rekne shal'', 1075

By

ordre

And

mo

and

Lust

Ther

Venus

Was

shewed

Nat

dwelling,
principal
wal in portreying,

the

io8o

the lustinesse.

gardin,and

the faire of yore

Narcisus

(1940)

agon,

yet the folyeof king Salamon,

of Hercules^,
yet^ the grete strengthe
of Medea

Turnus, with the hardy fiers

in servage.
riche Cresus,caytif

Thus

may

Beautee
may

that wisdom

seen

ye

1085

Circes,

and

of

The

Ne

Citheroun,

hir

Thenchauntements
Ne

of

mount

foryetethe porter Ydelnesse,

was

Ne^
Ne

the

on

of mencioun.

make

can

hath

al the

With

Ne

than

soothly,al

For

tlie wal,

peynted on

weren

ne

corage.

richesse,

ne
hardinesse, 1090
strengthe,
sleighte,
holde champartye;
with Venus
she %yQ.
hir list the world than may
(1950)
ne

For

as

Lo,

alle thise folk

Til

they for

wo

so

ful

in hir las,
caught were
ofte seyde alias !
'

'

^
HI. guides.
Cp. Ln. Cm. his.
*
and
rekne shal ; E,
Hn.
I
rekned
I reken and rekne schal ;
Cm.
I rekned haue and rekne shal {toolong).
*'
5
E, And eek ; Hn. Ne yet ; HI. Ne eek.
E. Cm. And ; rest Ne.
"
'
E. Hn. Pt. om.
E. Hn. Cm. Ercules.
^

E. Hn.

Cp. lalousye.

"^

[group a.)

68

tale.

knightes

the

or
two,
Suffycethheer ensamples oon
And
though I coude rekne a thousand
of Venus, gloriousfor to
The
statue
naked
Was
fietingin the largesee.

With

brighteas

mo.

see,

was

glas.

any

iioo

righthand hadde she,

heed, ful semely for to see,

citole in hir

A
And
A

hir

on

gerland,fresh

rose

hir heed

Biforn

hir

Up-on

his

blynd he

And

he

bowe

wel

and

(i960)

smellinge;

hir dowves

flikeringe.
stood hir sone
Cupido,
he two;
shuldres winges hadde

Above

and

grene,

wawes

al covered

doun

fro the navele

And

1095

as

was,

and

bar

it is ^ ofte

sene

brighteand

arwes

1105

kene.

noght as wel eek telle yow al

the wal
that was
11 10
The
portreiture,
up-on
the rede?
the temple of mighty Mars
With-inne
the wal, in lengtheand brede, (1970)
Al peynted was
Lyk to the estres of the grislyplace,
That
highte the grete temple of Mars in Trace,
In thilke colde frostyregioun,
1115
Ther

hath

Mars

as

First
In

sholde

Why

the wal

on

peynted

was

ther dwelleth

which

mansioun.

his sovereyn

neither

foreste^,

ne

man

beste^

knottyknarry bareyn trees olde

11 20
Of stubbes sharpe and hidous to biholde;
in^ a swough,
rumbel*
In which ther ran
a
sholde bresten^ every bough:
As though a storm
from'' an
downward
And
hille,under a bente, (1981)

With

Ther

stood

E. was;

SoY^\ Cm.

"

E. Pt.

rest

and;

the

is.

luwbil
restm.

temple

of Mars

armipotente,

foreste; E. forest.

HI.

rombul

; Hn.
"

Ln.

Cp. Ln.

berste;

HI.

HI.

rombel

berst.

beste;
; HI.
'

E.

best.

swymbul.

Hn.

HI.

on.

[group a.)
Wroght ai of
Was
long and
And

ther-out

For

Thurgh

such
to

and

see.
vese

shoon,
noon,

1130

lightdiscerne.

any

alle of adamant

were^

ther

was

ne

to

1125

rese.

the dores

at

mighten

men

overthwart

Y-clenched

and

rage

the wal

on

which

dores

The

lightin

windowe

thentree*

gastlyfor

al the gates ^ for

northren

The

and
streit,

69

tale.

steel,of which

burned

cam

it made

That

knightes

the

eterne,

(199")

endelong

tough; and, for to make it strong,

the temple to sustene,
Every piler,
1135
Was
tonne-greet, of iren brightand shene.
Ther
saugh I first the derke^ imagining
Of felonye,and al^ the compassing;
cruel ire,as" reed as any glede;
The
The
pykepurs;and eek^ the pale drede;
1140
The
smyler with the knyf under the cloke;
The
(2000)
shepne brenning with the blake smoke ;
of the mordring in the bedde ;
The
tresoun
With

The

iren

with

werre,

open

with

wound

es

al bi-bledde ;

and

sharp manace
;
1145
that sory place.
Al ful of chirkingwas
The
sleere of him-self yet saugh I ther,
hath bathed al his heer;
His herte-blood
The
nayl y-drivenin the shode a-night;
The
colde deeth, with mouth
gaping up-right. 1150
Amiddes
of the temple sat meschaunce,
With
disconfort and sory contenaunce.
{2010)
Yet saugh I woodnesse
laughingin his rage;
Contek,

E. Hn.

Cp.

blody knyf

the entree.
Cm.

vese;

E. Hn.

Cm.

E. Hn.

dirke.

HI.

Ln.

as

wese

gate.
; rest

o?7i.

; E.

Hn.

Ln.

E. Hn.

"

E. Cm.

veze;

HI.

Pt. dore

prise.
was.

om.
*

E.

Cm.

om.

{group a.)

70

knightes

the

tale.

compleint,outhees ^, and fiers outrage.

The
careyne in the bush^, with throte y-corve : 1155
A thousand
slayn,and nat ^ of qualm y-storve;
The
tiraunt,with the prey by force y-raft
;
The
toun
destroyed,ther was
no-thing laft.
Yet sawgh I brent the shippeshoppesteres
;
The
hunte strangled
with the wilde beres :
1160
The
freten the child rightin the cradel ;
sowe
The
cook y-scalded,for al his longe ladel.
(2020)
Noght was foryetenby the infortune of Marte;
Armed

The
Under

with

ful lowe

the wheel

Ther
The

over-riden

carter

his carte,
he

also, of Martes

were

harbour

*, and

the

lay adoun.

11

65

11

70

divisioun,

bocher, and

the smith

forgethsharpe swerdes on his stith.

And
al above, depeynted in a tour,
in greet honour,
Saw
I conquest sittinge
his heed
With
the sharpe swerde ^ over
Hanginge by a sotil twynes threed.
the slaughtre
of lulius.
Depeynted was
Of grete Nero, and of Antonius ;
Al be that thilke tyme they were
unborn,
Yet was
hir deeth depeynted ther-biforn.
By manasinge of Mars, rightby figure;
That

So

was

As

is

it shewed

in that

Cm.

E. alo7ie ins.

^
"

outes.
oon.

E.

Cp.

Ln.

busk;
^

1175

portreiture

depeynted in the sterres^ above,

Who
shal be slayn or elles deed for love.
ensample in stories olde,
Suffycethoon
I may
rekne hem
not
alle,thogh I wolde.
The
of Mars
carte
statue
a
stood,
up-on

(2030)

Cm.

E. Cm.

Pt. Ln. swerde ; rest swerd.

HI. sterres ; E. Pt. certres ; rest sertres.

bosch;

Hn.

1180

(2040)

Pt. bussh.

laborer ; rest barbour.

a.)

(group

And

loked

and

Armed,

grim

That

god

With

of

armes

figures

two

biforn him
of

rede, and

eyen

arrayedthus

was

ther stood

wolf

;
11

85

11

90

Puella, that other Rubeus.

oon

This

wood

were

shynen

71

clepedin scriptures,

sterres, that been

Of

he

as

ther

his heed

over

tale.

knightes

the

"

his feet

at

he

man

eet ;

pencel was depeynt^ this storie,

and of his glorie.
In redoutingeof Mars
the chaste
Now
to the temple of Diane
I wol me
I can
As shortly
as
haste,
al the descripcioun.
telle yow
To
sotil ^

With

(2050)

1195

Depeynted been the walles up and doun

chastitee.
Of hunting and of shamfast
Ther
saugh I how woful Calistopee,
Whan
that Diane
agrevedwas with here,
Was

turned

And

after

Thus
Hir

saugh
nat

mene

But

saugh

And

that his

Atthalante

Cm.

oni.

was.

1205

that

saugh
houndes

highteDane.
y-maked,

Diane
have

al naked
him
him

caught.

naught.1210

litel forther-moor.

hunted

the wilde
another

many

E. soutil.

^//peynted;
E.

Meleagre'^,and
sotyl;

see.

may

him, for that they knewe

How

ferre; (2060)

no

yow

men

hert

an

that he

peynted was

'

sterre, as

I Attheon

Yet

And

say

doughter,which

how

freten

can

Dane, y-turnedtil a tree,

the goddesse Diane,

vengeaunce

saugh

1200

Penneus

Ther
For

is eek

sone

bere,

the lode-sterre ;

maad

peynt^,I

it

to

womman

she

was

was

Ther

from

see\. 1191.

boor,

(2070)

mo,

,(4//depeynted{badly).

E. Hn.

E. Hn.

hise.

Meleagree.

{group A.)

72

Diane

which

For
Ther

whiche

The
This

goddesse

With

In

gaude

With

in

Pluto

Ther

Ful

for hir

gan

seyde, help,for

Wei

couthe

Now

The
Whan
But

he
a

was,

in

arwes

1220

(2080)

cas.

adoun,

1225

calle,

mayst best of alle.'

wroghte.

it

boghte.
listes maad, and Theseus,
the hewes

florin he

his grete

she

lyflythat

peynten

thise

been
at

clothed

thou

'

many

sone.

regioun.
hir biforn,
was
travailinge
child so longe was
unborn,

And

With

mone,

his derke

pitouslyLucyna

That

and

hye sect,
hir feet;

hadde

she ful lowe

hath

womman

But,

honde,

caste

eyen

statue

1215

memorie.

wanie

sholde

hir

grene

bowe

Hir

and

it was,

'^

woo.

storie,

to

al aboute

hir feet she

undernethe

Wexing

drawen

hert ful

an

houndes

smale

And

on

and

care

wonder

another

list nat

me

him

wroughte

I many

saugh

TALE.

KNIGHTES

THE

(2090)

arrayed thus

cost

1230

temples and the theatre every del,

it was
doon, him lyked wonder wel.
stinte I wol of Theseus
a
lyte,

1235

speke of Palamon and of Arcite.

The
day approchethof hir retourninge.
hundred
That everich sholde an
knightesbringe.
tolde ;
The
bataille to darreyne,as I yow

And

And
Hath

everich

of hem

Wel

armed

And

ther
sikerly,

That
'

til Athenes, hir

nevere,

So in the MSS.
E. couenantz.

for the

'^

covenant

for^

at

trowed

alle

man

sithen that the world

'

E.

Cp.
*

HI.

bigan,
^

Pt. ins. wel.

{.alone)

oin.

1240

knightes
(2100)
rightes.

many

holde,

hundred

broght an
werre

to

for.

^^

{group a)

74
With
^

His

the gyse

as

Ful

hye

hadde

longe heer

His
As

Twenty

and

hunten

The

Covered

whyte alaunts,

as

Arcita,in

torets

he

hertes

stories

steer,

(2150)

y-bounde,
fyledrounde.

in his route

sterne

as

1290

faste

mosel

lordes hadde

wel, with

any

the deer,

or

men

and

1295
stoute.

fynde,

bay, trapped in steel.

cloth of gold diapredwel,

stede

in

of armes,

ryding lyk the god

Cam

cote-armure

Couched
His

for-blak.

grete Emetreus, the king of Inde,

Up-on

His

with

golde,and

of

With

grete

as

him,

ful

Armed

1285

dyamaunts.

the leoun

at

hundred

An

gold,

any

bihynde his bak,

ther wenten

mo,

folwed

of

and

his char^

(2140)

gold arm-greet, of huge wighte,

brighte,
heed, set ful of stones

Aboute

Colers

1280

harnays,

brighteas

fether it shoon

Upon his
Of fyne rubies

And

longe.

of

wrethe

To

and

he,

stood

his

kembd

was

ravenes

any

stronge,

skin, col-blak,for-old.

beres

and

the trays.

over

nayles yelwe^, and

With

rounde

gold

in

boles

white

stoute

harde

armes

of

char

of cote-armure

In-stede

browes

in his contree,

was

up-on

foure

With

brode, his^

shuldres

And

his

on

^
grete, his braunes

hmes

His^

He

heres

kempe

tale.

knightes

the

sadel

E. hise.

Pt. Ln.

1300

Mars.

(2160)

of cloth of Tars,

was

perleswhyte and rounde and grete.

of brend gold newe
y-bete;

with
was

Hn.

yelwe;

E.

Colers; Cp. Coleres; E.

yelewe.
HI. Colerd;

Hn.

E. chaar.

Colered

Cm.

Colerid.
^

E. tc""rettes ;

Cp. HI.

torettes

{_better
ioxQ.\").

E. Hn.

stienie.

{group a.)
*

mantelet

Bret-ful

his shuldre

upon

of rubies

tale,

knightes

the

reede, as

hanginge
fyr sparklinge.

And

crispeheer Ijk ringes was

y-ronne,
the
that was
as
yelow, and glitered

His

nose

His

Hppes rotinde,his

His

fraknes

fewe

Betwixen
And

Of

heigh, his

was

as

and

leoun

he

was

sangwyn,

1310

y-spreynd,
somdel
blak y-meynd,
his lokingcaste.

twenty ^yeer his age

fyve and

sonne.

in his face

yelow
a

1305

brightcitryn,

eyen

colour

75

His

berd

was

wel

His

voys

was

as

bigonne
a

trompe

for

(2170)

caste.

springe;

to

1315

thunderinge.

Up-on his heed he wered of laurer grene

A gerlond fresh and lustyfor to sene.
Up-on his hand he bar, for his deduyt,
An
1320
egle tame, as eny lilyewhyt.
he with him there,
lordes hadde
hundred
An
hir gere,
Al armed, sauf hir heddes, in aP
(2180)
Ful richely
in alle maner
thinges.
For trusteth wel, that dukes, erles,kinges,
Were
1325
gadered in this noble compaignye,
of chivalrye.
For love,and for encrees
Aboute
this king ther ran
on
every part
*.
Ful many
leoun and lepart
tame
a
And
Been
Aboute
This
Whan

the

Sonday

pryme,

and

on

he

had

inned

He

festeth

E. Cm.

HI.

to

the citee

in the

some.

come

1330

alight.

toun

Theseus, this duk, this worthy knight, (2190)

And

lordes,alle and

thise

in this wyse

hem, everich

hem,

Pt. mantel.

in-to his

broght hem
and

in

doth
^

^
Cp. lepart
; E. leopard.

''

so

his

citee.

degree,

greet labour

"_ Brat-ful.

'^

1335
HI.

E. in ; Pt. after ; rest at.

om.

al.

[group a.)

*]6
To

hem^ and

esen

That
Of

noon

hem

doon

men

weneth

estat

ne

yet

tale.

knightes

the

that

coude

al honour,
^

mannes

no

amenden

wit

it.

the service at the feste,

minstralcye,
and leste,
to the moste^
The
1340
grete yiftes
The
riche array of Theseus
paleys,
the deys,
last up-on
Ne who
sat first ne
(2200)
best daunsinge,
What
ladies fairest been
or
best and singe,
dauncen
of hem
Or which
can

The

Ne

who

speketh of love :
felingly
the perche above,
sitten on
hggen on^ the floor adoun:

most

haukes

-What

houndes

What

al this make

Of

now

mencioun;

no

that thinketh
al^ theffect,

But
Now

The
When

if yow

leste.

day by

nat

nere

houres

with

two,

also.

Palamon

the larke,and

song

heigh corage
his pilgrimage
He
to wenden
on
roos,
Un-to
the blisful Citherea benygne,
I mene
Venus, honurable and dygne.
in hir houre
he walketh forth a pas^
And
the listes,
ther hir temple was,
Un-to
With

holy herte, and

doun

he

And

herte

soor,

Faireste

Doughter
Thou
^
3
"5
*

E.

E. Cm.

he

"^

HI.

seide

loi'e,and

gladere of

maner.

with
as

in ; rest

E. paas.
E. and seyde in this

the

E. Hn.

meeste

HI.

"^

E. with

on.

manere.

; Cm.

of.
Hn.

chere

(2220)

Venus,

Citheroun,

of

humble

1360

of^^ Vulcanus,

spouse

mount

"^

1355

shul here*.

ye

o
faire,
lady myn

of

to^

an

kneleth,and

And

'

'

Sonday night,er day bigan to springe, 1351

Palamon
the larke herde singe,
(2210)

Although it
Yet

the beste;

me

herkneth

the poynt, and

comth

1345

Cp. meste
Hn.

comth;

; rest most.

E. cometh.

ful ; rest and with.

of. '"* E. Cm.

Hi.

1365

of;

rest io.

{group a.)

piteeof

Have

Alias ! I

humble
have

ne

Theffectes
herte

Myn

My thought,and
al

Considere

harmes

Emforth

bhvreye;

nat

That

Ne

renoun

ne

I myn

up-on

(2230)

have

nat, but it may

To

victorie of

that I have

vertu

is

That,

1375

if yow

be,

chastitee ;

helpe.
to yelpe,
1380
to have
victorie,
(2240)
veyne glorie
ye

and

up

how, and

I recche

Your

sore,

my

me

doun.

fullypossessioun
dye in thy servyse;

Emelye, and
Fynd thou the manere

so

ne

blowen

armes

though

so

to-morwe^

nat

Of

For

with

for

armes

in this caas,

I wolde

have

fele^,

that I

servant

trewe

avow,

of

axe*

prisof

But

rewe

ahvay

werre

kepe noght
I

harmes

might, thy

make

Ne

what

seest

this,and

my

holden

And

So

1370

I shal for evermore,

wisly as

Of

helle;

of myn

torments

confus,that I can noght seye.

wele^
mercy, lady bright,that knowest

But

telle

so

am

As

at^ thin herte.

langage to

myne

may

Adoun,

smerte,

preyere

no

the

ne

to

bittre teres

my

tak myn

And

haddest

thilke love thou

For

77

tale.

kntghtes

the

bettre

hem,

lady in

my

myne

that Mars

be

in what

is

wyse.

be,

they of

or

1385

me,

armes.

god

of armes,

greet in hevene above.

list,I shal wel have my love.

1390

so

(2250)

wol

worshipeeveremo,
And
on
thyn auter, wher I ryde or go,
and fyresbete.
I wol doon
sacrifice,
if ye wol nat so, my
And
lady swete,
Thy temple

"
*

HI.
HI.

to.

aske.

Cjjj

hi

^gi

HI.

Ln.

to

mom.

Q^

1395

HI

fgi^

78

[group a)
Than

preye

That

Arcita

the

knightes

tale.

with

thee, to-morwe

spere

thurgh the herte here.

Thanne
rekke I noght, whan
I have lost my
Though that Arcita winne hir to his wyf.
This
Yif

is theffect and
me

Whan

Al

ende

love, thou

my

thorisoun^
sacrifice he

His
Ful

me

of my

blisful
doon

was

dide, and

lady dere.'

that

anon

laste the

of Venus

made

And

signe,wher-by that

his preyere

That

^,

his observaunces

statue

{2260)

of Palamon,

circumstaunces

atte

1400

preyere,

with alle
pitously,
telle I noght as now

But

lyf,

1405

shook,
he

took

that

accepted was

day.
For thogh the signe shewed
a
delay,
14 10
his bone; (2269)
Yet wiste he wel that grauntedwas
him hoom
And
with glad herte he wente
ful sone.
The
thridde houre inequal that Palamon
Bigan to Venus temple for to gon.
Up roos the sonne, and up roos Emelye,
141 5
And
to the temple of Diane
gan* hye.
Hir maydens, that she thider with hir ladde,
the fyrthey hadde^,
Ful redilywith hem
al
Thencens, the clothes,and the remenant
That
to the sacrifyce
longen shal ;
1420
The

fulle of meth

homes
lakked

Ther

Smoking

the

noght

to

^, as

doon

temple, ful

the gyse ;

was

hir

sacrifyse.

of clothes

faire,

Hir

Emelye with herte debonaire

body wessh with water of a welle;

But

how

This

she

dide hir ryte T dar

HI. thorisoun

E. Cm.

circumstaunce.

E. Cm.

Pt. HI.

ins. she.

E. ladde

Cp.

Pt. Ln.

; rest the orison

methe

; HI. meth

1425

telle,

nat

'

(orisoun).

; E. meeth

(2280)

observaunce.
; rest
; Hn.

haddc.
mede.

{group a.)
But

it be

him

But

it is

good a
brighteheer

Hir
A

were

of

coroune

wel, it

man

was

ook

grene

kindled

Un-to

Diane

chaste

To

Goddesse
Ful
As

of
a

many

keep

That

me

no

men

1430

(2290)

she

gan

mete.

bete,
biholde

may

thise bokes

1435

olde.

fyr,with pitouschere

spak, as
goddesse of
hevene

of the regne

Quene

were

cerial

she

bothe

whom

the

was

al;

ful fair and

Stace of Thebes, and

Whan

79

charge:
ben
at his large.
kempt \ untressed al;

Up-on hir heed was set

Two
fyreson the auter
And
dide hir thinges,as
In

tale.

heren

to

game

that meneth

To

knightes

thing in general;

any

yet it

And

the

ye

here.

may

the wodes

and

erthe and
derk

of Pluto

maydens, that

grene,

myn

see

and

is sene,

lowe,

1441

herte hast knowe

desyre, (2301)
thyn ire,

what I
yeer, and woost
and
fro thy vengeaunce

Attheon^

144^
aboghte cruelly^.
Chaste goddesse,wel wostow
that I
Desyre to been a mayden al my lyf,
Ne nevere
wol I be no
love ne wyf.
thou woost, yet of thy compaignye,
I am,
A mayde, and love hunting and venerye,
1450
in the wodes
And
for to walken
wylde,
And
noght to been a wyf, and be with chylde.
the compaignye of man.
Nought wol I knowe
(231
1)
Now
help me, lady,sith ye may and can.
For

tho

And

Palamon,

And

eek

This

grace

E.

that thou

thre formes

that hath

Arcite,that

kempd.

I preye
^

swich

loveth

thee

me

hast in thee.
love
so

with-oute

HI. Atheon.

to

me.

sore,

more,
^

HI.

trewely.

1455

{group A.)

8o
As*

sende

And

fro

love and
torne

me

al hir

And
Be
And

if

Or^

if my

be

destinee

sende

that

bittre teres

no

me

on

(2320)

grace,

1465

so,

of hem

oon

clene

Bihold,goddesse of
The

do

two,

desyrethme.

that most

him

me

hir

shapen

have

1460

desyr,
and hir fyr
another place;

in

wolt

thou

be

so

I shal nedes

That
As

love, and

turned

or

two;

hir hertes so,

bisy torment,

queynt,

hem

bitwixe

pees
awey

al hir hote

That

TALE.

KNIGHTES

THE

chastitee,
falle.

chekes

my

mayde, and kepere of us alle,

My maydenhode thou kepe and wel conserve,
And
whyl I live a mayde, I wol thee serve.'
Sin thou

art

fyresbrenne up-on the auter clere,

Whyl Emelye was thus in hir preyere;
But sodeinlyshe saugh a sightequeynte,
of the fyresqueynte,
For rightanon
oon

1470

(2330)

The

And
That

quiked agayn,
other fyr was

And

as

And

at

As

it

For
That

'

thise wete

which
she

so

ende

was

she

But

only

ne

sore

agast

wel

ny

And

ther-with-al Diane

Hn.
HI.

As

; rest

was

{only)As doth

wete

hath

E. And

brond

to

gan

crye,

she
to

1485

cryed,

here.

appere,

gan

rightas

in bond,
And.

and

pitee for

weep,

(2340)

oon;

signifyed;

it

And

bowe

anoon

Emelye,

was

for the fere thus

that it

al agon;

out-ran

mad,

wiste what

anon

whistelinge,
in hir^ brenninge, 1480

blody dropes many

were

1475

brondes

the brondes

For

With
*

queynt, and

it queynte, it made

doon

As

after that

and

"

an

; rest

in his.

hunteresse,
Or.
*

Pt. HI.

om.

hath.

82

(group a.)
If

that my

be

so

the

knightes

youthe

tale.

deserve,

may

that my

for to

might be worthy
Thy godhede, that I may been

And

Than
For

thilke peyne,

which

In

I thee to

preye

thou

thilke

For

routhe

yong

am

and

as

That

evere

was

reccheth

And

wel

I moot

up-on

with

And

wel

Of

thee,ne

fyr,

1525

desyr,

(2391)

smerte.

peynes

wost,

love offended

most,

al this

me

she

er

1535

endure,

wo

I sinke
me

withouten

or

flete.

hete,

mercy

hir in the

strengthewinne

I woot,

pyne.

thou

wher

I woot,

thyne,

thyn herte,

my

(2380)

lyves creature;

any

nevere

my

for

unkonning, as

she, that doth

Ne

in

was

I trowe, with

And,
For

that
wel

up-on

brendest

whylom

as

of

oon

thilke hote

and

sorwe

Have

rewe

serve

help

or

1540

place;

grace

(2400)

strengthenoght availle.
Than
in my
help me, lord,to-morwe
bataille.
For thilke fyr that whylom brente thee,
brenneth
As wel as thilke fyr now
me;
my

may

And

do

that I to-morwe

Myn
Thy

be

the

Of

soverein

and
travaille,

temple

wol

have

1545

victorie.

thyn
I most

be

the

!
glorie

honouren

alwey most labouren

1550
In thy plesaunce and in thy craftes stronge.
in thy temple I wol my
And
baner
honge,
(2410)
alle the armes
And
of my
compaignye ;
And
that day I dye,
un-to
evere-mo,
Eterne fyr I wol biforn thee fynde.
1555
And
I wol me
eek to this avow
bynde :
My berd, myn heer that hongeth long adoun,
any

That

place,and

nevere

yet

ne

felte offensioun

{group a.)
Of

rasour

of

nor

the

shere,I

And

ben

Now

lord,have routhe
^

Yif

me

The

thy trewe

The

ringeson

And

eek

the

the

whyl

servant

my

up-on

yive,

I live.

1560
sore,

sorwes

(2420)

thee namore.'

I aske
victorie,

preyere

wol

83

tale.

knightes

stinte of Arcita the stronge,

temple-dorethat honge,
dores,clatereden ful faste,
the

him

Of vi^hich Arcita som-what

the

agaste.

brighte,
it gan al the temple for to lighte
;
smel the ground anon
swete
up-yaf,
his hand up-haf,
Arcita anon
in-to the fyr he caste,
more
encens

fyresbrende

The
That
And
And
And
With

othere

The

up-on

rytes

mo

of Mars

statue

with that

; and

auter

atte

bigan his
he

1565

herde

(2430)

laste

hauberk

1570

ringe.

murmuringe
Ful lowe and dim, that sayde thus,'Victorie.'
1575
and glorie.
For which he yaf to Mars honour
thus with loye,and hope wel to fare,
And
his inne is fare.
un-to
Arcite anon
As fayn as fowel is of the brightesonne.
swich stryfther is bigonne
And
1580
rightanon
For thiike graunting,in the hevene above,
Bitwixe Venus, the goddesse of love,
(2440)
And
Mars, the sterne god armipotente,
That lupiter
was
bisy it to stente ;
Til that the pale Saturnus the colde,
1585
And

soun

That

knew

Fond

in his olde

That

he

As

sooth

so

manye

aventures

olde,

experiencean^ art,
ful sone
hath plesed every part.
is sayd, elde hath greet avantage,

In elde is bothe
^

of

and

wisdom

All insert the ; {read

victorie).
G

usage ;

1590
^

E. Pt. and.

[group a.)

84
Men

the olde

may

Saturne

anon,

be

Of

al this
dere

My

'My

cours,

Hath

his

(2450)

drede,

stryfand

stinten

at-rede.

noght

kynde,

stryfhe gan remedie fynde.

doughterVenus,' quod Saturne,
that hath so wyde for to turne,

more

than

power

woot

drenching in

is the

Myn
Myn
Myn

tale.

at-renne, and^

it that it is agayn

Al

'

to

knightes

the

any

the

see

1595

man.
so

wan

prisonin the derke cote ;

is the stranghng and hanging by the throte;1600
and the cherles rebelling,
The
murmure,
The
(2460)
groyning, and the pryve empoysoning :
and pleyn correccioun,
I do vengeance
Whyl I dwelle in the signe of the leoun.
1605
Myn is the mine of the hye halles,
is the

of the toures
and of the walles
falling
the carpenter.
or
Up-on the mynour
I slow Sampsoun in^ shaking the piler;
And
be the maladyes colde.
myne
The
derke tresons*,and the castes
1610
olde;
My lokingis the fader of pestilence.
Now
I shal doon
diligence
(2470)
namore,
weep
That
Palamon, that is thyn owene
knight,
Shal have his lady, as thou hast him hight.
Though Mars shal helpe his knight,yet nathelees
The

Bitwixe
Al

be

ther moot

yow
ye

noght

That

causeth

thin

am

Weep
Now

som

tyme

1616

pees,

complexioun,

swich

day

ayel,redy

thou namore,
wol

al

of

be

at

thy wille;

I wol

I stinten of the

HI. Pt. but ; rest and.

HI. in; rest om.

divisioun.

thy lust fulfille.'

goddes above,
'

E.
*

HI.

om.

the.

tresoun.

1620

{group a)

Venus, goddesse of love,

of

and

Mars,

Of

85

tale.

knightes

the

(2480)

pleynlyas I can,
that I bigan.
for which
grete effect,

And

telle yow,

The

tercia

Explicit

Greet

as

Sequitur

pars.

the feste in Athenes

was

pars

that

quarta.

day,

1625

of that May
lustyseson
in swich plesaunce,
Made
every wight to been
That al that Monday lusten they and daunce,
And
spenden it in Venus heigh servyse.
that they sholde aryse
But by the cause
1630
Erly,for to seen the grete fight,
hir reste wente
Unto
(2490)
they at night.
that day gan springe,
the morwe,
whan
And
on
Of hors and barneys,noyse and clateringe
the

eek

And

al aboute ;
es
hostelry
route
ther many
a
And
to the paleysrood
Of lordes,up-on stedes and palfreys.
Ther
devysingof herneys
maystow seen
and so riche,and wroght so weel
So uncouth
Ther

Of
The

in

was

of browding,and
goldsmithrie,
sheeldes

Gold-hewen
Lordes

in

of steel ;

testers, and trappures;

brighte,
helmes, hauberks,cote-armures
;

paraments

on

"

faste the

also

armurers

E. ins. the.

HI.

Gold-betcn

HI.

HI.

Girdyng.

Rayhyng.

1640

(2500)

hir courseres,

Knightes of retenue, and eek squyeres

Nailinge^ the speres, and helmes bokelinge,
Gigginge^ of sheeldes,with laynereslacinge;
need is,they weren
Ther
as
no-thingydel;
The
fomy stedes on the golden brydel
Gnawinge, and

1635

1645

{group A.)

86

Yemen

shorte

and

prikingeto

fote,and

on

With

hamer

fyleand

With

TALE.

KNIGHTES

THE

many

communes

staves, thikke

they

as

fro ;

1650

oon

goon;

may

Pypes, trompes, nakers^ clariounes,

That in the bataille blowen
;
blody sounes
The
paleys ful of peplesup and doun,
Heer
thre, ther ten, holdinghir questioun,
knightestwo.
Divyninge of thise Thebane
Somme
seyde it shal be
seyden thus,somme
helden

Somme

with the

the blake

with

him

with

Somme

1655

so

herd,

with the thikke

balled,somme

(2510)

herd; 1660

;
sayde,he loked grim and he wolde fighte
hath a sparthof twenty pound of wighte. (2520)
He
the halle ful of divyninge,
Thus
was
to springe.
gan
Longe after that the sonne
The
1665
grete Theseus, that of his sleepawaked
that was
and noyse
With
maked.
minstralcye
of his paleys riche,
Held
yet the chambre
Til that the Thebane
knightes,bothe y-liche

Somme

Honoured,
Theseus

Duk

into the

were

at

was

paleysfet.

window

set,

a
god in trone.
Arrayed rightas he were
The peple presseththider-ward ful sone

and

Him

for to

seen,

And

eek

herkne

An

heraud

to

on

doon

1670

(2530)

heigh reverence,

his best and

scaffold made

his sentence.
an

ho^,

1675

peple was y-do ;

he saugh the peple of noyse* al stillej
whan
And
he the mighty dukes wille.
Tho
shewed
lord hath of his heigh discrecioun
The
1680
destruccioun
Considered,that it were
Til al the noyse

of the

'

^
^

E, nakerers
E.

om.

the.

{wrongly).
*

E. Cm.

E. Hn.
the noyse

Pt.
of

00.

peple.

{group a.)
gentilblood,

To
Of

Wherfore,

that

his firste purpos

wol

87

tale.

the gyse

in this empryse

now

shapen

to

kkightes

fightenin

to

bataille

mortal

He

the

shul

they

(2540)

dye.

not

modifye.
of los of

lyf,
1685
No
shot, ne
maner
pollax,ne short knyf
Into the Hstes sende, or^ thider bringe;
Ne short swerd for to stoke,with poynt bytinge,
No
man
ne
drawe, ne here by his syde.
his felawe ryde
shal un-to
Ne no
man
1690
But o cours, with a sharp y-grounde spere ;
(2550)
Foyne, if him list,on fote,him-self to were.
No

therfor,up

man

peyne

And

he

that is

at

meschief, shal

be

take,

noght slayn,but be broght un-to the stake

That
shal ben
1695
ordeyned on either syde;
But thider he shal by force,and ther abyde.
if so falle^, the chieftayn be take
And
On
either syde,or elles sleen his make,
No
lenger shal the turneyingelaste.
God spede yow;
goth forth,and ley on faste. 1700
With
fight"your fille.
long swerd and with maces
Goth
now
your wey ; this is the lordes wille.' (2560)

And

The
So

loude

'God
He

peple touchede the hevene,

cryden^ they with mery '^ stevene
that is so good,
swich a lord,'
of

voys

save

wilneth

no

of blood

destruccioun

1705

'

the

melodye.
And
to the listes rit the compaignye
By ordinaunce, thurgh-outthe citee large.
Hanged with cloth of gold,and nat with sarge.
Up

'

E. Cm.

Cm.

HI.

'

Cm.

and

the trompes

gon

om.

ne.

E. Cm.

Ln.

ne.

; HI. cheuenten.

cheuynteyn; Cp. cheuentein

fight; Ln. fihten ; rest fighteth.

cryedyn;

E. cride.

''

E. murie.

E. be.

17

10

(group a)

88

knightes

the

duk

tale.

lyde,
Thebanes^
either syde ;
Thise two
up-on
after rood the quene, and Emelye,
And
after that another compaignye,
And
and other, after hir degree.
Of oon
And
thus they passen thurgh-outthe citee,
And
to the listes come
they by tyme.
of the day yet fullypryme,
It nas
not
Theseus
ful riche and hye,
Whan
set was
Ipolitathe quene and Emelye,

Ful

And

degrees aboute.
pressethal the route

the seetes

Arcite,and

eek

With

reed

baner

is entred

With

baner

In

al the

So

even

Ther
For

swiche

nere

That

nas

So

even

in two

Tho
Do

were

The
Now
E. Hn.

the gates
your

heraudes

doun,
1730

ne

Thebans;

dresse.

shet, and

cried

noon,
was

loude:
'

knightesproude!
prikingup and doun;

devoir,yonge

see

1.

1735

gesse.

everichoon,

were

ther

lefte hir

(2590)

seye,

age,

gyle were

ringen trompes
HI.

and

face.

avauntage

rad

names

now

and

chere

that coude

wys

of estaat,

in hir nombre

That

place,

they^ chosen, for to

renges faire they hem

that hir

Whan

in the

of other

worthinesse,ne

And

1725

variacioun,

so

Of

were

Marte,

compaignyes tweye.

noon

hadde

any

{2580)

Palamon

whyt, and hardy

world, to seken up

with-outen

ther

1720

rightanon;

Venus, est-ward

Is under

1715

of his parte,

the hundred

in that selve moment

And

(2570)

west-ward, thurgh the gates under

And

'

gan

ladies in

other

Un-to

lord this noble

lyk a

loude

and

1765.

'^

E.

clarioun ;
om.

they.

"'

740

(2600)
HI. Dooth,

{GROUP A.)

90
As

Palamon

KNIGHTES

THE

TALE.

sleen his foo Arcite.

to

The

lelous

strokes

on

hir helmes

Out

renneth

blood

on

bothe

Som
For

tyme
the

er

hir

the

un-to

sonne

This

Palamon,

And

made

And

by

hente

gan

in his flesh

depe

his swerd

in the

The

stronge king Ligurge is born

And

king.Emetreus,

But

al for

He

Palamon

eek

By force,and

sorweth

Who
That

moot

'

Ho

Arcite

of Thebes

ther is

loye

What

agayn

fighte.?
1795
seyn this sighte,

hadde

noyse

now

'

E.

rescus

echon

for it is don

hath

partye.

no

Emelye,
hir faire

1800

y-wonne.'

(2660)
peple bigonne
loude and heigh with-alle,
of

faire Venus

seith she now?

to

foghtenthus

shal have

of this,so

can

(2650)

caught,

was

Palamoun,

that the listes sholde

It semed

What

goon

his fortune

by

Anon
For

trewe

1790

woful

luge, and

be

the stake.

helpe naught;

that he

! namore,

I wol

That

him

that Theseus

cryde,

He

take;

were

broght to

but

now

the folk that

Un-to

adoun

by composicioun.

namore

whan

And

he

er

abyde, whan

moste

1785

strengthe,
swerdes lengthe.

noght, he was
hardy herte mighte

His

take

for al his

of his sadel

hitte him

byte; (2640)

to

of this Palamoun

rescous'

And

So

1780

the stake.

Unyolden, and y-drawe unto

out

dede;

wente,

the force of twenty is he

Is born

rede.

faught with Arcite,

he

as

sydes

reste

stronge king Emetreus

The

byte ;

ther is of every

ende

an

1775

what

; Pt. rescowe

falle.
doon

doth
; rest

above?

this quene
rescous.

1805
of love?

{group a.)
But

wepeth

for

so,

Til that hir

the

knightes

tale.

hir

wanting of

91

wille,

in the listes fille;

teeres

seyde: I am ashamed, doutelees.'

1810
Satumus
seyde: 'Doghter, hold thy pees.
hath his wille,his knight hath al his bone.
Mars
And, by myn
heed, thou shalt ben esed sone.' (2670)
The
trompes with the loude minstralcye,
The
heraudes,that ful loude yolle and crye,
Arcite.
in hir wele for loye of daun
Been
1815
and stinteth now
But herkneth
a
lyte,
me,
She

'

Which

hath

fierse^ Arcite

This
And

on

bifel

ther

miracle

for

courser,

And

she

him

agayn

(For wommen,
And
Out

she*

ground

Pluto

sent,

his

face,

largeplace,

1820

Emelye;

(2680)

frendlich ye,

in his herte.

chere, as

1825

furie^ infernal sterte.

requeste of Saturne,
for fere gan

his hors

which

y-don,

speken in comune,
favour of fortune),^

at

shewe

this^

al his

was

of the

From
For

al the

folwen

They

to

caste
to

as

of his helm

the

prikethendelong
Loking upward up-on

He

anon.

leep asyde,and

foundred

to

turne.

he

leep;
And, er that Arcite may taken keep,
He
pightehim on the pomel of his heed,
That
in the place he lay as he were
deed,
And

His
As

blak

So

was

Anon

'
3
^

brest to-brosten
he

lay as

the blood
he

was

with

out

ferse ; E. fierse.
E. Hn. Cm.
omit 11, 1823,
Cm.

or

of the

Cm.

E. furie ; Hn.

(2690)

crowe,

in his face.

y-ronnen

y-born

1830

his sadel-bowe.

cole

any

as

1824.

1835

place
^

E. Pt.

Hn.

om.

this.

she ; rest

furye; rest fyr,fir,fire,fyre;see

note.

om.

{group a)

92

tale.

knightes

the

Theseus

paleys.
of his harneys,
out
Tho
he corven
was
in a bed y-broughtful faire and blyve,
And
and alyve^,
For he was
yet in memorie
And
alvvaycryingafter Emelye.
Duk
Theseus, with al his compaignye,
With

herte soor,

to

1840

"

Is

hoom

comen

Athenes

alle blisse and

With
Al

to

his

citee,

greet solempnitee.

it that this aventure

be

(2700)

falle,

was

1845

noght disconforten hem alle.

Men
seyde eek, that Arcite shal nat dye,
shal ben heled of his maladye.
He
of another thing they were
as
And
fayn,
ther noon
alle was
of hem
That
y-slayn,
Al were
they sore y-hurt,and namely oon,
nolde

He

with

That

was

spere

thirled his brest-boon.

othere woundes, and

To

salves,and

some

herbes, and

eek

hadden

Some

of

Fermacies

broken

to

They dronken, for they wolde

For which this noble duk, as
and

Conforteth
made

And

revel al the

the straunge

Un-to

ther

Ne

honoureth

lustes

as

For

soothlyther was no
fallingnis nat but

For
Ne

to

be

lad with

Unyolden, and
O

persone

HI. Pt.

forth

man,

an

i860

(2720)

aventure;
the stake

1865

twenty knightestake,
mo,

by arme*^,foot,and

lyue.

can,

was

''

on

wel

have.

disconfiture,

fors un-to

with

hir limes

longe night,

allone,with-outen

haried

And

or

1855

right.
no
disconfitinge,
tourneyinge;

But

charmes,

save

every

lordes,as

holden

was

(2710)

armes.

hadden

he

1850

to,

E. Hn. Cm.

arm.

a)

{GROUP

footmen, bothe

With
It

Ther
For

which

The

gree

And

either

wel

as

and

rancour

of

envye.

syde

as

of

otheres

syde y-lyk as

(2730)

leet crye,

Theseus

duk

anon

stinten alle

To

1870

no

man

no

may

staves,

eek knaves,

and

yemen

93

vileinye,
clepen it^ cowardye.

aretted him

nas

forth with

his stede driven

eek

And

TALE.

KNIGHTES

the

other,

1875

brother;

after hir degree,

yiftes
And
fullyheeld a feste dayes three;
And
conveyed2 the kinges worthily
1880
lournee largely.
Out of his toun
a
the righteway.
And
hoom
wente
every man
far ^ wel, have good day !
but
Ther
was
namore,
Of this bataille I wol namore
(2741)
endyte,
And

yaf

hem

'

'

But

Swelleth

the brest

Encresseth
The

and

Palamon

speke of

Arcite, and

cf

his herte

at

and

more

blood, for

clothered

of Arcite.

any

the

sore

more.

lechecraft,

and is in his bouk

y-laft.
Corrupteth*,
That
nother veyne-blood,
ne
ventusinge,
ben his helpinge.
Ne drinke of herbes may
The
vertu
or
animal.
expulsif,
Fro thilke vertu
clepednatural,
the venim
Ne may
voyden, ne expelle.
to swelle.
The
pypes of his longes gonne
And

lacerte in his brest

every

Is shent

venim

with

1885

adoun

1890

(2750)

1895

corrupcioun.

and

gayneth neither,for to gete his lyf,

laxadf;
Vomyt upward, ne dounward
Al is to-brosten thilke regioun,
Him

hath

Nature
1

HI. ins.

no.

now

E,

no

dominacioun.

conuoyed.

E. fare.

1900
*

HI.

Pt.

Cornimpith.

{group A.)

94

ther
certeynly,

And

Fare-wel,phisyk!
al and

This

he

which

For

the

ber

after

that

wirche,

nat

dye,

moot

Emelye,

his cosin

was

(2760)

chirche.

to

man

that Arcita

sendeth

Palamon,

And

wol

nature

go

som,

TALE.

KNIGHTES

THE

dere

1905

seyde he thus, as ye shul after here.

'Naught may the woful spiritin myn herte

Than

Declare
To

poynt of alle my

To

yow

Sin

that my

aboven

Alias,the
That

Alias,the

Myn

hertes

with

Now

his

Fare-wel,my
And

For

love of

I have
Had
For
And

To

stryfand

in your

of

my

rancour,
and

servant

With

alle circumstaunces

That

is to seyn,

ne
Tyrwhittstipplied

'^

E. Cm.

what

cosin

Palamon

many

for my

wis my

lupiterso

have?

grave

1920

soule

(27S0)

tweye,

armes

herkneth

and

with

love of yow,

speken

in his colde

compaignye.
fo! myn
Emelye

me

God,

heer

to

men

any

swete

softe tak

asketh

what

love,now

Allone,with-outen

191 5

alias,my wyf!
of my
lyf!

lady,endere

is this world?

What

compaignye!

our

hertes queue!

Alias,myn

longe!

so

Emelye

alias,myn

Alias,departingof

(2770)

stronge,

peynes

suifred,and

have

deeth !

1910

lenger dure.

no

may

alias,the

I for yow

gost

creature,

every

lyf ne

wo!

most;

service of my

biquethethe

But

I love

lady,that

my

yow,

smerte

sorwes

day

I seye.
1925

a-gon,

lelousye^.
%yQ^

proprely,

trewely,

1930

trouthe,honour, and

knighthede,

; it is 7tot in the MSS.

Cp. lalousye.

^p^ p^

^W. and ; rest

om.

{group a.)

the

knightes

tale.

95

Wisdom, humblesse,

estaat, and

heigh kinrede,(2790)

al that

longeth to

that art,

Fredom,

and

So

lupiterhave

As

in this world

right now

So

worthy

loved

That

And

with
^

evere

Palamon,

fro his feet

cold

And

yet

The

vital

of

doon

That

dwelled

the
his

hadde

in his herte

the herte

on

his

His

laste word

His

spiritchaunged hous, and

cam

Therfor

he

mercy,

stinte,I

nat

can

1945

and

sore,

deeth.

failled breeth.

'

nevere,

(2S00)

overcome.

al ago.

felte

But

come

morC;

his eyen

caste

19^0

two

armes

syk

two, and

was

him

Dusked

As

faille gan,

his brest

to

was,

lyf.

wyf,

speche

with-outen
intellect,

lady yet

1935

gentilman.'

^, in his

when
faillen,

non

al his

strengtheis lost,and

the

Palamon,

wol

up

more-over

knowe

ne

as

deeth, that

Only
Gan

part,

shul been

ye

that word

The

soule

and

yow,

if that

Foryet nat
For

be

to

serveth

And

of my

his ye;

Emelye
wente

'

1950

ther,

(2810)

tellen wher.

divynistre;
Of soules fynde I nat in this registre,
Ne me
list thilke opiniouns to telle
ne
1955
Of hem, though that they wryten wher
they dwelle.
Arcite is cold, ther Mars his soule gye ;
Now
wol I speken forth of Emelye.
ShrighteEmelye, and howleth Palamon,
And

Theseus

his

Swowninge, and
What
helpethit
To

tellen how

E. And.

no

suster

bar^
to

she

E. HI. Cm.

nam

took

i960

anon

hir fro the corps

tarien forth the

bothe

weep,

herte.

eve

away.

(2820)

day,
and

morwe.?

All but HI. ins. for.

E. baar.

[group a.)

g6
For

in swich

Whan

knightes

wommen

for the

tale.

can

that hir housbonds

That

Or

cas

the

have

swich

from

hem

been

part they sorwen

more

sorvve,
ago,

1965

so,

elles fallen in swich

That

at

the laste

Infinite been

the

Of

olde

In

al the toun,

For

him

So

greet

Whan

maladye,
certeynly
they dye.

ther
a

Ector

folk

folk,and

and

sorwes

of tendre

for deeth

wepeth

weping

of this

bothe

teres

yeres,

noon

1970

Theban,

child and

ther

was

the

man

(2830)

certayn,

y-broght,al fresh y-slayn,

To
Troye ; alias ! the piteethat was ther,
Cracchingof chekes,rending^eek of heer.
Why woldestow be deed,' thise wommen
crye,
And
haddest gold ynough, and Emelye ?
No
man
mighte gladen Theseus,
Savingehis olde fader Egeus,
was

1975

'

'

'

That
As

knew
he

had

this worldes
it

seen

loye

after wo,

And

shewed

transmutacioun,
"

chaungen

and

after

wo

1980

up

and

doun,

(2S40)

gladnesse:

hem

ensamplesand lyknesse.
man,' quod he, 1985
Right as ther deyed nevere
That he ne livede in erthe in som
degree.
man,' he seyde,
Right so ther livede nevere
In al this world, that som
tyme he ne deyde.
This world nis but a thurghfare
ful of wo.
And
ben pilgrimes,
1 990
we
passinge to and fro ;
is an
Deeth
ende of every worldly^ sore.'
And
al this yet seyde he muchel
over
more
{2850)
To
this effect,ful wysly to enhorte
The
peple,that they sholde hem reconforte.
*

'

'

^
^
'"

HI.

can

; rest

om.

E. eek ; rest folk

Hn. chaungen ; HI. tome

E. Hn.

; rest

om.

Cm,

E. housbond

Pt. rentynge.
"
E. worldes.

is.

{group a.)

98

knightes

tale.

blake, y-dropped al with

clothes

In

the

teres

And, passing othere of weping, Emelye,

rewfulleste of al the

The
In

muche

as

more

Duk

Theseus

That

the service sholde

as

The

noble

leet forth three

thise

Up-on
Ther

seten

Another
The

Of brend
And

The

forth

Upon

slake

as

eyen

Thurgh-out the citee,by

That

sprad
of the

Right

the

Up-on
And

Al

syde

bony, milk,

Eek

Palamon,

And

after that

With

with
cam

fyr in honde,
do

^
^

HI.
E.

duk

and

weren

up.
HI. al ; rest

wonder

o??i.

hye

y-wrye.

Theseus,

gold wel fyn,

wyn;

2050

compaignye;

(2910)

Emelye,
that tyme

was

2045

Egeus,

the gyse.

servyse.

ful greet

apparaillinge

; rest om.

om.

(2900)

blood, and

woful
as

were

wete,

strete

old

of

2040

maister-strete,

the

thoffice ^ of funeral

that

and

ful greet

Heigh labour, and

^

rede

wente

vessels in hir hand

ful of

To

is al

rightbond

that other

on

With

same

bere,

blak, and

al with

was

after here.

the

the

2035

chere

that ther

carieden

sheeld,

Turkeys,
the barneys;

sorweful

Grekes

white,

heeld ;

eek

and

shul

ye

pas, and

his

bar

his bowe

with

pas

of the

shuldres

hir

him

(2890)

Arcite.

grete and

oon

the cas,

the grove,

nobleste

With

with

gold was

riden

Toward

bar

bringe,

in his hondes

up

2030

gliteringe,
^

weren

folk, of which
^

degree,

of daun

armes

stedes,that

his spere

thridde

the

be

stedes

steel al

in

with

covered

riche in his

and

trapped were

And

compaignye.

Ln.

So

E. Ln.

sitten.

slake ; }-est slak.

HI.

Cp. ;

rest

the office.

2055

{group a.)

tale,

knightes

the

99

the

at

the service and

And

fyr-makinge,
with his grene top the heven raughte,
^
straughte
;
twenty fadme of brede the armes

This

is

to

Was
That

Of

stree

seyn, the bowes

first ther

leyd ful

was

brode.

so

were

lode.

many

2060

highte,
how ^ the trees highte,
(2920)
eek the names
And
As 00k, firre,
birch, asp, alder,holm, popler,
lind,laurer,
Wilow, elm, plane,ash, box, chasteyn,
2065
Mapul, thorn,beech, hasel,ew, whippeltre,
feld ^, shal nat be told for me ;
How
they weren
the goddes ronnen
Ne how
up and doun,
But

the

how

maked

fyrwas

on

up

Disherited * of hir habitacioun.

in reste and
they woneden
vNymphes^ Faunes, and Amadrides;

which

In

how

Ne

for

how

the

Ne
That
Ne

'

how

to

wont

fyr was couched

with drye stokkes

And

than^

And

than*^ with

And

gerlandeshanging with

The

mirre, thencens, with al

Ne

how

Ne

what

Ne

how

Ne

with grene

Arcite

that

she

cloven

al
his

three,

spycerye,
with

ful many
so

2075

perrye,

flour.

greet odour;

2080

this,

(2940)

body is;

Emelye, as was the gyse,

fyr of funeral servyse;
swowned
^

HI. tharme.

E. Cm.

Nymphus.

'^

E.

stokkes

Cp.

stree,

gold and

lay among

richesse aboute

in the

how

cloth of

first with

and

wode

light,

bright;

"^

than

(2930)

falle;

sonne

the

seen

the
^

was

of the

was

And

Putte

ground agast

nat

was

the wode

fere,whan

Fledden

2070

alle

the briddes

the bestes and

pees,

whan

men

; 7-est stikkes.
H

fyr,2085

HI. Disheryt.
Pt. Ln. than ; rest thanne.
^
E. om.
the.
^

^hat.

the

made

E. fild.

[group a.)

]oo

Ne

what

she

Ne

what

leweles

Whan
how

of hir

And

cuppes

Into

the

Ne

how

what

hir

brente

that

and
as

with

caste,
faste ;

brente

sheeld,and

ful of wyn,

desyr;

fyr tho^

vestiments,whiche

the Grekes

hir

greet and

fyr v/as

fyr,that

tale.

was

in the

men

caste

som

And

knightes

spak, ne

that the

Ne

the

som

hir

they

were,

milk, and
it

huge

an

2090

blood.

wood

were

spere,

(2950)

route

Thryes^ riden al the fyr^ aboute

Up-on the left hand, with a loud shoutinge,
And
thryeswith hir speres clateringe
;
And
thryes how the ladies gonne crye ;
Ne
how
that lad was
hom-ward
Emelye ;
Ne how
Arcite is brent to asshen colde;
Ne how that liche-wake was
y-holde
the Grekes
Al thilke night,ne
how
pleye
The
ne
kepe I nat to seye ;
wake-pleyes,
Who
wrastleth best naked, with oille enoynt,
Ne who
that bar him best, in no
disioynt.
that they goon
I wol nat tellen eek how
whan
the pley is doon.
Hoom
til Athenes
But shortlyto the poynt than wol I wende,

2095

And

maken

By

of my

stinted is the

Of

Grekes, by

At

semed

Athenes,

To

have
^
^
'*

oon

me

up-on

with

place.

(2960)

2105

ende.
yeres

generalassent.
ther was
a
parlement
certeyn poynts and

2110

('^970)

cas;

poynts y-spoken was

certeyn

HI. tho ; rest om.

So all but HI., which
E.

an

by lengtheof certeyn
moorning and the teres

the whiche

Among

tale

and

processe

Al

Than

longe

2100

contrees

has

Thre
*

alliaunce,

tymes

E. Hn.

; see

And.

1.

2096.

2115

{GROUP A.)
And

have

For

which

Leet

fullyof

But

Thebans

this noble

senden

Unwist

K^TTGIITES

THE

after

of him

"

'"'YoT

obeisaunce.

Theseus

anon

gentilPalamon,

what

in his blake

TALE.

the

was

and

cause

why;

clothes

sorwefully
2120
He
at his comaundement
in hye.
cam
Tho
sente
Theseus
for Emelye.
(2980)
Whan
al the place,
they were
set, and bust was
And

Theseus

Er

word

any

His

abiden

he

And

with

And

after that

'

The

Whan

Wei
For

firste
he

Greet

sad

ther

that

space

his wyse
as

brest,

his

was

of the

moevere

2125

lest,

above,

cause

the faire

and
theffect,

wiste he

visagehe syked stille,

rightthus he seyde his wille.

first made

was

with

from

cam

sette

eyen

hadde

cheyne

heigh w^as

his

of

love,

entente

2130

why, and what ther-of he mente; (2990)

faire cheyne of love he bond

The

fyr,the eyr, the water, and the lond

In certeyn boundes, that they may
flee ;
nat
2135
That
same
prince and that^ moevere,'quod he,
Hath
stablissed -, in this wrecched
world adoun,
Certeynedayes and duracioun
To
al that is ^ engendred in this place.
Over the whiche
day they may nat pace,
2140
Al mowe
they yet tho dayes wel abregge;
Ther
needeth^
auctoritee allegge^,
non
(3000)
For it is preved by experience,
*

But
Than

'

Hn.

''

HI.

E.

that
may

me

list declaren
men

Ln. that ; rest

I.n. stabled.

Cp.

zW,

noght.

by

this ordre

{exceptHI.) that
^
"'"

HI.

sentence.

my

HI.

wel

; HI.

same

alle that

discerne,

er

tallegge;Hn.

;
to

2145

and

moeuere

alk

that beth.

Cp.
allegge;

Cm

eek.

I0

legge.

a.}
{g'r'o'up

i'o2

thilke

That
Wei
That
For

nature

Of

knowe,

it be

but

part deryveth^from

every

hath

tale.

stable is and

moevere

men

may

knightes

the

fool,

his hool.

take^ his biginning

nat

cantel of

partye ne^

eterne.

thing,
is and stable,
But of a thing that parfit
Descending so, til it be corrumpable.
no

2150

(3010)

therfore of his wyse

purveiaunce,
He
hath so wel biset his ordinaunce,
That
speces of thingesand progressiouns
Shullen endure
by successiouns,
And
nat eterne
be, with-oute iye^:

And

This

understonde

maistow

the 00k, that hath

'Lo

and

seen

at

2155

eye.

long a norisshinge
Fro tyme that it first biginnethspringe,
2160
hath so long a lyf,as we
And
see,
may
Yet at the laste wasted is the tree.
(3020)
Considereth eek, how that the harde stoon
Under
our
feet,on which we trede and goon,
Yit wasteth it,as it lythby the weye.
2165
wexeth
brode river somtyme
The
dreye.
so

'

The

grete tounes^

Than
*

may
Of

man

That

nedeth

This

is to

ye

see

in

and

wane

that al this

see

and

we

womman
oon

seen

wende.

thinghath ende.
wel also,
we

of thise termes

two,

2170

seyn, in

youthe or elles age,

ben
He
moot
deed, the king as shal a page;
Som
in his bed, som
in the depe see,
in the largefeeld,as men
Som
se.
may
Ther
helpethnoght, al goth that ilke weye.
^

E.

HI.

So

dirryueth.
ne

E. Hn.

"

Cm.

HI. Ln. take ; rest taken ; E. Cm.

Pt. or of.

HI. ; rest eterne, with-outen

E. toures.

any

lye.

(3030)

2175
om.

E. it.

nat.

[group a)
Thanne

knightes

the

tale.

103

that^ al this

I seyn

thing moot
deye.
What
maketh
this but lupiterthe king?
of alle thing,
The
which ^ is princeand cause
Converting al un-to his propre welle,
which it is deryved, sooth to telle.
From
2180
And
on
lyve
here-agaynsno creature
Of no
degree availleth for to stryve.
(3040)
'

may

Thanne

To

is it

maken

wisdom,
of

vertu

it thinketh

as

necessitee,

And

take it

wel, that

And

namely

that

And

who-so

grucchethought, he

And

rebel is

to

him

to

me,

nat
may
alle is due.

we

us

eschue,

doth

that al may

2185

folye,

gye.

hath most
honour
a
man
certeinly
To
dyen in his excellence and flour,
2190
Whan
he is siker of his gode name
(3049)
;
his freend, ne
hath he doon
Than
him, no shame.
And
gladderoghte his freend ben of his deeth.
with honour
Whan
up-yoldenis his breeth.
his name
whan
Than
apalledis for age;
2195
For al forgetenis his vasselage.
Than
is it best, as for a worthy fame,
And

To

dyen

that he

whan

is best of

name.

contrarie of al this is wilfulnesse.

The

W'hy grucchen we } why have we hevinesse,

flour
That
good Arcite,of chivalrye^

Departed is,with
of this foule

Out

Why
Can

and

prison of

grucchen heer
he

hem

E. Cm.

HI. whan

thank?
that.

om.

nay,
^
*

man.

(3060)

honour

this

his cosin

his wel-fare that loved

Of

'

duetee

2200

lyf.?

and

his

wyf

wel ?

hem

so

God

woot,

never

2205
a

So HI. ; rest That.

HI. Cp. Pt. Ln. ins. the.

del,

[GROUP A.)

I04

And

hir lustes

yet they mowe

'What

I conclude

may

after

But

eek

his soule and

bothe

That

I rede

wo

TALE.

KNIGHTES

THE

be

offende,

amende.

nat

of this
to

us

hem-self

longe serye,
2210

merye,

lupiterof al his grace?

that we
And
er
departen from this place,
I rede that^ we
two,
make, of sorwes
O parfytloye,lastingevere-mo
:
thanken

And

loketh

And
Ther

wol

wher

now

and

2215

biginne.
fulle assent,

this is my

'

her-inne,

is

sorwe

first amenden

we

Suster,'
quod he,

'

most

(3070)

thavys heer of my parlement.

knight,
gentilPalamon, your^ owene
with wille,
serveth yow
herte,and might,
al

With
That
That
And

hath

evere

That

shul,of you

ye

And

taken

Leen^

doon, sin that ye first him

him

me

see

now

Sin

he

hath

him

grace, up-on

hond, for this is

re

knewe,
we,

(3080)

for lord:

and

for housbonde

youre

Lat

re

acord.

our

of your

wommanly pitee.
He
is a kinges brother sone, pardee;
a
And, though he were
povre bacheler,
had

And
It

moste

served

for yow
been

so

yow

considered,leveth

gentilmercy oghte to
Than
seyde he thus to
trowe

To
Com

make

By
'

yow

neer,

Bitwixen
That

ther nedeth

and

hem

maad

highte matrimoine

HI. that ; rest

om.

and
-

me;

2230

right.'

passen

ful

Palamon

this

to

tak your

al the counseil

yeer,

right; (3090)

litel sermoning

assente

was

2225

greet adversitee,

so

For

'I

many

2220

E.

thing.
the

lady by
anon
or

the

thyn.

the

hond.'

bond,

mariage,
baronage.
''

TTn. T.een ; rcsf Lene.

2235

(Group

Here

the

biginneth
and

Was

thilke

Sin

ladde

of

large

Three

kyn ^, and

Ful

sooty

she

which

Of

poynaunt

Hir

dyete

ne

made

dyete

was

Repleccioun
Attempree
And

exercyse,

The

goute

^
^

E.

Cm.

E. keen;

lette

stape
Hn.

many
neded

hir

; Ln.

HI.

10

Malle.

hir

halle,

sclendre

meel.

hir

hir

deel.

throte;

15

cote.

syk;

phisyk,

suffisaunce.

; rest

Cp. kyn.

highte

nevere

no-thing

stoupe

that

(4019)

two.

namo,

thurgh

hir

al

sente,

and

never

to

hir

hir

eek

and

hertes

and

doghtren

sheep

accordant

was

wyf,

rente

she,

passed

morsel

deyntee

tale,

my

yow

hir

eek

hir

sauce

dale.

God

as

hour,
ful

eet

cotage,

hir

such

eek

hir

was

In

No

sowes

(4011)

age,

simple lyf,

hadde

Three

in

last

was

hir- self, and

fond

She

in

'tafeland

housbondrye,

By

Pertelote.

narwe

telle

ful

hir

was

I
she

that

day

litel

in

which

of

pacience

For

stope^

Cok

the

of

Tale

and

"^^stondyng

grove

widwe,

This

In

Preestes

dwelling

whylom

Bisyde

Nonne

somdel

widwe

povRE

in

Chauntecleer

Hen,

edition.)

Six-text

the

1-4636

11. 401

B,

TALE.

PREESTES

NONNE

THE

for

to

stope.

daunce,
-

E.

20

greue.

(group b.)
Ne

poplexye^shente

No

wyn

Hir

bord
and

Milk

served

was

and

she

(4031)

were

and

which

she

fond

an

ey

or

blak,
lak,

no

tweye,

25

deye.

maner

reed;

ne

whyt

somtyme

it

as

was

107

heed;

with

most

breed, in

broun

Seynd bacoun,
For

hir

nat

tale.

she, neither whyt

drank

ne

preestes

nonne

the

yerd she hadde, enclosed al aboute

With
stikkes,and a drye dich with-oute,
she hadde
In which
a
cok, hight^Chauntecleer,
A

of

al the land

In

vois

His

crowing

Wei

sikerer

Than

By

is

his

was

clokke,

knew

nature

he

crowing

or

an

ech

30

(4041)

merye'*orgon

chirche

in the

messe-dayes that

On

the

than

merier^

was

his peer.

nas

in his

gon;

logge,

abbey orlogge.
ascencioun

35

equinoxialin thilke toun;

For whan
degreesfiftene were ascended,
Thanne
crew
he, that it mighte nat ben amended.
redder than the fyn coral,
His comb
was

Of"

And

it

as
batailed,

bile

His

Lyk

blak, and

was

his

were

asur

were

castel-wal.

40

the leet"^ it shoon

as

his

legges,and

toon

(4051)

nayleswhytter than the lilie flour,

And
lyk the burned^ gold was his colour.
in his governaunce
This gentilcok hadde
al his plesaunce,
Sevene hennes, for to doon

His

Whiche

were

wonder

And

whiche

Of

his

lyk to him,

E. Hn.

Napoplexie;

E. Hn.

E. Cm.

heet ; rest that

murie.

"

E. Ln.

hts. the.

**

-p

HI.

rest

"'

Cp.

and
as

the faireste hewed

Pt. Ln.

sustres

Ne

knew
^

bumischt.

his paramours,
of colours.
on

hir throte

poplexie.

hight.
HI.

45

HI.

"

E. Hn.

Cm.

murier.

he ; E. Pt. he crew
\ rest he knew,
geet ; Pt. Ln. gete.

[group b.)

io8

the

nonne

preestes

tale.

clepedfaire damoysele Pertelote.

50
Curteys she was, discreet,and debonaire,
(4061)
And
compaignable,and bar hir-self so^ faire,
Sin thilke day that she was
seven
night old.
That
trewelyshe hath the herte in hold
Was

Of

Chauntecleer

He

loved

But

such

Whan
In

'

Sat

next

This

Chauntecleer

whan

What
Ye

agast, and

eylethyow,
ben

And

he

I pray

thus

answerde

By God,

throte,

herde

him

herte

deere.

in this

grone

sore.

rore.

manere

70

(4081)

that
mette

me

in his

65

fy for shame!'
sleper,
and seyde thus, madame,
:
ye take it nat agrief

verray

yow,

'

(4071)

halle,

is drecched

seyde,
to

60

Pertelote,

gronen

gan

that Pertelote

was

in the

this faire

sat

in londe.'

alle

wvves

was

that in his dreem

man

And
She

him

springe.

to

understonde,

his

amono;

And

As

perche,that

his

on

in

singe,

speke and singe.

^
daw^enynge,

coude

bifel,that

Chauntecleer

hem

gan

I have

as

briddes

so

here

55

therwith.

was

lief is faren

accord, my
and

him

it to

w^as

lith ;

every

brightesonne

thilke tyme,

And

As

loye

that the

Bestes

in

hir so, that wel

swete

For

loken

"*

meschief

in swich

was

Right now, that yet myn herte is sore afright.

Now
rede
God,' quod he, my swevene
aright,
And
keep my body out of foul prisoun!
^

'

Me

Wilhinne
Was
'

how

mette,

lyk

our
an

that I romed

yerde, wher
hound,

and

as

up
I

wolde

HI. fal.

"

E.

E. lln. recche ; Cm.

thoughte.

cni. Ln.

75

and

saugh
ban

bigan.

doun
a

beste.

maad

arcste
"'

reche ; rest

80

E. Pi. the.

rede,reed.

{group b.)
Upon

the

wolde

body, and

my

tale.

preestes

nonne

yelwe

bitwixe

bad

ban

deed.

me

colour

And

tippedwas his tail,and botbe bis eres

of his heres ;
blak, unlyk the remenant
snowte
smal, with glowinge eyen tweye.
of his look for fere almost I deye ;

With
His

Yet

(4091)

reed ;

and

His

was

109

85

groning,douteles.'
Avoy ! quod she, fy on yow, herteles !
above,
Alias ! quod she, for,by that God
This

caused

me

my

'

'

'

'

ban

Now
I

'

love

nat

can

certes, what

We

alle

desyren,if

To

han

housbondes

secree,

Ne

him

Ne

noon

and

That

any

Have

ye

and

ofte

conne

humours

Certes

this

Of

Of
^

for shame

95

above
unto

love,

youre

youre

vanitee,in

but

wot,

agast of swevenis

been

ye

been

dreem,

of the-

Cometh

fool,

tool,

that God

by

free,

and

rede

causeth

E. Hn.

Cm.

100

(41n)

is.

sweven

in

habundant

to

which

ye

han

met

wight.

and

om.

105

to-night,

grete superfluitee

colera^pardee.
folk

to

in here

dremen^

dremes

fyr with rede lemes,

grete bestes,that they wol hem byte,

arwes,

engendren of replecciouns.
of fume, and of complecciouns,

Whan

Which

mighte be,
hardy,wyse,
nigard,ne no

thing mighte make yow aferd ?

mannes
no
herte,and han a herd

Swevenes

Of

no

sayn

No-thing,God
And

seith,

it

avauntour,

dorste ye

90

(4101)

feith.

womman

any

that is agast of every

How

Alias!

so

love ;

al my

and

coward, by my

For

And

herte

lost myn

ye

of

wolde.
^

E. Hn.

Cm.

"

^,^

dreden.

^^^

^^^

no

(4121)

j^^^ greet.

[group b.)

no

tale.

preestes

nonne

the

whelpes grete and lyte;

of malencolye
Right as the humour
in sleep,to crye.
ful many
Causeth
a
man,
For fere of blake beres, or boles blake ^,
contek,and

Of

Or

elles,blake

Of

othere

But

I wol

Lo

Catoun,

sleep ful

in

man

as
lightly

as

passe

I telle^Iso,

coude

many

which

that

was

do

no

Seyde he nat thus, ne

Now, sire,'
quod she,

'

115

take.

him

wole

develes

humours

werken

That

of

whan

wo

can.

wys

so

man,

120

.?

fors of dremes
flee fro the

we

(4131)

bemes,

laxatyf;
Up perilof my soule, and of my lyf,
the beste, I wol nat lye,
I counseille yow
That
both of colere,and of malencolye
Ye purge yow ; and for ye shul nat tarie,
apotecarie,
Though in this toun is noon
Goddes

For

I shal
That

shul ben
in

The

whiche

To

herbes

my-selfto

And

our

purgen

tak

love, as

for your
tho

yerd

techen

for your

the

Ne

eek

above.

Or
A

and
^

repleetof humours
dar wel leye a grote,

nat

if it do, I

That

shul have

ye
an

agu, that may

day

So E. Hn.

or

Cm.

boles.
E. ye ; rest

we.

two

!
135

in his ascencioun

sonne

fynde yow

And

130

(4141)
fynde,
pcopretee, by kynde,

love
Forget not this,for Goddes owene
Ye been
ful colerik of compleccioun.
Ware

prow;

shal I

binethe, and

yow

125

yow,

hele,and

herbes

of here

han

som

ye

; HI.

fevere
be

Cp.

terciane,

youre

shul have

bote ;

bane.

digestyves

of beres and

of boles ; Ln.

140

(415
0
Pt. of beres

{group B.)

take

Of

wormes,

Of

lauriol,centaure, and

Or

elles of ellebor,that

Of

catapuce,

Of

erbe

ye

laxatyves,

your

fumetere,

groweth there,

of gaytres ^

or

beryis,

Dredeth

; I

dreem

no

can
'

Though
By God,

That

That

al the

of

drede,

rede

moot

155

thee,

by experience.

significaciouns,

ben

loye

to

of this sentence,

seyn

founden

wel

for

bokes

so

was,

revers

dremes
wel

As

Catoun

evere

renoun,

of auctoritee

more

man,

(4161)

Catoun,

dremes

no

lore.

of your

mercy

gret

in olde

may

men

han

And

bad

that he

many

Than

such

of wisdom

hath

namore/

yow

say

Madame,' quod he, graunt

But natheles,as touching daun
'

Of

145

growing in our yerd, that^ mery is;

in.
and ete hem
up right as theygrowe,
housbond, for your fader kyn !

mery,

That

Ill

yve,

hem

Pekke
Be

er

tale.

PREESTES

NONNE

the

'^

as

tribulaciouns

That

folk enduren

in

Ther

nedeth

of this

make

this

(4171)

lyf present.

The

verray

Oon

of the gretteste auctours

preve

160

sheweth

argument;

noon

it in
^

dede.
that

rede

men

whylom two felawes wente

in a ful good entente;
On
pilgrimage,
And
into^ a toun,
happed so, thay come
Wher
ther was
swich congregacioun
as
Of peple, and eek so streit of herbergage.
That
they ne founde as muche as o cotage,
Seith thus, that

Cp. Ln. gaytres ;

Pt. gatys.
2
Ln. that; Hn.

E.

gaitrys;

they;

rest

Cm.

E. Hn,

coomen

in ; Cm.

gaytrys
^

ther.

autourys; HI. auctorite

Hn.

; rest

comyn

in.

; HI.

Cp,
{sic),

E. Cm,

auctour

gaytre

; Cm.

Ln.

HI.

165

170

gattris
;
ins, of.

112

(group

B.)

TALE.

PREESTES

NONNE

THE

(41Si)

they bothe mighte y-logged^be.

Wherfor thay mosten, of necessitee,
As for that night,departencompaignye ;
ech of hem
And
goth to his hostelrye.
took his loggingas it wolde falle.
And
of hem
That
was
oon
logged in a stalle,
of the plough;
Fer in a yerd, with oxen
That other man
was
logged wel y-nough,
his aventure, or his fortune,
As was
which

In

175

How

governeth alle as in commune.

so
day,
that,long er it were
bifel,
in his bed, ther as he lay,
mette
man
that his felawe gan up-on him calle,

And

seyde,

That
And
This

180

us

alias ! for in

"-

an

(4191)

stalle

oxes

ther I

lye.
dere brother,or I dye;
Now
to me,' he sayde.
In alle haste com
of his sleepfor fere abrayde;
out
This man
of his sleep,
wakned
that he was
But whan
turned him, and took of this^ no
He
keep;
This

night I
help me,

thoughtehis

Him
Thus
And

mordred

shal be

dreem

nas

but

twyes in his slepingdremed

atte

thridde tyme

190

(4201)

vanitee.

185

he.

yet his felawe

thoughte,and seide, I am now slawe ;

Bihold my bloody woundes, depe and wyde !
195
Arys up erlyin the morwe-tyde.
at the west
And
gate of the toun,'quod he,
*A carte ful of donge ther shallow see.
In which my
body is hid ful prively;
200
Do thilke carte arresten
boldely.
1)
(421
My gold caused my mordre, sooth to sayn ;
tolde him every poynt how he was
And
slayn,

Com,

as

'

him

'

E.

logged.

jjl. Cp. Ln.

oxe.

E. it.

114

{group b.)
Mordre

is

the

wlatsom

so

God, that is

To

he

That

it

Though
Mordre

wol

ne

and

two,

or

yeer,

^
out, this my

wol

resonable,

suffre it heled

nat

abyde

abhominable

lust and

so

tale.

preestes

nonne

be ;

235

three,

or

conclusioun.

^, ministres of that

And

rightanoon

Han

hent

And

eek

That

thay biknewe hir wikkednesse anoon,

were
an-hanged by the nekke-boon.

And

the hostiler

Here

'

the carter, and

certes, in the

And

men

For

pyned.
engyned,

book

same

been

to

drede.

rede,

nexte

certeyn cause,

If that the wind

ne

That

in

made

hem

in-to

hadde

ful mery

245

fer contree,
been

contrarie,

citee for to

240

(4251)

chapitreafter this,
nat, so have I loye or^ blis,)
that wolde han passed over
see,

the

Right in
(I gabbe
Two

sore

him

sore

that dremes

seen

men

may

so

so

toun

tarie,

250

haven-syde.
(4261)
But on
a
day, agayn the even-tyde,
The
wind gan chaunge,and blew rightas hem leste.
hir reste,
un-to
lolif and glad they wente
ful erly for to saille;
hem
And
casten
255
That

stood

But^

to

That

oon

Him

that

And
And
Thou
He

man

fel

greet mervaille.

hem, in slepingas
wonder

he

lay,
the

day;
stood by his beddes
thoughtea man
syde,
260
him comaunded, that he sholde abyde,
wende, (4271)
seyde him thus,'if thou to-morwe
ende/
tale is at an
shalt be dreynt; my
mette

Him

of

00

an

upon

wook, and

agayn

tolde his felawe

'

Cp. Pt.

HI. ins. the,

All here ins. herkneth

Ln.

dreem,

III. ins. is

what

he

mette,

{perhapsrightly).
^

(herken).

Cp.

Ln. and.

b.)

{group

the

tale.

preestes

nonne

115

preyde him his viagefor* to lette;

As for that day, he preyde him to abyde^.
265
His felawe,that lay by his beddes syde,
Gan
for to laughe,and scorned him ful faste.
No
dreem,' quod he, may so myn herte agaste.
I woi lette for to do my
That
thinges.
I sette not a straw
by thy dreminges,
270
but vanitees and lapes.
been
For swevenes
(4281)
dreme
Men
al-day of owles or of apes,
And

'

'

of many

And

eek

Men

dreme

But

sith I

thingthat

of

thus for-sleuthen

God

wot

And

thus he

But

it reweth
took

shal.

ne

was

wolt heer

abyde,
thy tyde,
wilfully
; and have good day.'

me

leve,and

his

wente

275

his way.

y-seyled,
it eyled, 280
I nat why, ne what mischaunce
the shippesbotme
(4291)
rente,
casuelly
hadde

that he

er

Noot

nevere

that thou

see

And

But

therwithal ;

mase

halfe his

cours

wente
under the water
ship and man
In sighteof othere shippesit byside,
That with hem
tyde.
seyledat the same
And
therfor,faire Pertelote so dere,
By swiche ensamplesolde maistow lere,

And

285

That

sholde been

man

no

dremes, for

Of

That

dreem

many

I sey

to

recchelees

thee,doutelees,
ful

sore

is for to drede.

lyfof seint Kenelm, I rede,

That was
Kenulphus sone, the noble king
Kenelm
mette
Of Mercenrike, how
a
thing;
A lyteer he was
mordred, on a day,
'

His
1

Lo,

in the

mordre

E. Hn.

HI.

=*

HI. eke

'

E. ins. yet.

in his avisioun he

07n.

; rest om.

Cp.
I

(4301)

say.
^

for; cf.1. 255.

*

290

Pt. him

E. Hn.

; Ln. hem

byde.
; HI. then

Il6

{GROUP B.)
him

expouned

His

norice

His

swevene,

For

traisoun; but

bad

and

for to
but

nas

therfore litel tale hath

And

Of

dreem,

any

I hadde

By God,

yeer

his

Dame

old,

sherte

my

300

(43")

I.

his

rad

had

ye

wel

herte.

legende,as have
Pertelote,I sey yow trewely,

That

him

kepe

told

than

levere

295

seven

he

holy was^

so

del

every

him

he

TALE,

PREESTES

NONNE

THE

Macrobeus, that writ the avisioun

worthy Cipioun,

of the

Affrike

In

seith that

dremes, and

Affermeth

thingesthat

of

Warning

dremes

If he

held

Reed

eek

Wher

dremes

Warning
of

Loke

of

Wher

rede

Mette

ben

felte
seken

noon

actes

of dremes

many
that

Cresus, which
he

(I sey

somtyme

nat

"^

his boteler

and

wol

May
Lo

ther shul ye

Joseph,and

they ne
so

'

vanitee.

any

that he

sat

'

see

alle)

nat

How

he
signified

that the

also,

effect in dremes.

E. is ; rest

Cm.

E. Adromacha.

Ln.

Ector

315

of

sondry remes,
wonder
a
thing.
of Lyde king,
was

upon

tree,

sholde

lyfof

(4321)

Pharao,

anhanged be ?
Ectores wyf,
Lo heer Andromacha^
That day that Ector sholde lese his lyf,
the same
She dremed
on
night biforn,

Which

310

after falle.

thingesthat shul
Egipt the king, daun

Who

seen.

loketh wel

yow

of

bakere

His

305

testament, of Daniel,

the olde

In

after

men

forther-more, I pray

And

they been

sholde

be

lorn,

was.

boteler; Pt. botelere; E. Hn.

butiller.

320

(4331)

{group b.)
If thilke

he

day

He

v/ente

But

for

he

it is ny

ShortlyI

That
For

I seye

let

Of

whan

For

ben

Ye

the
is

That

it

with

And

he

Roial

^
*
^

Hn.
E.

"^

had
he

hadde.

gan
a

was

Hn.
"^

Cm.
Cm.

Cm.

is

345

"

al his blis.

350

hem

corn,
namore

fro the beem.

alle ;

for

lay in

calle,

to

the

yerd.

355

aferd ;

venvmes.

(4361)

dreem.'

and

his hennes

eek

he

E. Hn.

and

fley^doun

he

and

he

dyen

to

340

(4351)

yen,

youre

sweven

founde

was,

Cp. diffye.
Cm.

large grace ;
of your face,

of solas

and

bothe

chuk

And,

E. Hn.

loye

loye

day,

was

stinte al this ;

blis,

of this Latin

with that word

And

del.

;
confusio

mannes

defye^

335

principio,

sentence

ful of

so

am

For

In

as

est hominis

Womman

me

for

drede

al my

Madame,

sent

the beautee

see

For, also siker

Mutter

scarlet-reed about

so

It maketh

For

hath

thing God

it^ wel ;

nevere

have

so
Pertelote,

Madame

store,

mirthe, and

of

speke

us

(4341)

forther-more,

love hem

defye^, I

Now

330

conclusioun,

laxatyvesno
venimous
^, I woot

ben

dvvelle.

nat

telle of

ne

they

I hem

I may

of this avisioun

Adversitee; and

'

for

I shal han

That

long to telle,

to

day,

as

seye,

availle ;

nat

of Achilles.

slayn anoon

was

eek

And

mighte

325

fightenatheles,

to

thilke tale is al

But

it

but

him,

warned

She

117

bataille;

in-to

wente

tale.

preestes

nonne

the

Cp.

Pt. Ln.

right.

fley; E. fly; HI. Cp. fleigh.

Ln. Royal ; rest Real ; but see 1. 364.

{group b.)

ii8

loketh

He
And

it

as

his toos^ he

on

deyned^ not
chukketh, whan

Him
He
And

him

to

Leve

he

hath

y-founde,

corn

in his

360

grounde.(4371)
alle.

his wyves

prince is

halle,

in his pasture;

I this Chauntecleer

365

I telle his aventure.

the world

in which

that the month

Whan

doun,

and

up

his foot to

sette

thanne

after wol

And

rometh

to

rennen

roial,as

Thus

grim leoun;

were

tale.

preestes

nonne

the

bigan,

highteMarch, whan God first maked

Was
also,
complet,and y-passed were
Sin March
dayes and two^,
bigan,thritty
Bifel that Chauntecleer, in al his pryde,
His seven
walking by his syde.
wyves
That

man,

Caste

his eyen

up

the

to

370

(4381)

brightesonne,

signe of Taurus hadde y-ronne

more
;
Twenty degreesand oon, and somwhat
other lore,
knew
And"
by kynde, and by noon
in the

That

it

That
'

was

and

pryme,

Fourty degrees and

hevene

on

y-wis.

blis,

worldes

how

the fresshe floures how

see

up

more,

thise blisful briddes

Herkneth
And

and

oon,

Pertelote,my

Madame

'

is clomben

Sonne,'he sayde,

The

blisful stevene.

with

crew

375

380

they singe, (4391)

they springe;

is myn

But

sodeinlyhim

For

evere

the latter ende

Got

woot

thai

And

if

He

^
*
"

HI.
All

Cp.

in

solas.'

hert of revel and

Ful

sorweful

fil a

of

worldly loye

rethor

faire

coude

cas;

loye is
is

endyte,

chronique sauflymighte
'^

toon.

the MSS.

read

Pt. Ln. He.

Cm.

deyneth.
'

passed,
^

HI.

ago ;

sone

'^

385

wo.

HI.

it

write,

E. Cm.

tway monthes

Cp.

an.

and

dayes tuo.

cronique; rest cronicle.

{groc/pb.)
for

As

every

This

storie is al-so trewe, I

man,

That

I torne

wol

Now

agayn

gret

to

390

(440')

Lake,

de

in ful

holde

wommen

me

undertake,

of Launcelot

is the book

As

herkne

lat him

Now

wys

119

notabilitee.

sovereyn

tale.

preestes

nonne

the

reverence.

sentence.

my

col-fox,ful of sly iniquitee,

in the

That

hadde

grove

woned

395

yeres

three,

By heigh imaginaciounforn-cast,

nightthurgh-outthe hegges brast

the faire
Into the yerd, ther Chauntecleer
to repaire
Was
;
wont, and eek his wyves,
stille he lay,
in a bed of wortes
And
Til it was
passed undern- of the day,
The

same

Wayting

his tyme

in

That
O

false

newe

False

to

thise

Genilon

Scariot,newe
dissimilour,O

Greek

1)
(441

falle

homicydes alle,
men.
awayt liggento mordre
mordrer, lurkingin thy den !

gladlydoon

As

Chauntecleer

on

400

^
405

Sinon,

!
broghtestTroye al outrelyto sorwe
O Chauntecleer,acursed be that morwe,
thou into that yerd flough fro the hemes!
That
ful wel y-warned by thy dremes.
Thou
were

That

That
But

thilke
what

After

the

Witnesse
That
In

day

was

nedes

be.

opinioun of certeyn clerkis.

on
him, that any perfitclerk is.

in scole is gret altercacioun

this matere, and

hath

And

mot

ben

of

greet disputisoun,
hundred

an

E.

E. Hn.

come.

flauh ; Cm.

E. Hn.

flaw ;

(4421)

thee.

perilousto
forwot

that God

410

thousand

men.

Pt. vndren.

; HI. flough.
Cp. fleyje

415

I20

(group b.)
But

ne

the

preestes

bulte it

not

can

nonne

tale.

the bren,

to

420

holy doctour Augustyn,

(4431)
Or Boece, or the bishopBradwardyn,
^
that Goddes
Whether
worthy forwiting
Streynethme nedely for to doon ^ a thing,
(NedelyclepeI simplenecessitee)
;
425
if free choys be grauntedme
Or elles,
do that same
To
thing,or do it noght.
Though God forwot it,er that it was wroght;
del
Or if his witing streyneth
nevere
a
But by necessitee condicionel.
430
I wol not han to do of swich matere
(4441)
;
My tale is of a cok, as ye may^ here,
That
took his counseil of his wyf, with sorwe,
in the yerd upon
that morwe
To
walken
That he had met
the dreem, that I of tolde.
435
As

the

can

Wommennes

counseils

Wommannes

counseil

And

made

Ther
But

If I counseil

Passe over,

And

of

whom

to

thay

seyde^ it in
wher they trete
of

been

the cokkes

noon

harme

Faire

at

my

ye

sond, to bathe hire

and alle hir sustres
Lyth Pertelote,
and

E. Wheither.

HI.

Cp.

Pt. schal

the
^

E.

^schuln).

so

in the

mermayde
E. out of.

may
nat

Chauntecleer

to
nedefully
*

(4451)
matere,
here.
myne;

445

divyne.
merily,
by,

womman

in the

Agayn the sonne

;
'^
than
Song merier

440

game.

of swich

wommen

no

ese.

blame,

wordes, and

of

wo,

mighte displese,

wolde

Thise
can

it

wommen

seyn

wel

and

for I

auctours,
what

ful mery,

was

for I noot,

Rede

broghteus first to
fro ^ paradys to go,

Adam
he

as

ful ofte colde ;

been

free
see

^50

doon.
^

E. seye,

E, murier.

[GROUP B.)

122

Certes, it

his voys

He

wolde

so

He

moste

winke,

stonden

And

strecche

And

eek

he
nas

That

him

in song

his vers,

Among
For

that

Upon
He

his

Of

in

or

wisdom

how

Now
Let

conne

As

man

So

was

and

your

Chauntecleer

his

that coude

plesen yow

Than

he

Redeth
Beth

wel

of

Ecclesiaste

This

ye

And
^

daun

E. Cm.

Cp.

crowe

Russel
Bitwixe.

nyce,

495

'

(4511)

bete,

espye,

flaterye.

fals flatour

505

losengeour,

many

by

more,

to

gan
nat

his

with

500

countrefete ?

winges

feith.

my

unto

seith.

yow

flaterye
;
hir

stood

Strecchinghis nekke,
to

and

charitee,

fader

lordes,of

Chauntecleer

gan

seinte

that soothfastnesse

war,

cok,

knok

yong

lordes,many

That

discrecioun

courtes, and

Is in your

Asse,

was

his tresoun

ravisshed

Alias ! ye

{4501)

of his subtiltee.

ye

he

passe.

benefyce.
comparisoun

no

sire,for
singeth,

This

And

was

490

lese his

for to

fader,and

se,

the

yaf him

he

the wisdom

your

mighte

Burnel

sone

smal.

regioun

that ther

leg, whyl
him

cryen,

and

long

no

daun

certeyn, ther nis

Bitwix

wolde

485

discrecioun,

man

in

prestes

made

But

no

rad

his yen

tiptoontherwithal.

of swich

ther

strong,

more

he

forth his nekke

was

weel

loude

so

his

That

I have

the

him, that with both

peyne

on

TALE,

herte,al that he song.

make

And

PREESTES

NONNE

of

was

for to

And

THE

and

loude
the fox

trecherye,
hye

held

up-on

510

his toos,

his eyen

for the

nones

sterte

up
'^

E. Hn.

(4521)

cloos,
;

at

ones,

Cm.

stirte.

[group b.)
And

by

the gargat

And

on

his bak

ther no
yet ne was
destinee,that mayst

man

Alias,his wyf
And

on

Friday

that him

sewed.

eschewed

fleisfhfro the hemes

of dremes

roghte nat

ne

beer,

ben

nat

Alias, that Chauntecleer

123
515

him

the wode

toward

tale.

Chauntecleer,

hente

For
O

preestes

nonne

the

520

(4531)

fiP al this meschaunce.

goddesse of plesaunce,
this Chauntecleer,
was
Sin that thy servant
in thy service dide al his poweer,
And
for delyt,than world to multiply
More
e,
Why woldestow suffre him on thy day to dye?
O Venus, that

art

525

Gaufred, dere mayster soverayn,

That,

thy worthy king

whan

Richard

With

shot, compleynedesthis deth

Why

ne

hadde

Friday for

The

(For on

I she

Certes, swich
Was

nevere

Was

wonne,

Whan

he

maden

chide, as

diden

we

how

yow

drede, and
cry

and

hent

hadde

thy lore,530

(4541)

ye?

he.)

that I coude

pleyne

for his peyne.

maad, whan

Pirrus

and

sore,

lamentacioun

ne

of ladies

with

king

(assaith

slayn him

And
As

to

Chauntecleres

For

sentence

so

Friday soothlyslayn was

wolde

Than

thy

now

slayn

was

alle the hennes

us

535

Ilioun

his streite

Priam

by

swerd,

the

herd,

Eneydos),
clos,

in the

540

theyhad seyn of Chauntecleer the sighte.(4551)

sovereynly dame Pertelote shrighte,
louder than dide Hasdrubales
wyf,
lost his lyf,
hadde
that hir housbond
brend
that the Romayns hadde
Cartage,
545

Whan
But

"

Ful
Whan
And
^

E. Hn.

''

So E. Hn.

gargat
Cm.

; Cm.

HI.

garget ;

Ln.
^

gorge.
E. sodeynly.

134

{GROUP B.)
She

Rome, cryden

Of

senatoures

This

to

thise hennes

And

out

And

syen

And

bar
"

dores

at

cryden, Out

Ha, ha, the fox

with

And

eek

Ran

CoUe

And

Malkin, with

Ran

cow

dogge, and

And

away

! and

weylaway !
they ran,
man

eek^

for
men

of the

wimmen

and

(4571)

Gerland,

the verray

berking

560

Talbot, and

distaf in hir hand

calf,and

were

goon,

another

many

anoon.

after him

and

staves

our

and

'

555

wo.

the grove

! harrow

they^ fered
shoutingof the

So

thay
the cok

his bak

maken

and

crye

sterten

'

hem

eek hir doghtres two,

the fox toward

upon

lyves;
slayn.

tale agayn

my

and

selywidwe,

Herden

And

I torne

wol

Now

(4561)

wyves,

hath

Nero

giltthis

Withouten

550

losten alle hir

that hir housbondes

For

ye,

the citee

brende

that Nero

As, whan

stedfast herte.

cryden

hennes, rightso

woful

hir-selven with

brende

And

of rage,

fyr she sterte,

the

into
wilfully

That

and

ful of torment

so

was

TALE.

PREESTES

NONNE

THE

hogges
dogges
eke,

565

thoughtehir herte breke.

They ronne
so, hem
They yelleden as feendes doon in helle ;
hem
wolde
The
dokes cryden as men
quelle
;
^

for fere flowen

The

gees

Out

of the

So

hidous

hyve
lakke

Ne

nevere

E. Now

E.

E.

om.

turne

eek.

yolleden.

the

the noyse,

was

Certes,he
maden

cam

the trees;

over

of

swarm

bees;

his meynee,

shoutes half

I wole.

(4581)

benedicite !

a!

Straw, and

570

so

shrille^,

pt

HI.

"

E. Ln. shille.

They.
were
they ;

575

rest om.

[group B.)

TALE.

PREESTES

NOiVNE

the

1^5

they wolden any Fleming kille,

the fox.
maad
As thilke day was
upon
Of bras thay broghten hemes, and of box,
Of horn, of boon, in whiche they blewe and pouped,
therwithal thay shryked^ and they houped; 580
And
sholde falle.
that hevene
(4591)
It semed
as
Whan

that

Now,

gode

The

hope

and

This

cok,

that

drede,

al his

In

pryde eek
lay upon

Turneth
A

verray

Now

am

Maugree
The

fox

And

as

the foxes

that I

bak,

585

spak,

he
as

were

ye,

I seyn

your

him

I wol

of hir enemy

(as wis God helpe me),

agayn, ye proude cherles alle !
falle !
pestilence
up-on
yow
this* wodes
I come
un-to
syde,
^

sholde

Yet

sodeinly

the fox

un-to

seyde,'sire,if

And

alle !

herkneth

yow

turneth

fortune

how

Lo,

I pray

men,

ete

heed, the cok

"

answerde, 'In feith,it shal be don,'

he spak that word, al sodeinly
"

brak

from

This

cok

And

heighe up-on

And

whan

the fox

Alias !

'

deliverly.
he fleighanon.
tree
a
saugh that he was y-gon^

'

But, sire,I
Com

E. Hn.

E. the.

"

E. Hn.

it in'^

dide

doun, and

I shal seye

595

his mouth

quod he, O Chauntecleer, alias !

I have to yow,'quod he, 'y-doon trespas,
I maked
In-as-muche
aferd,
as
yow
I yow
Whan
hente, and broghte out of the
'

(4601)

abyde;

that anon.'

feith,and

in

shal heer

590

wikke

to

yow,
^

skriked.
'^

HI.

"

God

^^^^

i-goon;

(4611)
yerd ;

entente;
I mente.

what

I shal telle yow

sooth

into this.

no

600

so.'

help me
^

gek.
rest gon,
'

E. wolde.

goon.
E. of.

605

B.)

(GROUP

126

'

first

And
If

shalt

Thou
Do

is

That

iangleth
swich

But

of

As

Taketh
For

the

our

Taketh

the

Now,
As

seith

And

lord,

is

HI.

us

ended

to

so

his

the

lat

Cp.

Nonne

620

that

the

(4631)

is,

writen

chaf

us

alle

inser/s

Nonnes.

men

Amen.

preestes

Tyrwhitt
Hn.

stille.

good

blisse.

Nonne"

; E.

be

thy wille.

it be

heighe

any.
^

hen,
men.

al

make

tns.

615

y-write, y-wis.

if that

God,

gode
my

and

pees.'

folye,

and

that

his

flaterye.

tale

cok

it is

fruyt,

bringe

Here

Hn.

doctryne

meschaunce,

him

holde

^5 good

seith,

yive

on

this

moralitee

(4621)

see,
'

recchelees,

be

to

6io

governaunce,

truste

of

or

Paul

seint

To

E.

fox,

and

holden

that

ye

for

it is

thee

sholde

he

bones.

ye.

sholde

God

of

whan

necligent,

And

so

and

myn

never

but

'

undiscreet

That

L05

fox,

the

Nay,' quod

blood

with
he

him

lat

two,

thy flaterye

whan

winketh,

bothe

ones.

winke

and

wilfully, God

Al

than

TALE.

us

bothe

thurgh

singe

that

he

For

shrewe

ofter

me

namore,

to

me

'

my-self,
^

bigyle

thou

he,

shrewe

PREESTES

NONNE

quod

than/

Nay

THE

tale.

therof.

625

NOTES.
-M-

In

the Clarendon

refers to

; and

Tale, "c.

Prioresses

Law's

'

Ch.

the Notes,

'

Ch.

of

edition

same

of Chaucer's

of

Man

PROLOGUE.

that Chaucer's

It appears

Aprillc.

17th

the

to

of Chaucer's

Press

Tale, "c.

THE

I.

'

See

April.

of Law's

Man

refers

Prologue
11. 1-6

Prol.

; and

the i6th

to

Ch.

2, p.

1^9

and
and

p. xi.

4.

veriu,

4-6.

corresponding

power,

Hawes

first and

A. S. sxvot,

; from-

soote, sweet

second

have

to

seems

'When

that
the

In

Forth

depured

Into

Lyke

his

depainted

place

of

Encensyng

"

glorious,

with

pleasure

colour,

many

solacious,

moste

aromatike

the

impediment

and

gaye

Flora

out

of Pleasure

in the

appeare

without

both

miht, might.
opening lines in view

cruddy firmament,

and

ayre

swete^ adj.

; cf. A.S.

Pastime

well

did

walked

medowe

Whiche

Chaucer's

had

Aurora

then

A.S.

the

to

chap, i, of

stanzas,

adv.

orig. an

odoure

that
floure
Zepherus breath, whiche
every
Through his fume doth alwaye engender.'
Of

Lydgate (Minor Poems, ed. Halliwell,

still more
closely in his descriptionof Ver
On

other

the

like

passage

herbarum

the

lib.

Naturale,

et

hand,

xv.

arborum

reperit, attrahit
a

terra

Solis

attrahit

transmutat,

66,

c.

herba

5.

Boethius,
7. yonge

long

entered

upon

of

De

Vere:

humorem

quem

vel

quem

arbor

ibi

sui

tunc

terra

again

5 ; bk.

ii. met.

3.

is here

said

The

sun

its annual

course

mind

Beauvais, Speciihwi

'Sol
ibi

ad

vero

coadunatum

similitudine

radices

hyeme

inanitionem

suam

some

sentiens

adiuuante

calore

est

refers

to

"

his

in

huius
quod quidam mensis
modo
aperitur.'
praedicto

sicque reuiuiscit; inde

i. met.

sonne.

Vincent

account

vero,

humorem,

twice

bk.

in

entitled

temporis Aprilis dicitur,quia

Chaucer

had

to

seems

penetrans,

(spring).
have

Chaucer

following

244) copies Chaucer

243,

pp.

Zephirus,
to

be

through

in

young

the

his

translation

because

signs of

the

it had

zodiac.

of

not

128

NOTES

8. the Ram.
"his

not,

as

cours,"which

the young

expression

has

sun

run

in the

there

Aprilruns

say, that it

was

see

the

former

in the Ram

and

completed,"says the poet

past the eleventh of April.

the said

is

was

in

sun
"

The
as

to

May
Gemini

Taurus.

course

April,
Fig. i

(roughly

much

as

own

Aprilis"

the

Thus

; which

April.

signs,as

"

half-course in the Bull.

had, in fact,onlyjustcompleted his

the twelve

Turningto

half of Taurus.

Aries.

sun

of

latter half

signs,the

was

March.

middle

that,againstthe month

circle of zodiacal

half-course

of these

former

that,a littlepast the

his half-course in the Ram."

Skeat) we

appears
speaking)of Aries, and

Chaucer's

quitedifferent. Taking

it stands, he tells us

Astrolabe, ed.

(in The

The

the

in

what

means

explanationsare

two

as
expression
'*

here reallyresides
difficulty

The

and
it says, viz. "his half-course,"
"
Tyrwhitt unfortunately
supposed, half his course." The results

halfe

the

of

PROLOGUE.

THE

TO

course

supposed

to

throughthe
begin at

firstof

the vernal

the yonge
sonne," an
equinox. This is why it may well be called
in the
expressionwhich Chaucer repeats under similar circumstances
SquyeresTale, Part ii.1. 39.' Chaucer's Astrolabe, ed. Skeat, p. xlvii.
Mr.
Brae, in his edition of Chaucer's Astrolabe,shews that Chaucer
refers to the constellations,
but always to the signs. Also twelue
never
in
ben
the
and
eueriche
into a signe
mon])es
jere,
monfe J)esonne
entrej)
"

"

'

it fallej?
for \q.mon))e.
in Auerel in-to J)eBoole.'
as

"

And

so

in March

J)eyentre])into J)eWe]?er ;

Trevisa's transl. of

Higden'sPolychronicon,

ii. 207.
10.

open ye.
'

Whan

Hit

bytwyxte March and Maye,

kynd corage begynneth to pryke,

Whan

frith and

Whan
As

bifelle

wexen
felde[s]
with
slepen
opyn
tre.'
on
nightyngalis grene

lovers

The

Sowdone

gaye,

....

y^e,

of

Brink
Professor Ten
thinks that a
12, 13.
2dier pilgrimages,
and wenden
understood
oiiex

Babyloyne,11. 41-46.
colon should
be placed

pahiers. According to
be supplied
must
after
lotige^i

ordinaryEnglish construction the verb

palmers,and seketi before To feme halwes.
who
made
one
to the Holy Land
a pilgrimage
13. palmer, originally
and brought home
a /"a/;;/-branch
as
a token.
Chaucer, says Tyrwhitt,
to consider all pilgrims
seems
to foreign
parts as palmers. The essential
difference between
the two classes of persons here mentioned,the palmer

NOTES,

130
horses.

after the

looks
term

: and
gcest-htis

was

24. wel is here used

25. by
26.

(The A.S.
hors-herde

like

Easenietit is still used

atte

of the

M.E.

af/"a}i attan

beginning with
to

30.

reste

is not

only before

33. forward, agreement.

i.e. their agreement was

and

masc.

neuter

form

nouns

is atler

by Chaucer.

used

'Fals

false

as

m.anner.

In the older stages

feminine
corresponding

Spenser has

ci.trest.

; the

consonant

which
thckre),

atten, A.S. (Et (ham.

used

in the best

accommodation.
signifying

term,

find atte

entertained

or

or

languagewe

(A.S.at

law

as

another

yi.'K.felaive,
companion, fellow.

accommodated
beste,

atte

"

(chance)fallen (intocompany).

adventure

from
fellowship,
felawshipe,

29. esed

an

inn

word/////,

our

y-falle,
by

aventtire

an
signifies
inn-keeper.)

hors-hiis

to

was
as

friend^ (or friend ; F. Q. i. i. 28.

here foreivardso forst is in May,'

frost in

May;

Ritson's Ancient

Songs, i. 30.
bury)
devyse,to that placethat I tell you of (sc.Canterivhere ; devyse
ther in M. E. frequently
to speak of,
signifies

34. ther
;

I yow

as

describe.

Jvhyl,Avhilst

35.
awhile.

form

The
a

modern

Cp. M.E. hwihnn, hwile,whilen,

in -es (whiles,the reading of some
paratively
MSS.) is comadverbial
form, and may be compared with M.E.
Eng. while, time.

hennes,theimes,hence, thence
which

older forms

37. 'It seemeth

Me thifd-eth

are

to

phrase if yon please

"

itme.

41.

case,

in

found
me

seem

In M.E.

/;/

and

-en?te

; cp.

\i it

semed

twics,thries,once,
-e

twice,thrice ; of

respectively.

it is reasonable.'

where
third's,

me

vb. thinken,to appear,

nominative

; ones,

is the dative before

vie

me

lil-eth,
me

it
list,

you being the

to me,
\X. seemed
occurs

pleaseyoji,

me,

is the

and
preposition,
thingin this

the

impersonal

pleases

me.

dative and

So the
not

the

in 1. 39.
inne the adverb.

age for knights to seek

Knight. It was a common
at war.
Tyrwhilt cites
employment in foreigncountries which were
Matthew
de Gourney,
from Leland
the epitaphof a knight of this period,
who
had been at the battle of Benamaryn, at the siegeof Algezir,and
See note to 1. 51.
"c.
at the battles of Crecy, Poitiers,
of distinguished,
worthy,worthy,is here used in its literalsignification
43.

honourable.
For
of

notes

See 11. 47, 50.

the dresses,
on
"c., of the

Todd's
Illustrations
see
pilgrims,
in England, 1885,1. 129.
Costume

Chaucer, p. 227; and Fairholt's

Warton, Hist. Eng. Poetry, sect. 17.
knighthood ; also the manners,
45. chivalrye,

Also

of

exercises,and

exploits

knight.

48. ferre,the
49.

oifer,far. Cf. M.E. derre,dearer,sarre, sorer, "c.

comp.
tian
from Cristendom, Chrisheathen
lands, as distinguished
hethenesse,

countries.

THE

in

51. AUsmmdre,
in
Froissart

Egypt,

Pierre

1365, by

(Chron. bk. iii,c.

of

PROLOGUE.

131
and

doned
immediatelyafter abande Lusignan, King of Cyprus;' Tyrwhitt.
22) givesthe epitaphof Pierre de Lusignan,
'was

won,

the cities
king
conqueredin battle
Cyprus,who
Egypt, Tripoliin Syria,Layas in Armenia, Satalia
'

several other

cities and

the enemies

towns, from

of Alexandria
in

in

Turkey,with

of the

faith of

Jesus
Christ;'tr. by Johnes,vol. ii. p. 13S.
52. he hadde the bord bigoime. Here ^orc/ board, table,so that the
'he had been placed at the head of the dais, or table of
phrasesignifies
state.' Warton, in his Hist, of Eng. Poetry,ed. 1840, ii. 209 (ed.1871,
ii-373)"aptlycites a passage from Gower
which
is quiteexplicit
to
as
the sense
of the phrase. See Gower, Conf. Amantis, bk. viii. ed. Pauli,
iii.299.
We
there read that a knightwas
honoured
by a king by being
"

set at the head

of the middle
'And

he, which

After the
Was
The

shews

table in the hall.

his

prise deserved.
word,

kingesowne

maad
that

had

begifme

bord.*

and that the knight

supper-time,
was
placedin this honourable positionby the marshal of the hall.
It thus appears
that the proposalmade
by Mr. Marsh, to explainbord
'a
imcalled
for. Once
is quite
in Sir
tournament'
as
meaning
more,
of Hamptoun, ed. Kolbing (E. E. T. S.),p. 104, we
Beves
find in one
text (1.2122)
Thow
schelt this dai be priour,
And
deis [da'is'\
beginne oure
;
where another text has (1.1957)the reading
context

this

middel

at

was

"

'

'

"

'

Palmer, thou
Therfore

See also

Begyn
Murray'sDiet.,s.v.

53. 54. Prtice. When

usual for them to go and
the Teutonic order,who

heathen

shal

men

the

best to

semest

me,

worshyp the;

borde,I the

pray.'

Board.
'it was
Englishknightswanted emplojonent,

our

serve

were

in
in

Pruce, or Prussia,with
state

of constant

the

warfare

knightsof
with

their

neighboursin Leitoiv

Tyrwhitt.
says that knightswere

/??/":""
and elsewhere.'
(^Russia),
(Lithuania),
bk.
ed.
iv,
Pauli, ii.56)
(Conf.Amant.
raids
make
i
.
to
e.
rodes,'
expected

Gower
Similarly,

"

'

Somtime

Walsingham,in

'

in

Priice,somtime

in Rodes

'

"c.

his

History,ed. Riley,ii. 197, tells us that,in

earl of Derby (afterwards
1390, no less a person than Plenry,
Henry IV)
for
Prussia
where
est in le Pruys),
devicit exercitum
set out
(^profectus
54.

'

Regis de Lettowe, captisquatuor Ducibus,' "c. Warton, Hist. Eng.

Thomas
duke
of Gloucester,
Poetry, ed. 1840, ii. 210, remarks^'
earl of Derby, afterwards Henry
youngest son of Edw. Ill,and Plenr}'
with the grand Masters
IV, travelled into Prussia; and, in conjunction
K

NOTES.

132

Knights of Prussia and Livonia, fought the infidels of Lithuania,

instrumental
in takingVilna, the capital
of that
Derby was greatly
in
the
Here
of
is
to
some
a
seeming compliment
country,
year 1390.
these expeditions,'
Hackluyt,in his Voyages, ed. 1598,i. 122, cites and
translates the passage from Walsingham referred to above,
'The
56-58. Gemade, Granada.
cityof Algezirwas taken from the
of
Moorish
Granada
in 1 344.' T.
A Igeciras
It is the modern
on
King
the S. coast of Spain,near
Cape Trafalgar,
and
Tramissene
1. 62,were
Moorish kingdoms
Belmarye
(Tramessen),
and

Lord

"

in

Africa,as

appears

from

passage
t
ranslation
has
Tyrwhitt.Johnes's

'

"

Treme9en,' Cf,

Kn.

(bk. iv, c. 24) cited by

Tunis, Bugia*Morocco, Benmarin,

in Froissart

Tale, 1. 1772.

Benmarin

Balmeryne in

is called

Barbour's

of Babylon, 3122.
Bruce, xx, 393 ; cf. Behnore, Sowdone
in
Lyeys, Armenia, was taken from the Turks by Pierre de Lusignan

and

It is the

1367.

about

Layas mentioned
by Froissart (seenote to 1. 51),
Marco
ed.
Yule, i, 15.
Ayas ; see
Polo,
now
Satalye(Attalia,
Adalia, on the S. coast of Asia Minor) was

the modern

taken

by

the

same

after 1352.
T.
1, 65),in Anatolia,

princesoon

see
Palatye (Palathia,

by Christian knightsafter the Turkish

held

See Acts

"

was

xiv. 25.
of the lordships

one

Cf, Froissart,

T.

conquests,
"

bk, iii. c. 23.

The
Great Sea
is applied by Sir J.
name
59, the Grete See.
which washes
Maundeville (cap.7) to that part of the Mediterranean
the
of Palestine,to distinguish
coast
it from the two
so-called inland seas,
the

of Tiberias and

sea

Numb,

xxxiv.

6, 7

the Dead

he

in

name

Scripture,

Josh. i. 4.

60. aryve, arrival or disembarkation

and other MSS., reads
the Ellesmere
been.
heji,

Cf. its proper

Sea.

C(.

Tyrwhitt,following

of troops.
artnee.

ydo=ydon, done, "c.

62.

foughteJi,
pp. fought. This verb belongs to the strong,and not,
like the past participles
soght,
broght,to the weak conjugation.
63. slayn: hadde must be suppliedfrom 1. 61.
67, sovereyn prys, exceedinggreat renown,
70. vileinye,
unbecoming a gentleman. The villain is,
any conduct
'

first,the serf or peasant,villanus,because attached to the villa or farm.

He is,secondly,
the peasant, who, it is further taken for granted,will be
selfish,dishonest,and generallyof evil moral conditions,
these
churlish,

having come

to be assumed

always belonging to him, and to be permanently

associated with his name,
those
who
in
the
main
by
the springsof language. At the third step nothing of the
commanded
meaning which the etymology suggests nothing of villa sur\uves
any
longer; the peasant is wholly dismissed, and the evil moral conditions
of him
who
is called by this name,
alone remain.'
Trench
; English
as

"

"

"

Past

and

Present,ch, 7.

PROLOGUE.

THE

33

kind of person whatever.

no
xvight,
good, but he himself was not gaudilydressed/
74. His horses were
vest.
75. gipoun,a diminutive oi gipe,a short cassock,a tight-fitting
an
76. hahergeoun,
though etymologically
augmentative,is practically

71.

no

maner

'

diminutive

of

defence of

an

and

convenient

of the hauberk
to

inferior

with it. ' It was

synonymous
duction
the hauberk ; but when
the introas

to
description
the
in
reignof
plate-armour,

of

seems

hauberk,but often used

effectual defences

became

have

been

Edward

for the

HI, had

suppliedmore

legsand
that

superfluous
; from
worn.'
Way, note

Promptorium Parvulorum,

to

"

thighs,the long skirt

periodthe habergeonalone

220.

p.

'And
A

Tideus, aboue his Habergeoun,

gipoun hadde, hidous, sharpe,and hoor,

Wrought

of the bristles of

Boor.'

wilde

Lydgate,Siegeof Thebes, pt. ii.

he

77. 78. 'For

had

just returned
perform his pilgrimage(which he had
knightlyarray.'
79. squyer =^es(\mxe,
lance and

shield.

See

Avho

one

his

from

journey,and went
for a safe return)in

vowed

attended

on

knight,and

bore

to

his

his

Strutt,Sportsand Pastimes,Introd. " 8.

lovyer,lover. The y in this word is not euphonic as in some

from the verb lovie,A.S. lujian,
modern words ; lovyeris formed
to love.
a young
hacheler,
aspirantto knighthood. Cf.
80.

'Wightly Olyuer upsterte

As bacheler,doughti of dede.'
The
In the older

82. yeer.

being neuter

nouns,

stages of the

underwent

change in
case
genitive

the
; but after numerals
/ gesse, I should
think.
In
See Kn.

suppose.

M.E.

Babylone,1. 1211.

language,
_yrar, goat, swine, "c.,

no

number

of

Sowdone

gesse

the

nom.

case

of the

plural

usuallyrequired.
to judge,believe,
signiiies

was

Tale, 1. 192.

It most
an
85. chivachye. Fr. chevauchee.
expedition
properlymeans
with a small party of cavalry; but is often used generally
for any military

expedition. Holinshed

calls it

rode

(i.e.raid); cf.

note

to

1. 53

above.

87. born
88.
the

him

lady grace, lady'sgrace.

genitiveof

Cf. the modern

89.
Good

wel, conducted

'

That

was

feminine

nouns

himself well,behaved
In

the

terminated

bravely.

earlier stages of
in -e,

so

that

our

language

lady is for ladye.

as
phrase 'Lady-day,'
oompared with 'Lord's day.'
with floures swete
embrouded
al;'Prol. to Legend

of

Women, 1. 119.
of night. So also wit
time (orreckoning)
night-time,
97. nightertale,
lit.
Cursor
nighter-tale, with night-time,
Mundi, 1. 2783; on nighter-tale,

NOTES.

134
id. 2991.
The word
Arc (underthe date

in his account

by Holinshed

is used

of

of

Joan

1429).

"c. ; such
lepte,
slep,
slepte.Cf. iveep,wepte ; leep,
See 1. 148 ; and Kn. Ta. 1829.
weak.
verbs,once strong,became
100.
car/,the past tense of kerven, to carve
(pp.corveji).
of
As a title of service,it denoted
servant
101.
a
Yeman, yeoman.

deep,also written

98.

the next

The title of yeornaji was

degreeabove a garson or groom
of
a
to people
middlingrank not in service.
secondarysense
small landholder
is more
a
appropriationof the word to signify
....

given in
The

modern.'

Tyrwhitt,

"

102.

hi7n

See note

on

104.

llste is

it pleased him.
liste,

Ascham,

in
129, does not say much
fether but onely of a goose

in his

favour of
that hath

all commodities
doth

man

vse, the

And

in it.

feathers.
peacocks'

with

arrows

Toxophilus,ed. Arber, p.
'pecockfethers' ; for 'there is no

some

trewelyeat

pecockfether doth

seldome

taken

them

profyte;thus
shoter.'

for

our

In the Geste
*And

nocked

It
the

Liber
Pro

entry
"

de

1 2

for

the

was

layde

kepe

Hode, pr. by W.
ell

duodecim

Pastimes, bk. ii. ch.

which

men

for
agayne
fether for the best

read

Copland,we

"

longe

ydight,
with

they were

silk.

white

semely syght.'
Edw.

anno

pennisde

flecchiis cum

II, p. 53, is this

emptis pro rege,

peacock's
feathers,
plumed
bought
c.
viii).Strutt, Sports and
(MS. Cotton, Nero
Cf. Warton, Hist. Eng. Poetry,ed. 1840,
i, " 12.

is,For

king, \2d.

shaft

the

vp

that many
them
downe

is best

goose

Compotis Garderobse, sub

den. ; that

the

purpose,
of Robyn

hathe

an
every arrowe
With
peacochewell

And

In

for gaynesse,

vp

but, which

short

it is so roughe and heuy, so

eytherryghtor level,
haue

pleaseth.

1. 37.

sheef0/ pecok-arwes,
a sheaf of

past tense; list

pauone

with

1 2 arrows

"

ii. 211.

106. takel,lit. 'implement'or

of

'

implements ;

Strutt,Sports,bk. ii. ch. i, "

arrows.

Robin

'

Hood

that each

man
proposes
his tahell ; and one
of the losers says
arrowe!!
In the Cursor
Mundi, 1.
'

who

here

(perhaps)the

16, quotes a
the

misses

ballad
mark

Syr abbot, I deliver

3600, Isaac sends Esau
'

"

set

in which
shall

lose

thee myne
to

hunt,

saying:

"

*Ga
Fairholt

lok thi tacU

(s.v.
iacMe)quotes
'

When
Their

from

they

had

be

puruaid.'
of

Lytel Geste

Robyn Hood

"

theyr hoivcs ibent,

tahles fedred

fre.'

this
Tyrwhitt badly explains
109. not-heed.
the hair probablybeing cut short ; but tiot-heed=

as

head like a mit, from

crop-head.Cf.

'

To

Notte

PROLOGUE.

THE

Jack Juggler,p.
p. 135,

has

pated, i.e.

'

Baret's Alvearie,1580. Cf.

recidere-,'

haire, comas,

his

22

heare,'

Dodsley'sPlays,vol.

of

Hazlitt's edition

; where

iiotted

35

ii.

reading hiotted hair.' Shakespeare has ?iotcrop-headed,i Henry IV, ii. 4. 78. Cooper'sThesaurus,
inferior

the

'

his heare to be notted or polledof a

Tondere, to cause
1565, has:
harbour;'also,'to tiotte his heare shorte;' also, Tonsus homo, a man
a
as
rounded, polled,or notted.'' Cotgrave explainsthe F. tomure
cutting,or paring round.' Florio,
powling,notting,
sheering,
clipping,
the Ital. Z^icconare as 'to poule,to nott, to shaue, or
ed. 1598,explains
and zticcone
as
a shauen
cut off ones
haire,'
pate, a jiottedpoule,a pouled
'

"

'

'

'

pate, a gull,a ninnie, a ioult-head.'

1664, has
Tonsus.'

like

'To

"

later

In

cut

or

the hair

the

days

Tondeo.

away,

of Roundhead

name

Notted

Diet.,

clipped,

or

into

came

E.

use

for

reason.

bracer, a guard for the

III.

friction of the

whence

prevent the

to

like

made

was

(Fairholt).Fr.

[ofshotynge]?
Bracer, shotyng-glove,
stryng,bowe and

Which

Tax.

glove with a
bras,the arm,

be instrumentes

bracer serueth

of the strynge, and

for two

his doublet

sharpershoote
that it haue
laces

In

to

one

causes,

shafte

his

saue

from

arme

and the other

wearynge,
of
quicklye the bracer,may

from

strynge glydynge sharpelyeand

with

It

archers

by

bracelet.

Phi.

used

arm

bow-stringon the coat.

top, coveringthe fore-arm

long leathern
'

nott

and

Lat.

Gouldman's

bracer

take hede

muste

man

naylesin it,that it haue

Ascham's
wythout agglettes.'
no

"

no

the strype

is,that the
the

make

of .iii.
thinges,

bucles,that it be fast

on

Toxophilus,ed. Arber, pp.

107, 108.
114. Harneised, equipped. The

ture,
equipage,furnisignifies
harnessed with silver'
girdle,

word

harjiess

'A certain
tacklingfor sea or land.
of
Memorials
of London, p. 399, with reference
in Riley's
is spoken
the year 1376 ; cf. Riley'str. of Liber Albus, p. 521.
used as a brooch.
figureof St. Christopher,
115. Cristofre. 'A
reverence
looked upon with particular
of St. Christopherwas
The figure

the middle

among

and

classes; and

lower

supposedto

was

possess

to

the

'

the person who looked on it from hidden dangers; note

power of shielding
St. Christopher's
in Wright'sChaucer.
day is July 25. There is a wellof the earliest
which
is supposed to exhibit one
knov/n earlywoodcut

specimensof printingfrom
second

The

volume

of Chambers,

beneath
inscription
'

Christofori
Ilia nempe

Hence

the Yeoman

wore

the

block, engraved at p. 123 of the

wooden
Book

of

figureof

Days,

and

the saint

faciem

runs

elsewhere.
frequently
as

follows:

tueris,

die quacunque
mala
die morte
non

morieris.'

his brooch

luck.

for

good

See

also,for the

I3"5

NOTES.

Sacred
legend,Mrs. Jameson's

and

LegendaryArt, ii. 48-59 ;

and

pare
com-

Brand's

ed. Ellis,
i. 359, 364 ; Butler's Lives
Popular Antiquities,
of the Saints,
July 25.
of London, p. 115, explains
116. Riley,
in his Memorials
baldric as
round
belt
side
of
the
under
the
and
one
a
neck,
passingmostly
opposite
F. Q. i. 7. 29.
arm.' See Spenser,
120.
seynt Lay. Tyrwhitt says that Loy is from Eloy, i.e. St. Eligius,
whose
of him
in Butler's Lives of
day is Dec. i ; see the long account
'

He

the Saints.

was

He

became

The

the

Clovis

Dagobert I, and

and
goldsmith,
II of France

of the mint

master
; and

was

also

to

Clotaire

II,

bishop of Noyon.

patron saint of

goldsmiths,farriers,smiths,and carters.
Lat. Eligiusnecessarily
became
Eloy in O. French, and is Eloy or

the latter form being the commoner.

The
Catholicon
Loy in English,
nomen
Anglicum (a.d. 1483) gives: Loye, elegius{sic),
proprium.'
Sir T. More, Works, ed. 1577, p. 194, says : 'St. Loy we make
horsean
leche.' Barnaby Googe, as cited in Brand, Pop. Antiq.i. 364 (ed.
'

Ellis),
says:
*

Dr.

"

Loye the smith doth looke to horse, and smithes of all degree,
If they with iron meddle
bee.'
here,or if theygoldesmithes
And

Oliver,in

Ecclesiastical

his

Eligius's
Chapel or
Exeter
commonly

St.

Antiquitiesin Devon, speaks of

Eloy'sChapel;

it is the half-ruined

St.

chapelnear

called St. Loyes (see The

Academy, June 5, 1880,
and
the
and
p. 122 ;
same, May 29, June 5, 12
19, 1880). There is a
district called St. Loye's in Bedford.
There was
St. Loy^s house in
a
mentioned
in Bridges'
Wedon-Pinckney,Northamptonshire,
Historyof
that county (Brand). Churchyardmentions
'sweete Saynct Loy;' Siege
of Leith, St. 50.
In Lyndesay'sMonarche, bk. ii. lines 2299 and 2367,
he is called 'sanct
more
Eloy.^ Much
might be added; see, e.g.
St. Eligiusin the Index to the Parker
publications.In the
Society's
Cant. Tales,7^4^?^^^^ carter prays to God
and Saint Loy,joiningthe
formula ; but the Prioress dropped the
names
accordingto a common
divine name.
Perhapsshe invoked St. Loy as being the patron saint of
to have been a little given to a love of gold
goldsmiths; for she seems
and

de Machault
corals;see 11.158-162. Guillaume
(ed.1849,p. 120),
in his Cofifort
Car je te jur,
:
d'Ami, near the end, uses the expression
draws
par saint Eloy.'''By St. Loy, that
deep;' Nash's Lenten Stuff,
'

"

p. xiv. ed.
*

We

Hindley.
call her

home, dame
Coye,
A pretiegingerliepiece,God
her and Saint Loye.'
save
ed. Roxb. Club, p. 9.
Jack Juggler,
See also Mrs. Jameson'sSacred and LegendaryArt, p. 728. The Harl.
MS. has nas, which is merely a shorter form of ne was.
Mr. A. J. Ellis
that
and
thinks that nas
should
be pronouncedas
should stand,
seynt
of two syllables.
a word
use

to

at

138
the

NOTES.

of

purpose

Early Eng.

teaching manners
Society.

Text

It is,however, of much

See

table.

at

observe

importanceto

more

The

Babees

that

Book,

Tyrwhitt has

produces
Chaucer, throughout this passage, merely rede la
he had found in his favourite book, viz. Le Roman

how

acutelypointedout
what

Rose, 1. 1 3612, "c.

'

Et

bien

jointes,
jusqu'as

Ses

dois

Ne

qu'eln'ait pas

De

sopes,

broez

es

trop de

que

Ne

trop gros,

Du

bout

des

vert,

en

Et

bouche.
touche

la sauce,

en

jauce,

ou

bouchee

sa

chee

poivre.

sope, de savor, de
si gentement redoit

De

sa

piz goute n'en

son

sus

grasse,

n'entasse,

le morsel

dois

port

sagement

Que

mete

nes

cameline,

ou

char

de

morsiaus

moillier

Qu'el devra
Et

levres ointes

ses

d'aulx,ne

Ne

Soit

moile

gart qu'elene

se

boivre,

Que sor soi n'en espande goute.'

her fingers
takes good care
I.e. 'and
not to wet
up to the jointsin
fat flesh,
or
broth, nor to have her lipsanointed with soups, or garlic,
too
too
to heap up
or
nor
large morsels and put them in her
many
she
the morsel which
She touches with the tips of her fingers
mouth.
has to moisten with the sauce
(be it green, or brown, or yellow),and
liftsher mouthful
warily,so that no drop of the soup, or relish or pepper
fall on her breast.
And
so
daintilyshe contrives to drink, as not
may
to

a drop upon
sprinkle

few

Again, a

herself.'

lines below
Si doit

'

"

si bien

sa

bouche

terdre,

Qu'eln'i lest nule gresse aerdre,

la levre desseure.'
Au
mains
en
ought to wipe her lip so well, as not to permit any grease to
stay there,at least upon her upper lip.' Cf. also Ovid, Ars Amatoria,
iii-755, 75^delight.
pleasure,
132. Iesi licJ,
small portion.
a
a fourth part, and hence
literally
134. fcrthingsignifies

I. e.

'

she

'

Embrcwe

Ouer

mesure

not

and

youre
maner,

vessellc
but

ne

saue

youre napery
ihem
clene :

but kepe hit clcnely,

youre cuppe,
Lete no
{-xX-ie
ferthyng of youre lippo be sen;
?
For that is foule ; wotte
you Avhat I mene

Ensoyle

not

Or

ye

than

Youre

drincke, for youre

lippiswepe

[wipe],and

owne

honeste,

klenlylokc they

be.

PROLOGUE.

THE

Blowe
Ne

farsith not

Ne

bere

For

39

in youre
potage,
full of brede,

ne

to

towarde

youre vysage,
drede.

mekell

touche
not
hede
youre face ne
youre
bare hande, sittyng
at the table,
youre
not

Wyth

in norture

For

disshe

youre

knyf
youre
is parelland

not

there-in

Clawe

drincke

in youre

not

that

is

reprouable.'
Caxton's

Book

of

Curtesye,p.

20.

peyned Mr, took pains,endeavoured.

139,

chere Of court, to imitate courtly

behaviour.
conntrefete
be?i holden,Sec, to be esteemed
worthy of reverence.
to

139, 140.
to

141.

usuallyfed on ivastel
but on coarse
lentil
(bread made of the best flour),
bread baked for that purpose.
The domestic
baker prepared several
kinds and qualities
of bread, suitable to the various departments of the
147. wastel breed.
breed or cake bread

Horses

and

dogs

not

were

'

household

; the manchet

fine chete for the

the

The

end.

finer

and
side-tables,

flour,and the household

in the houses

preparedfor

was

delicacy,made

of

payne-mayne.'
read

we

Arther

Frankeleyn loved
Tarnewathelan,st. 37,

'Thre
Wos
For
And

in Harl. MS.

of

soppus

Home,

old

made

times

79, 80.
p. 305.
In the

of rye.

marchpane,
favourite

was

Cf.

used
times
some-

Riley,

1. 334
of
Anturs
Li

that

read

we

bread

it
originally

'sop in wyn.'

demayn (i.e.paindemayne)
Sir

Gauan

cumford

his

brayne.'

279, fol. 10,

qualityusually

Albus,

broghteto
to

the

ate

pp.

of

was

of flour and

mass-bread, and

or

; tr. of Liber

that the
at the

or

mixture

was

in

was

almonds

English

London, p. 108

of

paynepuffand

called mass-pane,
Our

" "

latter

and

flour, sugar,

of

latter

as

sieve

; the chete

bread

table,

board's

for the

passed through a

class; the poor

the

at Easter,and
especially

Memorials

; the

Fancy bread, such

company

bread

brown

made

was

maslin

of the middle

and oatmeal.
lentils,

the

for the master's

was

called boulted

sometimes

rye-meal,called mystelon or
made

flour

of flour

made

was
quality

and
boulting-cloth,
unboulted

loaf of wheaten

have

we

the necessary instruction for the

and boyle it,and thanne (then)

making of these sops. 'Take

mylke
fro (from)
tak (take)yolkys(yolks)of eyroun
(eggs),ytryid(separated)
it wyl tyl
the whyte, and hete it,but let it nowt
boyle,and stere (stir)
thikke ; thenne
it be somwhat
cast therto salt and
sugre, and kytte
the
in roxind soppys, and caste
(cut)fayrepaynemaynnys
soppys theron,
and
P-

serue

it forth

for

potage.' Way,
"

in

Promptorium Parvulorum,

37"%ueep she ifoon, "c.

148.

But

sore

149.

tne?i

smoot.

If

ine?i

were

the

/ re weep / skifoon, "c.

ordinarypluralof man, smoot ought
Read

Bi/t

so

NOTES.

T40
to

smiien

be

French

on, with

the

gird

of land

Cf.

oxen,

(about
and

cow,

one

M.E.

men,

me,

is used

like the Ger. man,

singularverb.

yerde,stick,rod.
a

but

(pi.past);

seven

six

151. witnpel. The

and yard
_)'ara^-measure,
of

acres

as

nautical

term;

pasture for two

and
ploughland,

sheep).

wimple

gorger is stated

or

have

first to

appeared

the First's

a
coveringfor the neck, aftd was
reign. It was
and elderly
Part
used by nuns
ladies. See Gloss, to Spec,of English,
ii.
ii.
Fairholt's
I; Reliq.Antiquae, 15 ;
Costume, 18S5,
413.

in Kdward

But

'

pinched.

And

poore

And

not

So

small

My

rede

and

hore

be,

clothingand

by my
wyde

so

have

gown
and so

ypyncked

sone

aray,
is

as

myne,

thyne

gay,

happe yit the profitmay.'

Occleve,De Reg. Principum,p.

in

152. eyefi greye. This

ladies' eyes in Chaucer's
also

I olde

though

to

seems

have

Cf. C. T. 3972 ; Rom.

time.

of

colour

the favourite

been

15.

Rose,

546,862

"

*'

forheed

Hyr

bent

and

lelywhyht,
hyr grey eyne,

Hyr
browys blake,
Hyr chyry chekes, hyr nose "treyt and ryht,
Hyr lyppysrody.' Lives of Saints,Roxb. Club,
"

'

Her

are

eyes

grey

glass.^Two

as

Gent,

"

of

p. 14.

Verona, iv. 4. 197.

156.hardilyis here used for sikerly,

certainly
2, Gloss.
; see Ch.
and hence well-made,
'made
i^^.fetisliterally
signifies
artistically,'
See Glossary.
/eat,neat, handsome.
I was
I perceived.
war
war, aware
;
bede signifies,
(2) a stringof
(i) a prayer;
159. bedes. The word
'

grains upon which

See Glossary,s. v.
eke she bere ;
'

'

the

counted, or the
prayers were
'
Bede.
set.'
A pair here means
a

Rom.

with

portas, sumtyme

In the year 1399, Eleanor

of Gloucester

pair of paternosters of

Roger

de

had

Kyrkly

Inventories,p. 56

payre

Bayle'sKing John,p.
*a

'

peire of bedis

Rose, 7372.

with

Sumtyme

grainsthemselves.

iininn

; Surtees

0/ bedes,'

27

; Camden

in her last will left her mother

coral.'- Nicolas, Test. Vet. i. 147.

"

par de bedes

Soc.

et

laius

agjius dei.
"

In 141 2,
Wills

and

Soc.

of
were
gauded al with gre?ie, having the gaivdiesgreen. Some
the
beads
The
in
the set.
gilt.
larger
gaivdiesor gatideeswere
A peyre bedys of jeete[get'],
with
corall;'Bury Wills, p. 82,
gaudied
1. 16. The note says that every eleventh bead, or gavd, stood for a Paternoster;

silver
'

the smaller
was

55

or

165.

'

beads, each for

Gaudy

of becdes,

an

Ave

Maria.

full number

The

signeau de paternoster^Palsgrave.
"

THE

'

paire of

toke

She

both

capitalA,

England.

brooch

The

of

shape
'

It

ornament.

or

to

seems

surmounted

in the

brooch

necke
my
all without

by

ed. Pauli, iii.372.

See

made

the

to

common

in the

figureof

shape of
silver-gilt

Glossary to Fairholt's Costume

in the

A' is

crowned

ornament

an

been

crown.

an

was

have

supposedto representAt7ior

greatest of all the Christian graces.

the

about

hyng

brooch,signified,
(i)a pin; (2)a breast-pin
; (3) a buckle

The

sexes.

sable

as

wryte of gold,pur reposer.'

Gower, Confessio Amantis, f. 190;

clasp;(4) a jewel

or

and

141

blacke

bedes

the gaudees

Upon
Was

160. broche

PROLOGUE,

'

Omnia

uincit

Charity,

or
'

amor

in

Vergil,

Eclog. X. 69.
for Prioresses to have female
163. Another Notine. It was not common
old title of dignity
in
as
an
fern.,
chaplains; but Littre giveschapelaine,
Benedictine
a
Moreover, it is an office still held in most
nunnery.
Nunconvents, as is fullyexplained in a letter written by a modem
Chaplain,and printedin Anglia,iv. 238.

164. The
the

of three

tells the

tale of the

supposes

that there

cases,

The

likelysolution
Nun, beginning
was

that, for

The

line left

imperfect,as

gap,
If

either

himself

The

Chaucer

also, in all other

of each
representative

one

is that

Nonne

and

'

one

Fox.

Chaucer

wrote

class.

character

of the

"

That

that

but

was

'Another

we

and

make

and it is
only want one priest,
viz. the Nonnes
Freest,
priest,

we

but

was

Cock

most

Second

take

in 1. 24,

that there

assumed

To
difficulty.

priestspresentssome

twenty-ninementioned

up
afterwards
who

mention

are

by
to

some

keep

reason,

with

hir hadde

hir

chapeleyne'

he

aftenvards

"

above, may

suppressedthe description.

have

(temporarily),indeed
or

the text

(which stands

'

she

been

by

filled up, to stop

else.
some
one

alike in all

MSS.),

we

to mean
at least nine and twenty.'
nyne and twenty
letter from
the Nun-Chaplain mentioned
in the last note

wel

must

'

Abbess

shews

as
as
a chaplain.
might have as many ix.sjive
priests,
1.
how
reconcile
this
line
with
is,merely,
to
difficulty
24.
i.e.
fair
a
a
one.
165. fair,
for the maistrie is equivalentto the French phrase potir la maistrie,
which
in old medical
books
is appliedto such medicines
as
we
usually
excellent above
call sovereign,
all others;'Tyrwhitt. In the PromptoParvulorum
find
rium
we
maystrye, or soverente, and heyare (higher)
honde yn stryfe
or werre
(war): Dextre, pi.,victoria,triumphis.'Another
The
copy reads, rnaistri or worchip (honour) or the heyerhond,' "c.
an

well

The

'

'

'

phrasevor

the maistre

is in Rob.

of Glouc.

1. 11554.

NOTES.

142
66. venerye,

hunting. The monks of the middle ages were extremely

attached to hunting and field-sports
a frequent
subjectof
; and this was
with
the
and
of
satire
with
the
more
austere
ecclesiastics,
complaint
Wright.
laity.'"
1

'

i6S. deyntee,dainty,is

used by
frequently

Chaucer

in the

sense

of

valuable,rare.
precious,
jingle. Fashionable
170. Ginglen,
small

bells

in the habit of

were

harness of their horses.

the bridles and

on

riders

hanging
in his
Vv'yclifre,

Triloge,inveighsagainstthe priests
[ofhis time]for their "fair hors,and
jolyand gay sadeles and bridles ringingby the way;" Lewes' Wycliffe,
later period
p. 121 ;' cited by Warton, ed. 1840, i. 167. At a much
mention
of
bells'
in
his
these
i.
makes
descriptioa
Spenser(F.Q. 2. 13)
'

of

lady'ssteed
'

Her

"

palfreyall

wanton

With

tinsell

Whose

bridle

See also Warton,

rung
above

(St.Benet
the

with

Benedict)were

or

Romish

Church.

C. T.

the

St. Maur

wave,

golden bels and

where
172. Ther as
of seint Maure
173. The reide (rule)
=

like

trappings,woven
; and
that.

as

overspred

was

bosses

brave.'

14800.
(St.Maur)

oldest forms

(Jan. 15)

and

that of "eint Beneyt

of monastic

was

in
discipline

of
disciple

St. Benet

(Dec. 4).
175. Harl.
hem

MS.

forby him
hem

reads, 'This

pace?), 'This
refers to

ilke monk
monk

same

leet

let them

rules of St. Maur

the

forby hem
and

pace' (leet

observed.'
unpass by him
St. Benet, which

superiorof the house, who

to have
seems
preferreda milder sort of discipline.Forby is still used
in Scotland for by or past, and occurs
in the North
frequently
English
of by, past, near.
literature of the fourteenth century in the sense
reads trace,
Lansd. I^IS. reads pace (steps). Tyrvvhilt
1 76. space.
too

were

streit

for this 'lord'

(strict)

or

path.
pulledhen,lit.a pluckedhen ; hence, the value of a hen without
its feathers;see 1. 652. In C.T.
6694, the phrase is 'not worth a hen.'
Mr. Earle suggests that pidled pu\\et
; but the later phraseis also polled
hen ; (seebelow). Tyrwhitt says, I do not see much
force in the epithet
puled ; but adds, in his Glossary I have been told s nee, that a hen
whose feathers are pulled,or pluckedoff,will not layany eggs.' Becon
speaks of a polledhen,'i.e. pulledhen, as one unable to f^y. But to
where
of pilgrimage,
or in places
pray at the shrines of his canonized saints,
I
would
the devil worketh
but
stiracles,
namely at Rome, at
say miracles,
this
all.
at
"c.,
passeth
Prayersmade in those
Compostella, Jerusalem,
heard and the better
placeswith this confidence,that they be the sooner
a
of the places,
polled
accepted by the reason
flyto heaven as it were
Another
hen.'
Becon's Works, p. 533; Parker Soc.
explanationis to
177.

'

'

'

"

'

"

'

THE

be

pulledto

suppose
distinct.

PROLOGUE,

43

put for pilled; though these words are properly

bald, or scurfy; and hence,perhaps moulting.'
'

Pilled

means

CL peeledin
scallyd,depilatus,
glabellus;'
Prompt. Parv.
Isaiah xviii. 2, 7 (also pluckedoff the hair
in Isa. 1. 6) ; Ezek.
xxix.
18; Shakespeare,i Hen. VI. i. 3. 30.
'

Pylld, or

'

'

(in MS.

179. reccheles

E.)

careless; but,

means

says, 'a careless monk'

cloister.' He proposes to read

without
reset-les,

of retreat;

word

Brink

common

in M.E.

'No
7-eset;^

reading chiderlees

Professor

monk

'a
necessarily

Ten
of

out

his

or
resting-place
place
for resting-place,

writers

to
(ed.Morris),A. 1067: 'Ther entrez non
enters to take up
one
(their)abode there.' But the
(in MS. Harl.) solves the difficulty;
being a coined

Cf. Allit. Poems

abode.

take

is

reset

is not

as

"

it.
goes on to explain
is a literal translation of one from the Decretal
1 79-1 81, This
passage
'
of Gratian : Sicut piscis
sine aqua caret vita,ita sine vionasterio monachns.''

word, Chaucer

do say that a monk

live out of
cannot
Scriptures
into deadly sins,any more
than a fish can
his cloister without
falling
without
live out of water
dying.' Cf P. Plowm. B. x. 292. Moreover,
de Jehan de Meung,
the poet here imitates a passage in Le Testament

Joinville
says,

ed.

Meon,
'

The

1. 1166

Qui
Car

182.

'

"

les voldra
ne

read

MSS.

Some

has here its earliest sense

cloistre

hild

or

oi

their duties

192. for

Augustine made

permittedit,live

189. a pricasour,a
no

hard

his cathedral

strictly the monkish

clergy,as

far

as

orders.

as

as

(Comus,

of bidden, to command.

187. bit,the 3rd pers. sing.pres.

St.

huld.

ivhereforeor why.
wood, mad, foolish,is frequently
employed by Spenser.
'
used by Milton
swinked hedger,'
186. swinhe?i,
to toil ; whence
1. 293). But stvin^en is,properly,
a strong verb.

1S7, i83. Audyn.

oistre.'

d'une

la montance

prisentle munde

held,esteemed.

184. what

leur

trover, si les quiere en

rider,

cost, "c., for in

no

way

would

he

abstain

from

these

of Babygyfe j^ou no coost.'' The Sowdone

on
loyne,1. 1721.
Knightes Tale, 1. 619.
furred
the embroidered
The
M.E.
or
purjilsignifies
193. purfiled.
the edge. Purfiled
of a garment, so that pnrfile
is to work
hem
upon
extended
has also a more
meaning, and is applied to garments overlaid
with gems
other ornaments.
tinsell,or
or
Pourfilerd'or, to piirfie,
with gold thread,"c.
a
overcast
purflinglace or
piirfling,
Pourfileure,
work, bodkin work, tinselling
;
Cotgrave.
of costlyfur, formerly very much
esteemed; but
194. grys, a sort
F.
Rom.
clear
O.
de la Rose,
what
of
fur
it
is
not
was
species
;
gris,

sports. Cf.

'

Of

my nede
See note

"

'

9121,

9307.

Some

suppose

it to

be

that of the grey

squirrel.Such

NOTES.

144
dress

is here described

as

refers to the fashion

'But

this

To

see

have

must

been

in the

very

expensive.Occleve

lines :
following
thynkethea grete abusioun,

me

"

in gownes

walke

one

of scarlet

Twelve

yerdes wide, with pendaunt sieves

grounde, and the furre therin set,
Amountyng unto twenty pound and bet.'

doune

the

On

Regimine Principum,p. 16,ed. Wright.

han rightynoughe to done,

De
'

His

two

armes

And

somwhat

his sieves

up to holde.
hereafter sone

more,

I trowe, mote
taillours,
Shape in the felde,they shalle
her bord, though they never
On
The

clothe that shall be

The

fur of the grey

him
on,

lace,which

with

ed.

black

he

gowne

fayne wolde,
wrought.' lb.
"

p. 18.

used

was

quaintlybare

up, to

silk stockings.'
1592. A

Quip

"

show
for

an

his white

taffata hose

UpstartCourtier,p. 83,

Hindley.
See

198. hailed,bald.
1.

so

folde

sprede and

'
up to a very late period. After
cloth gown
had a murrey
followed two pert apple-squires
; the one
before with grey coney
and laid thick on
the sleeves
faced down
^

The

and

rabbit

in

not

Specimens of Early English,pt. ii. p.

15,

408.
good point

Fr.

embonpoint,i.e.

200.

hi

201.

stepe,M. E. steap,does

not

here

in

mean

good

case.

burning,
sunken,but bright,

fiery. Mr. Cockayne has illustrated the use of this word in his
His twa
ehnen
Seinte Marherete,pp. 9, 108 :
[semden] steappre J)ene
than stars.
So also: 'schininde
his two
steorren,'
brighter
eyes seemed
of
then
eni
is
and schenre,
jimstanes steapre
steorre,'
shiningand clearer,
St.
1.
with
than
is
Katherine, 1647.
brighter
gems
any star ;
'

forneysof a leed,shone like the fire under a cauldron.

of a smart
abbot,
sonple. 'This is part of the description

202.

stemed

203.

botes

as

writer of the thirteenth century : '' Ocreas

anonymous
Bod.
cruribus quasi innatrc essent, sine plica porrectas."'

by

an

"

n.

6, p.

121.'

for-pyned,tormented, and hence wasted away;

wasted,as in the modem
pain; pined also signifies
in
intensive,as
Eng. forsxvear.
1.

210

Frere, friar.
were:

their abode

"

(i)

The

The

in Oxford

Franciscans,founded
of

James,

four orders

Dominicans,

of mendicant
or

from
verb

pine,torment,
is
pine. The /or-

friars mentioned
took

who
friars-preachers,

in 1221, known
the Black
Friars.
as
by St. Francis of Assisi in 1209, and known

in
up
The

(2)
by the
in England in
Augustin (or

Grey Friars. They made their first appearance

(3) The Carmelites, or White Friars. (4) The
1224.
Austin)Friars. The friar was
popularwith the mercantile

name

MS.

in

Tyrwhitt.

"

205.

208.

habebat

classes

on

146
'

NOTES,

thai have

For

here and there,

noght to lyve by, they wandren
dyvers marche, right as thai pedlerswere.
and knyves,
) Ther thai are haunted
pynnes

And

dele

with

Thei

dele

with

With

glovesfor
gyrdles,

See the

Bride-haves

chapteron

236. rote is a kind of

237. yeddynges,songs
239. champioun.
'

wenches

regent

And

faughtin

the tapper of

was

there that

daye a lion,
champion.''

like any

armes

tapster. In olden times

brewers

also,appear

and
Taystocke,'

Club, p. 68). The

Roxb.

in Brand's

The

341. iappestere, female

and for the most
part the
Of

till.'

wyves,

Popular Antiquities.
fiddle or 'crowd,'not a hurdy-gurdy.
popular tales or romances.
embodying some

and

-stere

'

'

the

-ster

or

to

Hardyng, p. 393.
the retailers of beer,
have been females.

tapsterspotte
as

feminine

the fourteenth
in

ed.
(Thyrsytes,
affix (^though
in
as
such)occurs

used
century it is not always or regularly
webbestere
In
brewslere,
huchster, maltster,
Eng. spinster.
;

M. E.

songster,this affix has acquiredthe meaning of an agent ; and in youngster,

it
See
Skeat, Principles
impliescontempt.
gamester,pxinster,"c.,
of

Etymology," 238.
Lazarus, in the parable of Dives
242. lazar, a leper; from
Lazarus ; hence lazarette,
for lepers,
a hospital
a lazar-house.
to deal
246. It is not becoming,it may not advance (profit)
with) such poor people.'
(associate
'

i.e.
248. riche,
'

250.

rich

Courteous

and

these two

which
lines,

two

humble

numbering
253.

should
which
been

sho.

the

above

it be but
or

to

Church
Acts
worth

MSS.

"

yaf a certeyn ferme for the graunt

Noo?i of his bretheren cam
ther ifi his haunt.''
lines ; hence
the lines after this line.
these two

It has been
the

say),but
would

services.'

MS.

A?id

Tyrwhittinserts
of

his
offering

inserts the following

Hengwrt
by
Harl.,Corpus,Cambridge,

omitted

are

in

lines the

Petworth,Ellesmere,and Lansdowne
'

with

people.

he was,

252, 253. Between

and

proposedto
MSS.

best

(infact)give

taking small
cheese

do

read

not

falserijue.

articles.

'

difference in
slight

Ever

as
(a halfpenny,

sou

countenance

The
be

the methods

any
friars do not

givingof

such

we

now

reading;
to

seem

have

somewhat, though

piece of bacon, to the holy order of St. Francis,

of my [Antichrist's]
friars,
monks, canons, "c.
Holy
but
taketh
whatsoever cometh.'
Becon's
gladly
nothing,

any other
refuseth

or

"

of Christ

and

his olde sho ;

'

Antichrist,
p. 531 ; Parker
C. T. 6290. Cf.

of
'

For
Go

had

man

shryve him

Society.So

slayne al his kynne.

at

frere.

also 'not

'PROLOGUE.

THE

And

for lesse then

He

wyl assoil

payre of shone,

Poems, ed. Wright,i. 266.

Polit.
'

254. In

in
principio.'Tyrwhitt,

whether

these words

of
beginning

(He

from

passage

him

cross

; and

John'sGospel,the

St.

conclusion

of the

Mass.

15169.) The

following
T)Tidalesets the questionat rest : And where he [the
and to make
himself strong to
cross
to be armed
himself,
from
with Christ,
he crosseth himself to drive the cross
are

in 1.

blesseth himself with

from

cross

the

undone,he thinketh it no small sin,and that God

with him, and if any misfortune
chance, thinketh it
and
idolatry,

God's word.

And

cross.

it

is also

it doubtful

"

should
priest]
bear the

beginningof

passage
also used

line,leaves

the

on

in the

some

that the words

notes

his note

refer to the

Genesis,or

sone.'

clene and

him

47

if he leave

is

highlydispleased

is

therefore;which

sayingof
principioerat verhtwi,'from house to house."
Tyndale, vol. iii.
to Sir T. More's
Dialogue,1530, edited for
pp. 61, 62, in his Answer
the Parker Society,
in
the
Rev.
H.
Walter,B.D.'" F. J. Furnivall,
by
ence
Temp. Pref. to the Six-Text edit, of Chaucer,p. 93. Hence the referis to John i. i.
he acquiredin this
T What
256.ptirchas proceedsof his begging.
not

Such

is the limiter's

'In

"

"

way

greater than his

was

We

find also

:
'

rent

income.

or

purchasis theffect of al my

My

To

wynnen

is

always myn

My piirchaceis

bettir than

originalhas (1.11 760)

"

'

C. T. 7033.

entente,
rented
my

'Miex

Rose, 1. 6840.

of the

Romaunt

Here the F.

rente

vaut

mes

porchasque

ma

rente.'

"c.); and pleyenas (Harl.).

right(Elles.
258. love-dayes.'Love-days(dies amoris)were days fixed for settling
The
differences by umpire,without havingrecourse
to law or violence.
share in the
ecclesiastics seem
generallyto have had the principal
257.

// were

as

of these

management

Ploughman, appear
of

transactions,
which,throughoutthe
censured

to be

as

the

of

means

the clergy.'
enriching
Wright'sVision
"

Vision

of Piers

and
hinderingjustice

of Piers

Ploughman,vol.

ii.

P- 535*

Ac
A

now

ledere

is

Religion a rydere,and

of

Ploughman, A. xi. 208,ed. Skeat ;

iii.196. (Mr. Kitchin suggests that

analogousto

the

aboute,

rennere

Sec.
love-dayes,'

Piers
B.

Treuga Dei,

truce

see

also note

to P. PI. ed.

This truce lasted

bishopsbetween A. D. 1000 and 1300.
Saturday to 6 a.m. on Monday. But all the evidence
differentthing.)
a totally
was
love-day
L

Skeat,

privatedays of peace are

of God, so often proclaimedby
these

from
shews

3 p.m. on
that the

148

NOTES.

260.

vestment
priest's
semi-cope(1.264) was

cope, a

flat ; the

cloak

semicircle when

forminga

laid

short cloak

or
cape.
the
In
time
of
Edward
the
III
herd.
for'kedbeards were
270. aforlied
the franklins and bourgeoisie,
fashion among
accordingto the old custom

in England,fig.
Conquest. See Fairholt's Costume
30.
should be guarded; so that he should
suffer from
not
276. were "kept,
piratesor privateers.The old subsidyof tonnage and poundage was
given to the king for the safeguardand custodyof the sea.
the

before

'The

wel

see

it
liept,

bee

must

for drede.'

doo

liakluyt,i. 206 [marked 204] ; cited from A Libell of English Policie.

i.e. for fear of anything; for
for fear of.
for any thitig,
Lyons
folde up their nailes when
they are in their dennes for wearing them in
the earth and neede
not.
Eagles draw in their tallants as they sit in
'

their nestes,/or
in these

Ancor

upon
ed, Arber.

there

drosse

amonge
in the

I will caste

And

simple roade, for gratingmy

my Barke
Schoole
of Abuse, p, 54,
shelues.'
The
Gosson,

abuses,rest

needelesse

wits

277.

bluntingthem
"

Orewelle.

Middelburghand

still a well-known

Middleburghis

'

almost
port of the island of Walcheren, in the Netherlands,

oppositeHarwich,

beside

and

spot

This

Orwell.

Orewelle.^

which

the

are

formerlyknown

was

of the

estuaries
as

the

immediately
rivers Stoure

port

of Orwell

or

Saunders,p. 229.

"

profitby the exchange of his

French
in the different money-markets of Europe. Sheeldes are
crowns
from their havingon one
side the figureof a shield.
crowns
(ecus),
employed his knowledge to the best advantage.
279. his ivii bisette,
Wse^/e
used, employed. Cf. Piers Plowman, ed. Skeat, B. v. 297 :
if thow
And
whom
wite (know) nevere
to whiche^ ne
to restitue
[the goods gotten wrongfully]
and bidde
Bere it to the bisschop,
hym of his grace,
Bisette it hymselue, as best is for thi soule.'
278. He

well

knew

how

make

to

"

'

did
respectably
borrowing money.'

in

'So

Si, 282.

284.

noot

ne

wot, know

he

not;

his

order

so

nost

bargainsand agreements

ne-\-wost, (thou) knowest

not.

student,a scholar preparingfor the priesthood.

285. Clerk,a university
It also

of

a man
signifies

Munimenta

lifeand

Academica

Anstey's
earlyOxford

See

studies.

not

been

287. As.
290.

holy orders.
information
on
interesting

for much

Oxenford,Oxford, as
it has

in

a man
learning,

'His

if the

j^rovedthat
as.

Some

this

MSS.

ford of the

in

read

and

etymologyis wrong.

upi)ermost short cloak

is used
297- philosOjphre

(A.S. Oxnaford);

oxen

also
of

double

.a.s

coarse
sense

as.

.as.

cloth.'
; it sometimes

meant

an

PROLOGUE.

THE

in C. T.

alchemist, as
but he

was

iv.

1 1

alchemist,and

no

Chaucer

301.

74

"

so

often imitates

The
1. 1427.
clerk knew
had but little gold.

his

here

He

lines.

own

philosophy,

imitates

Troil.

preye.'

for the soule

pitously
gan

And

Group G,

T49

302. yafhhn. An allusion to the common

scholars in the Universities,who
poor

at
practice,

wandered

this

period,of

the

about

country

In a poem'
support them
of
the
burdens
husbandman, complaining
many
he supports in taxes to the court, payments to the church, and charitable
the latter the alms to
contributions of different kinds,enumerates
among
raise money
762,the

begging,to

in their studies.

to

in jNIS. Lansd.

scholars
'

"

Than

her

To
See

God

clerkysof Oxford,

commeth

scole-hire

spede the

they

make

and

their mone.

have

most

Plough, p. 71, in

money.'
Pierce the Ploughman's Crede,

ed. Skeat.
It is used in the

to attend school.
scoleye,

Cf.

in, tendingto.
307. So2V7iinge
'That
Of

that

nathyng

That
Of

sal

day (Domesday)
he

in ille

sonnes

whilk

wrang
on

(which) he

any
was

same

by Lydgate.

sense

phrase,'it sounds

our

(shall)na
(wrong)

be

man

here

bad.V

excused

used,

manere,

delyverdhere.'

never

of Conscience, p. 164,1. 6079.

in the following passage :
the word
Pricke

Ascham
'

plays upon
evidently
siren shall

Some

ende

to

1863 ;

or

his

utter

iti the
in tune, but sowidiiig
song sweete
destruction.'
The
Scholemaster,p. 72, ed. Mayor,

sing him

Arber, p. 74.

ed.

See

or
church-porch,
porticoof St. Paul's,where

meet

for consultation.

Mary's,Oxford,

church-porchof St.
held.

"

310. at the parvys, at the

the lawyers were
to
wont

be

"

Warton,

ed.

1871,

the

where

ii. 377;

Cf.

Parvisum, the

examinations

used

to

Todd, Illustrations,
p. 245

Saunders,p. 164.
geant
SerThe
learned
invalid.
convej'ancing
320. Purchasing',
; infect,
clever enough to untie any entail,and
was
pass the property as
in fee simple.' W. H. H. Kelke, in N. and Q. 5 S. vi. 487.
estate
He was
and dewell acquaintedwith all the legal cases
cisions
323, 324.
which
had
been
ruled
in
the
of
law
the
since
courts
(ordecrees)
time of William
the Conqueror.' The
Harl. MS. reads,0/ King Will
'

"

"

'

were

falle{

fallen,had

were

befallen

326, piiiche
at, find fault with.
niggardlymanner
(asin the modern

or

occurred).

originalmeaning was to act in a

verb pinch),to deny oneself common
necessaries ; from which
sprang a secondarymeaning, to deny or refuse
the courtesy or praisedue to another, and hence to blame.
Palsgrave
the

Its

phrase, / pynche courtaysye (as

condyscions,le fays le nyce).'
uses

'

one

that

doth

that

is nyce

of

NOTES,

I50

328.

medlee

329.

Gird, which

(Lat.clavus). They were

pass throughthem.

the wide

tissue of which

round

square, or
of barre

the

name

fashioned

the

were

usual

allow

like the heads

still

being

; s.

describes

Fortescue

331.

colour.

The
of

ornaments

the tongue
attached

girt^

as

same

barres

girdle

buckle

of the

perforated
to
transversely
they w^ere
Originally
the girdlewas
were
formed, but subsequently

'

Parvulorum

Promptorium

and

to

to

or

or

readingin the Harl. MS., is the

would
be girde.
girdleof silk with small ornaments.

past tense
ceint of sM, "c., a
called cloux in French,

were

stuff

is the

The

girded.

of mixed

coat

cote,a

v.

lions,and

devices,

similar

retained,though improperly.'"
Way, in
barre.

franklin

of

be

to

pater familias magnis

"

The
from John Russell's Boke
extract
possessiofiibus.
following
Nurture
(p.170, ed. Fumivall)gives lis a good idea of a franklin's

ditatus
of

feast
*

"

with

brawne

serued
make
) bakoun
a feste Improberabille,
may
with mustard
is concordable,
)
pesoun,

Beef

motoun

for

])ese-

Franklen

or

stewed

Boyled Chykoun
,

Rosted

or

seruysable,

-n.

Mortrowes

1,

fulle

pygge
^"'^^

Lustade

or

of household
lusselle

or

is

,1

Costable,

eggis

crayme

be
^

"

course

resoun.

) bakemetes

cony,

"^^^

gesoun

"

by

"

) for the second

behoveable,

delectable

ar

veel,lambe, kyd, or

Thanne

soun

) whenne
f

convenyent

prohtable,

Capoun / Bakemete,
perforestuffe

agreable,

capoun

"

"

goose

or

dow-

cettes with alle.

Chykoun or pigeoun rosted tendurly,
)
bothe
with
" a leche lovely
; ) to serue
penne followyngefrytowrs,
and halle.
chambur
Suche seruyse in sesoun
is fulle semely
)
Thenne
appuls" periswith spicesdelicately) with bred and chese

Aftur

Spisedcakes
With
334.
340.

of

J)eterme

and

wafurs

See

sop in wyn.

'St.

to

note

to

calle.

plesewelle

meryly
may
1. 147.

"

providinghis

for

eminent

Julian was

deynteithly, )

worthily,

methe, J)usmen

bragot "
a

fulle

J)eyere

bothe

gret

smalle.'

votaries

with

good

Book
of
of all sorts.
[See Chambers'
lodgings and accommodation
Bodl.
fol.
he
is
of
MS.
his legend,
1596,
Days, ii.388.] In the title
4,
called "St. Julianthe gode herberjour (St.
Julianthe good harbourer}.
"

It ends

thus

"Therfore
Thei

For
Of

"

yet

biddeth
he

And

hem

Seint

to

this

thei that

day

(pray)Seint

Julian

over

lond
that

anon

wende

gode

(go),

herborw

(lodging)

sende.

JulianesPaternoster

his fader

soule

the virtue of St.

and

his

ofte

seggeth(say)also

moderes,

Paternoster
Julian's

that
see

he
the

hem

bringe therto."

Decameron, Day

2,

PROLOGUE.

THE

2.'

nov.

ed. Swan

word

343. bahe

mete

meat

swann.

of
past participle

the old

He

'

coffins
(pies),
usuallyexplainedas
like the Prov. Eng. sine

MS.

was

French

halte was

bal-en.

in

baked

E. meive,
Camb.

drynk.'Cf.

and

Romanorum,

Tyrwhitt.

"

sneioed is

verb

The

; but the M.

abound,

Gesta

the
'Cotgrave has preserved

wine.

sense.'

baked

"mea.ts

meats

345.

with

in tlie same

envine

Baked

also

See

Jan. 9.

is

; tale iS.

stored
etivyned,

342.

day

His

Tyrwhitt.

"

151

with

ing
snow-

also signifies
to
siiive,

or

'It snowede

reads

from

metaphor

in his mouth

all
yiftes[presents]

of mete
'

bisnewed

Gower,

C. A. iii. 51.
The

jnewe.

349.
while

place where

the

was

mewe

the

hawks

kept

were

afterwards
applied to the coop wherein fowl
moulting; it was
to a placeof confinement
or
were
fattened,and lastly
secrecy.
'
of
To
insure
a
fish,
supply
stew-ponds were
350. stewe, fish-pond.

attached

the

to

the castle

around

moat

stored with luce, carp,

351.

Rob.

of Brunne

'may

no

into

was

woo

luoe

am

for

(HandlingSynne, 7^50) says

day Greythe hym hys mete to pay.'
is like

them

but

well

p. 65.
We
only use

wo

Olyvere then.'
"

't;'Tempest,
that

; the

and
fish-pond,

his cook.

was

'Who
'I

without

were

EnglishHome,

sad

or

Cf.

Babyloyne,1. 1271.

of

Sowdone

tench.'" Our

substantive.

converted

often

was
or

monasteries

few

his cook, woeful

ivas

as

woe

or

Wo

and

manors,

i.

v.

rich man's

139.
cook

modem

the

phrase saiice piquant.

were
They made it
great lovers of "piquant sauce."
and rare spices. In the statute of Henry III to
condiments
of expensive
the use
of sauce
unless it could be
is prohibited
restrain high living,
moderate
cost.'
Our
EnglishHome, p. 62.
procuredat a very
*

351, 352. sauceOur forefathers

Poynannt

"

"

353.

trestles and

wooden

common

for the great hall.

introduced

about

regarded

were

'Previous

table dormant.

the
as

to

the

fourteenth

rough plankwas

deemed

century
a

pair of

table sufficient

Tables, with a board attached to a frame, were

time, of Chaucer, and, from remaining in the hall,
.

indications

of

Our
ready hospitality.*
"

English

Home,

p. 29.
Cf. 'At Sessions and at
355. sessiotms. At the Sessions of the Peace.
Mirrour
for Magistrates,
Sises we bare the stroke and swaye.' Higgins's
"

ed.

571, p.

2.

Speght defines this word as a falchion,or woodknife.

It was, however, a short two-edged knife or dagger usuallyworn
broad at the hilt and taperingto a point. See Murray's
at the girdle,
New
Eng. Dictionary; Liber Albus, p. 75 ; Knight, Pict. Hist, of
England, i. 872.
properlya pouch or budget used in hawking, "c., but
gipserwas
commonly wonr
by the merchant, or with any secular attire, (Way.)
357. aulas

or

anelace.

"

152

NOTES.

358. IIe7ig
(orHing in

MSS.),the past tense

some

of

hongenor hangen,

hang.

to

inylk m.oT:nmg milk.

the 7-eve of a shire,governor
359. schirreve,
word sheriff.
morne

conntour, O. Fr.
accounts

in

or

comptour,

received

money
of

Riley'sMemorials

1. 11153.
Gloucester,
*
accountant.'

360. vavasour,

charge, "c.

London,
Book

county ;

accountant,

an

in

In the

of

ranked

of the Duch.

audited

who

person

It

p. 58.

modern

our

with

pleaders

in

occurs

435, it

of

Rob.

simplymeans

tenant of a vassal
a sub-vassal
or
originally
of the king's,
who
held his lands in fealty. Tyrwhitt says
tenant
or
one
it should, be understood
the whole
to mean
class of middling landholders.'
See Lacroix, MilitaryLife of Middle
Ages, p. 9. Spelt
favasour in King Alisaunder,ed. Weber, 1. 3827.
Haberdashers
of two
kinds:
haberdashers
361. Haberdassher.
were
of small wares
sellers of needles,
and
haberdashers
"c.
;
tapes,buttons,
or

vavaser,

'

"

of hats.

362. Wehhe, properlya

male

wehstere

the female

weaver,
but there appears to have been some
confusion
in the use of the suffixes
and -stere (seePiers Plowman, ed. Skeat,B. v. 215),'mi wyf was
-e
a
weaver;

was

%vebbe.'
'

included
363. liveree,
livery was
livery.Under the term
the
lord
his
to
officials or
was
by
dispensed(delivered)
'

annuallyor

at

certain

seasons,

denoted
chiefly

The

term

roba

estivalis and

whether

money,
marks
of

external

hieinalis,
given

to

the

Book,
court, as appears by the Wardrobe
Ordinances.
Household
The practiceof

generaladherence

to

for the

the

service

or

domestics

victuals,

or
garments.
such as the
distinction,

officers and
28 Edw.

retainers of the

I, p. 310, and

such
distributing

interests

whatever

of the

the

tokens

individual

of
who

maintenance

of any privatequarrel,
carried
was
IH and Richard
II,
reignsof Edward

granted them,
to an injurious
extent during the
forbidden
and
was
by several statutes, which allowed liveries to be
of guilds. (See Stat, of Realm,
borne only by menials, or the members
often mentioned
ii.pp. 3,'74, 93, 156, 167.) The 'liveree des chaperons,'
hood
in these documents, was
Avhich being of a colour
or
a
tippet,
kind of livery
much
a
stronglycontrasted to that of the garment, was
in fashion,and well adapted to serv^e
distinctive mark.
as
a
This, in
later times,assumed
the

the

which
longliripipium,

form

of

round

cap, to which
rolled around
the

was

appended

head, but more

might be
commonly was worn
hanging over the arm ; and vestigesof it may still
be traced in the dress of civic liverymen. The Stat. 7 lien. IV expressly
permits the adoption of such distinctive dress by fraternities and les
gentz de mestere^the trades of the cities of the realm, being ordained
'

NOTES.

154
In the Boke

Mustard

'

of Nurture

for bravvne,

is meete

Verdius

boyled

to

(Harl.MS.

Roost

beef, or

"

beeff and

goos

or

or
garlek,vinegre,
pepur
fawn
kyd, pigge,or
;

to

"

lambe,
Gynger sawce
To feysand(pheasant),
or
partriche,
to

motoun

bakoun

"

with

read that

we

powdred

veel, chiken,

capoun,

"

"

1),1. 533,

401

with the

cony, mustard

sugure.'

Tart and

which Chaucer, pre-eminentest,

economioniseth
above
galingale,
all junquetries
feetionaries whatsoever.'
Lenten
Nash's
or
con
Stuff,
is the root of sweet
Harraan
p. 36, ed. Hindley. galyngale
cyperus.
'

"

notices
(ed.Strother)

three varieties

Cyperus rotundtts,Galanga major,

Book,
Furnivall,pp. 152, 216. See Beaumont
and Fletcher's Bloody Brother,ii. 2 (near the end) ; Marco
Polo, ed.
Yule, ii. 181; Prompt. Parv., p. 1S5, note 4; and Rogers, Hist, of
Agricidtureand Prices,i. 629.
ale. London
ale was
famous
382. London
as
early as the time of
Henry IH, and much higherpricedthan any other ale ; cf C. T. 3142.
There were
two
kinds of 'mortrews,'
or
mortrewes.
384. mortreux
minor
Galatiga

'

; Babees

de chare^ and

mortrewes

in which

the

the chief

derived

its

Lord

name.

with the brawne

made

and

firststamped

were
ingredients

pork, crumbs
liver of

Bacon

yolks of

kind

fish,bread,

(Nat.Hist,

i, 48)

speaks of

of

eggs, and
taining
con-

soup
ale.

pepper,

whence

mortar,

was

kind

it
'

The

probably
mortresse

stamped and strained.* See Babees Book,

of capons

151, 170, 172.

pp.

386. 7normal, a
passage,

has

cancer
a

gangrene.
cook with

ii. sc.

Oo. i. 20, last

leaf,in the Cam.b.

2.

la maladie

Por

est

que
melancholy,and

from

'

speaksof
bk, vii. c,

Jonson,in imitation

old

'

an

Palsgrave gives

'

"

Univ.

Goutes, mormalles,

Library,

horrible

to

the

sight;

'

Fall

;'Sad

In

sore.'

notices

MS.

of remedies

It says that
scurf or
crust.

hard

broad

Mormall,
are

his skin

on

mortwnyi.''

apele mahim
shows

mnrtnial

of this

it

of

comes

Lydgate
Princes,

10.

388. by

weste

common

very

Ben

or

described

Shepherd,act
'

second

brayed in

or

first was

of bread,

ingredients
; the

(or milt)

roe

fysshe.'The

of

'mortrewes

chickens,fresh

soup
saffron formed

ed.

westward.

late

as

'And

old

which
exjjression,

was

once

the i6th century. Cf.

as

made

good

hym kyng

agayne

by

ttorth and

south.'

Hardyng'sChronicle,p. 69.
389.

Dartmouth

was

once

very

considerable

port ;

see

Essays on

Chaucer, p. 456.
390.
ante

"

ahora

roioicy,

common

de lo
significativo

era.'
"

Don

hackney horse,a
que

habia

Quijote,
cap.

i.

'
Cf. Rozinanie.
Rocinnag.
fue roci7i,
sido cuando
de
lo
antes
que

'From

and
Rozin, a drudge-horse,

PROLOGUE.

THE

ante, before.'
1262.'

Janas'snote.

"

*A

Runcina

"5

cost

Burton

at

lo-s.

55
in

(Rogers.)

391.

rt

gown
of frieze

'a kind
folding signifies
probably suppliedfrom

the

'

woollen

(robe) of

of /aiding,a

gowne

of which

wrappers
'

cloth.

coarse

The

term

which
rough-nappedcloth,'

or

North

of

Hermoldus

was

identical with

Europe, and
speaks, guos
"

the

appellamus

nos

'

Way.
Fa/dingwas a
serge cloth,very rough and
durable,'"c. ; Essays on Chaucer, p. 458.
of
'Perhaps this is a reference to the summer
394. the hole somer.
the dry and hot summer.'
the year 1351, which
as
was
long remembered
in 1370, much
the
nearer
Wright. There was another such summer
date of this Prologue.
396-398. Very many a draught of wine had he drawn (stolen
away
Faldones."

coarse

"

"

'

or

carried off from

or

supercargo

regardto

all)while the chapman (merchant

wine belonged)was
asleep; for he paid no
scruples.*

Bordeaux, cask and

to whom

the

conscientious

any

399. hyer hond, upper hand.

*
He
to wherever
sent them home
400.
he

them

made

'

English,threw
seem

may

walk

as
plank,'

overboard, to

it

probably a

now,

was

off
sea-fight
are

the

them

overboard)
.

To

wade

The

tho

war

kaitefs

ed.

horrible.

'

This

of France

cast

in the

casten
at

to

403.
in
note

(the

at

sea

Chron.

them leap
lepe{tnade

brim,

lere tham

into the surf to wade

France,to teach themselves

And

battle

Combats

swim;'

to

(ifthey coukPi

to swim.

"

; the

Minot's Poems,

Essays on Chaucer, p. 460.

lodemenage,
pilotage.A pilotwas called a lodesman

Hall, p. 16.

cruel this

land;'Froissart's

upon

did tham

bot
(alive),

wrecches

were

out of

However

^ i.e.
plain

out

come

i.e. those wretches

caitiffscame

and

water

called ; or, in

practice.

was

bk. i. c. 50.
'
Fone
leftJ)ai
oliue
{feiv)

to be

swim.

or

common

Sluys)
very murderous
destructive and obstinate than

more

'

sink

from by

theycame

it used

see

; see

Way's

of London, p. 655;
Prompt. Parv. p. 310; Riley'sMemorials
Chaucer's Legend of Good
Women,
i486 ; Furnivall's Temporary
Preface,p. 98; Essays on Chaucer, pp. 480, 48 1, 484. At a later
of Evesham, ed. Arber,
period lodesman meant
guide; Monk
any
p. 106.
409.

cryJie,
creek,harbour, port.

410.

We

find

belongingto

the

actual

mention

of

vessel

p.

on

T7^.

the

Mandelayne

in the years 1379 ^"^

also N. " Q. 6 S. xii. 47.

port of Dartmouth,

Chaucer,

484. See
(EUes."c.) ; Ther
411. Wilh us ther was
414. astronotnye, (really)astrologv.

Essays

called

p.

was

See

also

13^6;

see

(Harl.).

Saunders

on

Chaucer,

15(5

NOTES.

watched.
hours.
He
The houres are the astrological
416. leepte,
for a favourable star in the ascendant.
watched
A
carefully
great
415.

'

the medical

portionof

other

and

of the middle

depended upon
Wright. Cf.

ages

observances.'
superstitious

"

416. magik

Chaucer

nahirel.

bk. iii.11.

of Fame,
'

Ther

alludes to

the

To

pleyenjugelours

craftelydoon

her

wel

ententes

make, in certeyn ascendentes.

Images,
To

417. The

lo !

make

which

ben

hool

man

a"cendejit is the

through

point of

the

magyke,

syke.'

or

zodiacal

the horizon

at a givenmoment,
ascendingabove
it
the
Upon
depended
drawing out of
representedthe aspect of the heavens at

of birth.

The

It was

and

substances
evil to

moment,

at

certain

patient,
by
Cornelius Agrippa, De
or

circle which
such

Horace, Sat. i. 8. 30;

times,and could be

so

happens

the moment

as

man's

horoscope,
some
given critical
for making images.
a

in the present case, is that

believed that images of men
and animals could be made

moment.

the

"

clerkes

That

in
practices

same

eek, which conne

Al this magyhe 7iaturel,

which

Nonne

169-180:

saugh

And

to be

logical
astro-

Tale, 1. 135.

Preestes

House

science

treated

to

as

of certain
cause

good

magical and planetaryinfluences. See

Occulta
Philosophia,lib. ii.capp. 35-47. Cf.
Ovid, Heroid. vi. 91. In Norton's Ordinall,
Theatrum
Chemicum, p. 60, it is said that
of

means

printedin Ashmole's
astrologers
With
joyne Elements
also,
Astrologie
To forlMie\ji\
their Workings as theie goe;'"c.
'

to Man

Cf. Notes

These

420.
Lost,ii. 898.
of

some

one

424.

his

are

of Law's
the

Tale, 312 ; Squire's

Tale, 352.
cold,
humours,
hot,
/o?/r
dry,moist.

Diseases

supposedto

were

be caused

by

an

Milton,Par.
undue

excess

humour.

bote,his remedy.

426. drogges. MS.

The

Promptorium

Harl.

dragges;

Parvulorum

defines

has

the

drogges,drugges,drugs.
dragge, dragetum ; and Cotgrave
kind
the word
of
a
dragge) as
rest

form
of
dragee (the French
after meat, and hence
digestive
powder prescribedunto Aveak stomachs
served in the last course
for stomachcomfits,or sweetmeats
any jonkets,
closers.' Old English writers occasionally
employ dragy in the sense of
a small
a vessel for dragges.
comfit,and dragoir,dragenall,
*

The authors
429-434. Read tJiolde.
medical text-books of the middle ages.
'

mentioned

Kufus

was

here wrote
a

Greek

the chief

physician

PROLOGUE.

THE

of

and Avicen
age of Trajan; Haly, Serapion,
of the eleventh century ; Rhasis
physiciansand astronomers

Ephesns, of

Arabian
a

the

of the

Spanish Arab

scholar

flourished

who

Damascenus

(probably of
Carthage, and

to

have

Averroes

twelfth

in the

of Salerno

"

he

lived at the end

medicine

Gordonius, professorof
Chaucer's

contemporary

physicianof Oxford in the

Gilbertynis supposedby Warton

John

to be

Johannes
of

native

of the

one

of the eleventh
at

Montpellier,

Gatisden

earlier half

was

earlier date

much

Cassino, was

of JSIonte

monk

were

Moorisli

but
a
physician,
century^; Constanti[n]usAfer,

afterwards

been

was

century.

of

Arabian

an

ninth

; Bernardus

appears

century

the

centi^ry; and

in Morocco

of the school

founders

century

also

was

tenth

57

was

tinguishe
dis-

fourteenth

of the

Gilbertus

the celebrated

middle
of Hippocrates and
Anglicus. The names
Wright,
ages, always (or nearlyalways)speltYpocras and Galienus.'
fabled
the
of
be
of
to
son
medicine, was
Apollo.
-^sculapius,god
of
Book
Cf.
of
Greek
the
second
Dioscorides
was
a
physician
century.
Cf. Ippocrate,
the Duchess, 572.
Avicenna, e Galieno,Averrois,'"c. ;
Dante, Inf.iv. [43. And see the long note in Warton, 1871,ii. 368.
Galen

were/^in the
"

'

439.

In cloth of

Rom.
de/J^-s,'

de la

'And

blood-red colour

Rose,

where

and

of

Cf
blueish-grey.'

robes

91 16.

ben

my

of scarlet,
gownes
and
and hlewes sadde

light,
Sangweyn, murrey,
the
and
Grenes also,
faire vyolet,
Hors
and harneys,fresshe and lusty in sight?'
Occleve, De Reg, Principum,p. 26.
a sort of thin silk.
440. taffata
(ortajfety),
of rich thin silk used for lining,
sendal [ox cendal),
a kind
very highly
esteemed.
'a thynne stuffe lyke sarcenett.'
Palsgrave
Thynne says
Piers
however
has
Plowman, B. vi.
cendell,
thynne lynnen,sendal.^ See
1 1 ; Marco
Polo,ed. Yule (seethe index).
moderate in his expenditure.
441. esy oj dispe7ice,
This
is an
acquired during the pestilence.
442. xvati in pestilence,
allusion to the great pestilence
of the years 1348, 1349; "^ ^^ ^^^ later
in 1362, 1369, and 1376. See Introd. to Piers Plowman
pestilences
(ClarendonPress Series)
; table at end of Preface.
potabile
because,seeingthat. It was supposedthat aurum
443. For
oleum
vel in
auri
Aurum
was
a
cases.
remedy in some
potabileest
liquorem redactum;' Ducange. The actual reference is,probably,to
Les Remonstrances
de Nature, by Jean de Meun, 11. 979, 980, "c. ;
radical notable ; C'est souveC'est le fin et bon
or
potable,L'humide
"

'

'

'

raine medicine
'

The

Lord

will not
further

"

;'and

hath created

abhor

goes on to refer us to Ecclus. xxxviii. 4

medicines
out of the earth ; and he that is wise

the author

them.'

'C'est medicine

Hence

"

the Doctor

cordiale

would

ib. 1029.
;''

not

abhor

gold.

And

rsS

NOTES,

from

ofhisyde"c.,

445.

446.

she

But

'

somewhat

was

The

'

cloth-mahyng.

447.

Bath,

(aplace)near

that

deaf,and

her misfortune.'

was

the neighbourhood
England,and especially

Vv^est of

"

till
celebrated,
recent
a
period,as the district of cloth-making. Ypres
comparatively
the Continent.'
the great clothing-marts
and Ghent
were
on
Wright.
the
third
first
this
Edward
into
Island, transporting
brought clothing

Bath, from which

of

the

wif

"good

came,

was

"

families of artificers from

some

offring.We have here an

when
the congregation
went
Relic-Sunday,
the

to

450,

to kiss the relics,

on

'

the relics we

But

of Mel.

hither.'" Burton's Anat.

Gaunt

must

allusion

to

the

on
offering

up to the altar in succession

kiss and offer unto, especially

of Homilies.

Relic-Sunday,' Book
"

The kerchief,
or covering
or kerchere,
(heverchef,
l-erche).
453. coverchief
almost
for the head, was, until the fourteenth century,
an
indispensable
female

portionof

attire.
*

hir hed

Upon

of Valence.'

kerche

Lydgate'sMinor

/if//
fyneof ground,of
Crede, 1. 230, which

Poems, p. 47.
fine
See
the
Pierce
texture.
Ploughman's
very
of fine enough texture to take dye in
'it was

means

grain.'
'
of golden net-work
Ornaments
worn
were
454. ten pound.
time at the side of the face,thickest justbeside the eyes, which
in reality,
part of the caul.' Pierce the Ploughman'sCrede,note
"

also other

they call

ende, as I think,that the

(forthat is

the

in the bravest
and

have

Then
that

can

that

is

such

be

their

maner

shine in such

to 1. 84,

furnishe

that

sorte)would

their heads

man

And

ingenious

and
shew

the better appeare,

that seeth them (their
heades

thinke

sometimes

covered

are

and

to have

them

(see Prol.,11, 455,

they petticoates
made.

their

forthe

remember) cawles,made netwise,to the

clothe of golde,clothe of silver,
els tinsell,
or

caules),
may

so

to

(asI

wherewith

worst

withall underneath

these

besides

ornamentes

heades, whiche

formed,

'

dames

Elizabethan

this

of
of the head-dress
followingamusing description
from 'The
Anatomy of Abuses,' 1585 : They have

Cf. the

ed. Skeat.

at

they

are

472)
not

attired
itselfe

glister

goldenheades
of the

beste

clothe

of clothe neither,for

silke and
thought too base, but of scarlet,grograine,taffatie,
with silke fringe,
of chaungeable
like,fringedabout the skirtes,

colour.

But

whiche

is

more

vayne,

of whatsoever

they call

their

be,
petticoates

either of silke,velvett,

them)
they have kirtles (forso
bordered
with gardes,lace, fringes,
satten
scarlet,
or
taffatie,
grograine,
yet
and
are

must

in like
nether-stockes,
either of silke, iearnsey,
worsted, crewell,or, at least,of
I cannot

yeame,
ashamed

tell what

thread
to

weare

or

besides

cloth
hoase

as

is

Their

as

fine

hadde; yea, they are not

of chaungeablecolours,as green, red,

to
possible

all hinde

be

maner,

THE

white, russet, tawny and

And

69, 74, 76).

pp.

soft
457. vioiste,

see

460. chirche-dore.

elswhat.'

59

63, 70, 72 (or ed. Furnivall,

Fairholt's Costume, figs,
125, 129, 130, 151.
'as hard

not

"

PROLOGUE,

pp.

"

"

old boots.'

as

The

priestmarried the couple at the church-porch,

and immediately
afterwards
proceeded to the altar to celebrate mass, at
which
the newly-marriedpersons
communicated.
See Warton, Hist.
E. Poetry,1871,ii. 366, note i ; Anglia,vi. 106 ; cf. C. T. 5588.
other lovers.
This ex461. WiVAoz^/e;i besides. Other catripaignie,
pression
Le
Rom.
from
1.
de
la
autre
Rose,
(copied
companie')
12985
it quitecertain that the character of the Wife
makes
of Bath is copied,
=

"

in

respects,from

some

that of La

465. Boloigne. Cf.

Boulogne;'Gammer

'

I will

Gurton's

Vieille in the Roman

have

you swear
Needle, Act 2,

by

de la Rose.
dear

our

Lady

of

of the

An

image
virgin
Heylin'sSurvey of France,
Boulogne.
p. 193, ed. 1656 (quoted in the above, ed. Hazlitt).
at the shrine of St. James of Compostella,
466. I?i Galice (Galicia),
a
famous resort of pilgrims
in the fourteenth
and fifteenth centuries. As
the legend goes, the body of St. James the Apostle was
supposed to
have been
at

carried in

Compostella.

ship without

See

sc.

2.

See

preservedat

was

Piers

rudder

Galicia,and preserved

to

A. iv. 109, no,

Plowman,

and

note

to

B.

Prol. 47.

Coloigne. At
Wise
be

the

Cologne,where

of the

bones

Three

Kings

or

of the

East, Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar, are said to

of Days,
preserved. See Coryat'sCrudities; Chambers, Book
Men

ii. 751.

gat-toothed,
meaning gap-toothed,having teeth wide
from one another.
A gat is an opening,and is allied
apart or separated
to E. gate. Cf. Icel. gat, a hole, as in skrdr-gat,
a
key-hole; O. Sax.
Dutch
gai, an opening,as in nddlon gat, the eye of a needle. Hexham's
468.

Gat-tothed

Diet, has

Gat,

een

gat all

'

eeti

Gat,

hole ; het Gat

van

een

Net, the hole of

net

; also

dore, or a gate.' The Friesic gat, Dan. gat, and Norvveg.

a gap.
a hole, or
Very similar is the use of the Shropshire

mean

glat,a gap in a hedge, also a gap in the mouth caused by loss of teeth.
(were gwein to marry
Example : Dick, yo'bin a flirt; I thoughtyo'wun
the cook at the paas'n's.
'd
but
'er
glatsi' the
Aye,
gotten too many
for me;' INIiss Jackson'sShropshireWord-book.
mouth
Speght reads
cat-tothed. Gat-toothed has also been explained
lascivious,
as goat-toothed,
'

but the word

goat appears

as

^00/ in Chaucer.

'

Famine

"

th-Qgap-toothed

it for tut-mouthed=
uses
elf;'Golding'sOvid, b. 8; leaf 105. Holland
See Trench's
On
having the lower jaw projecting
beyond the upper.
It occurs
Deficiencies in our
some
again,
Eng. Dictionaries,'
p. 42.
'

C. T.

6185.

472. foot-mantel. Tyrwhittsupposes

such

as

is

now

used

by

market-women.

this to be
It is

sort oi

riding-petticoat,
clearlyshewn, as a blue
a

l6o

NOTES.

skirt,in the drawing in the Ellesmere

outer

called

and
safe-giiard,

use

later time it was

the gown
clean.
title and subjectof Ovid's

keep

to

was

allusion

475. remedyes. An
Remedia

its

At

MS.

to the

book,

Amoris.

Cotgrave has the

daiince,the old game, or custom.
danse.^
French
Cf. wrechit dans,
de la vieille
asses
phrase, Elle s^ciit
vol.
Launceiot
of the Laik, 1. 1321, and loves daimce,Chaucer
(Aldine),

476. the

olde

iv. p.

198,1. 4.

The

from

phrase is borrowed

Roman

Le

de

la Rose,

'For
dance;' E. version,1. 4300
she knew
alle the olde daunce.'
It occurs
again; Troil. iii.695.
478. Persowi of a toiin,the parson or parishpriest. Chaucer, in his
of the parson, contrasts the pietyand industryof the secular
description
orders or
and
laziness of the religious
clergywith the wickedness
See Dryden's Character
Parson.'
monks.
Good
of a
1.

3946

'Qu'elscet

"

la vielle

toute

"

'

486.

'

He

was

tithes that

were

'

with the lesser excommunication

489.

those who

very loath to excommunicate

'
due to him.'
Refusal to

the
offritig,

tithes

pay

derived

was

punishable

Bell.

voluntarycontributions of his

income
substaimce,

failed to pay the

from

parishioners.

his benefice.

not, left not, ceased not.

lafle
signified
502. lewed, unlearned,ignorant. Leived or lewd originally
of the
the people,laity,
sense
as
opposed to the clergy; the modern
word is not common
in Middle
English.
for
St.
John Chrysostom also saith, It is a great shame
503-504.
when
laymen be found faithfullerand more
righteousthan they.'
priests,
Becon s Invective against
Swearing,p. 336.
492.

"

507.

to

liyre. The

by

parson

did

his

leave

not

parishduties

to be

in St. Paul's.

See

Piers

:
following
"

Fulle

'

After

Chirche
But

prebendeimnethe

ne

blive

they as

it hent

"

Elles

algatehe
he

and

up

to

mote

lean not

man

gape

escape,

trice.

"

as

sone,

my

and

yane

benefice ;
hem
may

"

Adayes now,
(one) chirche

But

I that

riche

fatte and

"

knowc

men

many

some

"

men

may
nat

may

see,

suffise.

have

pluralitee,
lyve[n]in no wise*

he kcpeth his
Ententyfly

servise

court, ther his labour shall not moulc,

But to his cure
loketh he fulle foulc.

In

Though
And

on

that

hyc

formed
per-

might have leisure to seek a chantry

Plowman, B-text,Prol. 1. 83 : and cf. the

strange curate, that he

his chauncellc

awtcrc

rc}'ne

or

roof
snewe,

be

alle lo-torne,

62

NOTES.

gains his livingby followingrich men's

making sport for the guests. Tyrwhitt says,

who

one
560. golyardeys,

tales and
tables,and telling
'

This

jovialsect

assumed

of

name

to have

seems

so

of the

twelfth

or

century,

burlesqueLatin
of which
have been falsely
attributed to Walter
Map. In
rhymes,some
of the thirteenth century, quoted by Du
several authors
Cange, the
Mr. Skeat
But
et bnffones.''
goliardiare classed with the jocidatores
of Walter
thinks that Golias is the sole invention
Map, the probable
who

the

wrote

ApocalypsisGolise,and

Golias,the real

called from

the end

wit, towards

of

man

been

of the 'Golias'

author

poems.

other

piecesin

ed. Skeat, p.
Writers, 1866, i. 586.

See

Piers

Plowman,

loi

(ClarendonPress Series)
; Morley'sEng.
562. 'Besides the usual payment in money for grindingcorn, millers
toll,"
are
amounting to 4 lbs. out of
always allowed what is called
"

sack of flour.' Bell.

every

"

563. a

thomhe

'

of gold.

An

of
explanation

this

proverbis given on

authorityof Mr. Constable,the Royal Academician, by Mr. Yarrell

in his Historyof British Fishes,who says, when speakingof the Bullhead
The head of the fish is smooth, broad,and rounded,
Millers Thumb,
or
and is said to resemble
exactlythe form of the thumb of a miller,as
and constant action of the muscles in the exercise
producedby a peculiar
of a particular
and most
importantpart of his occupation. It is well
the

"

that all the science and

known

of

tact

the machinery of his mill that the

meal

miller is directed

so

produced shall be

to

regulate

of the most

operationof grindingwill permit,when

His profit
or
advantageous circumstances.
his fortune or his ruin,depend upon the exact adjustment
his loss,even
of all the various parts of the machinery in operation. The miller's ear
is constantlydirected to the note
made
by the running-stonein its
the bed-stone, the exact
circular course
over
parallelismof their two
of the first
indicated
sound, being a matter
surfaces,
by a particular
and his hand is as constantly
placedunder the meal-spout,
consequence;
of the meal
and qualities
the character
to ascertain by actual contact
spreads the sample
produced. The thumb, by a particularmovement,
is the gauge
of the value of the produce,
the fingers
over
; the thumb
that
description
performedunder the most

valuable

and

hence

honest

have

arisen

miller hath

that
i:)rofit

is the

the

the

sayingsof

golden thumb,

reward

worth

in reference

of his skill.

By

viiller''stJuwib, and
to

the

amount

this incessant

action

an

of the
of the

in its form
is produced,which
is said to
peculiarity
found in
resemble
constantly
exactlythe shape of the head of the fish,
and has obtained for it the name
of the Miller's Thumb,
the mill-stream,
which
in the comedy of Wit
at several Weapons by Beaumont
occurs
and Fletcher,act v. sc. i ; and also in jNTerrett'sPinax.
Although the
improved machinery of the present time has diminished the necessity
miller's thimib,

for t'ae miller's i-'killin the mcclianical

the thumb
dc2jnrl.nicnt,

is still

PROLOGUE,

THE
resorted
constantly

all,is not
are

The

p. 407.

'

the best test for the

as

rogues
Notes
and

After
have

give us

"

golden thumbe.'
Steel Glass,1. 1080.
Gascoigne's

toll not

millers

Ray's Proverbs

flour."

argal,as Shakspearesays, that all millers

iii.May I, 1869,
Queries,Fourth Series,
is Tyrwhitt's
explanation. Cf.

are

latter

When

63

all millers who

of
quality

that
proverb satirical,
inferring

the old

goldenthumbs
rogues?' See

not

to

'
"

with

miller

honest

An

has

golden thumb;'

ed.

ed. Ellis,iii.387, quotes

1768, p. 136. Brand, in his Pop. Antiquities,
from an old play
Oh the mooter-dish,the miller s thumhe !
officer who had the care
of purchasing
an
567. Mmmciple or manciple,
in
"c.
for
inn
of court,
an
(Still use.)
provisions a college,
Cf.
Piers
took
took
credit.
on
Plowman, ed. Wright,
by taille,
570.
B. iv. 58 :
vol. i. p. 68, and ed. Skeat (ClarendonPress Series),
'

"

"

'And

(he) bereth

And

taketh

For

572. ay

ever
biforn,

whete,
my
taille

awey
but a

me

quarters of otes.'

ten

before

(others).

al a, a whole.
Cf. 'a/ a summer's day' (Milton,P. L. i. 449).
eorum
586. hir aller cappe, the caps of them all. Hir aller

584.

omnium.

To sette*a man's

to befool him.

or

587.

him,

3145.
Thorold

and

gowne

615. Stot,probablywhat

Rogers,in

him,

to cheat

Rogers'capitalsketch of Robert
bailiff,
a serf of the manor
(asreeves alwayswere),

Mr.

Oldman, the Cuxham

in his Agriculture
and Prices
"c.) ;
609. fisi'oreJ (Elles.
612. and yet

is to overreach
cappe''

Cf. C. T.

See

Reve.

his Hist,

of

England, i. 506-510.
is^or^f/(Harl.).
hood (EWes.); a cote and eek
in

we

shoidd

call

now

i. 36, supposes
Agriculture,

an

cob.

that

hood

(Plarl.).

Mr.

J. E.

stot

T.

was

low-bred undersized stallion.

616. Scot.

'

The

name

givento

the horse of the

Bawdeswell, in Norfolk)is a curious

to this

day

there is

of the horses is not

617.pers.
621.
of
and

Some

Tukked

the

MSS.

the

friar have

farm

called Scot

aboute,with

girdle.In

a
scarcely

instance

in Norfolk

in
pictures

and
girdles,

of Chaucer's accuracy
in which
or
Suffolk,

See note

long

(who lived

at

; for
one

in Bell's Chaucer.

;'note

read blew.
his

reeve

coat

the

rather

on

1. 439.

tucked up

MS., both

Ellesmere

long

round him

coats.

Diet.

See

Tuck

by help
the
in

reeve

Skeat,

Etym.
624. chefiibin?iesface. PI. Stephens,
Apologiafor Herodotus,i. c. 30,
thought from a French epigram 'Nos grands docteurs
quotes the same
red a9 a.ny cherubyn
cherubin visage'"
"^T. 'His face was
aii
^^ Thynne,
"

Debate

between

Pride

and Lowliness.
M

l54

NOTES,

or
625. sawcejlem
sawsjleafn,
having a

has

note

kind
the

of

word,

He

quotes from

malady.

Thousand

Notable

chescune

et pur

is

upon

the

de

See

Galen

''

the word

in

ylveraianu
6 a\(p6i

vTTu

special

and
physic-book,

from

red pimpled face

or
sawsjieatne
however,he
foUoAving."In his Glossary',
Bodl.
which
''MS.
to settle the
seems
2463,"
^'Unguentum contra salsum flegma,scabiem, "c.

"

...

Aliment.

Comment,

In

have

Time), we

"

Xaxv^

And

rfjs^avOrjix^^V^-

Russell's Boke

John

iii.p. 277

aKvKov."

(pXey/xaros,ovk

Tov

in Olden

Meals

Tyrwhitt
a

Oignement magistrelpi^r sausejieme

roigtie.

Hippoc. de

Sauseflemed."

and

proves
old French

tpKiy/xaros aXfivpov Kal

sawcejlem

was

an
"

'

this medicine

givesa quotationfrom
etymology of

pimpled face.

that

Things:

manere

helpedwith

which

reel

again:

See also Halliwell

under

of Nurture, 1.

776 (Manners
countenance
jlewische
given
"

the

sign of the phlegmatictemperament, and a note refers us to

Promptorium Parvulorum,where we find flewand flewme flegma. (In
MSS. of Chaucer
some
we
get sawceflewmand sauseflewme.)The four
as

humours

of

the

blood, and

four

the

referred to
constantly

much

by

as

in various ways
In the Ayenbite of

any.

Devil tempts

glotonyeand

throughthe four

men

be

As
sleau])e."

consequent temperaments,

earlywriters

by
Inwyt, p. 157,

we

Chaucer

by

"

told how

are

are
as

the

"

mid
complexions J)anefleiwiatihe
orders
imposthumes,"c. arisingfrom disspective
an
appositefragmentin the Retro"

to

of the four

humours, I find
Review
(New Series,ii. p. 411, August, 1854): "It is to wit
atte begynny[n]gthat all empostimes withoutforth, that be hoven
and
thei
ben litillor grett. If thei be grett,thei ben sprongen
swollen,eythir
of

burners
iiij

^Yherfor

off blode

yer-off
engendred
callydfflegmon
flewme
; empostwne f-prungen off
callyd
baas, that is to say law,empostume ; of rede colerykis called hersipula.
Empostume sprungen off malattcoli is called sclyros." John Addis,
iv. 64,Jiily
M.A.; in Notes and Queries,Fourth Series,
17, 1S69.
632. Cf. 'Such whelkes [on the head] haue small hoales,out of the
synnynge.

empostume

and

is

is

'

"

which

commeth.

matter

gleymie[viscous]
humour,
breedeth

and

therein

And

this

euill

commeth

of

vicioiis and

which

pimples

and

commeth

to

tohelks.'
"

the

Batman

skin

of their

Bartholome,'

on

In the same, lib. 7. c. 67,we

read that 'A sauce
c. 3.
Cf. vShak. Hen. V. iii.6. 108.
priuyesigneof leprosie.'

lib. 7.

is a

643.
as

Can

parrots

32S,

clepenWatte, i.e.
are

taught to

say

can
*

call Walter

Poll.'

(Wat) by

Political

In

head,

his

flume face
name

Songs, ed.

just
Wright,
;

ignorantpriestis likened to a jay in a cage, to which is

p.
added :
God
he wot nevere
what.'
Engelishhe speketh,ac [bjit^
of
646. Questio quid iuris. 'This kind
in
questionoccurs frequently
de
After
stated
a
Ralph
Hengham.
having
case, he adds, quidjuris,
and then proceedsto givean answer
It means
to it.' T.
the question
? i.e. what is the law on this point?
is,what law (isthere)
an
'

'

"

"

'

PROLOGUE.

THE

654-657.

'

He

would

his

teach

friend

in

stand

to

of the

awe

no

65

unless he supposedthat his soul

(excommunication),
be
resided in his purse; for in his purse [not in his soul] he should
he could release himself
punished'(i.e.
by paying a good round sum

archdeacon's

curse

the archdeacon's

from

662.

Mm

luar

curse).

of,i,e. let him

beware

of.

i.e. of a writ de excommnnicato

capiendo,which usually
significavit,
T.
nobis venerabilis frater,'
"c.
began, Significavit
within the reach or control of
663. In daunger,in his jurisdiction,
'

"

his office ; the true

of M.

sense

E.

dminger is

'

harm.'

to

power

For

"c.) Harl. alone has assise.

(Elles.
665, afid was al hir reed, and was wholly their adviser.
distinct from
666, 667. gerla?id.The garland here spoken of was
The latter was
the bush.
made
of ivy-leaves
; and every tavern had an
ivy-bushhanging in front as its sign; hence the phrase, Good wine
needs no
See Becon's works, 'The
Acts of Christ,'
bush,'"c.
p. 524.
of three
made
But the garland,often used in addition to the bush, was
equal hoops,at rightanglesto each other,and decorated with ribands.
also called a hoop. The
It was
wore
hoop. In
only a sijigle
sompnour

gyse

Riley'sMemorials
worn

of

London, p. 133, garland means

for

pictureof an ale-stake with

in his poem
Chatterton,
Around

'

Skeat

this Mr.

On

circlet

the head.

on

a
667, ale-stahe,
support
a

metal

the

garlandin front of an
Hotten's
see
a
garland,

alc-housc.
Book

For

of

boards.
Sign-

of Aella, st. 30, has the line

ale-stake minstrels sing the song.'

remarks,in

his edition of

Chatterton,vol. ii.p. xix

that the line

"

written

of the prep, around

shews
was
long
had
who
had
after ale-stakes
ceased to exist,by a person
never
seen
one.
ale-sialie
It is true that Speght wrongly explains
an
by a May-pole, in
'

The

very

which
in

use

he is,as

usual,carefully
copiedby Kersey and

reality,
nothingof the

around

sort,

nor

would

it,unless theypossessedthe unusual

minstrels

Bailey;

but

be

to

able

it

is,

gather

of being able
qualification

like flies up and down

the side of a house.
The positionof it
from
such that it did not stand upright,
but projected
horizontally

to walk
was

the side of
wood

and

that it should

never

Book

heightfrom the ground, as shewn

the enactments
of Signboards. Hence

extend

above

at some

the

roadway
Riley,1861, pp.

for

more

than

Albus, ed. H. T.
292, 389.
this
Cant.
is
"at
ale-stake,"
Tales, 12255.'
expression
'
I
Rouncivale.
can
Of
hardly think that Chaucer
670.
bring his Pardoner from Roncevaux, in Navarre, and yet I
see

Liber

tavern

Hotten's

in Lar-

seven

The
.

made
feet ;

right

meant

to

cannot

find

Beatre Marine
de
in England. An
hospital,
place of that name
in the Monast. torn. ii.
in Charing,
London, is mentioned
Rouncyvalle,
Runccval-IIall
in Oxford.
vol,ii.
a
(Stevens,
p. 443 ; and there was

any

66

NOTES.

of some
the name
fraternity.'
262.) So that perhapsit was
Tyrwhitt.
the beginning,
or
This, I suppose, was
672. Com hider,love,to me.
known
the burthen of some
song.' Tyrwhitt.
the name
Cf. Fr. hov.rdoti,
bar
a
stifhurdoiin,
sang the bass.
673.
"

p.

'

"

...

of

a deep organ-stop.
682. the newe
let,the

is another

'Also, there
foule

There

goth

of brode

Than

clothe

excessyfe,
typette

mannes

yerd, by

lyfe.'Occleve.

my

"

ture
copy in miniabeen miraculously

(Veronica),a

of Veronihe

diminutive

'

685. vernicle,a

and

lesse in

no

gette,

newe

of clothe

waste

in 11. 680-6S3.

is described

fashion,which

new

of Christ,which is sapposedto have

picture
imprintedupon a handkerchief preservedin the church of St. Peter at
to bring
usual for persons returningfrom pilgrimages
Rome.
It was
of the

them

and

therefore the Pardoner, who

with

ed.

vernicle sowed

Skeat, B.
*

526 :

v.

placeswhich they had visited ;

is just arrived from
Rome, is represented
See
Piers
Plowman,
capped Tyrwhitt.
several

of the

certain tokens

with

his

on

"

"

bagge he bare by his syde ;

his hatt seten,
hundreth
of ampulles on
An
Signes of Synay, and shelles of Galice,
boUe

And

and

manv

And

se

cruche

his cloke

on

vernicle bifore,for

the

And

bi his

Berwik,

North

to

of

South

from

full
(top-full,

miles over'

Heywood
the preambleto

701.
Wit

and

'

in

"

phrase
Pegge'sKenticisms
"

followinglines has borrowed,

in the

Pardoner's Tale

Chaucer's

the

to

top)

From

Barwick

(see

'

some

pardoner. God

all his grace

ben
as
many

As

Good

devout

I pray God
The
ymage,
And

that

Devout
That

Wherfore

am

and

that

people

ye may
after whiche
save

that

here

us

pray

you

are

Chryst in

thus

do

sende

place.
assemble,

all avcII resemble

chrystenpeople,ye
comen
hyther ye
let

Leonarde

in this

assembled

that

ye

saynte

or

wrought ;
you bought.

shall all
to

wytte
vysytte,

bcgynne,

tions,
altera-

Dialogue

"

The

to

(E.D.S.),
p. 70.
with

ed. Fairholt,pp. liii-lvi)

:
Folly,'
*

of indulgence

from
(in Hertfordshire),

See the similar

England.

Dover, three hundred

Ware

to

Rome,

knowe

sought hadde.'

he

Berwick

of

keves

shulde

men

signes,whom

brim-full
687. Bret-fidof pardoiin,

692. Fro

and

ye

of

THE

PROLOGUE.

sauyoure
preserue ye all from
synne !
this
enable
blessed
And
pardon,
ye to receyue
is the greatest vndor
the son,
Whiche
Our

by the pope in his biiUes

])ardonye shall fynde Avhan

Graunted
Whiche

offereth outher

That

grotes

under

Icdc,

ye
els pens,
I go hens
or

er

whiche
holy relyques,
I shall here shewe, in open
audyence,
Exortynge ye all to do to them reuerence.
But first ye shall know
well, y* I com
these

To

here

Lo

bulles, all and

my

lyege lorde

Our

with

I here
That

me,

on

to

bolde,

so

fro

Rome,

some.

here

body

my

be

man

no

scale

dedc,

arc

patent

my
warant

he

preest

be

or

clarkc,

warke

dysturbe of

Chrystes holy
;
dysdayne, nor yet scorne.
Of these holy reliqueswhiche
sayntes haue womc.
Fyrst,here I shewe ye, of a holy Jewes shepe
A bone, I pray you take good kepe
Me

to

haue

Nor

no

wordes, and

To

my

Yf

any

Into

his

And

yf

body,

and

haue
any worme
of this water, and

wyll be hole anon

pockes,and scabbes,

Of

"

swellynge shall

the

take

slake.

your beestes stonge,

his tonge,
wasshe

it

And

well

of your bestes belyesdo swell,

this bone
in the water
that he dothe

Dyppe

Take

them

marke

; and

furthermore

and

every sore,
hole
that
drynkethof the well
quyte
is dipped in ; it is treuth that I tellI
this bone
that any beste oweth
yf any man

shall be

He
That
And

in the

Ones

weke,

or

that

the

cocke

croweth,

Fastynge wyll drj'nkeof this well a draughtc,

As that holy Jew hath vs taught.
His

Thoughe
And

his store

maysters all,it

And

Let

and

beestes

man

be

with

this water
shall

neuermore

Here

is

He

that his hande

He

shall haue

That
So
And

he
that

hath
he

another

he

mytten eke,

make

sowne,

offer pens,

rage,
his potage,

his

wyfe mystryst.

as

se;
ye may
in this myttayn,

wyll put

encrease

holy

multeply.

helpeth well ;
foule in ielous

man

shall

of his grayn,
be it w[h]ete or
or

otys,

els grotes.

relyke eke

here

se

ye

may;

67

68

NOTES,

The

blessed

of swete

Saynt Sondaye !
who
is blessydwith this ryght hande,
And
so
euer
Can
not spede amysse
by se nor by lande ;
eke
if he offereth
with good deuocyon,
And
shall
He
to hyghe promocyon.
not fayleto come
And
another
here
holy relyke
may
ye see,
The
of
the
too
Holy Trynyte.
great
And
who
doth it in his mouthe
so
euer
ones
take,
shall neuer
He
be dysseasyd with the tothe-ake !
Canker

I shewe

Whan

she

And

Lady,

our

which

bongrace
wente

there

she

brede !

none

indede

is matter

ye

here is of

And
Her

pockys shall

nor

that

This

arme

relyke full good,

with

ware

her

hode*

French

al-wayesfor sonne-bornynge
;

oute,

if this

bongrace they do deuoutly kys,

offer therto,as theyredeuocyon is.
And
Here- is another
relyke,eke a precyous one,
Of all helowes
[All Saints]the blessydjaw-bone,

relyke,without any fayle,

Agaynst poyson chefelydothe preuayle.
"Which

whom

For
All
So

of this

Lo,

relykethe
preseruythfrom

Which
of

for the

For

his hede

Nor

he

But

shall fele
with

be

as

one

Wherfore
Eut
Or

Cf. Pardoner's
The

to

lokc
els

French

p. 243, and

Queen

stande

no

man.

brayn-pan!

whan

that he

grefe nor

maner

to
offerynge

dede

no

was

Anne

Glossary,
p.

the close

slepe,

come

them

crouche

and

crepe.

make

Bullen.

as

See

pp. 40, 41,

coif,fashionable

frontlet attached

forehead ;

441

a-t\vayn!

maner

bongrace was
the

is dede.

payn.

cleue it than

one

lay in a
these relykesnow
ye

preseruatyfe,
beryth lyfe.
hym in better stede,

ake

neuer

euery

profytetake.'
336-340,350-376 ; see Ch. 3,

hood

period; the
standingup round

that

that

ye

Prol.

is

sworde

that

can

this

of
portraits

shall

issue out

wyghte ;
great jDower and myght.

beste

every
further it shall

Though

or

dout,

maner

hed-ake

man

And

shall

hym

poyson
eke
the
Saynt Myghell,

Which
To

toucheth, without

from
venym
it shall hurt no

maner

that

Lo

it

euer

so

may

be

among
to the

ladies

hood,

seen
particularly

Historyof Costume

(vol.1. p. 232, vol. ii. p. 57, cd.

in

at

and

in the

England,

1885).

NOTES.

170

THE

KNIGHTES

TALE.

to givehere a mere
onlypossible
generalidea of the way in which
The following
KnightesTale is related to the Teseide of Boccaccio.

It is
the

givesa sketch of it,but includes very many lines

reference to the Knightes Talc
is quiteoriginal.The
table

those

the Teseide

to

to the books

are

I. and

7-25

II.

II. 2-5, 25-95.

503-590

IV.

593-621

V. 1-3, 24-27, 33.

IV. 13, 14, 31, 85,
84, 17, 82.

47,

14-20,

V.

954-1002

1029-1164

50-64,

10,

tale;see

Lines

line and

1-24

with but

again in

contree

; in 1.

when

are

is

is here

words

in Chaucer's

which

he

French

end

in

1951-2104

XL

2109-2244

XII.

12-112.

1-67.
3-19,(59-83.

Statins,Thebaid, xii. 519, 520,

114

from

borrowed

are

that poem,

uses.
freely

the lasi

accents
continually
syllable. Thus we have

; in 1. 7,

The

remarkable

most

(11.
35, 77)iho. jirstsyllable;
in

of the unsettled

time, which
In

0:1

that Chaucer

line,conguerour

"c. "c.

-07m

accented

good example

the next

18, manere,

the words

6. contree
This

X.

4-61.
80,83.

slightalteration.

govemour

1. II,

XII.

is

It should be observed
3. governonr.
words in the Anglo-French manner,
on
here

IX.

1877-1881
1885-1950

half from

Arcite,11. 22-46. Lines 24 and

and

113-118,

lines to
to that passage in his introductory
referring
11.
particularly 9, 11, 12.
Anelida
and 106-123 should
be compared with Chaucer's

Chaucer

because
this

quote

""7, 95-99.

19.
VIII. 2-131.

1742-1825
1826-1876

92-98.
108-1

65-

68-93,

40-49,

100-102,

106, 109.

VII.

MSS.

1364-1735

VII.

71, 14-22,

7-13, 131, 132, 14,

29-37The

VI.

23-41,

V. 77-91.

810-8S1

1244-1348

26-29,59.

VII.

780-783

Tcs.

75-

51-54.

687-707

Tale.

70, 8.

35-169
172-416

III. i-ii,

the lines ;

to

are

Chaucer

stanzas.

Kn.

Tes.

Tale.

Kn.

and

wherein

state

afforded him

fact,contree

shews

chivalrye
; in

1. 11,

of the

examples
on

accents

the last.
of such

opportunityof licence,
the English,and contree
the
an

accent.

7. chivalrye,knightlyexploits. In

chivalry.

1. 20., chivalrye
"

knights; ling,

So

also in 1. 124.
of Femenye. The

8. regne
Femen^e is from

kingdom (Lat. regmwi) of the Amazons.

Cf, Statins,Theh, xii. 57S.
a woman.
Lat./a??"//"a,

TALE.

KNIGHTES

THE

171
Statins ; p. 31.
The
Night's Dream.

in the quotationfrom
Cithea,Scythia, Cf. Scythiccc

9.

in Mids.
Hippolyta,
JpolHa,Shakespeare's
is in Statins, Theb. xii. 534, speltHippolyte.

10.
name

27.

adverbs

as-swithe,

immediately.

as-sone,

I wol

31.

Cf. the M.E.

present,at this time.

7101V, at

as

letten eeh

nat

of

(also)none

of this route, I desire

7ioon

Wol

this company.

all

not

cf. 'I

desire ;

hinder

to

eke

tvill have

mercy,'"c.
is here

creature

43.

1. 248 it has

syllables.In

of three

word

foiir

syllables.
nolde,would not : ne wolde was no doubt pronouncednolde,would
not; so ne hath,hath not, was
pronounced7iath.
45.

'

stente/i,stop.
50. that

aye.'

said

"

Romeo

and

(Elles.)
; clad

thus al

pronouncedol-le.

(Harl.).
then, after
Tyrwhittinserts tha7i,

alle,
againstthe authorityof the best MS3.
Statins {Theb.xii. 545) calls this lady Capaueia coniux
He

i. 3. 48.
Juliet,

ye that thus.

this,i.e.

53. clothed thus

54. alle is to be

and
It stinted,

says all the ladies

were

from

Argos, and their

1. 74, below.

; see

husbands

kings.

were

deedlychere,a deathlycountenance.
we
we
biseketi,
beseech,ask for. For such double forms as besehen
and besechen,
cf. mod. Eng. dike and ditch,
l-irkand chirch,
sack and satchel,
55.

60.

stick and

EarlyEng. periodthe harder forms with k were

them to the
very frequently
employed by Northern writers,who preferred
forms
Southern
palatalised
(perhapsinflitenced by Anglo-French) with
ch.

stitch. In

Cf. M. E.

the

brig and rigg with bridgeand ridge.

'that ensureth

(always)good.'
di CleClemency, Pity. Suggested by 11 tempio
70. Cle}"ie7ice,
which
is
from
mitis
Tes.
ii.
Clementia
sedem,'
posuit
menza,'
again
17 ;
Theb. xii. 482.
68.

This

line

means

be

to

estate

no

'

'

of the

one
74. Capa/ietis,

dead

he

as
by lightning

defied Zeus

Theb.

x.

heroes

seven

was

927.

scalingthe
See note

to

S3,for despyt,out of vexation ; mod.

to
84. To do the dede bodyesvileinye,

besiegedThebes

who

walls

of the

struck

city,because

he had

1. 54, above.
E.

treat

for

spite.'

the dead

bodies

shamefully.

90. ivithoutc7imore

respyt,without longerdelay.
they fell flat with the face to the ground.
91. theyfillengrtif,
find the plirase
M. E. we
to fallgrovelingcs,
to fall groveling.
or

96. Him
M. E.

the

it seemed
thoughte,
verbs

take the dative

like,
list,seem,
case

p. 129.

rue

of the pronoun.

please'if it be pleasingto
97. mat,

to him

it seemed
; cf. viethinks,

(pity),are

used

Cf. the modern

me.

In

impersonally,and
expression'if you

you.

not feynt,
dejected. Ententyfly,
wery
'

to

In

ne

mate!"
"

Hardyng,

172

NOTES,

i.e.far-forth-like,
to such
Jerforthly,
107. ahood, delay,awaiting,abiding.
102.

108.
for

His

i.e.
desplayeth,

he

baner

he

extent,as far

an

as.

his troops to

summons

assemble

militaryservice.

no.

No

112.

lay,lodged for the

7ieer,no

nearer.

117. stahie, the

night.

image,
depictedon the banner,
is an
heraldic term for the ground upon
field,
119, feeldes,
various
Some
charges,as they are called, are emblazoned.
was
suggestedby the Thebais, lib. xii. 665, "c.
description
resemblance

as

is very

which

the

of

this

; but

the

slight.

y-hete,beaten ; the gold being hammered

penoun, pennon,
thin
foil
in
the
a
shape of the Minotaur ; see Marco Polo, ed.
i. 344.
the Minotaur
is upon
Theseus' shield.
But, in the Thebais,
in open or fair fight.
130. In pleynbataille,
120.

into

obseqjiies
"c.) ; exequies(Harl.)
;
(Elles.,
syllable.
it pleasedhim.
as
146. as him leste,
135.

Some

147. tas, heap,collection.

=

downfall,ruin,Lat.

readingis
of

tasse
'

On

reallydue

to

sticks; Conf.

heape,en

vng

casus

but,
bk.

Amant.
tas

Tas, a Shock, a Pile,or

148. hartleys. And artna

but
crafts,

banners, and
Cf.

also

sometimes

ed.

v.

for

cas

"

Dutch

Diet.

(165S)has

"

Heape.'

be not

'

maner

the second

which might
(caas),
t are
constantlyconfused,this
Gower
speaks of gatheringa
Pauli, ii. 293.
Palsgravehas

;'p. S40. Hexham's

een

of

as

read

on

Yule,

and

blunder.

mere

MSS.

accented

out

taken

harneys and

onelyfor

the instruments of al
; also

weapon

battels.' Bossewell's Armorie,

"

standards

and

p. i, ed. 1597.

1.755.

piercedthrough. This line occurs

Thurgh-girt,
again in Troilus,
[or 627]: Thorwgh-gyrtwith many wyde and blody wounde.'
^y ""^ ^y}ly^^S separately.In later English,by and by
153- ^^^ggy^S
the end is not by and by'
as
signifies
presently,
immediately,
or
(kind of) arms
armour,
shewingthat they
154. in oon armes, in one
house.
Chaucer
to medieval
belongedto the same
adaptsancient history
152.
iv. 599

'

'

times.
not
157. Nat fidlyqnike,

wholly alive.
158. by her cote-artmires,by their coat-armour, by the devices
armour
coveringthe breast. Cf. 1. 154.
hy hir gere, by their gear, i.e. equipments.
160. they. Tyrwhitt reads tho,those; but the seven
best MSS.

on

the

liave

they.

165. Tathenes,to Athens;

Harl.

166.

he nolde

he would

171.

Tenne

?io

of

raimsoim,

his

lyf the

MS.

remainder

Cf.

1. 2142 (footnote).
tallegge,

accept of

no

ransom.

of his life.

Cf. 'The

end and

KNIGHTES

THE

Bacon's
philosophy.'

of natural

term

strofhirhewe, strove

with
superiority

2422, 2423.
hue, i.e. her

her

73

Learning,Bk.

of

Advancement

"

p. 129, ed. Aldis Wright.

177. Cf. Leg. of -Good Women,
180.

TALE.

complexioncontested

ii.

the

the rose's colour.

181. / "oo^, I know

not ; noot

wot

iie

'Against Maie, every parishe,towne, and village,

and children,olde
themselves
bothe men, women,
assembled
together,
all
and
either
and
even
indifferently,
going all together or
yonge,
and
to the woodes
devidyingthemselves into companies,they goe, some
189. May.

groves,

hills and

the

to

some

mountaines, some

to

place,some

one

to

they spend all the night in pastimes

; in the mominge
they return,bringingwith them birche,bowes and branches of trees,to
deck their assemblies withalle.' Stubbs, Anatomy of Abuses, ed. 1585,
leaf 94 (ed.Furnivall, p. 149). Cf. Midsummer
Night's Dream, i. i.
another,when

"

167:
"

'

do

To

See also 1. 642,and

of

mom

hroyded,her yellowhair

was

beauty ;

see

May.'
was

Yellow

braided.

Sages,477, ed. Weber ; King

'
Co' biondi crini avvolti alia

Seven

has here

Boccaccio

Alisaunder, 207.

to

the note.

191. Hir yelow heer

hair was
esteemed
a

"

;' 7^cs.iii.10.

testa

sua

observance

the -e in sonne
the sun's uprising;
upriste,
represents the
inflexion.
old genitive
Upristeis here the dat. of the sb. iiprist.It
also in Gower, Conf. Amantis, bk. i. cd. Pauli,i. 116.
occurs
it pleased
her.
as
194. as hir liste,

193. the

Sonne

195. party,

partly;Fr.

partie.

en

garland;stibtlehas

196. sotilgerland,a subtle

here the exact

force of

the Lat. sublilis,

Avoven.
finely

197. Cf. 'Con

;'Tes. iii.10.

voce
angelica

or
adjoining.
even-Ioynant closely
joining,
i.e, where
this Emelye hadde
hir pleyinge,
as
203. Ther

202.

amusing
205.

as

thick
220.

draw

In the Teseide

sparre,
as

or

by

cas,

square
theymust have

suddenly.
1

'

Plowman,

or

hap.

bolt ; the bars,which

if wooden.

been

were

of

iron,were

See 1. 132.

to start,
blenke (to blench),
or
bletiche,
Tutto
of
drenchen.
stordito,
dreynte,pt. t.

tense

Cf.

of

'

Tes, iii.17.

Mars,*'
Satume
or
as
wykked planetes,
in Wright'sedition,11. 2453, 2457 ; and Piers
of Saturn,
these the description
Add
to
327.

229. So7n wikke aspect,

ii.4. 21 ; notes
Astrolabe,
"

adventure

wooden

Emily.

it is Arcite Avho firstsees

n)
(iii.

the past
bleynte,
back

Grido,Ome

the

was

herself.

216. by aventure
218.

she

B.

vi.

'

Cf.

"

in quartanis,
in mania, carcere, submersione,"c.
scabie,
Significat
lepra,

NOTES,

174
Est infortuna."

JohannisHispalensis,
Isagogein Astrologiam,
cap.

"

xv.

See Knightes Tale, 11. 470, 1576, 161 1.' Skeat's Astrolabe,p. xlviii.
to the contrary. Cf. 'And
"c., althoughwe had sworn
231. al-lhough,
"

nought flee,if I
Sergeaimt. Also

had

can

'

"

he had

'

it sworne

may

'

sworn

himselfe

Upon his feet,though

(The Sphinx),pt. i.

Thebes

statement

of the

This

line is also

for whether.
form
wher, a very common
alteration.
Troilus,i. 425, with slight
243.

word

248. wrecche,wretched, is a
the d is

Hamlet,

addition.

later and

262.

Cf. leastwise

leste weye, at the least.

of
leastwise; Bacon's Advancement
'

Ensrlish Bible (Prefaceof

264.

'

Chaucer
North

uses

fie
'

English

where

debate

Palamon

271. It

is

an

fiere

peyne.'Also

in the E. version

never,

in

even

though it

Troilus, i. 674

278. cas,
my

283.

case.

fie

dead

of

say.'
Cf.

que.

"

hunger.

; cf

'

miserable

death, a dedth

certein,for to dyen in the

of the Rose, 3326.
Romaunt

That

of The

part'in 1661.
It properly
means

ns

1. 722 below.

alteration
ingenioi;s
phrase till death us depart was

two.'

Cf. the

'

'

event,

hap.

See 1. 216.

brother,my dear brother.

of doute, without doubt,doubtless.
to my
adviser. See 1. 303.
my coufiseil,

leve
out

289. io
293.

do

cost

shall part us
in the Marriage Service, where
the
'

Fr.

to

longerdebate (inthe Teseidc),

of the

Till that death

altered into

more

badly to play.

very

in the grove
fiat,it would not be.

it were

no

1. 23.

faith.

and Arcite meet

So

'

almost

am

good
me
pleaseth

imitation

275. 'That
by torture.'

276.

faith,in

listfulevele pleye,it

270. This

is
the

as

way

same

I'm tiobbut clemmed'

268. by my fey,by my

269.

in the

but much

"

Learning,ed. Wright, p. 147,

to the Reader';.
Translators

The

the leastwise; 'at

at

(no better than)dead, there

but

not

am

me

Shakespeare,

"

except I have her pityand her favour.'

And

263. atte

See

ends.'

'Shapesour

10.

2.

v.

'

in

like wikke,wicked,
syllables,

of two

unnecessary
determined.
shapen,shaped,

250.

case.

(usedreflexively),
yourself.

247. Yow
where

The

sustene

not

brief and manifest

pleyn,the

of Machabre,

Lydgate,Dance

Lydgate,Siegeof

the short and

233.

he

it

/ dar

Tvel seyn, I dare maintain.

of
shall in the sense
uses
occasionally
of I shall is I owe
; it expresses a
(Lat.debeo)
owe, so that the true sense
strong obligation.So here it is not so much the sign of a future tense
295.

as

than

Thou

be.

Chaucer

separate verb, and the

sense

is

'

Thou

art

to be

sure

false

sooner

I am.'

297. par
an

shah

old

amour,

phrasefor

with
to love

love, in the way

excessively.

of love.

To

love par

amour

id

THE

KNIGHTES

TALE,

300.

after.
a sacred affection,
or
of holynesse,
aspiration
affeccionn

304.

I pose, I

put the

75

I will suppose.
well the old writer's

case,

saying?' The olde clerk

whose
is Boethius,from
Chaucer
book, De Consolatione
Philosophise,
has borrowed
largelyin many places. The passage alluded to is in lib.
'

305.

iii.met.

thou not

Knowest

12

;
"

'Quis legem det

Major lex amor

amantibus?
sibi.'

est

is he that
But what
Chaucer's translation (ed.Morris, p. 108) has
is a gretter lawe
than any lawe
Loue
may yeue a lawe to loueres.
'

"

that

yeuen.*
may
sivich decree,and

men

309.

and

310.

in ech

314. And
thy life thou

degree,in

fable is not

in helle.

in any

of the usual

dog

collections.

of

Cerberus.

and
prisoner,

taken

were

least,such

At

is the

of Pirithous' visit to
in Le
'

Athens

Roman

in Boccaccio's

de la

Perithous

story in

Rose, 8186

Most

moment,

any

in

Plutarch
the

in his
of the

pieces
;

see

mention

Teseide,iii.47-51.

The

"

vesquist,ce dist I'istoire,

Pyrithous apres sa mort,
mort,
Que Theseus tant ama
vis
enfer
I'ala
en
Que
querre.'
Si

cum

354.

torn

found

Chaucer

Plutarch,ed. Skeat, p. 289.

Shakespeare's
rest he found

us.

accompanying Pirithous
Proserpina,
daughterof Aidoneus, king

off

carry
both
when
Molossians,

by

in all

ever

allusion to Theseus

An

to
expedition

the

that
likely

in her favour.'

wilt stand

328. everick of us, each of us, every one

end.
to the result,
or
331. to theffect,
342.

ordinances.

(all)such

every rank of life.

it is not
eeli it is,"c., 'and moreover

319. This

MSS.

read

or

The

stonnde.

Harl.

MS.

has

one
stotind,

short interval of time.

'

The

stoniie

sesed

within

stownde.'

Ywaine

and

Gawin, 1. 3S4.

360. his nelihe lyihto wedde, his neck is in jeopardy.

he watches for an opportunity
he wayteth prively,
364. To sleen liimself
to slayhimself unperceived.
also in the Legend of Good
365. This line,slightlyaltered,occurs
"Women, 65S.
is it shapen
I destined ; literally,
now
am
367. Now is me ^hape,now
for me.
(or appointed)
supposed that all thingswere made of the four elements
389. It was
mentioned

in 1.

388. 'Does

Twelfth
Shakespeare,

not

Night,ii. 3.

397. Cf. P. Plowman,

life consist ofthe four elements?'

our

10.

C. xiii. 236.

"

17(5

NOTES.

another

And

399.

viatere, in the /wa^^er

401.

'

We
402.
See Romans

would

man

viii.26.

drotike is

403.
drunk

what

know

never

(get)out of his prison.'

thinkingto excel God's providence.
thingit is that we pray for here below.'

of

fain

as

as

rat.'

The

mous.

a
'

Thus

another,till theywere

phraseseems

dronke

as

; ed Furnivall,p. 113.
*
I am
a
Flemyng, what

Abuses

Although

wyll

be

givenway

to

they swillingand carousyng, one

rattes.'' Stubbes,Anatomic
as

satte

both

have

to

to

of

"

for all that,

dronken

otherwhylesas

rat,''

Andrew
Cf.

"When

i. 70.

that he is dronke
I will

And

as

pledge Tom

Boorde, ed. Furnivall,]). 147.

;' Ritson,Ancient Songs,
dreyntmous

Tosspot,till I

be drwik

'

as

7nouse-a

Old

Plays,ed. Hazlitt,iii.339.
404. This is from Boethius,De

Consolatione,lib. iii.pr.

2 :

'

But

the corage alwey

men
ayeyne to the studies of men, of which
rehersith and seeketh the sovereyne good of alle,
be it so that it be with a
derke memorie ; but he not by whiche path,rygk( as a dronke man
not

retourne

by zvhiche pathe he

nat

home

retourne

may

lation
hys house.'' Chaucer's Trans-

to

"

of

Boethius; ed. Morris, pp. 66, 6"].

in the Legend of Good
as
406. slider,
Women,
slippery;
the gloss
Liihricum,
slidere;'
Reliquiae
AntiquEe,i. 7.

1. 648. Cf.

"

the very
421. pure fettres,
pure deth. The Greeks used
425.

'

as

at
thy large,

at

444.
box

White

she

in the

fetters. *So

KaOaposin the

Duchesse, 1. 583, the

sense.'

same

"

Tyrwhitt.

large.

like box-wood,

wex;' Legend

ashen-gray;

or

of Good

Women,

'

cf 1. 506. Cf

1. 866.

Also

'

'

And

asshen

pale
pale

and dede ; ' Troil. ii. 539.

459. to letten of his wille,to refrain from his will (orlusts).
'
475. Cf. the phrase paurosa gelosia; Tes. v. 2,
'

Froissart has sur sa

pain of losinghis head.
and sur peinede la teste.
T.
teste,sur la teste,
489. this questional,An implied allusion to the medieval courts of
discussed.' Wright.
love,in which questionsof this kind were
seriously
508.making his mone, making his complaintor moan.

4S6. upon

his heed, on

"

'

"

514-517.
not

merely

rather

This

'

And

like

one

one

of the

the

from
suffering

(hisdisease was)
is

for all the

in his manner,

like mania

numerous

lover's disease

of

himself

Eros, but

engendered of melancholy humour.'

allusions

choleric,phlegmatic,sanguine,and
latterwas

world, he conducted

to

the four

melancholic.

humours, viz, the

An

supposedto produce melancholymadness.'

his celle fantastyk.Tyrwhittreads Beforne his

excess

of

the

'

hed in his celle

518. m
celle fantast'ik. The
division of
fantastike.Files, has Biforn his owene
is very
the brain into cells,
accordingto the different sensitive faculties,
'

178

NOTES.

for needes coste,by the force of necessity.It seems

to
619. nedes-cosi,
be equivalent
of necessity.Alre-cosie (Icelandic
to M. E. needes-wyse,
alls-kostar in all respects)
in every wise.' It occurs
in Old
signifies
alre-coste
EnglishHomilies (ed.Morris),part i. p. 21 : We ne masen
halden Crist(es)
not able in every wise to keep Christ's
bibode,' we
are
behests. The rightreadingin Leg. Good
Women, 2694,is :
'And
nedes cost this thingmoot
have an
ende.'
line
but
from
beautiful
A
Faceva
636.
Dante, Purg.i. 20
copied
;
'

"

'

"

tutto rider I'oriente.'

is
line from Shakespeare
642. See note to 1. 189,where the parallel
article on
in Brand's
May-day Customs
quoted. See the interesting
(where the quotationfrom Stubbes will be found);
PopularAntiquities
also

Chambers, Book

May

are

of

May

occurs

And

Days, i. 577,

old poems.

downe

they kutten
with
trowe

and

the

to haue

after

Medowes

to

morow

they setten

?] in
amykes [friends

and

woddes, and there

leves,and arayen hem

fayregrene
hem
byfore the dores where they
her lovers,
in token of frendschip

loue.'

trewe

Were

651. So

"7

hath

and wood
*

Ful

only.

were

lowde

hauety

Veld

if it

Troilus,ii.920:

in

'

664.

An

that haue

bowes

flowres ; and

650.

numerous

"

thanne

nyghte or erelyon

the

where

passages relating
earlypassage relative to the ist
in the OrologiumSapienti?e,
printedin Anglia,x. 387 :
is the custome
of dyuersecontrees that yonge folke gone on

cited from

to

'

of

ayein the

song

hege,and wude

haueS

shene.'

moonc

i.e.
heare,'

Field hath

eyes,

ears.'

Campus habet lumen, et habet

auris acumen.'

nemus

with Latin version,occurs

in MS. Trin. Coll. Cam.
O.
proverb,
2.
England in
45, and is quoted by Mr. T. Wright in his Essays on
F. Diet. s. v. Oeillet.
the Middle
Ages, vol. i. p. 168. Cf. Cotgrave's
666. at unset stevene,at a meeting not previously
fixed upon, an unexpected
meetingor appointment.

This

old

'

Wee
Here

att

and

Hood

Robin

'And

chance

may

to

utiseti

some

of Gisbornc

Guy
ther

they

setten

with

meet

Robin

Hood

steven.''

Percy's
0/ Eng. Poetry.
Reliqiies

; in

for to

steven

mete;* C.T. 4381.

strange behaviours.
in the top (i.
in high spirits),
e. elevated,
now

673. here queynte geres,

674. Now
in
briars (i.
e. depressed,
*

Alias ! where

their

low

up, here dojme

Now

hale,

675. bolet in

now

here

sike ;

tvelle. Cf.

in the

spirits).

is this worldes

Here

down

now

stabilnesse ?

honour, here repreef;

bounte, now
Occleve,De

Richard
Shakespeare's

myscheef.'
Reg. Princip.
p.
II. iv.

i.

184.

2,

'Like

KNIGHTES

THE

so

buckets in

many

well ;

another's full.' Burton's Anat.

678. gery, changeable

; so
gere, a changeablemanner,
1257.

gives

us

of Mel.

revolucion

and

gery March
Nowe
reyne,

turningof

his stondis

doth

storme,

nowe

the

Dictionary

yere

disclose,
Phebus

nowe

brightand

Lydgate,Minor
^^ry

Duchesse,

examples.

some

*By

'Her

also the sb.

Observe

in 11. 514, 673,and Book

of the
word deserves illustration. Matzner's

scarce

79

one's empty,
falleth,

p. 33.
also gerfulin 1. 680.

"

This very

riseth another

one

as

TALE,

laces,'their changefulribands; Richard

'Now

and

glad
gerysshe,

clere.'

Poeiyis,
p. 25.

Redeless, iii.130.

aftir wrothe.'

anoon

Minor
Lydgate,

Poems, p. 245.

'

Gerysshe,
Diet.,
wyldeor lyght-headed;'Palsgrave's
p.
of
AYare
the
Hauke
i.
(ed.Dyce, 157) we find:
poem

31 3. In Skelton's

"

'His

seconde

And

Dyce, in

with

was

his note

upon
Fall of Princes,B. iii.c.
'

'And,
Two

more

the

occur

and

two

fortune,furyousand

gery
swalowe

slowe

passages from
B. vi. c. i. leaf 134.

leaf 77, and

10.

gery,

flyingwery.'

word, quotes

Howe

as

Twene

wexid

hawke

Lydgate's

wode/

gerysheof her
swyfte,

now

in the same,

B. iii.c.

flyghte,
croked, now
upright.'

8, and B.

iv.

c.

8.

Romayns, stormy and unstable.'

'The
geryshequeue, of chere and face double.'
and Queriesquotes the following
Devonshire
681. A writer in Notes
i.e. Fridays are unlike
proverb: 'Fridaysin the week are never aleek,'
other days.
'

The

gery

Vendredyde

la semaine

est

plus beau ou le plus laid;'

Recueil des Contes, par A. Jubinal,p. 375.
2626 :
70S. Compare Legend of Goode Women,
Sens first that day that schapenwas
sherte,
my
dome.'
Or by the fatal snster had my
Le

"

'

735. / drede tiot,I have

no

fear,I

doubt

not.

either
or
or,
736. outher
has the
764.to borive. This expression
See
1. 360.
pledge.

735,

...

same

force

to

as

wedde,in

with their good-will.Cf. M. E. tnyn

768, 1 249. hir thankes.willingly,
imthonlics
ingratis. He faughtwith them in batayletheir unthankes.'
Hardyng'sChronicle,
p. 112.
vii. 106, 119 ; Statins,Theb. iv. 494-9.
780-4. Cf. Teseide,
hath
hath seen before,hath foreseen.
807.
seyn hiforn,
v. 77.
Sio, 811. From the Teseide,
'

"

l8o
8

NOTES.

him

8. her daweth

him.

upon

and

Tydeus

stopped the fightbetween

840. Similarly,Adrastus

Polynices
; Statius, Theh.

dawns

day

day, no

no

i.

by heralds,to stop the fight. It was

also used to enjoinsilence. See 11. 1675,1798.
peyne of emprisonement of
849. Up peineis the old phrase; as in ?//"
848, Ho,

exclamation

an

made

'

Memorials
days;'Riley's

40

London, p. 580.

of

in

878. // am I. This is the regularconstruction

modern
English the pronoun // is regardedas the
7 as forming part of the predicate.
881.

8S9, Mars

of his Teseide, i. 3
the

and

I ask my death
Boccaccio
the rede.

'Therefore

'

the

epithetin

same

the

the

refers to

rnhicondo.'' Rede

O Marte

nominative,and

direct

doom.'

my

uses

earlyEnglish. In

opening
colour

of

planet.
line

903. This

again

occurs

times ;

three

Tale, 479
Squire's

Tales, 9860 ; Legend of Good Women, 503.

distinction.
knows
no
923. can no divisotin,
after one
mode, accordingto the
923. afterooh
935. ryen
941.

'

cheerful
lighte,

of

Cf. Adv.

looks.

Saperevix Deo
ii. proem.
"
Learning,

Amare

rule.

same

Cant.

"

15

'
"

Synis,Sent.

Publius

conceditur.'

et

grantedto

It is not

15.

to love

man

;' ed. Wright, p. 84. So also in Bacon's 10th Essay.

joyfulnesssaid of course ironically.
949. jolitee,
thanks.
owes
thank,acknowledgesan obligation,
950. Can
v. 92.
957, 960. Cf. the Teseide,

and

to be

wise

"

to

979. Looth

or

980. pypen

in

or
leef,
displeasing
pleasing.
an
ivyleefis an expressionlike

console oneself with

again

in

useless

any

Cf. the

Troilus,v. 1434.

Cf. 'farwel

the

frivolous

or

the

buck's-horn,'

employment ;

expression

'

to

go

and

it occurs
whistle.'

; his fruite is
yue-leafe

pipewith

gardiner;he

blow

an
may
'
failed ; Test, of Love, bk. iii; ed. 1561,fol. 316. Boys stillblow against
and produce a squeak. Lydgate uses similar expressions
:
a leaf,
"

'But

let his brother

Where

that

him

in

blowe

list,or

an

pipe in

horn.
a

reede.'

Destruction
farther

992. fer fie neer,

littletrouble,I have
some

nor

nearer,

arrived

at

neither
the

of

more

conclusion

Thebes, part ii.

nor

less.

'

After

has

that Chaucer

both the days of the month

and
ascertaining
of the week
of many
of the
of the principalevents
Knightes Tale."
The following
scheme
will explainmany
thingshitherto unnoticed.
'On
Palamon
breaks out of prison.
Friday,May 4, before 1 A.M.,
For (1.C05) it was
the
"third
of
during
night
May, but (1.609) a little
after midnight." That it was
Friday is evident also, from observing

given us

sufficient data for

"

that Palamon

hides

himself

at

day'sapproach,whilst

Arcite rises

"

for

May, remembring on the poynl of his desire.''^

do this best,he would
go into the fields at sunrise (1.633),during
after sunrise on a
hour dedicated to Ve?ius,i.e. during the hour
his observance

doon

to

l8l

TALE.

KNIGIITES

THE

To
the

Friday.

If however

removed

by

this

for

seem

lines
following

the
"

to

Right

it

Now

doubt

ii

"

Friday, sothly for

the

as

doubtful, all

moment

it

shyneth,now

telle,

to

reynethfaste.

gan
gery Ve?ius overcaste
hertes of hir folke ; right as

Right so
The
Is

day. Or,

have

and

Arcite

Saturday is presidedover
that they are both
wonder
by Theseus, and to
the

at

which

tournament

duel is

unfortunate

however, but
supposition,

was

in the

of

month

May,

day of assembly for

(1.992). Now we mu?t
a

weeks
fifty

and

year.

the

certainty
; because

whereas

rupted
inter-

Still,

death.

for
expression
poetical

is not

to be

their duel

have

threatened with

of the

"fyftywekes"

day

enough to

find themselves

understand
mere

observe

is to follow.

and Emily,
queen
is fixed for ^Uhis day fyftyweekes''

intercession

this, let him

about

be the

arranged for an earlyhour

is,they meet on Saturday,May 5. But, as
by the inauspiciousplanet Saturn, it is no

meet, and

day following. That

the

doubt

still any

of evidence

accumulation

Palamon

'

reader

if the

the curious

on

is the

All this is very little to

chaungeth
array.
al
the
wyke ylyke."
Friday
the point unless we
Friday to
suppose

right so
gerful,

Selde

hir day

she

This

appointed
would

more

no

this day year,"

this day fyftywekes"
means
Afril. Then
intero ;' Tes. v. 98.]
viz. on May 5.
[In fact,Boccaccio has un anno
the 5th of
Now, in the year following(supposed not a leap-year),
It
told in 1. 1 330.
May would be Sunday. But this we are expressly
be noted,however, that this is not the day of the tourtiavient ^,but
must
and 1238. The
be gleaned from 11.992-995
for it,as may
of the muster
tenth hour
inequal of Sunday night,or the second hour before sunrise
of Monday, is dedicated
to Venus, as
explainedby Tyrwhitt(1.1359);
land

us

"

"

in

'

'

"

''

therefore Palamon

and
hour

after

this,the

Diana, and

or

hour

after this

The

to

first after sunrise

the
on

temple of
Monday,

is dedicated

to

third
Luna

third
The
goes to Diana's temple.
after sunrise,is dedicated to Mars, and

again,the

fourth

goes to the temple of Mars.

is spent merely in joustingand preparations
"
Al the Monday joustenthey and daunce."
then

But

the

rest

of the

"

tournament

therefore takes

place on

(1.1628.)
Tuesday, May 7, on the day

the tournament
that this makes
objected,
the anniversary of the duel,but two
days later. I
not on
Let the reader judge.
It is Chaucer's doing,not mine.
^

The

Venus.

during this Emily

therefore Arcite

day

then goes

'It has

been

to

take

place,
help it.
1. 1237.'

cannot

See

8a

NOTES.

of the week

by Mars,

over
presided

was

as

in 1. iSii,

helpsto explainSaturn's exclamation

Walter

"

and

Skeat, in Notes

W.

very

fitting
; and
"

this

his wille."

hath

Mars

ii. 2,
Series,

Fourth
Queries,

perhaps
3 ;

Sept.

12, 186S.

this

To

1386, and

on

it is of

value.

no

'That

1008.
one

in

Sunday

shall be either slain

of you must
be fairly
conquered.
The
various
1031.
parts of this round
the North

On
East

the

the

was

the gate of

i.e.
prisoner;'

scribed.
desubsequently

are

oratory ;

an

oratory above

Mars, similarly
provided.
full
of steps (placed
one
of degrees,

on

taken

or

theatre

altar and

gate of Venus, with

was

Diana, with

of

turret

Brink

Ten

But

1387.

of you

one

Saturdayin
{Stiidien,
p. 189) thinks

observation, that May

the

added

was

on

the

the West

on

another,as in an
they have gone a nearer
amphitheatre),'But now
way to the wood,
for with wooden
in the church that theyhave, and stairy
galleries
degrees
sit
much
and
make
in
to
west
seats
as
room
as
a
new
them,
hear,
they
of
1032.

end

would

done.'^ Nash's

have

Red

"

JuliusCcesar,ii. 126, and also

from

gre to
more

are

less imitated from

find

we

Pari, of

the

Within

Which
That
Of

is

see

and

the oratory.

closer

much

Thus

1029-1036

The

tion
descrip-

at 1. 246 of that poem

yet

as

swogh, that gan aboute

syghes were
engendredwith

fyr,

renne

desyr

maden

for to brenne
every auter
flaume ; and wel aspyed I thenne

newe

that

That

al the

cause

of

Com

of the

bitter

goddesse lelosye.'
temple of Venus

dowves

sorwes

they drye
in the House

of the
description

another

11

of* Hir

temple,of syghes hote

9-1 39, where

1. 1098 below),and
(cf.

Fame,
'

Lines

stey up

It is
Teseide,vii. 55-59.
imitation
of the same
passage

Foules,11. 183-294.

I herde

of

she

"

'

There

Cf. 'While

9.

within

Shakespeare,

Boccaccio's

from

that there is

in Chaucer's

the walls

wal, viz. on

looselyimitated

remarkable

Kings xx.

See

21.

Club, p. 59.
vii. loS-iic.
the Teseide,

"

the

on

Herring,p.

gre.""Lii^es of Saints,Roxb.

or

1061.
is

above

Fill

and

we
a

dan

have

Acting in a
1. 1 103),
garlond (cf.
104-5).

very line
of the ' rose

the

mention

11. 1
Cupido'(cf.

'Naked

'

Goolde, herbe.
Solsequium,quia
golde,a gold or turnsol.
gold
Parv.
The corn-marisequitursolem, elitropium,calendula;' Prompt.
and in the South,
in the North
is called goulatis,
or goles,
guilde,
golds(Way). Gower says that Leucothea was changed
named
Into a floure was
golde,
'

1071.

'

Which

stant

governedof

the sonne.'

Conf. Am., ed.

PauH, ii.356.

THE

107S. GVAfirow"

TALE,

Cithaeron,sacred

83

to Venus,

In the Romaunt

1082.
in Avhich

the

1083.
1113.

of the Rose, Idleness is the porter of the garden

(Beauty) is kept. In the Pari, of Foules,261, the

rose

11. 2, 3 of the Second

Nonnes
Tale.
ofyore agon, of years gone by. Cf Ovid, Met. iii.407.
estres, the inner parts of a building;as also in C. T. 4293,

name
porter's

Leg. of

KNIGHTES

Good

Women,
*

Al

Cf

is Richesse.

and

1711.
thow

For

knowest

better then

estris of this house.'

the

and

Pardoner

Tapster,=,=,6
; pr.
and

his estris;

'

with

Tale

of

Beryn (below).
Beryn, ed. Fumivall,

Tale

of
sportis[portes?]
les
de
I'ostel
Cf.
bien
Rom.
de la Rose, 12720.
estres;
Qu'ilset
837.
By mistaking the long s (f) for f, this word has been misprintedas
e/turesin the following. 'Pleaseth it you to see the ejturesof this
castle?'" Sir Thomas
Malory, Mort Arthur e, b. xix. c. 7.
'

His

'

'

1 1 21.
1 1

rumhel

24. Mars
'

in

swough,a rumblingin

armypotente.
O

Marz

rede

thou

That

in the

That

God

trende

arte

To

whom

To

the

makande

baye hase

of bataile

"

and

thy

throne

regent,

raoone

my

"

alle myn

entente,

"

"

"

worshipe of thy reverence

Tewesdaye.'
thyn owen

On

Sowdone

armipotentis borrowed

word

made

profrepreciouspresent,

herte, body and

^Yith

In

armypotente,

rulist all that alone

And

The

gust of wind.

Other

vii. 32.
Teseide,

similar

of

from

Babyloyne,11. 939-953.

Boccaccio's

in
armipotente,

too
hereabouts,

borrowings occur

the

rous
nume-

for mention.
notice that the temple here
particular
of
is merely a paintedtemple,depicted
1 124-1136)
on
one
(11.
Let the reader

inside the

take

oratory of Mars.

other walls

The

templeof which the outside

paintedtemple as if it were

the

confusing. Inconsistent

additions

were

to

depicted.Chaucer

real, which

made

the walls

paintingssimilar

is thus

those inside the

describes

had

described

is somewhat

in revision.

1T26. Streit,
narrow;
1127.

vese

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1 1

gan

'la stretta entrata;' Tes. vii. 32.

See the
is glossed
^LS.
impetus in the EUesmere
'

E foribus
Impetus amens
shake, quake, 'pe eor'Se

salit

28.

rese

to

shake.'

to

"

Lajamon,

1.

Ayenbite of Inwyt, pp. 23, 116.

falle ;' Seven Sages,ed. Weber,

15946.

To

Cf. also
1. 915.

gon

The

Glossary.

Tkeb. vii. 47,

resye,
'

"

'

48.
'the
io-rusien,'
to

shake, occurs

tre aresede

as

earth
in

hit wold

84

NOTES.

but this
lightis the aurora
borealis,
phenomenon is so rarelymentioned
by mediaeval writers,that it may be
than the faint and
meant
anything more
questionedwhetlier Chaucer
cold illumination
received by reflexion through the door of an apartment
the north.' (Marsh.) The
fact is,however, that Chaucer
here
fronting
Theb. y'u. 40-58 ; see the translation in the note to 1. 1159
copiesStatins,
The
below.
northern light seems
incorrect renderingof
to be an
'adversum
Phoebi iubar;'1. 45.
E le porte eran
Such is
vii. 32.
d'eterno diamante
1 132.
;' Teseide,
the readinggivenby Warton.
is the phrase
However, the true source
in Statins^* adamante
fores ;
Theb. vii. 68.
perenni
29. 'I suppose

1 1

the

norfhern

'

'

'

Cf. the

1139-40.

Teieide,vii. 33:

Videvi
E

But
to

"

1' Ire rosse,

le Paure

follows Statins

Chaucer

still

fuoco,

come

pallidein

quel loco.'

closely. LI.

more

'

Insidiae,
geminumque
Innumeris
Stat

answer

143. See Chaucer's

146. chirlyngis

of

Legend

the

House

cherVyng of

29, the music

c.

line contains

149.
But Dr. Koch

371) that

has
have

we

The

an

mouing

here

proof that

some

without

Chaucer

of the

her

husband

6347-52,we
'

Of

what

to

he

liis
was

"

saw

I there

that

no

head.

statement

oivn

heed

iv.

'
"

has

suicide
That

ever

wife

might

yet
do

for,in the Cant. Tales,

find

"

later date

That
And

is Chancer

Soc.

altered

have

may

takingsufficient

line may
have stood
original
*
The
sleer of her hisband
that kind ; for the reason
to drive a nail into his own

known

somme

it may

of wives
han
han

somme

AVhyl
but the

circles,and

Chaucer, Chaucer

(Essayson

somethingof

course

of the

spheresis

of the

allusion to the death of Sisera,Judges iv.

pointed out

first draft of the poem

to

has

MS.

Fame, iii.853 (or 1943). Ln

of

the

Lansd.

The

of heauen.'
This

been

Virtus

Hypermestre.

Bartholome, lib. viii.

upon
attributed to

; tristissima

properlythe cry of birds.

See
sch-ikeinge
(shrieking).

about.

minis

astant

ferrum.

sedet.'

armata

joundnes

tenens

strepitaula

Batman

Discordia

Furor, vultuque cruento

medio, la.^tusque

Mars

Of

154

Nefas, Ircequerubentes,

cjscumque

ExsanguesqueMetus, occultisqueensibus

so

Theb. vii.48-53.
"

or

137-

that

hath

suggestionis worth

red.

slain hir hushonds

driven

nailcs

and
they slcj^e,

be said

lie

that 1.

notice.

148

in liir brain,

thus
is

in hir lied

tlieyIian hem slain.'

of 1. 1149;
entirely
independent

86

be

NOTES.

and
of yron, lyght-fyngred,
lyers,gret
in vengeable wyse, and a great surmyler and crafty.

gladly smythes
of othes

swerers

He

is red and

great walker,

good

be

to

and
fornycatour,

and

....

and
blode-letter,

The

of the sixteenth

is from

followingextract

century:

an

denoteth

'"Mars

"

tethe,and

drawe

to

men

is

old astrological
with

red

redde, the face round, the eyes yellow,horrible to

sedicious,souldiers,
cruell,desperate,
protide,

the skinne
furious

lytelliyen; he shall be a
sheder
of
and knyves, and
a
and
speker of rybawdry

heer, and

of swordes

his handes."

book

behold,

blacke

maker

barboure

peryllousof
faces and

with

angry,
and a

blode, and

mannes

workers

or

men,

furnishers,
bakers, alcumistes, armourers,
captaines,smythes,colliers,
and hangmen, accordingas they
butchers,chirurgions,
barbers,sargiants,
evill disposed."

or

164. From

1 1

71. For

; and

Tale, 301

Theb.
Statins,

'

Wright.

"

of Lawes

Man

in The
1

'

be well

shal

vii. 58

Chaucer

'cruel Mars'

has

to 1. 229.

cf. note

:
"

curribus ora,'
currus, protritaque
the story of Damocles
Cicero, Tuscul. 5. 61; cf. Horace,
see
uacui

Et

iii. I. 17.

Od.

(Harl.) EUes. "c. have certres (sertres)

; but this strange
readingcan hardlybe other than a mistake for sterres,which is proved
of Lawes
to be the rightword
Tale,
by the parallel
passage in The Man
1 1

79,

sterres

194-6.
11S7. 'The

of two

two
in geomancy,
stellations
conrepresenting
figures
Rubeus
in heaven.
and
Puella signifieth
Mars
retrogade,
Mars direct.' (Speght.)
a
1198. Calisiopee Callisto,
daughter of Lycaon, King of Arcadia,
names

and

of Diana.

companion

Amantis,
1

201,
' '

See

Ovid's

Fasti,ii.

Conf.

Gower,

153;

ed. Pauli, ii. 336.

1203.

'Cf. Ovid's

Fasti,ii. 153-192

189, 190,
especially

Prior est, quam

dicimus
Signa propinquamicant.
habet."
Arctophylaxformam
terga sequentis

The

n}Tnph Callisto

was

sometimes

was

situate the lodestar

Callisto's son.

again Chaucer
he
as, perhaps,

changedinto

was

confused

Areas,
a

says
does

with
or

was

Arctos

the other

Polestar.

changed

sterre, when

Arctos

Chaucer
into

Lesser

or

has

means

Bear, in

followed

whole

This

Bear.

the Great

or

Arctoj)hylaxor

he

Arcton,

which

this

Bootes

error.
:

here

constellatioh ;

passages.'Skeat's Astrolabe, pp. xlviii,

in other

"

xlix.

Daphne, a girlbeloved by Apollo,and changed

Ovid's Metamorph. i. 450 ; Gower, Conf. Amantis,

1204, 1206. Dane

into a laurel. Sec

ed. Pauli, i. 336.

1207. Attheon

"

1212.

Atihalante

1216.

7iat

Actaeon.
=

See Ovid's

Atalanta.

draxven to viemoric

Metamorph. iii.138.
Metamorph. x. 560.

See Ovid's
"

not

draiv to memory,

not

call to mind.

TALE.

KNIGHTES

THE

87

help,thou hast most power.

of Juno and Diana
Lucina
was
a title both
; see Vergil,Ed. iv. 10.
viz. ben cite. It is
1257, henedicite is here pronouncedas a trisyllable,
Cf. beriste in Towneley
in 1. 927.
sometimes, though five syllables
so
1228.

mayst best,art best able

ihou

Myst. p. 85.
1267. This

line

to

seems

to

is

that there

mean

the

under

nothing new

sun.
'

Licurgo of the Teseide,vi. 14; and the LyBut the

of Homer, //. vi. 130.
of the Thebaid, iv. 386, and
curgus
of him is partlytaken from that of another warrior, Tes. vi.
description
1271. 'This is the

're

22.

21,

heres,shaggy, rough hairs. Tyrwhitt and subsequent

1276.hejjipe
combed
editors have taken for grantedthat kempe keniped,
sible
(an impos=

of this,and instead of
reverse
equation); but kempe is rather
smoothly combed, means
bristly,
rough,or shaggy. In an Early English
the

it is said of Nebuchadnezzar

poem

y^^en anunder (under)cavipe hores?

Early Eng. Alliterative Poems, p. 85, 1. 1695.
and corresponds
exactly
shaggy hairs (aboutthe eyebrows),
meaning to kempe heres. See Glossary.
his

tiolghQ(hollow)were

'

Campe

Aorfs

in form

and

that

1284.for-old,very old. See next note.

1286. for-blak is generallyexplainedas /or blackness;it

ve)y

means

black.
Colers

1294.
Colerd
with

is not

an

girdles
....

improbableform
so

cf.

'

of.

tied np

they(theJews)
the neck.' (Fuller's
Pisgah

theycollared about

were

'

appears
in a maner

Colerd

were

as

Sight of Palestine,p. 524, ed. 1869.)

torets, probably eyes in which ringswill
of
eye is a little largerthan the thickness
from

read

MSS.

Some

of, having collars of.

the

Chaucer's Astrolabe,ed. Skeat, i. 2.

i.e. in
turet,'

kind

of eye.
instances.

round, because

turn

ring.' Skeat.
This ringrenneth
"

each
This

'

"

Warton, in his Hist. E. Poet,

small loose
It also meant
a
871, ii. 314, gives several
little ring whereby a
the annulet, or
ring. Cotgrave gives: Tottret,
ed.

hawk's

lune is fastened unto

1297. Emetrius

is not

the

cf. Tes. vi. 29, 17, 16, 41.

'
1302. cloth of Tars, a kind

placesis

jesses.'

mentioned

called Tartarine

of

either

by

silk,said

to

Statius

be the

but the exact

{tariarinum),
uncertain.' Wright. Cf.

or

by Boccaccio;

same

as

derivation

Piers the
to be somewhat
appears
B. XV. 224, and Skeat's note to the same,
C. xvii. 299.
'
and all.'
one
1329. alle and some, 'all and singular,'
"

in otl"er
of which

Plowman,

1347. See the Teseide,vi. 8.

359. And in hire honre.
than by a quotationfrom
1

'

I cannot

the

old

better illustrateChaucer's

Kalendrier

de

astrology

Bergiers,edit. 1500,

88

NOTES.

Sign.K.

scevent
Qui veult savoir comme
bergiers
quelplanete
la
du
chascunc
heure
de
savoir
la
doit
et
nuit,
jour
planetedu jour
regne
qui veult s'enquerir
; et la premiere heure temporelledu soleil levant ce
la seconde heure est pour la planeteenjour est pour celluyplanete,
viz.
"c., in the following order:
suivant,et la tierce pour I'aulre,"
To
Saturn, Jupiter,Mars, Sol, Venus, Mercury, Luna.
apply this
doctrine to the present case, the firsthour of the Sunday,reckoningfrom
sunrise,
belongedto the Sun, the planetof the day ; the second to Venus,
the third to Mercury, "c. ; and continuingthis method
of allotment, we
shall find that the twenty-second
hour also belonged to the Sun, and the
to Venus
twenty-third
reallywas, as Chaucer
; so that the hour of Venus
hours before the sunrise of the following
day. Accordingly,
says, two

ii.b

"

"

told in 1. 141 3, that the third hour after Palamon

set out for the
temple of Venus, the Sun rose, and Emily began to go to the templeof
we

are

Diane.

It is not

it really
was

belongingto

said that this

of

the hour

was

Diane, or the Moon, but

hour of Sunday
for,as we have justseen, the twenty-third
and
be given to Merciiry,
must
Venus, the twenty-fourth

the first hour

to the Moon, the presiding

Monday falls in course
planet of that day. After this Arcite is described as walking to the
temple of Mars, 1. 1509, in the nexte houre of Mars, that is,the fourth
hour of the day. It is necessary to take these words
for the
together,
of
but
w
ould
the
the
hour
nexte
hovre, singly,
that,
day ;
signify second

of

the rule of rotation

above, belongedto Saturn,

the nexte houre of Mars that
the third did to Jupiter.The fourth was
as
occurred after the hour last named.'
Tyrwhitt. In fact,justas Emily

accordingto

mentioned

'

"

is three

hours

Emily.'

later than

Palamon,

Arcite

so

is three

hours

later than

Skeat.

"

1363-1406. To be compared with the Teseide,vii. 43-49,

See Ovid, Met. x. 503.
1366. Adoun, Adonis.
I
boast
of arms
not to
care
1380.
(successin arms).'

and

vii.68.

"c.

So

'

38 1. Ne

ne

axe,

1. 1772 of this tale,Ne

1394. ivher I ryde or
1395.
make

"c., are

to

in must

be

be

go, whether

fyres bete,kindle

or

pronouncedas ni
pronouncedas nin.
I ride

or

lightfires.

in

walk.

B:te

also

up the fire ; see 1. 1434.

1 41 3, The thridde hour
inequal. ' In the
from sunrise to sunset, and the night,from
or

naxe,

to
signifies

mend

astrological
system, the day,
sunset to sunrise,
being each
divided into twelve hours, it is plainthat the hours of the day and night
were
never
equalexcept justat the equinoxes. The hours attributed to
See Kalcndrier
de Berg. loc. cit.,
the planetswere
of this unequalsort.
and our
author's treatise on the Astrolabe.'
Tyrwhitt.
"

1417-1502.

142S.

'E

43

2.

Cf. the

game,
corono

Teseide,vii. 71-92.

pleasure.
di

querelacerealc

'

Tes. vii. 74.

1436.In
will

for.

1455. thre formes. Diana

on

89

the reader

Cf. the Teseide,vii. 72.

atoned
aboghte,

1445.

Statius,where

of

of Thebes,in the Thebaid

Siace

find it.

not

TALE.

KNJGHTES

THE

Cf. the

bi/ydearly.'
Triformis; in heaven,Luna;

phrase

is called Diva

'

to

"

Lucina, and in hell,Proserpina.

vii. 93.
Cf the Teseide,
waye, the nearest way.

and

earth,Diana

1507. the nexte

walked is,has walked.
1 510.

Teseide,vii. 23-2S, 39-41.

1537. lyvescreature, creature alive,livingcreature.

1513-1576.Cf.

bringit about,

1547. do,
B.

X.

cause

it to

to

come

as

pass.

bright sun.'

the bird is of the

joyful

'As

1579.

the

.So in Piers

PL,

153.
the

15S0-3. Cf.

Teseide,
\ii.6'j.

its counsel).'
may outrun old age, but not outwit (surpass
59 1. 'Men
at-rede.'" Troilus,iv. 1428,
Cf. 'Men
may the wise at-renne, and nought
ed. Morris; (oriv. 1456).
1

'

of him

For

and

Listes

]?e baldure
For

of him

For
Arts

thou

and

many
bolder thou

Despise not
For

of-riden

J)enne of-reden.'

Betere

The

])U his redes,

mai
me
J)eelder mon

for-lere

Ne

'

mayest learn
good habits.
be.

mayest
his

thou

counsels,

out- ride the

one

may
Better than out-wit.'

Proverbs

The

1593.
Saturn

leren

(the old man) ]'u migt

fele pewes,
pu migt ben

old

man

Alfred,ed. Morris, in an Old Eng. Miscellany,

p. 136.
his kynde. According to the Compost of Ptolemeus,
of

agayn
influential in

was

producingstrife;

'

And

the

children

of the

and theywill
chyders
never
forgyvetyllthey be revengedof theyrquarell.'Wright.
This refers to
of the planetSaturn.
'The
course
1596.My cours.
the orbit of Saturn,supposedto be the largestof all. So it was, till

sayd

shall be

Saturne

and
great jangeleres

....

"

and

Uranus

1597.
is

Neptune

viore

power.

were

The

mighty of hymself.
...

Whan

course.

he doth

Leo
1604. In astrology,
10

1.

'

"

Skeat.

says of Saturn,'He
his
than xxx
It is more
yere or he may ronne
debate.' Wright.
reygne, there is moche

Compost

of Ptolemeus

"

is the

'mansion'

of the

Sun; but the first

sign are called the face of Saturn.'

such ffamyn schal aryse,
Er ffyue5er ben folfult,
f"orw fflodes and foul weder, ffruites schul fayle,
And
so
Saturne, and sent vs to wame.'
sei))
Specimensof Early English,2nd ed. vol. ii.p.

degreesof
161

discovered.'

the

'

202.

NOTES.

190

vii. 95-99.
1633-1667.Cf. the Teseide,
1646.In Sir Bevis,ed. Kolbing, p. 134,
Sir Beues

'

he
laynerys[printedlayueres]

And

fastenydhis
of
*

hawberk

1239, 1240:
that maken
blody

hem

Tes. viii.5

'The

Nalilidrah

3|-or
form

some

clarioun.'
trumpe, heme,
di
'D'armi,
corni,nacchere e trombette.'

"

or

4 feet in diameter
other in most
or

with
or

transfer of

The
.

brass,"and Chaucer's
Yule, i. 303-4 ; where

Polo, ed.

use

is added.

more

be
mere
a
guess, and should
assigningto the word fiaker any other
:
(Songs,iv. 80)is explicit
The
that
princes,
'

well's

had

naker

Tinkers

to be

riche

war

not

no

on

raw,

also

See

in Halli-

Naker

Cf. Hous

above.

pi.?iacchere ; see

1240.

Strutt's

for tournaments, see

regulations
iii. c. i. "" 16-24; the passages

Pastimes, book

Sportsand

far too

are

long for
givenby

the followingextract,
may, however, compare
MS. Harl. 326. 'All these thingesdonne, thei were

quotation.We
Strult,from

ageynste the othir, and

whan
the
the tyme was,

partie;and
tayne the

cutt,and

were

the

eche
trum-

And
for to asserfor every man
to do his devoir [duty'].
of the tourney, there was
eche side a stake ; and at
on

up

more

of amies,
with
all
that
them
of
were

eche stake two

write the

cordes

em-

before

drawen

corde

the

batailed eche

pettesblew

for

reason

kettle-drum.' Minot

'

to the

1679.As

is

trumpes blaw.'

blown.

has the

Dictionary. Boccaccio

of Fame, 1239,

cornet

Wright'sexplanation

But

than

rently
appa-

"

"

strike,and

stmck,

in

"

rejected.There
sense

own

"

"

the word

this.' Marco

to countenance

seems

is

Gert

naturalised

cnisades

European languages,but in our

meaning. Wright defines fiaker as

of

horn

Hence

soun

and

a
Naqdrah was
great kettle-drum, formed like a
cauldron,taperingto the bpttom,and covered with buffalo-hide,

brazen
often

anon,

"

In
Also

took

hym upon.'

Fame,

Of

"

glad, iwis,

Hise

House

1653.Cf.

ful

was

find

we

kyngs

names

MS.

Harl.

tournay.'And,
knife, mace,
a sword, pointed
from

or

inke,and

and

penne,

69, he quotes that

other

'
"

except

weapon,

paper,

theyshold

yolden,for

no

one

no

to

more

shall bear

the sword

for the

tournament.'

1682-1735. Cf.

the

Teseide,vii.

12,

131-2,

12,

14,

100-2,

13-4,

118, 19.
I

CSS.

'

Nor

1707. Cf.

short sword

Legend

1742-66.Cf.

the

of Good

havinga biting(sharp'pointto
Women,

"

stab with.'

Up goth the trompe.'

Teseide,viii. 5, 7,

1744. In go the spears full

couched readyfor the attack.
*

635 :

'

14, 12, "c.

the rest*
into
firmly
"

i.e. the spears

were

THE

KNIGHTES

layden here

'Thai

thai

Togeder
That
That

ronnen

they

seten, it

it

fire of

as

here

launces

was

grete wonder,

Tho

drowen

And

smyten togederby

here

thai oute

Ae

...

one

MSS.
1.

have

'This

66.

to his

word

is

Legend

of

Good

opponent.
Colaphey, Gal-

variouslywritten

Galapha in Mauritania

called

town

(Cellar.
Geog. Ant.
the Vale

of

935),which
Tyrwhitt. But

ii.p.

v.

to the vale here meant.'

of
thinking

was

in the

English

foot. Tyrwhitt proposedto read foo,

harm

was

given name

doubtless Chaucer

read

the river Malva

turned into

Babyloyne,1. 11

See Historical Outlines of

parallel
passage

done

gciphey,Galapey. There

was

of

1692.

wo,

1768. Galgopheye.

perhapsmay

Sowdone

another.

...

Cf. the

Accidence, p. 282.
Women, 642-8.
1757. feet. Some
foe,enemy ; but see
1766.wrought

Tjngitana,upon

assente.'

one

Arest.

Glossary,s.v.

1756-7.A^

threste ;
swordes
kene,

they gan

The

See

thondere,

to-braste ;

was

that

I9I

in areeste,

speres

both

harde

So

TALE,

"

Gargaphie,where

Actceon

stag :

"

Vallis

erat,

piceiset

acuta

densa

Gargaphie,succinctae

Nomine

cupressu,

sacra

Dianae.'

Ovid, Met. iii. 155, 156.

1769. Cf. the Teseide,viii. 26.

1788.swerdes lengthe. Cf.
Out

18

7. Which

of my

a, what

1818-22.

Cf. the

1825. al

his chere

The

Harl.

MS.

he bar

then

'And

me

sadel my

a, how

sone

bi strenkith

speres lenkith.'
Ywaine
and Gawin, 11.421,

2.

great a.

y'ln. 131, 124-6.

Teseide,

'all his delight,

mean
as
may
alone inserts in before his chere.

regardedhis

heart.'

noted; so in the Teseide,ix. 4.

as
reads/z/r/e,
1828-1848. Cf. the Teseide,ix. 7, 8, 47, 48, 38, 26.
of a contemporary
is a very remarkable
account
1831. The following
1826.

Elles.

parliamentwas held at
Cambridge, A.D. 1388, as told IpyWalsingham, ed. Riley,ii.177.
Dominus
Thomas
cum
Tempore Parliamenti,
Tryvetcum Rege sublimis
ad
fuit
apud Berne welle [Barnwell],
equitaret Regis hospitium,quod
dum
nimis urget equum
calcaribus,
pene interiora
equus cadit,et omnia
sessoris dirumpit[cf.1. 1833J; protelavit
in crastinum.'
vitam
tamen
The saddle-bow or arsouii
the 'name
was
given to two curved piecesof
wood
fixed to the front of the saddle,and
or
metal,one of which was
occurrence,

'

which

took

place at

the time

when

NOTES.

19^

'

in his seat ; Murray's

give the rider greater security
Violent collision againstthe front saddle-bow
Eng. Diet. s.v. Ar"on.
ix. 8"' E '1 forte arcione
producedvery serious results. Cf. the Teseide,
glipremette il petto.'

another behind, to

Then

'

1S38.

to spare the

he cut

was

out

of his armour.'

I.e. the laces

cut,

were

patienttrouble.

1840. in memorie^ conscious,

1853. As a remedy /or other wounds/ "c.
'It may
be observed
that the salves,
save.
1854,'1855. charmes
of the
remedies
the principal
charms, and pharmaciesof herbs were
of
the
herb
the
Save
sidered
Chaucer.
{salvia,
sage)was conphysicianin
age
'

of

one

the

"Wright. Hence

remedies.'
mediaeval
efficiently
universally
proverb of the school of Salerno, Cur moriatur

most

the

"

'

salvia crescit in horto ?

dum

homo,

'

1S64.nis nat biit is only, aventure, accident.

1867. O persone, one person.
lit.rank, or a step; answering
1875. Gree, preeminence,superiority;
to Lat. gradiis(not grains). The
phraseslo win the gree, i.e. to get
still
the first place,
and to bear the gree, i.e. to keep the firstplace,
are
in Scotland.
See note to the Allit.Destruction of Troy,
in common
use
and Donaldson, 1. 1353, and Jamieson's
ed. Panton
Dictionary.
three
of
the
days was the usual
period
1878. dayesthre. Wright says
=

duration
seventh
'

feast among
our
earlyforefathers. As far back as the
century, when Wilfred consecrated his church at Ripon,he held
of

trium

convivium

magnum

dierum

laetificantes.'"Eddius,Vit. S. Wllf
and
55,

long of

it. With

11. 1903-50

64, 102-3, 6o-3,

1942.

nijuen ; but

passage

real

why

reason

to

and
description,

Troilus;see
1957. iher

al and
the

compare

overnome,
have
best MSS.

seven

of Arcite's soul

Boccaccio's

Troil. V

populo

this is the short

som,

x.
Teseide,

12, 37, 51, 54,

1 1 1-2.

of the

none

The

1952.

(is)the

Tyrwhittreads

overcome.

omni

cum

reges

17.

c.

som, i.e. this

This al and

1903.

noctium

et

is because

where

it with

used

(Sranzas7, 8, 9

Mars, See,

could

Chaucer

heaven
had

overtaken,the pp.
this reading.

had

over-

describe the

alreadycopied

respect

to

the death

of

the end).

from

hope

here

not

he

oi

that

Mars

will, "c.;

may

Mars, "c.

1964.swich sortve, so great sorrow.

I969-198S.Cf the Teseide,xi. 8, 7,
1995-2 104.
22-5,

21,

Cf

the

9-1 1, xii. 6.

xi. 13-16,30,
Teseide,

31, 35,

38, 40, 37, 18, 26-7,

27-9,39-67.

should be compared Avith

The whole of this description
2005-2104.
the funeral rites at the burial of Archemorus, as described in Statius,

Thehaid,bk.

vi ; which

Chaucer

probably consulted,as

well

as

the

NOTES.

194
to

acordable

feith by

which

chaste looues

// And

love enditeth

lawes

to trewe

felawes

mankynde / yif thilke loue J)atgouemeth heuene

corages.'Chaucer's Boethius,ed. Morris, p. 62.
"

Homer, //. viii.19. Also

; and

Teseide,ix. 51

'

bele chaene

La

gendryngeof

follows

nature, and

alle

in

is taken

Rom.

de la

// O weleful
gouemed[e]
And

cf. the

Rose, 16988 :

doree

Qui les quatre elemens

2136. What

leden

they now

// this looue halt to-gideres

peoples
of
of
sacrement
/and knytteth
maryages

hooly bond

an

yowre

the

fayremoeuynges

ioygnedwith
weere

of this worlde

the fasomi

fordoon

enlace.'

Boethius, lib. iv. pr. 6

from

alle

J"inges,
quod she,and

'pe

en-

of muuable
J)eprogressiouns
taki|)
hys causes, hys ordre,

alle

])atmoeue}? in any manere,

and hys formes,of ])establenesse of \"edeuyne ])ou5t; [and thilke deuyne
thowht] ]"atis yset and put in J)etoure, J)atis to seyne in ])eheyjtof J)e
of god, stablisij)
manere
gysesto J)inges
])atben to don.'
simplicite
many
Chaucer's Boethius, ed. Morris, p. 134.
"

again is indebted to Boethius, lib. iii.pr. 10, for what

al J)ing))atis cleped inperfit,
follows :
For
is proued inperfit
by )"e
of perfeccioun,
of ])mg Jjatis perfit
or
; and her-of come]) it,
amenusynge
seen
))atin euery J)inggeneral,yif]"a.t
])atmen
any J)ing])atis inperfit,
generalper mot ben somme
ping J^atis perfit.For yifso
certys in J)ilke
is
don
be ])atperfeccioun
nor
ma^nat ])inke
awey, men
seye fro whennes
is
is
For
of
token nat
nature
ne
])ilke
])ing ])at clepedinperfit. ]"e
J)inges
her bygynnyng of J)ingesamenused
and imperfit
of
; but it procedi]?
})ingusj^atben al hool and absolut, and descendej?so doune into
and into ]?ingus
outerest })inges
empty and wi]"oute
frvyt; but, as I haue
shewed a litel her-byfome,pat yif j^erbe a blisfulnesse ])atbe frele and
vein and inperfit,
doute ])atper nys som
blisfulnesse pal
per may no man
and perfit.'
Chaucer
is sad,stedfast,
(as above),p. 89.
at eye, see
at a glance.
2 1 58. seen
Cf. the Teseide,
xii. 7-10, 6, ii, 13, 9, 12-17, 19.
10.
2 161-22
2184. So in Troilus,iv. 1586: 'Thus maketh vertu of necessite;'
and in Squire'sTale, pt. ii. 1. 247 (Group F, 1. 593): 'That
I made
2147. Chaucer
'

"

vertu

of necessite.'

It is from
'S'il

ne

Le

Roman

fait de

de la

Rose, 142 17

"

necessite

Vertu.'
Cf. Horace,

Carm.
'

i. 24

Durum

"

! sed

leuius

fit

Quidquid corrigereest
2210.

Cf.

'The

time

renneth

Toy Cometh
Hawes'

toward

after whan
Pastime

patientia
nefas.

rightfast,

the
of

is

Pleasure,ed.

should surpass
oghteto passen right,
2236-44. Cf. the Teseide,xii. 69,72, 83.

2231.

sorrow

mere

past.*
Wright,p. 148.

equityor justice.

PRESTES

NONNE

THE

NONNE

THE

PRESTES

95

TALE.

reads stoupe,as if it signified

bent, stooped
; but
of the (formerly)
verb. Stopeis the past participle

slope. Lansd. MS.

I.

the verb stoop is a weak

strong verb steppen,to

the

Roger Ascham
sleptin age, by negligencesome
be

not

Mayor, p. 189 ;

ed.

bookes

those

as

Stope in

step, advance.

has almost

ed.

TALE,

phrase:

same

in years.
ag-fi advanced
And
[Varro]beyng depe
=

him
in
scape and fall from
The Schoolmaster,
the takingup,'
"c.
wordes

worth

do

"

Arber, p. 152.

by housbondrye,by

8.

Ful

12.

sooty

consisted of
hall.

was

the widow
his

Chanticleer and

'

bk.
Satires,

"c.);
deyntee(Elles.

to

EnglishHome,

whyt

the beamed

The

reed.

nor

sat. i ;

v.

white

'

or

broiled

deye.

egg

(fromthe Icel.

assistants in

among
25 Edward

husbandry; and

(a.d. 1351).

HI

sometimes

was

of

Gascony,

lord.

called

sometimes

See Our

English

two.

tweye, an

or

56,ed. 1599.

bacon.

The

daia

p.

heart's
mind, literally

wine

Osey' (Alsace);the red wine

deemed
a
was
called Mountrose,'
liquorfor
Home, p. 83 ; Piers PI. prol.1. 228.
Seynd bacoiin,singedor

i.

v.

heart's content.'

of

*the wine

26.

of the fire had

See Our

contented

'

ey

and

deynieth(Harl.").

Noon

satisfied or
a
suffisaiince,
Cf.
satisfaction.
our
phrase to your

an

terms

his stalled teme,

19. hertes

25.

smoke

beneath, his pullen ore

swine

Hall's

wyn

The

crevices of the roof.

feete feeden

his beds

At
His

22.

house

bower

Cf.

PP-i39"i40-

15. No

the

widow's

'

the floor.

on

The

halle.

daughterstwo
sleptin the bower,
roosted on a perch in the hall,and the

her

wives

seven

throughthe

find its way

and

themselves

ensconced

eek hir

apartments,designatedby

only two

Whilst

swine

economy.
hir boar, and

In

is mentioned
deigja)

the term

is

in

again found

Stat. 37 Edward

IH

Domesday

in 2nd Stat.

(a.d. 1363),the
having goods or

otliers of a certain rank, not

among
The
chattels of 40s. value.
mostly a female,whose dutywas
deye was
and other
butter and cheese,attend to the calves and poultry,
to make

deye is mentioned

odds

and

ends

of the farm.

called
Shropshire,

Prompt. Parv.,p.

116.

The

dairy (insome
the

was
dey-house)

parts of

England,as

departmentassignedto

her.

29. In Caxton's translation of Reynard the Fox, the cock's name

his clear voice
In the original,
Chantecleer.
it is Canticleer ; from

singing.In

the same,

Reynard'ssecond
O

son

is Rosseel;

see

I. 514.

in

See

is
in

ig6

NOTES,

This is put for organs or

31. organ.
meant
to
in the next line,that Chaucer
the Lat. organa.

Organ
Acts

pair of organs.

34. Cf. Pari, of

'

at

to P.

It

the

organs
called a

on

or

sometimes

was

C. xxi. 7.

Plowman,
:

"

cock

knew

each ascension

every hour,

crew

as

of the

15" of

adds

Chaucer

said

or

like
plural,

the

cok, that orlogeis of thorpeslyte.'

each; that is,he

hour.

latelyonly in

Christ,p. 534.

Foules,350

The

*The

36.

35,

of

See note

until

is either sung

'Which

"c.
bellows, gallows,

Becon's
played.'"

used

was

from
It is plain,
gon
organs.
from
this word
as
use
a
plural

[1.34] that he knew

tells us, clearly,
that we

abbey-clock.This

hours

hour

the

reckon

to

are

better

than

the

clock-hours,

the prime,
day.
in 1. 377, was
mentioned
at a clock-hour,at 6, 7, 8, or
9, suppose.
is
the
had
The
because
meant
sun
day
May 3,
certainly
passed the
The
date May 3 is
2 1st degree of Taurus
(see fig.i of Astrolabe)
denoted
was
by saying that March
playfully
complete,and also (since
March
had
began) thirty-twodays more
passed. The words "since
March
we
began are parenthetical
are, in fact,told that the
; and
of March, the whole
done
whole
of April,and two
days of May were

and

the

not

unequal

of the

the

and crew
equinoctial,
make
an
equinoctial

artificial

Hence

"

March

then

in the year, though

alludes to
the year began with the 25th, not with the ist ; and Chaucer
The
the idea that the Creation itself took place in March.
day, then,

with.

was

3, with the
the sun's

considered

first month

the

be
The hour must
degreesof Taurus.
said (1.379) to be Fourty degrees
altitude,
rightly
I use a globe,and find that the sun
and 0071.
would
attain the altitude
41" nearlyat 9 o'clock. It follows that prime in this passage signifies
the end of the first quarter of the day,reckoningfrom 6 a.m.
to 6 p.m.'
Skeat's Astrolabe, p. Ixi. This
of a globe, is
rough test, by means
perhaps sufficient ; but Mr. Brae proved it to be rightby calculation.
Taking the sun's altitude at 41 1",he 'had the satisfaction to find a
hour for prime of 9 o'clock a.m.
almost to the minute.^ It is
resulting
find
that
to
this
interesting
Thynne explains
passage
very well in his
Animadversions
on
Speght'sChaucer; ed. Furnivall,
p. 62, note i.
The
notion that the Creation
took
is
place on the i8th of March

May

was

had

from

sun

past

21

"

alluded

to

in the

Hexameron

of

St. Basil

(see the A.S.

Norman,

and in ii^lfric's
Homilies,ed.
p. 8, note 7"),
Fifteen
of
the
degrees
37.
equinoctial an exact
=

version, ed.

Thorpe, i. 100.
hour.

See

note

to

1. 35 above.
40.

and

41.

as

were

hatailed.

the

Lansd.

MS.

reads

leet,like the jet. Beads

formed
frequently

oijet. See

indented
enhateled,

used

note

for the

like

of
repetition

to Prol. 159, p. 140.

ment.
battle-

prayers

THE

50.

NONNE

Pertelote.
davioyaele

'I'll be

PRESTES

Cf.

our

Partlet.'

Dame

Madame

to

The
in

Greene's
55.

hold, in

possession. Cf,
Greene, ed. Dyce,

George a

Partelot.'

Ancient

*He

Drama, iii.p. 158.

hath

heart

my

holde ;'

in

256.

p.

lolien in every

lith,locked in every limb.

liefisfaren on lottde,
my beloved is gone

59. my
refrain of

Probably the

away.

of the time.

popular song

69. herte deere.

'

197

faithful to thee

as

As- Chaunticleer

54.

TALE.

This

'dear

expressioncorresponds to

heart,' or

which
stillsurvives in some
deary heart,'
parts of the country.
it in grief,i.e. to take it amiss, to be offended.
73. take it agrief=tal"e
it dreamed
to me.
74. me mette, I dreamed ; literally
rede aright,
76. my ^wevene
bring my dream to a good issue ; literally
dream
interpret
favourably.'
my
80. Was lyk. The relative thai is often omitted
by Chaucer before a

'

relative clause.
88.

Avoy (Elles.)
; Away

(Harl.).

See the

in Brand's Pop. Antiquities.

Chapter on Dreams
from gluttony
'Anxious
and drunkenness.
104. fume, the effectsarising
black melancholy/wm^s.'Burton's Anat. of Mel.
All
p. 438, ed. 1845.
those caused
arisingout of the stomach,'especially
by gluttony
vapours
103.

'

"

and

drunkenness.

and

from

Ibid. p.
108.

'

thence

For

when

the head

is heated

proceed melancholy fumes

it scorcheth the
trouble

that

the

blood,

mind.'

"

269.
rede colera.

(sometimescalled
of which

the

red
.

cholera

caused

hnmotir). Burton

red

these

signs are

"

by too
speaks of

'the veins

much

bile and
of

kind

of their eyes

blood

melancholy

red, as

well

as

their faces.'

of melancolye. 'The
113. the humour
from the matter, and disease denominated
Bruel

whom

so
or

his second

abundance

of that

misaffected,that

same

8.

120.

observe

'

That

cause

Catoun.

by

9, he

this

many
Cato de

the way,

1. ii. c.
Polycrat.

introduces

manner:

Tyrwhitt.

"

that

16, as
his

of

mad

material

man

manifest

choler.'

melancholy

black

choler

hath

in most

things
operationsof the

Melancholy, p. 108, ed. 1805.

in sleepto be very distressed.'

of

Moribus, 1. ii. dist. 32;

this distich

is

somnia

quoted by John

'I

ne

cures.

of

Salisbury,

place,1. vii.
dist. 20 (1.iii.)
in

precept viri sapientis. In another

quotationof

^'Ait vel

other

as

cause,

black

those

dote

thence,and

election,will,or

Burton's Anat.
understanding.'
"

c.

the

calls
Intellect,
of
depraved humour

book

they become

in all,belongingto

1 1

from

observes, ii^Xavxo^ia quasi yLfXaivaxoKrj,from

in
Fracastorius,
'

(melancholy)is imposed

name

Cato

the

first verse

vel alius, nam

autor

of

incertus

"f
est.'

"

198
121.

NOTES.

do

fors o/=take

no

notice of,pay

no

heed to.

no

magnified and
much
in hypochondrianmelancholy,dailyto be
prescribed,
especially
sod
often misin whey. And
because the spleenand blood
are
used,
affected in melancholy, I may
omit
not
endive, succory, dandelion,
143,

Wormwood,

centaury,

fumitory,"c., which

likewise

pennyroyal,are

cleanse the blood.'

Burton's Anat. of Mel. pp. 432,

"

See also p. 438, ed. 1845.

kinds of hellebore
144. ellebor. Two

433.

are

mentioned

by

old

writers;

hellebore,called sneezing powder, a strong purger upward'

renowned
that most
(Burton'sAnat. of Mel. p. 439),and black hellebore,
plant,a famous purger of melancholy.' Ibid. p. 442, ed. 1845.
150. graunt mercy, great thanks; this in later authors is corrupted
'white

'

"

into grammercy

or

gramercy.

156. so mot I thee,so may I thrive,(or prosper).

164. Ooti of the gretteste auctours.
Cicero, De Divin. 1. i. c. 27,
relates this and the following
story, but in a different order,and with so
other differences,
that one
many
might be led to suspect that he was
*

here

quoted at second-hand,if it were

stories of familiar life,to throw

to be found

not

that Chaucer

in his

took

in

not

number

Chaucer, in these
of natural circumstances,

usual with

authors.'
original

Tyrwhitt. But
it rather from Valerius Maximus, who
"

thinks

Warton
has the

same

story; i. 7.
to the
corresponds
older Englishgen. oxan, of an
ox
oxe
standing for oxen (as in Oxenford,see note on 1. 285 of Prologue). Thus oxes and oxe are equivalent.
190. took of this no keep,took no heed of this,paid no attention to it.
the truth.
sooth to sayn, to say (tell)
201.
elsewhere
222.
gapinge. The phrase gaping tiprightoccurs
(see
the
with
1.
and
back
the
signifies
KnightesTale, 1150),
lyingflat on
mouth
i.
his
back
Dede
he
he
Cf.
dead.
sate
lay on
uprighte,'e.
open.
The Sowdone
of Babyloyne,1. 530.
alas! I
225. Harrow, a cry of distress;a cry for help. 'Harrow!
swelt here as I go.' The Ordinary;see vol. iii.p. 150, of the Ancient
1

84.

Oxes

written

in HI.

oxe

Cp. Ln

; where

oxe

"

"

"

Drama.

227.

(YAIqs.);
npsterte(HsltI.).
And
de
hint
his
viagefor to lette.
prey

otdsterte

264. And

prayed him

to abandon

his journey.

265. to abyde,to stay where he was.

269. my thinges,
my business-matters.
290.

'

Kenelm

Mercians
years, and

in 821
was

succeeded

[Haydn,
murdered

made
subsequently
or

in the Golden

his father

Book

by

saint,and

of

of liis aunt,

legendwill

Legend.' Wright.
"

on

the

throne

Dates, says 819] at the age

order
his

Kenulph

Quenedreda.

be found

in

of the

of
He

seven
was

Capgrave,

THE

NONNE

PRESTES

TALE.

199

St. Kenelm's

day is Dec. 13. Alban

Butler,in his Lives of the
Saints,says:
[Kenulph] 'dying in 819, left his son Kenelm, a child
under the tutelage
only seven
years old [see 1. 297] heir to his crown,
of his sister Quindride. This ambitious woman
his person
committed
the
with
of one
she had hired to make
to
care
Ascobert,whom
away
him.
The wicked
vmfreminister decoyed the innocent child into an
quented wood, cut off his head, and buried him under a thorn-tree.
His corpse is said to have been discovered by a heavenlyray of light
the place,and by the followinginscription
which shone over
:
"

"

Milton

Clent

Of

head

altar at Rome.

in

Of
Clent is near
Neither

Mead

of

under

Kine,

bereft,li'th poor

boundary

St. Kenelm

'

dove

the

on

that

Worcestershire.

Staffordshire and

between

Kenelm's

mention

dreamt

King-bom.'

he

noble

tree

wax-lights

with

whereupon
a

given in

Soc. 1862),
(Phil.

ed. Furnivall

saw

one

of his

flew

little bird,and

his soul,and

littlebird denoted

but it is

dream,

to the top of it ;
it,and that he climbed
upon
best friends cut it down, and he was
turned
into

up to heaven.

1695,p. 218,
inscription'

thorn,

Kenelm

printedin EarlyEng. Poems,

The

that the

was

of these accounts

his Life,as

adds

"

Head

the

He

iv. ed.

miraculouslydropped by
great poet'sversion of it is :

Our

'Low

bom.'

bk.
History of Britain,

of Westminster.

note, which

thorn,

bereft,lies Kenelm, king

to Matthew

us

inside

p. 51.

cow-pasture, under

tells the story in his

and refers
was

In

the

to heaven
flight

his death.

297.
304.

i.e. for fear of treason.

traisonn,
of Cicero, as
Cipioun. The Somnium
Scipionis

For

Macrobius,was
318. See
321. Lo
in Homer.
for the
See

the

331.

favourite

the Monkes

the note;

Andromache's

heer Andromacha.

chapterxxiv.

It is related in

Trojan

Troy-book,ed. Panton

war

and

ages.
in Ch.

dream

is not

by

II.,p. 193.
to

be

found

the authority
Phrygius,
middle
the
in
popular
ages.

of Dares

most

Donaldson

(E. E.

T.

S.),1. 8425.

in conclusion.
for conclusioun,

no
334. telle
value ; count them
.

This

store, set

336. nevere
340.

and

Tale, B. 3917,

historyof the
as

during the middle

work

annotated

as

store

by

them

reckon

them

of

no

useless.

del,never

line is

no

whit, not

repeatedfrom

the

in the

slightest
degree.
Compleynt of Mars, 1. 61.

he cites
343-346. By way of quietretaliation for Partlet's sarcasm,
hominis
1.
'Mulier
confusio,'
Latin
est
a
proverbialsaying,in
344,
in
the
false
translation
he
into
which
turns
a pretended
compliment by
*

"

11. 345,

346.'

Spec.Hist.

"

X.

Marsh.

71.

Tyi-whittquotes

it from

Vincent

of

Beaiivais,

NOTES.

200

omits
the
355- ^^"5for that lay. Chaucer
done in Middle
Englishpoetry ; see 1. 80.

374. See

note

11. 35,

on

of

385. Cf. Man

is

as
relative,

frequently

36.

Lawes

the

and

Tale, B. 421,

Prov.

See

note.

xiv. 13.

388. In the margin of MSS. E. and Hn. is written 'Petrus Comestor,'

is probably here referred to.
392. See the SquieresTale, 287, and the note.
fox. Tyrwhitt quotes Heyw^ood for colea treacherous
395. col-fox,
prophetand colepoysowi. See Glossary for the explanationof the prefix
who

col.

Genilon; the traitor who

407.

the death

of

Roland;

408.

Vergil,^n.

of the

Book

see

Skeat's edition of the Minor

See

caused the defeat of

Charlemagne, and
in

the note

Duchesse, 1121, and

Poems.

ii. 259.

sift the matter

420. bidte it to the breii,
; cf. the phrase to boult the
See the argument in Troilus,iv. 967 ; cf. Milton,P. L. ii. 560.
bran.

422. Boece,i. e. Boethius,

Bradzvardyn. Thomas

See

note

to

Bradwardine

Kn.

Tale, 305.

was

Proctor

of Oxford
and

in the year 1325, and afterwards

became
Chancellor
of the University.His chief work

God'

{De Causa

University
DivinityProfessor
of

the Cause

is 'On

Dei). See Morley's EnglishWriters, ii. p. 62.

probablyinserted by the scribes,who did not know

for was
was
a word
tiedely
424.

in the

that

of three

syllables.See 1. 425, which is perhaps to

be scanned
with Nedely as a trisyllable^
and sirnple
as
a monosyllable.
436. Colde,baneful,fatal. The proverb is Icelandic ; kold eru opt
cold (fatal)
oft women's
counsels ; Icel.Diet. s. v. kaldr.
are
kvenna-raS,'
'

451.

'He
Phisiologtis.

Physiologusde Naturis

alludes to

book

in

Latin

metre,

xii.

entitled

Animalium, by one Theobaldus, whose

The chapterDe Sirenis begins thus :

is not known.

age

"

Sirenae

sunt

Vocibus

maris

monstra

et modulis

resonantia
formantia

cantus

magnis
multis,

Ad

saepissimenautae,
quas incaute veniunt
nimia
dulcedine
vocum.'
Quae faciunt sompnum
See The
and

in
Bestiary,

Douglas'sVirgil,prol.to
'

Becum
And

i.e. if thou

thy death
'

Cok

Old

Morris's

turn

thow

by

probablethat

cry

coward, (and) a

sound

In

which

this is

Book

xi. st. 15,

cowart, craudoun

consent

is imminent.

is the

English Miscellany,
pp. 18, 207

Rose, 680.

cf. Rom.

457. In

Dr.

Tyrwhitt.

"

cocks

only a

we

have

"

recryand.

cok, thi deid is dycht;'

to cry cok,
craven, and consent
this
Ruddiman
on
passage,
says
it is
beaten.'
Biit
utter when
they are
recreant

note

guess, and

"

that

Douglas

is

merelyquoting

NOTES.

202

Chaucer's
Med.

ridicule.

^vi,

862-978.'"

pp.

Richard

528.
his

woimd

I.

Why

re?

sM/f

See

543.

Hasdrubal;
the

when
wife
or

ii.

her

it,

sons

translation,

of

bk.

Princes,

v.

Walsingliam

574.
killed

many

noise

made

Tyrwhitt's

that

Hunger,

Cf.

sword.
acies

ii. 333,

Aeneid,

mucrone

334:

"

corusco

ed.

146.

c.

Sweet,

in

12

also

He

his

3,
his

See

men

the

of

speaks

horrendissimus.'

'clamor

as

13.
in

story

and

Straw

Jakke

381,

consueto.'

clamore

cum

the

has

his

27.
in

how,

iv.

Orosius,

see

Lydgate

and

himself;

slew
;

Carthage

of

King

the

despair

212.

p.

and

but

Hasdrubal

themselves

capp.

rebels

brother,

in

Jakke

Glossary.
See

hotiped.

580.

B.

'

the

received

he

neci.'

relates

Flemings
by

ferri

burnt

Alfred's

Fall

but

Tuesday;

on

had.

Hannibal's

burnt

two

Poet.

550-553.

not

Romans

and

(naked)

parata

a,

Aeneid,

Hist.

Leyser's

26.

Stat

'

538.

in

printed

6, 1199,

that

drawn

Strict

April

March
I

is

poem

Tyrwhitt.

on

hadde

ne

slreiie

537.

died

Friday,

on

530.

whole

The

Piers

herde

hym,'

ed.

Plowman,
"c,

ed.

or

Wright,

(Clarendon

Skeat

after

'houped

127,

p.

vi.

B.

Press),

174.

625.

Lord.

My

of

Archbishop
from

381

side-note

Canterbury

same

of

note

^sop's

is

Fable

N.

and

Note

on

that

as

175

p.

of

The

Fables.
No.

Q.

MS.

probably

E,

this

explains

William

to

refer

the

to

archbishop

Courtenay,

1396.

to

Additional

The

in

141,

7 S.

vi.

to

may

Lion,
In

and
53,

the
is

be
the

90,

amended.

Tiger,

modern

entitled

236.

Knightes

the

and

Lion,

the

Fox

'

by James
the

fable

The

edition

'The

Tale

Bear,

is
in

1. 319.

Croxall's

(London,
and

the

practically

the

edition

1852),
Fox.'

it

See

GLOSSARY.
A

Prologue.

KnightesTale,

Old

French.

Old

High

Dutch.

O.F.

F.

"French.

Prompt. Parv.

German.
Greek.

Prov.

Icelandic.

Sp.

It.

Italian.

Sw.

to
prefixed

form

0, 00, one;

ta, to, the

the first.
cf.

inorwe,

1765; a
A

name,

2076.

B
184;
a-night,

a-

822 ; a-day, in the day,

Goddes tiame, in God's

854 ; a-three,in three,B

Cf. Mod.
Eng. a-foot,a-

A. S. and

still used

the

of

sense

in

abbey :

Able,

fit,
adapted
capable,

: A

If it be found
abide it.'
"

O.F.

expert, fit.
(the pret. of abegge or
Aboghte
atoned
for, suffered for :
abye),
A.S.
; pp. aboghe,2242.
the
to
redeem, pay
dbycgan,
B

1445

the
purchase-money,to pay
to
penalty(from bycgan, buy).

will dear

JuliusCjesar,iii.2.

119.

"

'

faith thou

the

know.

thy perilthou

to

dear.'

167.

habile,able,

verb

amples
following ex-

so, some

'Disparage not

Lat. habilis(Lat.habeo,to have),

convenient,fit:

the

the

to

"

Lest

34.

abye

dost not

Abbey,

'

Reg. Princip.162.

De

abide, as

It is

land.
Eng-

bye it dere

and

Shakespeare and Milton have,

of sound, given
from
similarity

"C.
sleepya-hmting, a-building,
O. S. an, in, on.
in the South of

'

to
expression
'So
shalt thou

in helle

Occleve,

is theoretical.

form

honge

A, in, on;
B

such

Eng.

Cf. M.E.
one,

Swedish.

single.

A. S. an, Ger. ein,

indef. article an or a.

English.

Spanish.

Cf. the modem

buy it dear.'

one,
one

Engl.

"Provincial

that
signifies

A.

A,

German.

vulorum.

asterisk

English.

Promptorium Par-

"

Gothic.

"

An

O. H. Ger.

Icel.

Gr.

Latin.

Danish.

"

Middle

Goth.

Du.

"

used

Lat.

Dan.

Tale.

Prestes

Nonne

Anglo-Saxon.

M.E.

Ger.

the chief contractions

are
following

The

A.S.

Mids.

iii. 2. 175.
How
dearlyI abide
so

vain.'

"

abide

it

Night'sDream,
that boast

Paradise

Lost,

iv.

Abood, delay: B 107. See Abide.

A.S.
above:
A
Aboven,
53.
iifan; Du. boven^
ubufan,be-ttfan,
the
E. forms bnve,
Cf
M.
above.
aboon, above.
buveti,
'

GLOSS

204
started

Abrayde,
woke:
to

draw

down,

(suddenly),ato
bregdati,
Icel.
bregma,
;

Gr.
11 32.
: B
Adamant, adamant
to
(a privative,
dafidoj,
a-^afjia%
tame, subdue),the hardest metal,

pull

mond)
probably steel (also the diatine.
Eng. adaman; whence

A. S.

i88.

turn,

move,

weave

out

sword,

to

M. E. braide has all these

and

The

awake, to leap.

to

r.

AR

also
signifies

ings,
mean-

cry out

to

'

In adamantine

Adamant

sudden

or

the M. E.
in

trice.

also
the

'

phrase

at a

braid,'
bragS is
=

Icel.

The

; hence

appliedto the features

gestures,by which

to

or

vidual
indi-

an

characterized; hence
Prov.
Eng. braid, to resemble,
pretend; Eng. braid,appearance
is

(Bailey).
Shakespeareuses

braid

braided, of deceitful manner.

Abregge, to shorten, abridge: B
=

F.

141.
viare.

; Lat.
a-breger

Cf.

M. E.

abbrea-

agregge,

aggravate, from

F.

gredge, to
(from Lat. gravis).
aggreger
Abyden

wait

for,await:

260.

A. S.

wait, remain

69, 2124;

ab'idan, bidan,
Goth,

"

to

beidan,to

expect.

accomplish:

to

2006.

Accord, Acord, agreement:

838,

C59.
O. F.
571.
to buy ; F. acheter,It.
achepter,
accattare, to acquire,get ; Low
Lat. accaptare. Cf. M. E. acates,

Achat, purchase:A

cies
delicaprovision,
cates, victuals,
;
cater.

eatery, store-room
; Eng.
F. achat,purchase.

Achatour,

568.

caterer
purchaser,

See Achat.

Acordaunt,

ing,
agree-

37.

to agree, suit : A 244, S30 ;

B 356. F. accorder,
Acorded,
pp.
to
(from Lat. cor, the
agree

Acorde,

heart).

T.

"

ed. Collier,p. 8.
down, downw^ards, below:

Adoun,

393 ; cf doun, B
dune (cf O. F.
A

hill,downwards
hill,down.

the

from

the

from

of-

val, to

dun,

pp. in great dread, afraid

Adrad,
A

A.S.

245.

valley,downwards),

Cf

605.

much
of-drad,

M.E.

afraid ; where

the

of is inprefix

like /or-,Lat. per-.

tensitive,
in great fear,
Afered,

Aferd,

628, B 660. Cf. M. E,

much
fear ; offered,
ferd,ferdnesse,
A

See Adrad.

afraid.

Affeccioun, affection,
hope
confirmed:

Afferraed,
scared
Affrayed, terrified,
B

whence

to

:B

300.

1491.

458.

: C

appal;

to scare,
effrayer,

terror

effroi,

affray.
F.

file,polish:A 712.

sharpen F.
a thread.
Jil,edge; 'L^t.filvm,
afraid : C 75.
Afright, in fright,
From
A. S. fyrhtti,
fright. Cf.
It. afflare,
to
affiler.

Goth./awrA/s,timid.
terrified,
aghast: B 1483 ;
terrified: B
Agaste
him, was

Agast,

1566.

Cf. M. E.

ghastly,
gastlic,

gastnes,fear ; A. S.

Goth.
gcestan,

to terrify
ns-gai:jan,
; us-geisnan,
to

according to,

suitable

adamatit.^

attractive

Affyle,
A

Well

'

Cf.

Heywood,

F.

Accomplice,

the magnet
she's a

appliedto
most

correctl
(but in-

is sometimes

loadstone.

afraid

(pret. abod, abood; pp. abiden),abide, delay,

Abyde,

penal

fire.' Milton, Par. Lost, i. 48.

suddenly,to scold ; whence Eng.

braid,upbraid.The A. S. brcBgd,
a
bregd, Icel. brag's,signifies
start,blow, deceit

and

chains

; Dan.

be amazed

again, against,

Ageyn,

Agayn,

towards:
gean,

66,

on-gen,

gys, terror.

801.

a-gen,

towards, against;

A.S.

on-

opposite,

site,
oppogeon,
Sw.
O.
site
against;
gen, oppo; Ger. gegen, against.

GLOSSAR

Agon,

Agoon,

924
verb

past, b 418,

gone,

of M. E.
the past participle

to

agon,

dgdn, a gang

meet

with ygo in the

and

is

it

same

'To

grief: 73.
C

agrief
"

take

to

it

roneously
er-

take

amiss, feel

aggrieved,be displeased.
cf. al

Al, all,whole

whole, A

wholly (cf.al redy,

584) ; quite,
armed, "c.) ; although cf. al
spekehe,al have I, al be it):A 71,
al

76,297,
Alaunts,

They
boar.
says

734,

1406.

See Alle.

speciesof

dog
1290.
hunting the
Ital.a/a"o. Tyrwhitt

used

were

Sp.and
theywere

: B

for

much

esteemed

in

Italy in the fourteenth century.

Gualv. de la Flamma
(ap.Mura/E. t. ii.p. 394)
tor. Antiq.Med.
commends

the
'

Milan

quod

of

governors
emissaries

equos

equabusmagnis commiscuerunt, et
in nostra
territorio
sunt
procreati
DESTRARII
nobiles,
qui in magno
Item
CANES
pretio habentur.
altae

ALANOS

bilis

staturae

et

mira-

fortitudinismitrire studiie-

runt'
Al

although:

be,

297.

See Aller.
Ale-stake, a horizontal stake jecting
profrom, an ale-house to support
'

sign,A 667 ; /e vioy d'une

tavenie' (Palsgrave).It appears
that a bush was
often placed at
a

of the ale-stake.

always:

wav,

street.

Alighte, (pp. alight),

alighted:
722,

125.

Cf. the

phrase 'to

A. S.

dlihtan, to

light upon.'

descend, alight.
Alle, pi.of al (all)
;

older forms

26, 53.

The

710, "c.
th

or

the

forms

insertion

of d

merelyto strengthen

serves

in lend,spend i^older

word, as

lene,spene).

F.
Alliaunce, alliance : B 2115.
to ally; Lat. ligare,
to tie ;
allier,
bind.

to
alligare,

Also,

730.

A. S.

ealswd;

al-se,ase.

These

forms

as:

M. E.
shew

that

from

also.

O. Fris.

is

as

contraction

Cf. Ger.

also, als ;

also,alse,cesa,

Amblere,
Amiddes,

nag

ase.

469.

amidst, in the middle

1151.

Amonges,
Amor-we,
Amotmte,

amongst:
to

denote
And

the

on

759.

morrow

amount

signify,

to,

1504.

356.
hung up,

Anhanged,

Anlas

knife

The

242.

prefix
on, up.
(or Anelace),
a"

the

822.

a7/, if: B

kind

of

dagger,usually
girdle: A 357.
or

Anoint, anointed :
in
Anoon,
Anon,
:

at

worn

32.

199.

(instant),

one

M. E.

an

an,

or

on

an.

become

Apalled,
B

2195 ;
Chaucer

feeble,

weak,

pale.'

'made
originally
of

speaks
wight,' i. e.
with

old

'an

through old
O. F.

age.

palled
apfeebled
en-

man

It is

appalir,to

Diet.
grow pale; see Murray's
satisfied:
B
loio.
Apayd,
pleased,
F. payer, to satisfy,
(Lat.
pay
faction,
pacare); whence M. E. pay, satisgratification,
pleasure;
Eng. pay.
a
metaphorically,
706.

Ape,

fool

apothecary: A 425.
b 2055.
Apparailling, preparation:

Apothecarie,
A

alra,aire,aller,

are

later alder,alther ; our

aller,of
hir
us
all,A 823 ;
aller,of them

connected

M.E.
571.
al gates; cf swagate, thus ; North
Prov. Eng. gate, way ; Eng. gait;
Icel. gata, a path ; Sw. gata,

Algate,

Aller, of all fgen.pi.of al). The

anon

Alderbest.

the end

205

all,A 586; alderbest, best of all,

sense,

supposed that the fix

precorruptionof ^-.

in

Agrief,

an.

have
etymologists

some

a-

pass
away.
We
also

go,

A. S.

V.

2o6

GLOSSAR

F.

Y.

suit ; pareil, Ars-metrik,arithmetic

to fit,
appareiller,

like ; Lat. par,

equal,like.

The

: B

1040.

Ar we, arrow
A S.
: A 1 04.
Icel. or (gen.orvar).

arewe

originalmeaning of appareiller
is to joinlike to like.
barkation
or
Aryve, arrival,
perhapsdisemAppetyt, desire,appetite
: B 822.
60.
A
:
(of troops)
trimmed:

Apyked,

365.

See

F.

Piked.

arriver,to arrive,from

ad-ripare,to

Aqueyntaunce,

acquaintance:A

Lat.

shore

to

come

(ripa,shore).
if : A 636, c 570.
as

As,

245-

Arest,

support for the

Aslake,

spear

moderate, appease : B
slakr,loose ; Norw.
902.
make
to
slekkja,
slack,to slake,
quench ; slohna,to go out, faint ;
to

when
B

for the

couched

It is sometimes

1744-

And

'

rest.

called

there

squyer

Colayne, he
the spere in

the

came
rest, and
the
lorde
of
agaynst

Berner

Poytrell.'
452,

80.

Areste, to stop (a horse): A 827.

ed:
Aretted, ascribed,imputed,deema

is aretted

person

vented

before

Cowell

charged with

crime.'

Lat.
in

and

ad

reputare;

arm

thick

as

as

mighty

Arinipotente,

in

arms

nmite

once,

and

dd

present :

A. S.

(then).

See

assault:

(now)

7iu

Nouth.e.
a

491.
Y.

131.

as-

to assail ; saillir,
to leap,
saillir,
to
sally;I^a.t.
salire, leap,
spring.

tried:

F. essayer,

953.

seat

as

before

in

town

ting
sit-

or

with same
; It.assedio,
Lat. obsiditwi,the

down

state, situation, dress,

equipage:

at

now,

It. sedia, seggia,a

1124.

Array,

As

to try,essay.
B 23. F. siege;
Asseged, besieged:

man's

we

462,B 1406. Cf. M.E. as-swide,

at
immediately
als-tite,
; as-now,

1287.

nouthe.

Assayed,

Aret

Murray'sDiet.

Arm-greet,

O. F.

see

this root

relax,
slacian,

Assaut,

con-

impute; from

areter, aretter, to
"

that is

connect

A-sonder, asunder

judge, and

A. S.

As

'

With

must

sleac,slack ; also slack;

lime, slagof a furnace.

"

B1871. Accordingto

M. E. sloke.
slack

rennyng

i.68.
Froissart,
Areste, seizure,
custody: b
C

Icel.

written

was

Albert of
and couched

turned

attack

sense

sitting
hostile

way.

76.
Asshen, ashes : B 444.
set
Arrayed,
order, dressed, Assoilling, absolution,acquittal
:
It.
O. F. assoiller,
A 661.
Lat. abadorned,equipped: BI18S.
A

41,
in

arredare,to prepare, get ready;

O. F. arroyer, arreer,
The

out.

in

the

Sw.

root

Teutonic

reda,

to

dispose,fit

is to

be

found

dialects.
prepare

Cf.

reda,

order; A. S. r"Ed; Ger. bereit,

ready;Dan. rede,plain,
straight,
clear.

1066.
Assyse, assize:

arrears:

F. arrester

to

to

set

stop, seize,C 200.

(from Lat. restare,to

to
still),

bring

stand,to seize his person.

F. asseoir,

314.

(Lat.assidere)
set,
; assis,

seated ; assise,
a settled tax ;
held on
d'assise,
court
a
a

Cf.

It.

co7ir

set

settled

assisa,
pattern of dress ; Eng. size.

602.

one

to

day.

Arrerage,
Arresten,
stand

to loose from.
solvere,
Assiiren, to make sure, confirm

Astat, estate, rank.

Asterte,
astert,B

Astoned,

to

escape,
734. See
astonished

See

Estat.

737

pp.

503.

Sterte.
:

GLOSSAR

O. F. estonnir,
to

amaze
astonish,

to thunder
(Lat.*extonare,

stored

Astored,

at).

609.

outwit:

ai-

A.S.

(Et-,
1591.
prefix
; cf. G. ettt-,prefix.
See
B 1591.
At-renne, out-run:
=

Benne.

Atte,

the

at

M. E.

at-tham, atin the best

beste,
at
29, 749 5 (^tte laste,
:

Cf. atte

than.

207

watch,wait :
waiter,gaiter.This

Awayt,
with

Asur,
42.
adamant
: B 447.
Athamaunte,
Atrede, to surpass in council,
azure

V.

is connected

A. S. wcccan,

wake.

wakan,

405. O. F.

Icel. vaha,to be

Eng. watch, waits,to

fear,dread

Awe,

Goth,

agi,

vigilant
;

await.

654. Icel.

Goth.

agis, fear ;

Goth.

ogan, to fear.

Axe, to ask : B 489. A. S. dcsian.

Axing, asking,demand
: B 968.
Ay, ever, aye : a 63.
Ayeins, against: B 929.

A
: B
Ayel, a grandfather
1619. F.
O. F. ael,
dimin. from Lat.
A 707 ; atte fulle=^ivi\\y, a'iezd,
last,
A 651.
avus.
rate
Attempree, adj.temperate,mode-

manner,

the

18.

385. F.
atteindre (Lat.tangere,to touch,
Baclieler, Bachiller, an unmarried
reach
to
to).
bachelor,a knight :
man,
attingere,
80.
O. F.
A
Auctcritee, authority;a text of
bacelle,bacelote,
some
o
r
a
bachellette,
respectable
Scripture,
servant,apprentice
;
writer : B 2142, c 155.
bacelerie,
youth ; bachelage,
prentice
apof
art and
authors, writers
Auctours,
study of

Atteyne,

credit

attain

to

Auter, altar :
Avaunce,

bachelier,a
chivalry
;
young
an
man,
knightaspirantto hood.

164.

1047.

advantage,be

be of

to

F.

: A
246.
profitable
forward
push
;

avancer,

It.
avant.
forwards
Lat.
;
avanle, before,
ab ante.

to

boast,vaunt:

Avaunt,

advantage:

Avauntage,
See

227.

435.

boaster

Avauntour,
Aventure,

97.

tune,
chance, luck, misfor-

adventure
O. F.

avetiir

25,

795.

(Lat. advenire),to

Hence

happen.

Eng. perad-

venture.

Avisioun, vision : c 294.

Avow, vow, promise: B 1379.
Avoy,

fie!

bacon,M. Du.

8S.

O. F. avoi 1 fie!

of which
(interjection),

rous
nume-

O. F.

25.

bache, pig.
a

Baillif, bailiff:A 603. M.E.

baili.

is my

'He

ryve [= reeve] and

bayly,Inquilinus
prediorum urbiet rusticorum.'

corum

F.

Avaunce.

bacon

Bacoun,

Horman.

"

It. balivo,bailo, from

bailli.

Low

Lat. baiulus,a

the

later

bearer,with
of

meanings
(2) a tutor.

nurse,

bailler

(i) a

From

to hand
(Lat.baiidare),
bail.
In the
Eng.

over,
Wicliffite

comes

to
*

imply

versions, baili
the

charge

or

seems

ofiice :

for
5elde rekenyng of thi baili,

thou

mighte not

Luc.

xvi.

now

be baili.^
"

2.

examples are
Bak, back: c 516.
given in
Godefroy. (Ofimknown
baken,baked : A 343.
origin). Bake
verb
advice,
Avys,
consideration,
now
opinion
belongsto the
O.F. avis.
: A
786,E loio.
conjugation.
It. avviso,view, opinion,settlement
Balled, bald : a 198,b 1660.
=

; Lat.

nimm,

from

nideri.

F.

original
meaning

seems

This
weak
The

to have

20S

GLOSSAR

(2)white (asin
(i)shining,
bald-{a.ced
stag). Cf. Welsh
been

horse

ceffylbal, a
streak

white

having

forehead.

the

on

V.

Barres,
A

of

ornaments

See

329.

note

:
girdle

of

1. 329

on

Prologue.
Batailed, embattled : c 40. O. F.
built as a bastille
batille,bastille,
furnished
with
or
fortress,

destruction,death : b 239,
823. A.S. bana, bona,O.H. Ger.
struction, turrets.
bana^ Fris. bona, Icel. bani, deBataille, battle: A 61, B 130. F.
a violent death, bane ;
Icel.
Goth. banja,a.
a. hsittle ; it also signifies,
wound;
bataille,
bana,
M. E. bane somelike M. E. bataille,
times
a
to slay. The
squadron,
armed
It.
battalion.
whence
an
a
host,
poison,
signifies
battere
With
F.
beat.
battre,to
hen-bane,fiy-bane.
;

Bane,

Baner,
F.

banner:

Lat.

Mid.

banniere

It. bandiera.

suggests the

Wedgwood
root, which
Eng. bind.

baren

105, 158,
conducted

us,

ourselves,A 721. See Bere.

a
barber, B 1167. F.
Barbour,
from
Lat. barba, the
barbier,
Bare, bare, open : A 683, B 2019.
void
barren, deBareyne,
Bareyn,
of:

386,

O. F.

II

19.
brehaigne,sterile; of
baraigne,
imcertain origin.

Baronage,

assemblyof barons

an

husband.

man,
Originally
non

*The
man
the woman,
it

own

law

men

; baron

bar

217.

barra

per la femna
per lo baro'

ment
jewelledorna-

round

worn

sixteenth

the

in

the

baudre, O. H. Ger.

perhaps

O. F.

noblemen.

ladies and
from

both

the neck

balderich

Lat.

baltens,a

not

but

the
used

created

for

woman

for
In

was

and

man

bolt

or

of

harre, Mid.

of unknown
barrier

(2)been,

bead

: A
(pi.bedes)

; O. Sax.

bede,a prayer
'Beads

pray.

159.

beda,O. Fris.

gehed,O.Sax.

bedon,to

strung

were

used
originally

on

for

helping the
recitinga certain
or
doxologies.
prayers
of

'Prayingin
and

mumbling
of

gibberish,

of heads.'
"

Mel.

p.

ton's
Bur-

26, ed.

1845.

Lat.

formed

Cf.
from the F. barre.
directly
F.
bars
barras,
embarras,
Sp.
;
embarrassed.

A. S.

Been,

ricade
origin.Barare

Bede,

Anat.

and
door

1377

60.

our

for married

femme,

Be, (i) to be,

"

"

was

O. F.
and

Eng.

used

century for

signified

militarybelt.

or
cingtilum
was

by

baldrich,

or

tale of
To
bid one's bedes or beads was
to say one's prayers.'Wedgwood.

wife.

tery,
bat-

transversely:

It sometimes

purpose
in
memory

'Lo

man;' Raynouard.

Barre,

16.

the

creat

es

la femna

the

haudrick,
worn
girdle,

string,and

B
2238. It. barone, Sp. varon,
F. baron, O. F. baron, accus.
of O. F, her, bar, a man.
case

mas

connected

are

belt.

beard.

bar

It

bore, carried:

558, 618;

the

with

hat

hatter.

Bawdrik,
belt,or

Goth.

is connected

the root

Mr.

token, as the

bajidwo,a sign or

Bar,

1552.

120,

banera, ba?merinm

(i) to be; (2) are,

178 ;

(3) been, A 199.

Beer, did bear: c 516.
Beggere, a beggar: a 252.
a
Beggestere, a beggar, properly
female

Bern,

beggar :

Beem,

242.
rafter

beam,

hemes): c 122.
tree, stick,beam

A.S.
;

(pi.

beam, a
Ger. Baum,

GLOSSAR

iJlO

labour,

Bisynesse,
A 520,

Bit
A

(3rdpers. sing,of

bids
bidden),

187.
'

am

called to mind

767.
between

See

2247.

Bitwixe.

element

-tweox

two, and

with

A. S.

277.

The

is connected

second
with

be-tween.

Bitwixen, betwixt,between:
make
to
Biwreye,
known,

betray:
A. S. wregan,

1371,

B22.

wray,
be-

G. rugen,

231.

to

cover,
dis-

Blak,

blake):

(def.form,
B

557,

41,

and

pi.
1659. ^"^'

black.
blcEC,

Blankmanger,
of capon
sugar, and
Blede.

to

compound

some

minced, with
flour

bleed,

cream,

bledde, 145, pp. bled).

B

220.

glance.
B

372.

is formed
joy,gladness,
blis,

adj.blide,
joyful.Cf.
t
o
blldsian, rejoice.
Blisful, blessed,blissful : A 1 7,
from

the

A. S.

of

forthwith
Blyve, quickly,
M. E. bili/e.Cf. Dan.

1839.
to
oplive,
: B

quicken,enliven, and the

of our
senses
Eng. quick.

Bone,
141
ben.

(pi.bokes),

book

buckler:

294.

112,

471.

F. boiiclier,
shield with a cena
tral
from
boss,
boucle,protuberance
; Mid.

It is of

1.

319.
earlier

course

Lat.

buccula

connected

(pret.

2133.

petition,boon

a,

A.S.

as

bdn

546,

arises out

00

A.S.

bdn, prayer;

(pi. bones):

The

1281.

M. E. band

prayer,
Icel.
bone

Boon,

of

an

M.'E.

bdn.
A. S.

:
(pi. bores)

bar,Du.

800,

beer.

Boras, borax : a 630.

Bord, table: A 52, c 23. A.S.
bord,table, margin ; Du. boord,

edge, border.

See

note

on

1. 52

pp. born : B 684,

See Boor.
Born, pp. conducted : A 87.
Borwe,
: b
pledge,security
764.
A.S. borh,security,
; borgple"ige

ian,to lend

scuti.
with

Cf.
(on security).

Ger.

B'urge, a surety, from

to
bergan,to protect; bilrgen,
bail
become
to
a
give
surety,
for another.

remedy:

See Bete.

424.

butler:

M. E.
314.
debotelere,F. bojiteillier. It is rived

Boteler,

from

two

Bocher, a butcher: B 1167. F.

Cf.
a goat.
boucher,from boi/c,
It. becco, a
goat ; beccaro, a
butcher ; boccitio,
beef,
young
veal ; bocciero,
a butcher.
Bokeler,

pi.boles:

bound,

: B
binden)

Bote,

770.

Bok

Bole, bull;

Bores.

blenched, started back :

M. E. blenchen,
to blench,

Blis, dat. Blisse, bliss :

A.S.

a milk-pail
biiquet,
(Godecf.
A.S.
a jug.
froy);
bile,

(pret. Bore,

943

Bleynte,

Lat.

of Prol.

387.

Ger.

O. F.

Boor,' boar

accuse.

black

boucle;
all from

bucca, the cheek.

Bond,

Bitwixe, betwixt:
befiviih,betweox.

stud ;

Bokelinge, buckling:b 1645.

Boket, a bucket : B 675. Cf.

bethoght,'have

thoughtof,have
Bitwene,

Eng, buckle,F.
Buckel, a

149.

Bithoght,
A

anxiety:

care,

y.

O. F.

botel,F. bou-

teille,
a bottle.
Botes, boots : a 203, 273. Cf. F.
boot ; Low
Lat. bota. ' The
botte,
boot appears

to

been, like the

Indian
of

skin

have

Irish

originally
brogue and
sort of bag

mocassin, a
or
leather,enveloping

the foot and

laced

on

the

instep.'

(Wedgwood.)
Bothe,

both

begen,bd

Icel. bddir.

Cf. A. S.
973.
Goth, bai, baioihs ;
B

Probably

the

bd

GLOSSAR

(M. E. bo),is seen

V.

also in Latin

The E. both,
dfji-cpoj.
is
bo-the,
composed of

E.

M. E.

bo,and

the def. art. the

bottom:

A. S. breme, loud, keen ; M. E.

fierce. ' The Saxons fled,
breayn,

bothem, M. Du.
bodein.
Cf. bottom,a small valley,
Lat. fundus,and Gr. TrvO/xr]v.
A. S. buc,
Bouk, body : B 1S8S.
the body ; So.
biikr,
fused
ioz^^,trunk, body. Early conIcel.

belly;

with

room:

inner

biir, bower,

chamber

610.

muscle

It

(pi.brm/nes):

546, 1277.

Sc.

the

leg ;
of

lump

brand,calf

brdto,a pieceof flesh for

of

ing
roast-

a
lump
leg,flesh

of

In

M. E.

branch

of

to

often

the

Teutonic

or

F.

O. F.
350,
brahsema.

Breeth,

breath

bresme,O.

: A
5.
breed signifies
vapour,

H.

Thence

(Estus

the

by

swell

sestuary),
by

called

was

nations

the britn.

the whirl

After

meaning

between

land

to mean

any

the
and

border,

though in the expression fill

we
your glassesto the brim
still imagine to see the original
conceptionof the sea rushingor
pouring in toward the dry land.
"

"

In

Ger.

Greek

verb
in

The

whirlwind.

called

point

border-line

See Abrayde.
A. S.
B
1112.

Breed, bread : A 147.

bream
Breem, a fresh- water fish,
A

smoke

sea, it came

Kris, brede, breadth

A. S. brad, broad.

root

the
surge of the sea, where
seemed
to foam, to flame

same

brcedu,O.
from

was

and

209.

the

from

bhrimi, a

as

the

boar.

derived

Romans, namely

waves

branche.

Brayde, started.
Brede, breadth:

sea,

mean

pork.

brawne

the flesh of
signifies
a

originally
ocean]
kind of edge

E. brim

what

or

the

Braunch.e,

such
the

brae,

leg

is

Now

Ger.
braeye.Low
of flesh,calf of

writers

hat,the

such
to
flame, or
as
water,
bhrama, a whirlpool,or to air,

Cf.

braion,braoun,a
flesh; from O. H.G.

hibits
bkram, which, as
ought, exbh in Sanskrit,and means
to whirl
about, appliedto fire,
such
as
bhrama, the leaping

O. F.

; cf. Fris.

of

it

See Bresten.

M.E.brahun.

Eng. brawny;

brim

also

every
verge, but onlythe line which
separates the land from the sea.

written barst

means

or

; the pp.
was
brusten,
bursten,or borsten.
A. S. berstan ; Du. bersten ; Icel.

Braun,

say a
fillour

edge.''W^e
Now

[inM.

did not

578.

burst.

the

Brume.

brijn

What

'

"

to the

simply
speak of

(the pret. of bersten or

burst : C 398. It is
bresteti),

to
bresta,

followingcapital
nected
analogues con-

certain

on

Ger.

Lat.

Professor Max

roar.

Mliller has the

'*

Brast

sometimes

to

Cf.

115.)

p.

glassis brim fidl,or we

glassesto the brim,which

See Breke.

Bras, brass

(Hardyng,
fremo,

full britjie.'

were

this root :
is the Englishbrim ? We

Prov.

Eng. boor,a parlour.

Bowes,
boughs: B 2059.
Bracer, guard for the arm : Am.
Brak
broke
(the pret.of breke),

that

with

A. S.

12.

before

note

btdk.

inner

Bout,

fiercely,
furiously:B 841.

Breme,

A. S.

2S1.

See

551.

Brak.

(see

E.

botnie,M.

brak,brok
(pret.

: A
broke,ibrohen)

pp.

Murray).
Botme,

to break

Breke,

am-bo, Gr.
M.

21

A.S.

sense

smell.

we

have

derivative

phrimdssein,to toss about ;

Lat. fremo, chiefly
in the
of

ragingor roaring,and

perhapsfretido,to gnash,
P

are

A R K

GLOSS

312

In the Teutonic
akin to this root.
words
of
other
languages
different character
totally

back

be traced

the

to

whirl,
rolled

confused,

be

bramble, broom, "c.'

Science

the

on

Lectures

"

of

Language,

Series,pp. 217, 218.

Second

Welsh
C 420.
:
bran ; O. F. bren. Cf. Gael.
stink ; F. bren, ordure.

bren,

Bren, bran

Brende

burn:

to

Brenne,

A.S.

Du.

bernen,

have
M.

We

the

root in

same

Broche,

Brenning,

burning

pres.part. 1 142.
burnt:
Brent,

38

674.

115, 131.

See Brast.

Bretful,

of
the sense
clearer than
cf. Sw.
the etymology. 'But
brimfuil, with Sw.
br'dddfnll,
Skeat.
brim.'
a
Bretfid
br'ddd,
this word

brurdftd

=^

brim, which

to

420.

Of F.

order
religious
:

(young)bird.
speaks of *the

61.
So

A. S.

of

or

origin.

instrument,
stringed

organ.

citizen,
burgess:
from
burgeois,

A.

Lat.

369.
bnr-

gensis,a citizen ; F. bourg. It.

borgo,a city, Cf. Goth, baurgs,
A. S. biirh,
burg,Eng. borough.
burnished

Burned,

BI125.

briinir.

brid,

bird;^

an

Burgeys,

Shakespeare But,

cuckoo's

(of a song),a
accompaniment : A 673.

the bass of

O. F.

siftmeal
(corn),

See note, p. 166, O. F. bourdori,

drone of a bagpipe; Sp.bordon,

the

51

191.

brerd,brink,brim.
thers
brotherhood, broBretherhed,
Briddes, birds

burden

musical

A. S.

of

braided,woven:

to bolt

with

is connected

brauchen,
Cf. Goth.

burn.

Bulte,

is much

"

E.

Ger.

embroidery;B 1640.
Bulte, built : B 690,

that

iuW

of,enjoy.
brucan,O. H.

use

brown

Broyded,
Browding,

687, B 1306.

480.

the
A.S.

bruckan,

Burdoun,

Tyrwhitt says

: C

}ia?i, to

1752.

brimfuil:

A.S. brun;
: A 109.
It
whence
F.
brim.
Ger. braun,
is perhapsconnected with bren-

A.S. brer,

: B 1262.
Brest-plat, breast-plate
burst
to
brast,pp.
(pret.
Bresten,
hence
borsten,bnrsten),'B1122:
break in two, B 1753.
to-breste,

=:M.

to have

eat.
brook, use, enjoy,

brier.

Brest, bursteth
Brest, breast:

See Brede.

firebrand,burning log:

Broun,
briers:

brode),broad

to enjoy; and bruks,

ful,
usebrnhjan,
hzt.fnnffructus.

Brenne.

See Brood.

1481.

See

1159.

O. F.

See Breke.

broken.

155, 471, 549.

brook

160.

: A
Brode, broadly,plainly
739.

Brouke,
B

Ger.

B2166.

broad:

Ger.
sh.

brooch

A. S.

spit.

Brode,

706.

Breres,

556.
borstel ;

a
broche,Sp^^broche,
clasp. Cf.
tooth ;
Lat. brocchns,
a projecting
It. ftrocco,
a stump, peg; F.5roc/ze,

brim-%ione,

ardently:
fiercely,

Brenningly,

brennen,to burn.

Brond,

E. brenstone.

629.

burning stone,

"

Brooji, (def.form

1473.

to burn.
bro7ttijo?i,

Goth.

brenstone

Broke,

brennan,benian,M.

Ger.

Low

brimstone

byrst,bristle ; Du.
Borste.

See Brenne.

1567.

brei?i,

burnished, bright: B 1304.

(pp.brefid,brent),burnt :

Brend,

60.

i.

V.

Bristles, bristles

together,namely,

up

M. E.
from

to

be

to

IV.

bridde,a chicken.

ginal
ori-

same

Hen.

Brimstoon,

must

conception of bhravi,
to

By

unless:

and

582.

: B 153.
by, separately

Fr.

GLOSSAR

in

gab,jab, as

buying:

(perhapsfrom

calls the

Brunne

Druidical

Carpe,

Lat.

corolla,
Robert
oicorotid).

the diminutive
of

stones

of

circuit

karole.

talk,discourse

to

F.

1073.

: B

474.

Cf.

Portug.carpir,to cry, weep.

cart: B 1164,c 198.
Carte, chariot,

jabber.
gabble,
Bying,

dance

round

Carole
B

727. 'M-.'E.jape, ]oke, lie; F.

japper,to yelp. The root jap is
with

213

Carol,

By-cause, because : A 1 74.

B 718.
Byde, abide,remain:
befooled
deceived,
By-iaped,

connected

Y.

569.

Icel. kartr.

Carter, charioteer: b 1164.

Cas, case, condition,hap, chance
Caas,

condition,hap, A 585
(oflaw),
; pi.cases

case,

(EUes.MS.)
A

See Cas.

323.

Cacche,
A

catch

to

canghte):
(pret.

It. cacciare,O. F.

498.

cachier,

to catch ; F. ckasser,to drive out,

chase.

Caitif,wretched,

694, 859.

wretch:

It. cattivo

(Lat.cap-

wretch
a
a
titius),
captive,
A

came:

F.

210,
in the

(2)acknowledge,as

phrase can thank,' B 950 (F.

where tha?ik is a noun,
savoir ^re),
to

not

know

know;
The

A.S.

verb.

cun?iian,to

cnnnan,

enquire,

into ; Goth,
kunnan, to
Sw. knnna, to be able.

search
root

is

in
preserved

hen, a.\e-confier (an

aaming,

inspectorof

Cf. M. E. turn,
ill turn.''

cantle:

Catapuce,

'

Florio'sItal.Dict. has 'CatapJttia,

Catapuzza,the herb spurge.'

Catel, wealth, goods,valuable property
of any kind, chattels : A
O- ^- chatel,catel,a
373" 540of
moveable
piece
property,from
Lat.

whence
capitale,

talluni,the

captale,cain

sum
principal

capital).The

loan

(cf. Eng.
captalewas also appliedto
beasts of the farm, cattle.

Caytyves,

kant,edge.
cap, hood:

sorrow,

586.
grief, 463. A.

carcase:

1155.
; from

pi.of

S.

Celle,

F.
Lat.

caro.

Carf, carved (thepret. of kerve,to

A.S. ceorfan,
cut, carve): A 100.
O. Fris. lerva,to cut.
A. S. ceorl,
Carl, a churl : a 545.
Cf. Sc. carlin,
Icel. karl,
an
a man.
old woman
chirlish.
churl,
; Eng.

Caitif.

(seenote) ;
: C

Eng.

See Cacche.

329.

house:
religious

Centaure,
herb

Cf.

498.

caught cold.'

cell

charogne,It. carogna

took

Ceint, cincture,girdle:

Goth. hara.

Careyne,

Eng. 'an

speciesof
Cotgravehas
spurge :c 145.
Calapuce petite,
garden spurge.'

Dan.

cam,

cast.

255.

Caughte,

comer,

It is

plan, devise,
b 1314, 1996,

to

consider,suppose
c

vb. to

trick ;

Caste, Casten,

2150.
O. F. channel,chanieau,a corner,
a
lump. Cf. Icel. hantr,side;

Cappe,
Care,

the

with

Lat.

ales).
Cantel,

connected

"

'

and

O. F.

casse. It. cassa, Lat. capsa.

Cast, device, plot: b 16 10.

Catapus,

547.

Can, (i) know, knows,

922 ;

Avretched.

chH'if,
poor,
Cam,

66,

See Caas.
A 844, B 216.
Cas, case, quiver:b 1500.

172;

518.

centaury, the

name

of

143.

Ceroles, circles: b 1273.

Cerial, belongingto the speciesof
oak called Cerrus

(Lat.): B 1432.
It. Cerro, F. Cerre.
Cotgrave
'
oke.'
has
Cerre, the holme
"

See note.

Certein, Certeyn,

Certes,

car-

GLOSSAR

214
indeed
tain, certainly,

Y.

Chare, countenance, appearance,

375,

entertainment, cheer:

451,517.
:
Certeinly, Certeynly, certainly

728 ;
55.
countenance

204.

lead

Ceruce, white
Champartye,

630.

of land ;

share

O. H.

combat,

contest

Ger.

A. S. cempan,

Chapman,

merchant

See

Carl.

Chees, imp.

737, 756. A.S.

kiezen,O. H.
kiere?i,

Ger. chuisan,
to choose.

champh,

Cheventein,

:
chieftain,
captain

S^^

compass,

make

Chieftayn.
1697.
Chevisaunce,
gain, profit;also
for borrowing
an
agreement
282.
F. chevir, to
a
money:

cample,to talk,contend, argue ;

Ger. liampehi,
to debate, dispute.
a chaplain: A
164.
Chapeleyne,
a

139,

ceosan, Du.

tend
fight; O. Fris. hampa, to con; Prov. Eng. cmnp, a scuffle;

to

1601.

choose

to

sing,choose:

in power:
B 1091.
partnership
a champion : A
Champioun,
239.
A. S. camp,

churl:

Cherl,
Chase,

O. F. chere,chiere,
face,look.
; F, chere,

end,

an

to

come

agreement with ; achever,to

bring to an end, achieve (from

397.

an

ceapman. Cf. M, E. chafare,

chap-fare
; A. S. ceap, O. S. cop,
gain,
barO. H. Ger. chaiif,
Icel. kaiip,
A. S.

chef,head).
Cheyne,
Chiden,

chain

2130.

to chide (pret.chidde,
price (cf.Eng. dog-cheap,
pp.
S.
O.
A.
S.
A.S.
C
cidan, to
ceapian,
chid):
dirt-cheap)
531.
;
scold.
to buy ; O. H.
copon, Icel. kajipa,
Ger. chaufa?i,
F. chef,
to buy, sell.
Chief, chief: B 199.

Char, car, chariot:

;
char, Lat. carrus

ckarrier,to

1280.

F.

whence

F.

charger,to

carry;

It

phrase

matter

Chasteyn,
O. F.

it

were

in

as

chestnut-tree

weight,

: B

2064.

Lat. castaiiea.
chastaigne,

Chaunce, chance, hap : b 894. Ffrom cheoir,

chance,O. F. checuice,

Chaungen, to change : A 348.

for
Chaunterie, 'an endowment
the payment of a priestto sing

agreeablyto
of

There

were

Chantries

the

the

founder:

ment
appointA

510.
of these
thirty-five

established

Ghees

Parker
:

see

Soc.
Cheseu.

make
a

at

word
nutive,
dimiin

made

by

Cf. chuck, cht/cMe,

shrieking:B 1146.
signifiesto
noise like a bird,'
being
sb.

M.

E.

chirJte

form
parallel
of the
Cf.

birds.

A.

'

with

chirp,and

sound

made

by

S. cearcian,to
Prov.

creak,crash,gnash ;

Eng.

chirre,to chirp.
Chivaehye,
A

85.

:
expedition
military

See next

word.

knighthood,the

Chivalrye,
of
F.

knight:

from
chevalerie,

a
knight,

horseman

ners,
man-

valiant

and
exercises,

St.

served
Paul's, which were
by
Hist,
fifty-four
priests.Dugd.
pref.p. 41.' (Tyrwhitt.) See
Becon's 'Acts of Christ,'
p. 530.
"

birds.

Chirking,
The

chickeji is

of the sound

imitation
young
"c.

The

Heheri.

evidentlyformed

is

imitative

to fall ; Lat. cadere.

mass

Du.

of which
cocJi,

no

; (2) business of
for consideration.

burden

"

Chieftayn, a leader,chief : B 1697.

Chikne, a chicken : a 380. A.S.

charge.''
signifiesliterally
(i) load,
'

; Lat. caput.

cicen,M.

load, charge.
Charge, harm, B 426, 1429
the

head

45,

7,

ploits
ex-

20.

chevalier,a
; cheval ; It.

cavallo,Lat. cabalhts,a horse

M. E. capel,
a horse.
cable.,
Choys,

choice

426.

F. choisir.

GLOSSAR

to

from

choose,borrowed

tonic
Teu-

dialect ; cf.A. S. eyre, choice.

See Chese.
a chronicle :
Chronique,
Cite, Citee?,a city,B 81.

Lat.

ciuitatem.
kind of musical

ace.

Citole,

F.

chords

with

spices,

ment
instru-

It

613.

Clasped, Clapsed, clasped:

M. E.

a
clasp.
claps,

with

Cf.

M. E.

273.

It is

clippe,

to

nected
conbrace.
em-

Cleer,

coal-black,black
1284.

Cole,

coal:

A. wS. col;

1834.

as

Icel. kol, Ger. Kohle.

Colore, choler : c 126.

of, (having)collars of:

1294.

Col-fox,

crafty fox

395.

treaprefixcol-,deceitful,cherous,

The

INI. E.

col-

prophet;

col-

in

occurs

false

prophet,a

adj. clear, Clere,

knife ; colhiyfe,a
warde, deceitful, false.

170,

adj. clean,

: A
cleanly

pure

treacherous

adv.
O. F.

204.
cler,clear ; Lat. clarus.

ctdv.

133.

to cleanse:

631.

call, cry, say:

to

Colpons

Com,

Clennesse, cleanness,purity (of

: A
life)
506.
Clense,
Clepen,

try
(Coven-

to

clearly:A

Clone,

coal

gripe,grip,grasp.

M.Du.
clatter: B1501.
r
attle.
to clatter,
klateren,

Clatere,

clod.

Kocpivos,a basket.

Colors

also called Piment.

was

Cf. M. E. clowdys,clods

Col-blak,

afterwards
clear

strained tillit was

perhaps

Mysteries).

iioi.

and

clojid is

Eng.

allied to

chest : A 298. O. F.
cite, Cofre, coffer,
Gr.
Lat. cophimts,
F, coffre,
co/re,

Clarioun, clarion: B 1653.

Clarree, wine mixed with honey
and

for clottred.

clodded

uses

388.

2T5

Y.

pret.

672, B

imp.

come

321.

command

1.

201

671, B 497

/"/".come:

Come,

121,

came

260.
to command
: C
Comaimde,
commandment,
Comaundement,

Comen,
A

Culpons.

see

591.

common
commoners^
clypian, Communes,
620, 643. A. S. cleopian,
to chatter,
to call ; Ger. hlliffen,
people: B 1651.
circle : B 1031.
to
sound,
Compas,
babble; Du. Mappen,
pany
comCompainye,
strike. Cf. Sc. clep, prattle, Compaignye,
C
tattle ; Eng. clap-trap.
: A
173.
24,

Cleped, called : B 930.

of learning,
a student
Clerk, a man
at

the

University:A 2S5.O,

sociable:

F.

clerc.

Cloistre,
Cloke,

cloak

181.

157.
c

37S.

Du.
to
M.
lilotteren,
1887.
have
We
clotter,coagulate.
in clot and
root-syllable

clod

S. clot, clod ; Ger. Kloss, a

clod, a ball. Golding has ' a
A.

clottred clod

of

craft,contrivance

gossip,a

friend

near

670.

Complet,
complete: c 369.
to complain : B 50.
Corapleyne,

complaint: B 2004.
Compleynt,
A
Composieioun,
agreement :

Cloos, close,shut : C 512.

Clos, enclosure,yard; C 540.
Clothered
c/oif/reJ,clotted

the

52.

1138.

Compeer,

climbed, ascended

Clomben,

Compassing,
B

cloister:

companionable,

Compaignable,

seeds,'and

he

848.
Commune,
?m/?ze

As

common.

in

as
:

Condicionel,

condition
:

co-

monly
com-

393.
conditional

Condicioun,
Confort, comfort

in

common,

: c

773,

430.

38.

776.

2J6

GLOSSAR

confused,confounded

Confus,

1372.
Conne, know, be able. See Can.
Conscience, feeling,
pity: a 150.
counsel:

Conseil,

283, 289.

Conserve, to preserve :
1471.
O. F.
B
Contek, contest:
T145.

contek,strife.
have

I termed

all strife,
All quarrels,
contech, and

all

bryberes,and
Oppressions,

all

greedylife,
bet

than
The

Gascoigne,

"

of

Fruites

Warre,

st.

Contenaunce,

Contree,
*

sary,
opponent, adver-

an

1 00

216, B 355.
region

Gegendin German

that which

is before

what

forms

view.

Now

against
objectof our

the

the

or

gegen,

expressedby

be

and

Germans,

not

the Latin
at
once
recollecting
word
regio,took to translating
their idea of gegend,that which
before them, by contratum
was
This

contra.

terra

or

the Italian contrada,the

French
of

Science

guage,
Lan-

Series, p. 275.

Second

(Rather,Gegend

is

translation

top of

anything: A

A. S. copp, M.

Kopf,
Cope,
A. S.

Du.

Jiopp,Ger.

coat:

cf.

cup:

It.

260.
F.

cappa,

134.

A. S. cttppe

O. F.

worn

over

coat

which

upon

'The

1282.

the armorial

as

or

surcoat,

bearings,

personaldistinction
the

when

158,

wearing

armorial

chargedwith

were
b

of

usage

garment,

upper

in

flict,
con-

features

were

commenced
by the aventaile,
of
in
the
reign
possibly

concealed

John, but was

adopted before

not

generally

the

time

the

relates that

Gloucester

was

1 3 14, in

the

the

III

succeeded

the

by

of

latest fashion
of
worn

that
the

by

Latin

reign

surcoat

jupon,and

the

his

on

the

propriaearnia-

During

placeto

put
in

termed
insignia,

Edward

of

Earl

slain at Bannockof
consequence

burn,
his neglectingto

turae.

of

de la

Sir Thomas

III.

Henry
More

gave
this was

tabard, the

garment

which

heralds

Way,

of

in

ar-

the totype
prois still

and

suivants.
pur-

Prompt.

Parv.

(i) laid, (2) inlaid,

Couched,

coucher, O.
down

(fromLatin).
Corage, heart,spirit,
courage

sheep-

612.

ensigns of the wearer

usually embroidered :

trimmed:
a

103,
a

"

cloak, cape
cop

Cf.

cot.

cote.

top, summit.
a

cote, dove-cote.

554.

chappe.
Coppe,

hole,a

moriallydecorated, and

contrata.)

Cop,

Du.

translation togam

became

English country.'

contree, the
Max
Midler,

oi

888

1838.

or

in Latin

would
against,
contra;

means

a
recognised
originally
signified

it

corrupt:

to

Cosin, a cousin,kinsman : B 273.

Cotage, cottage, c 2. A. S. cot,

It is

country.

or

(Harl.MS.).
cut:
(pp. of lierve),

an

1.

country:

term, and

Cornunpe,

armour,
B

1058.
foe

2017,

:
corruptible

Cote-armure,

33.

countenance

Contrarie,

croAvn

Corrumpable,

Cote,

be [illgenere^no

warres.'

Coroune,

M.

cruell iarres,

To

from

O. F. cor age, F. courage,

Lat. cor, the heart.

Corven

therwithal

And

11,22.

2152.

"

Coude,

1303,
F.

2075.

culcher, to

F.

lay

(Lat.collocare).
(1) could, A 236, 326;

2l8

GLOSSAR

V.

sb.
*

dance:

The

D.

olde

game

Daliaunce, gossip: a 2 1 1
Dalyaunce, confabulacio,collocacio.
Dalyy7i or talkyn,fabulor,col*

loquor.' Prompt.

Parv.

Cf.

Daunger,
A

402

daunger

'

old

the

jurisdiction,

his

under

1344-

1343,

daunce

476.
dangerous situation :
In
B
liability,
991.

663. With
Swiss dalen, talen,to speak imperfectly, daunger v;'\\h.
O. F.
difficulty.
to
drawl.
wood,)
(Wedgdangier,dominion, subjection,
"

his control

: A

damsel

Damoysele,
Dampned,

Mid. Lat. damnum

difficulty
; from
torial
(i) a legalfine,(2) terri-

50.

condemned, doomed

Estre en son
jurisdiction.
danger to be in the danger of
'=

317.

Dan,

Lord,

Daun,

commonly given

prefixed

of persons
of all
Dan
Arcyte, Dan

e.

g.
"c.
Biirnel,

Dar, dare

title

monks

It is also

521, c 492.
the names
to
sorts,

was

to

Lat.

Dominus.

Darst
(2nd
293.
2S2.
Dorste, Durste

: A
pret.)

454.
to contest,

Darreyne,
decide

O. F.

751* 773-

desrenir,from

to answer
dtsrationare,
accusation, to settle or arrange
a
Shakespeare
controversy.

the word

uses

of

'

to make

Royal

'

in the

commanders,

be

in

readiness ;
of

thousand
thirty

in the

backing

towns,

of

they

along,
Proclaims him king,and

do

many

He

Hen.

67.
chose a place mete

11.
'

"

VI,

and

for twoo

darrayne battail.'

con-

armies

to

Hall's

"

Chronicle,xlvii.
Daun

Daiince,

see

Dan.

Daunse,

difficult,
sparing:

517-

Daunsinge,
to
Dawen,

daweth):

dancing: B 1343.
dawn
(3rd sing.
818.

62.

M.

dawn,
E.

dawning :

daive,
dags,
a

d(Bg, Goth,
A. S.

day ; A. S.
O. H. Ger.

dagian, to

dawn

dagung, dawning.
M.

E.

dairy:

597.

From

deye,a dairy-maid. See

332. Chaucer
the
daisy
eye of the day,
day'seye ; A. S. dcBgeseage.

Dayesye,

daisy: A

i. e.

as

Debonaire,

kind, gracious:

1424.
Dede, a deed

742.

O. Fris. dede, O. H.

2.

veniente

iv.

180.

I.

Daungerous,

defines

flyto him ;
Darraign your battle,for they
hand.'

"

Deye.

;
as

march

at

of Yen.

Merch.

not

Dayerye,

men,

Comes
Warwick,
the Duke
of York

are

"

tag ;

For, Avith a band

And

English:
wanderingguest doth stand
in dangerof his hoste.'
Golding'sOvid.
You stand within his danger,do
The

Daweninge,

sense

ready to fight.'

or

uncommon

in

fightout,

Lat. Mid.
an

power

of debt

sense

is not

to harm

you

by battle,darraign:

in the

Danger

'

(ist pers. sing,present

tense):
: B
sing.)

Cf.
any one, to be in his power.
'
in danger of the judgment.'

A. S.

deed,

Ger. tat.

pleasure,
delight: B 1319.
O. F. dedut,dsdtiit.
Deed
(pi.dede),dead: A 145, B
84, 147. A. S. dead, O. FrisDeduyt,

dad, ddth,O. II. Ger. toter,tuder,

vb.

to

dance,

dead.

GLOSSAR

deadly,death-like

Deedly,

: B

V.

Goth,

446.

1169, 1173.
dear, dearly:

connected

tauh.

Scotch

A.

Ger.

: B 964. A. S.
Dere, to hurt,injure
derian, O. H. Ger.
terraji, to

dowf, dull, flat ; M. E.

fool,
Eng. daf, daffe,
Prov.

Eng. daver,

harm, hurt, injure;A.

O. H.

to

; dover, to slumber.

stun

Deel,

part, bit

death:

Deeth,

A. S. dead, O.
Ger. iod.

: c

6of;, b 276.
Fris. ddth, O. H.

(1) a step, B

Degree,
rank

1032 : (2)
in life,A 40, B
F. degre,O.F. degrat;

station

or

5 7 2 5 76.
from Lat.
,

gradus,3. step.
Del, part, portion,whit : B

967,

Never
del
a
never
a
1233.
whit ; somdel, somewhat.
A. S.
dcel,a part ; A. S. dcelan,Icel.
=

divide ; Eng. dole.

have dealingswith

deila,to
Delen,

to

the Minstrel

247.

Delivere, quick, active,nimble :

A
84. F. delivre (Lat. liber,
active,nimble.
free),
Deliverly, quickly: c 596. Cf.

dig (pret.
del/,dalf,pp.
A
536. A. S. del/an,
Du. delven, to dig,bury. It is
probablyconnected with Du. del,
valley,hollow ; Eng. dell,dale.
Delyt, delight,pleasure
: A
335,
to

dolven):

82

delit,Lat. delectus ;
Lat. delectare,
to please.
to
Deme,
judge, decide, doom,
B

O.F.

deem:

suppose,

detnan, O. H.

judge ;

Ger.

A. S. dam,

A. S.

1023.

tuo7?ien, to
O. H.
Ger.

doom, judgment,sentence,

tuom,

decree.

stere,
Departe,

Cf. M.

judge.
to

E.

Despitous,

part,separate :

:
Departing, separation
B
:
Depe, deeply
1782.

and

Douglas.

to

angry

merciless:

excess,

cruel,

516, B 738.

malicious

Despyt,

anger,

tion:
vexa-

O.F.

83.

deipire(Lat.
to
despicere), despise; F. despit,
: Sp. decontempt ; It. dispetto
malice.
specho,displeasure,
B

Destreyne,

to

constrain

vex,

Mid.
F. distraindre,

597.

Lat.

distringere
(from Lat. stringere,
with, distrain.
to strain),
to be severe
District and
from

the

same

distress

are

source.

Destroye, to destroy: b 472. O.F.

destruir,F. detruire.
Desyr, desire: B 385.
See Deeth.

Deth.

Dette,
a

debt:

debt

; Lat.

bere,to

F.

280.

dette,

debitum, from

de-

owe.

Dettelees, free from debt: A 582.

Devoir, duty : B 1 740. F. devoir,

duty,trust

devoir, to

owe

; Lat.

debere.

Devys,

demere, dein-

See Dome.

dam,

Derk, Derke, dark : B 1 1 37. A. S.

deorc, dark.
darkness:
B
Derknesse,
593.
Cf. ^L E.
Derre, dearer: B 590.
herre,higher; ferre,further.
disdain : A 789.
Desdeyn,
Desiring, sb. desire: B 1064.

M. E. delivernesse,
agility.

Delve,

S.

Ger. tara, harm, injury.It

in the works
of Henry

occurs

See Del.

14.

deore,

dearth.

Cf.

Prov,

dastard

S.

whence

gadanbjan,

insensible.

376, 2242.
dear, precious;
darling(M. E. derling),

Dere,

It is probably

Goth,

with

harden, make

and

deaf,

daubs, daufs, O. H.

Ger.
tojtber,
to

A. S.

depicted:B
painted,

Depeynted,

55,

224.

Deef, deaf

219

opinion, decision,

tion:
direc-

8 16.

(i) to direct,order; (2)

relate,describe : A 34, B 136,

Devyse,

276.
1916.
B

to

190.

It.

imagine,
deviser,

to

divisare,
to

think,

to

discourse

O. F.

plan,order, dispose

GLOSSAR

220

of, discourse

Y.

hair hanging
Lat. tiisjim. Dischevele, with
loose : A 683. F. descheveler,
It. viso, view, opinion.
to

puttingin order,preparation
: B
1638.
female
servant, dairy-

Devysing,
Deye,
*

woman

; from

kneader

26.

Icel.

lit.
deigja,

dainty,a 168, c

table:

370,

1342.

high

Dais

1152.

dishearten

to

thrones
princes'

Discrecioun, discretion:
Discreet, discreet: c 51.
Disherited, disinherited :

state

Disioynt,

; also
seat of estate.'

or

with flourishes or
O. F.

1300.

to non-plus.
confire,
Disconfort, discomfort,misery:

1846.

or

Dispenee,
A

441,

difficult

failure :

(Cotgrave.) O. F. dais, deis

(Lat.discus).See note, p. 153.
diversified
Diapred, variegated,
B

desO.F.
150, 1861.
F.
from
deconjiture,deconjiture
;
B

Disconforten,

daiz,a cloth of estate,canopy or

the
heaven, that stands over
heads of
the whole

order ; F.
Lat. capilhis,

the hair.

15.

dais, platform,the

of

out

cheveux,pi.,from

: see
Dyen.
Deyne, to deign: C 361.
Deyntee, sh. a dainty,
rarity
; adj.

rare,

hair

feat
Disconfiture, DisconjB.tinge,de-

of bread.'

Deyeu

Deys,

put the

921.

2068.

situation,

2104.

expenditure:

expense,

1024.

:
Dispitousiy,
angrily,cruelly

:
sundryfigures

diaspre,diapre,

266.

Disport, sport,diversion: A 137,

variegated
; It. diaspro,a jasper
much
which
was
(Gr. taffms),
775. O. F. desport,F. deport,
used

ornamental

in

Chaucer

speaks

jewellery.

of

meadow

diaperedwith, flowers.

applied
witha

linen

to

It is

cloth

now

patternof diamond-shaped
*

Dich, a ditch : c 28. See Dyke.

See
diked:
B
Diched,
1030.
Dich, Dyke.
oi don),did:
(pret.
Gr.

of

mode
Siaira,

with reference
especially

Digestible, easy
A437Digestyves,
:

to

be

891.

diet, dailyfood:

From

to

435.

life,
food.

digested:

1663.

Doghtren,

thingsto help digestion

divine:

daughters:

1953.
9.

c
Doke, a duck:
570. M. Du.
duiken,O. H. Ger. tiihban,Ger.
to dive,plunge.
taticheti,

590. M. E.
doJi,O. Icel. dockr,a tail, Cf
'
docked of one's wages.'

Dokked,

Dome,

cut

short

: A

doom, decision,judgment,

opinion: A
Dominacioun,

323.

See Deme.

power,

control

1900.

141.

Dight, prepared,dressed : B 183.

A. S. dihtan,
dress,dispose; from
Lat. dictare.

Digne,

:
guessing,conjecture

Divyninge,
Divynistre,

pattern.

Diete,

229.

: c 418.
Disputisoun,
disputation
distinction
B
:
Divisioun,
922.

woven

and to church- walls when

figures,
the plain stone is carved in a

Dide

diversion,solace.
disporte,
guidance:
Disposicioun, control,
It.

(1) worthy, A

141 ;

proud, disdainful, 517.

digne.
Dim, dull,indistinct : B 1575.
A

(2)
F.

Doon,
Do, to do, cause,
make, take (pret.
dide,dede, pp.
do, don, doon): A 78, 268, 768,

Don,

84, 1047.
Dong, dung: A 530.
to dung, to
Donge,
B

216.

manure

Dore,

Ger.

door

A. S.

550.
Thor, Thiire.

Dorste

227,

Doseyn,

dozen

Doumb,

dumb:

98. See
: A
578.

GLOSSAR

Y.

durti,

Dronken,
Drope,

doute

of

Drugge,

doubt

adj.doubtless,without

Do-w^es,
Dragges,

drugs : A 426 (Harl.

MS.).
dragee,It. treggea,
Sp. dragea, Gr. rpayrj^ia (Mod.
Gr. Tpayaka), sweetmeats
; cf.
fruits
at dessert,
raw
TpojydXia,
sweetmeats, from Tpwyeiv,
See Drogges.
gnaw.

to

draw,

to

to

or

carry

16S9.
troubled

Drecched,

67.

irecken,
'

(by dreams) :

A. S. dreccan, M.
to

Dremyn

or

H.

Ger.

trouble, plague.
drecchyn yn slepe,

sompnio.' Prompt.Parv.
fear,dread

660.

To

Drede,
drede, to be feared.
Dredful, cautious,timid : b 621.
dream
a
: c 67,
Dreme,
Dreem,
S.
Fris.
O.
A.
dram,
dream,
109.
Ger. Tratan.
Cf. Sc. dram, drum,

dull; dnmible
be

: A

to
(Shakespeare),

sluggish.
to dream

Dremen,

dreams:

Dreminges,
Drenching,
Dresse, to

drowning:
set

in order:

country

moil, till and

idle drone.'
prodigal

of Mel.

See

Trench, English Past

Present,p. 196.

Dwelled,/!/',dwelt:

370.

deagian,to dye.
Dyete.

See Diete.
dikes
to make

or

ditches

fromLat.
to

toward

direct.

dry: b 2166.
drowned
Dreynt
:
(pp.oi drenche")
M.
E.
Cf.
262.
C
queynt,quenched
,

clenched, "c.
cleyiit,

Drogges,

drugs:

426.

See

Dragges.
Dronken,

E.

Ecclesiaste, an
: A
708.

like.

ecclesiastical person
: a

39,

369. A

S.

"k,ever,

Cf. M. E.

ge, and //c,

iwhere, where.
every-

135,

637.

: A

820.

5, 41.
A, S. ec, eac ; Goth, auk, also ;
A. S. eca7i, to increase,
eke.
B

Eft,

190,

again:

ete, imp. eat :

See Ete.
811.
Cf. M. E. efteat

147.
b

eftsones,
afterwards,presently;
A.S. eft.
Eir, air,B 388.
sone,

age, old age : B 1589, 1590.

A. S. eald,old ; yldo, age.

Elde,
pp. drunk:

die, O. Fris. dik,

536.
M. H. Ger. tick,a ditch.
Dys, dice : B 380.

Eet, ate, did

Dreye,

A. S.

106, b

place;
directus,
-pp. oidirigere,
turn

diamonds
: B 12S9.
Dyamavuits,
die:
Icel.
to
B
Dyen,
deyja.
251.
a
Dyere,
dyer: a 362. A. S.

736. O.

address,to

and

Dure, to endure, last: b 191 2.

Dusked, pt.pi.,grew dark or dim
B 1948, Sw. dusk, dark,dull.
Dwelle, to tarry : B 803.

F. dresser,
to straighten, Echon,
Echoon, each one
eke :
direct,fashion ; It. drizzare, to
Eek, also,moreover,
1

p. 35.

leader,duke : B 2. F. due,
Lat. dux, from ducere,to lead.

"hlc; from

1598.

see]

Ech, Eche, each

109.
C 270.

Icel.

Dyke,

"

to

[To

Burton's Anat.

Duk,

1104.

or

131.

to do laborious

toil and

drudge for
"

O. F.

Drawe,

'

colone

973.
doves:

820.
A. S.

55,8. Ir. drugaire,a

slave.

doubt,

: a

droop.
dmdge,

to

work:

doubtless.

Douteles,

drooped: A 107.

drupa, to

without

"

drop:

Drouped,

Doun, down : B 245.

Doute, doubt, fear : A 487, li 283.
Out

pi.pret.,drunk
a

dropa.

Dar.

774.

221

GLOSSAR

2%'X

else:

EUes,
O. H.

Ger.

el- in

A.S.

375.

elles,

(A. S.

elles,alles.

compositionsignifies
foreign.Cf. Gr. dWos,

other,
an-

Lat.

alius,

the

to

of,

extent

A.S.

1377.

89.

even

in

em-

"

1602.
.

1682.

: B

cf. F.
F.

enterprise
undertaking,

an

O. F.

to
entreprendre,

incense

508.

It is sometimes

written

encombrer,

to

hinder, trouble, grieve,annoy.

Jiommer, trouble; Ger.

1326.

to increase:

Encresen,

457.

1820.

I133,

entlang.
who

Endyte,
B

19 18.

the death

causes

to endure:

Enduren,

161.

dictate,relate:

to

95,

522.

Engendred,
produced: A 4.
tortured,racked: c 240.
Engyned,
O. F. engirt,
contrivance, craft,
an

of

instrument

torture,

war,

"c.

Formed

to

from

Enhorte,

to

have

We

to

Enoynt,
Ensample,
Entente,

raise:

Lat.

708.

776.

"r

Erthe, earth

encourage

has

1993.

example

given

1993.
A

496.

intention, purpose
:

123.

Du.

er^isten,

than,before that :
before; erst
first,

: b

388. A. S. eorde,

shiev, oblique,

:
ease
amusement,
Ese, pleasure,
F,
ease.
aise,
opportunity,
768.
Esed, entertained,accommodated

See below.

29.

Esen, to entertain : B 1336.

Esily, easily: A 469.
to see, discover : b 254,
Espye,
;
epier; It. spiare
espier,
Ger. spcihen.
Est, east, B 1743 ; estward,B 1035.

F.

562.

Estat, estate, state, condition

203, 522.

dignified
Estatlich, Estatly, stately,
140, 281.
inward
Estres,the
partsof
A

1113.

ing
build-

O. F. estre,state,^

plan.
A

223 ;

moderate, 441.

See Eet.
Ete, to eat : c 593.
eternal:
B
Eterne,
251, 1132.
Evel, evil. Evele, badly : B 269.
Everich, every, A 241 ; every one,
A

371,

Everich

intoned

ear,

er

Dan.

hearten,Esy, easy,
dis-

2103.
:

A.S.

Ger. Erde.

:
:

enhorte

encourage
anointed:

an

664.

Eschaunge,
exchange : a 278.
Eschue, to avoid, shun: B 2185.
O. F. eschever,It. schivare, to

ante.

142.

Entuned,

576.

and
discoiirage
but

way

for

than,

Enhauncen,

auso,

Erly, early:A 33, 809. A. S. cer,

before, ere; ckrlice,
early.
Ernest, earnest : B 267,268. A. S.

one
Endere,
of another

556,

eare, Goth,

a-skew.

lengthways,along
A. S. andlang,Ger.

Endelong,

eren.

ears:

avoid;

hitntner, trouble, grief.

Encres,

erian, Du.

Eres,

Erst

1571.

sb. increase:

plough,ear : B 28. Earing

in our
Eng. Bible. A.S.

earnest, earnest; M.

Cf. Du.

Ere, to

to endeavour.

(i) wearied, tired,

860; (2) troubled, in danger,
O. F.

182, 297.
archdeacon's

undertake

Encombred,

acotnbred.

empreiidre;

an
eritreprise,
enterprise.

EncenSj

wine

with

342.

Er, ere, before:

Erchedeknes,

is used

signifies
even, equal;
composition
for
short
efn efeti.
being
B
Empoysoning,
poisoning:
Empryse,

stored

Envyned,

658.

embroidered

Embrouded,
Emforth,
with:

other.)

V.

1269.

a, every, each

Everichon,

every

one

:
: A

733.
31, 747.

GLOSSAR

yew-tree : B 2065.
Expounede,
expounded :
Ew,

fcEge?i,M.
fawen, glad,fain.

295.

A. S. cBg, pi.
25.
egg:
E.
eyreii); hence Eng.
cpgru (M.
c

an

eyry.

152, 267. O. Merc.

A. S. ^cige^
pi.
ege, pi. egen;

Eyen,

eyes ;

eagan.

Eyle,

to ail : b

223

A. S.

Ey,

V.

223.

Fedde, pret. fed :

Fee, money, reward

E,

fayn, also

146.

945. A. S.
feoh, Icel. fe, Lat. pecus, cattle,
: B

property, money.
Feeld, a field : B 28. A. S.feld,
O. Fris. feld,Ger. Feld, the open
country. (Home Tooke is wrong
in

connectingit

the

with

verb

tofell.)

father

Fader,

fader

100;

sing.

gen.

781. (The gen. sing,

in A. S. \N3iS feeder,not fcedres.)
:

fathoms
: B
Fadme,
2058.
Fair, adj. beautiful, fair, good ;
Faire, adv. gracefully,
well,

neatly:A

94, 124, 273.

Fairnesse, (i) beauty,B 240

honesty of life,A 519.
Falding,

of

sort

(2)

cloth

coarse

cruelty,

Ger.falb,pale,faded, yellow.
Famulier, familiar,homely : A
215.

treason

offence

proceeding,affair:

Fare,
pp.
Faren
59.

Faren,
Faren,
:

A.

to

951.
ceeding,
pro-

bustle,ado.

movement,

proceed;

go,

pi.

Fare,

pres.

403, 407, 537, 1578,

S.faran, to go, pret.
The

fellow

cut down
Feld, felled,
Felle

see

Felonye,

English
poros,

Fer,

Greek

Welfare, wohlfahrt,
passage.
would be Greek euporia,
opposed
aporia,helplessness.
stuffed:

M.

233.

E.

farce, to stuff ; F. farcir, La^t.

farcire(farsum),to stuff.
B 618, 830.
Faste, near:

(alsofaght),fought:

far

glad, gladly:

766.

2c66.

See Feend.

388, 491, B 992.

(^Comp.ferre : B 1202, superl.
far;
ferre:t: A 494). A. S./"?or,
O. Fris./i?r.
:

Ferde, (ii went, proceeded;(2)

acted, B 154 ; -pi.
ferde n, B 789.

S.feran, to go.
Fere, fear, terror :
A.S.fcer.
A.

Fered,

399-

duct
concrime, disgraceful
See
Fel.
1138.

Fend, fiend.

the

Fel.

allied to

Fayn,

650. Also
syllable/(? fee,
:

well,*is

'

Faught

his estate.

felaghe. The
goods, and /""/ order,law. Cf.
Icel. felagi,
a fellow,a sharer in
goods ; Icel. fe, money, goods ;
and lag,order, society.
: a
Felawshipe,
fellowship
32.

for, pp. gefaren.

fare thee
to fare, in

Farsed,

by a
lord,whereby

againsthis
he is worthy to lose
i^Cotgrave.)
Felawe,

such

;
any
committed

"

A.S.faru, Icel. for, course,

to

vassal

Lat. /n/s7/s.
Fals, false : b 295.
Falwe,
B
pale: 506. A.S. falwe,

Fend,

heinous

See note, p. 155.

391.
befall
Falle,
: A
585.
A

Fare,

fiend,devil : c
466. A, S. feond, Ger. Feind,
fiend : orig.pres. pt.
an
enemy,
of A. S. fcon, to hate.
Feith, faith, c
Anglo593.
French
feid, fei, F. foi, Lat.
fides. See Fey.
Fel, voc.
Felle, cruel, fierce : B
A. S. fel, M.Du.
701, 1772.
fel,O. F, fel,cruel,fierce ; O. F.
felon,cruel;O. Y.felonie,
anger,
Feend,

F.

566.

475,

i486.

frightened,terrified :
See

Aferd.

GLOSS

224
Ferforthly,

far forth:

Fermacie,

medicine,pharmacy

AR

p.

See

rent.

distant

See

14.

note,

farther

Ferrer,

48,

835A 36.
Ferther, further,
fourth
Ferthing,
farthing,

hence

very

part ;

portionof

small

anything: A 134, 255.

Feste,

Flete,

feast:

Lat.

25.

Feste, to feast : b 1335.

Festne, to fasten : a 195.
Fet, fetched, brought: A 819, B
M. Du. vatten,
1669.A. S./etian,

312.

147.

O. H.
S.fleotan,

Get.

1539.

fiiozan,

flow, float,swim; whence

float.
Eng.fleet,
: B 1098.
Fleting, floating
Flex, flax : A 676. A. S. fleax.
to

fur of a hare (Dryden);

Cf.flix,
of rabbits.
Prov. Fng.fleck,
down

The

A. S.

been

had

verb

flax-foteweh"

that there

footed,so

festum.

float,swim:

to

A. S.

296.

Flatour, flatterer : c 505.

flee from : B
Flee, to flee,

A.

p. 129.

Ferre,

JiSele
;

vittda.
L,zt.fidnla,

Mid.

meat
Flesh, flesh,

F. ferme.

146.

Feme,

to 1. 252,

note

fiddle

Fithele,

102.

1855.

Ferme,

V.

have

must

correspondingto

Icel.fletta,
to

weave.

flew : c 352.
Fley (pret.
oifle),
B
Flikeringe,
fluttering:
1104.
A. S.

to flicker ; Ger.
flicerian,
to flare.
flackern,
Fether, a feather: a 107. 'The
would
spond
correFlotery, wavy, flowing: B 2025.
English feather
to a Sanskrit pattra, and
(Tyrwhittrenders it floating.')
this means
the wing of a bird,
Flotery herd a. long, flowing
beard.
In EarlyEng. Alliteraof flying,
tive
i, e. the instrument
find the phrase
and tra.
As to
Poems
from pat, to fly,
we
the same
from
flotyvalez (vales),where floty
penna, it comes
to fetch.

root, but is formed with another

suffix. It would
be a Sanskrit
pesna

patana,
Latin.'
of

and

in

penria

Miiller,Science
Language, Second Series,p.
Max

221.

Fetis, neat, well-made:

O.

157.

well{La.t.
factichis),
V.faictis
neat, /en/,from

made,

O.

Y.faire;

hat.facere.

neatly,properly:

Fetisly,

124.
fetters

Fettres,

legs)

421.

Fey, faith :
to
Feyne,
O. F.

(forthe feet and

268.

feign:

705,

F .feindre,
to
feipier,

736.
feign;

to form.
'La.t.fingere,

740, 10S7. O. F.
Lat.
ferns.
Jiers;
fell: A 845.
Fil (pret.of fa Ile?i),
B
Fillen,pi.; 91. Fille. might
A 131.
fall,

Fiers, fierce :

has
A. S.

the

sense

of

to
floterian,

borne

on

waves.

streaming.
to be
flutter,
Ger.

flotern,

to flutter.
flutern,

Flough, 2nd p. pret.flew :

Flour, flower : a 4, b 124.

pret.pi.flew

Flo wen,

411.

571.

playing on a flute : A
F. flahiite,
flante,F.

Floytinge,
91.

O.

flute,a flute ; cf. O. F. flagoler,

to pipe,whence flageolet.
Folk, people: A 25,
Folwe, to follow: B 1509.
"
B
:
Foray, foamy, foaming
1648,
Fond, found, providedfor : C 9.
Foo, Fo, foe,enemy
: A 63. A. S.

fa, enemy.

See Fend,

foam : B 801.
A. S.fhfi.
Foom,
For, (i)because, A 443 ; (2)'for
B 1162.
al,'notwithstanding,

For, for fear of, against:

297.
Forbere,

to

forbear:

27.

276,

226

GLOSSAR

Fumetere,
c

of

name

havingteeth far apart,

hence, perhaps,lascivious : A

tory
fumiplant,

Gattothed,

143.

Fyled, cut, filed smooth : B 1294.

Fyn, fine : B 614.
Fynde, to invent,provide: A 736.
Fyry,
Fyr, fire : B 2084, 2093.

fiery

red

Fyr-reed,

Du.

468.

gat,

sometimes

as

fire :

make

to

Euphues,
G.

Gaude

root

Gadre, to
Galingale,

have the

We

gabh,a jest.

same

gabble,gibberish.
gather: A 824.
in

sweet

A. S,

gamen,

sport,play; A. S.

948.

Fris.

O.

381.

: a

cyperus

sport
pleasure,

Game,

game,

gamenian,

to

sport.

Gamed,

impers.pleased:

verb,

534-

(pt.t. of gimien)is used

Gan

mood-auxiliary,

e.

as

es^pye
682.

g. gan

did see,

B 254 ; began, B
wide
having the mouth
S.
A.
B
11
gaping:
50.
open,
geapian,Icel. gapa, Ger. gaffeji,
to stare (i.
e. with
open mouth).
=

Gaping,

Gaip
same

is from

(for gap-s)
Cf. M.

root.

E.

the

gorge,

781.

throat:

F.

515.
throat ; It. gorgo,

gurgle;

Ger.

throat.

See note.

Garleek,

Gurgel,the gullet,

laughe.' Lyly's
Arber, p, 116.

"

from
spearplant,

634

the

A. S.

light

gaoler: b 206. From

Anglo-F. gaole,It. gaiola,Sp.
gayola,a cage.
a

Gayne,

to

avail:

gegna,

to

meet,

to

aid ; Icel.

gegji,
whence

A.

S._gegn,

against;

jmgainly.
beryls,

Gaytres

berries

Gastly,

horrible:

Agast.
Gat, got, obtained

11

26.

See

tree, A. S.

Leechdoms,

Gees, geese :
Gentil, noble

703, 704.

the

571.

ii. 86.

72.

nobleness
Gentilesse, gentleness,

C476.
Gere,

habit

manner,

Gere,

gear,

all

sorts

514, 673.
of instruments,

tools, utensils,
armour,
A

158,
clothing;
; cf. Eng.
B

352,

A. S. gearwe,

1322.

prepare

yare.

Gerful, changeable:

Ste

680.

196.

Gery,
a

garland:

F.
593.
garner
corn-loft
; grene,
grenier,
garner,

Gerner,

grain. (Cotgrave.)
B 678.

deem, suppose,
Du.
guess: A 82, 118.
Sw. gissa,Dan. gisse,
to
to

think,

gissen,
believe,

suppose.

Gete,
a

of

Cornjis sangtnnea :
dogwood-tree,
A. S. gnte-treow,cornelC 145.

Gesse,

charlock.
(M. E. hemlick),
Gaste, to terrify.See Agast.

Icel.

318.

other

lock
hem-

Reg.

P- 452.

Gayler,

Gery, changeable:

as
plants,

and

"

gar,
herb, plant,leek.
spear, leac,an
have the second
We
element in
of

green
hit

'Colour

1221.

gaude grene.^ Ord.

Gerland,

garlick, A

names

jest,

merry

ed.

gearwian, to
the

gagge-

her

apparel,fashion
Icel. gap,

gap-

Gargat,

some

grene,

colour:

galping,

gaping.
Gappe, gap

be

See note.

lie : c
to
246. A. S.
Gabbe,
Icel.
gahbati,
gabha,to lie,jest;
Icel.

signifies

If shee

'

is

It

and
gaptothed,
projecting

written

toothed,tell hir

624.

hole.

\\Q.\mg
g ag toothed
also
which
teeth,
lascivious.

706.

V.

to

291.

get, obtain,pp. geten :

AR

GLOSS

or
fitting

Gigginge,

providing
1646. Godefroy
straps
a strap
givesO. F. guige,guigitc,
for hanging a buckler over
the
with

handle

shoulder,a

of

Cotgrave gives the

the handles of
giiiges,
'

shield.

fern.

pi.

targuet

shield.'

or

Gilt, guilt:B 907, c 553.

Giltelees, free from guilt,guiltless
B

jingle:A 170.

to

short

cassock

75,

1262.

227
shone, B
(pi.pret.),

den

Gon,

Go,

gon,

a pouch or
purse : A 357.
a pouch ; from O. F.
gibeciere,
See Scheler.
a bunch.
gibbe,
: A
Girdel, girdle
358.
Girles, young
people, whether

F.

gor,

female

664.

: A

Low

G.

goes:

devour

food,gober,to

; cf. Prov.

Eng. gob,Gael, gob,the mouth

gabble,"c.
gobble,
:
Godhede,
godhead, divinity
Guide,

or

called
O. F.

also

flower

hmisol

throat

lieth

ycut he

roars,

1.

800.

he

Mid.
lance

107

(pi.of gan),began^ did

Goot, a goat :
Goune, a gown

along.

His entrails with

See note.

Goost,

"

monly
com-

by

so called
goude, marigold,
from its goldencolour. See note.
Goliardeys, a buffoon : A 560.

through,is used
pierced
With

1523-

Girt, pp. girded,girt: A 329.

Good, property, goods :
B
:
Girt, pierced
152. Thm-gh-girt, Goon, to go : A 12, 377

'

450,

213,

Goon

Gonne

child.

Grimoald

598.
(pi.),
go: A 771, c 32.
Gobet, piece,
morsel,fragment: A
O.
F.
696.
gobet,a morsel of
Goth,

771.

Golde,

or

(pp. go,

Goon
go, walk

Goo,

goon),to

Gipser,

male

1274.

See Gleed.

whence

454.

Ginglen,
Gipoun,

Y.

: A
ghost,spirit

581.

Go.

see

205.

688.

: A

93. It. gon?ta,

Lat. giuia, gonna.

throughby

trol,
Governaunce,
management, conof
affairs,
gyrded
management
business matters
: A
Surrey,"c,, p. 215, ed. Bell.
281, B 455,
The M. 'E.girde,
tuous
viror gride,
self-control,
signifies C 45. Also
a

quite.' Poems
"

and
strike,

also to

nected
may be conE. yard (as in yardmeasure),A, S. gyrd, Du. garde,

with

Ger.

Gerte,a rod.
Gladdere, adj.more
glad,B 2193.
Gladen,to

console,gladden:
B1979.
who
makes
one
glad,

Gladere, sb.

1365Glaring, staring(likethe eyes of

the harej: A 684. Norse glora,
B

to stare.

Glede, alive coal,gleed: B 1139.

A.S. gled,Du. gloed. Cf. Icel.
; glod,a live
gloa,to burn,^/ozf
coal ;

Ger.

gViihen,to

glow ;

gluth,hot coals.
Gliteren,

to

shine : B 2032.
glitter,
glitter.
glow, shine ; Glowe-

to

growethafter [according

Grace

to].goveniafice
Is

an

old said

saw

in each

place.'

(Becon.)
control

Governing,

Graunte,

599.

grant, permission:

448.
Graurite,

to

grant,

consent

to

786.
Grannting, consent, grant: B1581.
Grece, grease : A 135.
B
Gree, the prize,superiority,

1875.

See note.

Greet,
(def.form and pi.
greete, grete), great (comp.
Gret

: A 84,
superl.gretteste)
gretter,
120, 137, 197; B 5, 218, 1271.
Grene, green : A 103. A. S. grene.

Icel. glitra,
to

Glowen,

conduct

Q 2

228

GLOSSARY.

Greve,

angry,

Greve,

grieve. Agreved,

to

1199-

grove

is used

by

637. This

form

663,

135,

Ger. Weise,
fashion.

bethan
of the Eliza-

some

grain:

Griffoun,

Grim,

H.

596.

Haberdassher,

: B
griffin
1275.

fierce:

furious
fierce,

1661. A.S.
;

Du.

grimrn,

grimmen, to

snarl ; It.

grima, wrinkled ; F.
grimace, wry mouth, grhnace.
a

36 1.

M. E.

;
terrify.

grise,agrise,
to dread,fear ;
agrisan,
Du. grijsen,
Prov. Eng. gryze,
snarl,grind the teeth.
to

A.S.

M.
to

Gronen, to groan : c 66 ; Groning, groaning:C 87. A.S. grdnto groan, murmur.

iafi,
Grope,

to

try, test

644.

It

seller of hats

'

The Haber dasher hea-i^tth

by /mWes;'Gascoigne,The

wealth

of Warre

Fruites

64.

; st.

See

note.

Habergeoun,

Grisly, horrible,dreadful,B 505

from

guise,

Eng. ivise,mode,

poets.
Greyn,

F.

350.

small

261.

Ger.
a

diminutive

of mail

coat

O. F.

berk,
hau: A

76,

O. H.
haiiberc,

halsberc, A. S. healsbeorg,

heals,the

of mail ; from

coat

neck,

and

beorgan,

to

cover

or

protect.
Hade
A

M.

E. havede

had
(sing.),

554-

Du.
Hakke, to hack : B 2007.
Ger.
to
cut
halihen,
hacken,
up,

to feel with
signifies
originally
the hands, to grope (A. S. grdpchop ; Dan. hak-ke,to peck ; F.
Icel.
cf
ian,
hacher,to mince ; whence
Eng.
greipa;
grabble,
hash,hatchet.
grip,grasp, "c.); hence to probe
saints : A 14. A. S. hnlga,
a
Halwes,
woimd, to test, put to the
saint
a
proof
(as in All Hallows'
Grote, a groat : C 138.
E'en'): from hdl,whole.
ing,
a hammer
Hamer,
Groyning, grumbling, murmur: B
1650.
'

discontent

1602.

O. F.

'H.Q.Vi.

F. grogner,
grognir (Godefroy),
to grunt, murmur,
grumble.

Happe,

haven,

have

to

224.

happen,befall

585.
haps,
happy, mis-hap, -perM.
E.
to
Grucchen,
happeti,
grumble,
may-hap.
murmur,
grudge: B 2187. F. groticher,
happy ; Icel. happ,fortune,luck.
Gr.
to murmur.
: a
15^.
Hardily, certainly
ypv^eiv,to
boldness
mutter.
B 1090.
:
murmur,
Hardinesse,
with
face
the
taken
flat to
Haried, harried,
as a prisonGruf,
ground :
er
to

Whence

91 ; whence
grovel. M. E.

1868. F. harier,to hurry,

: B
Eng. grovelling,
harass,molest (Cotgrave).
grnfgrovelinges,
not
Harlot:
A 647. This term
was
linges,Icel. grufa, to stoop
down.
lie
confined
to
to
to
a
nor
even
females,
Liggja
grvfu,
with the nose
the
of
bad
character.
It
to
ground.
persons
Grys, fur of the gray squirrelor
signifies
.(i)a young
person ;
rabbit: A 194.
(2)a person of low birth ; (3)a
660.
Gulty, guilty
: A
given to low conduct j
person
ribald.
Gye, to guide:B 1092. O.Y.gjiier,
a
(4)
F. gJiider.
Harlotryes, ribaldries : A 561.
Gyle, deceit : B 1738. O. F. guile, Harneised,
equipped : A 114.
B

deceit,from

the

O. H.

G. form

cognate with E. wile.

Gryse, guise,fashion,mode, wise.

Harneys,
harness:

gear, furniture,
O. F.
148, 755.

armour,
B

all
F. harnois,
harneis,

manner

of

GLOSS

A R V.

229

harness, equipage, furniture ;

Hem,

Ger. Hartiisch,armour.

Hemself,
Hemselve,

Harre,a
hinge: A 550heorr, M. E. herre, a

A. S. hear,

harro, a cry for

Hauberk,

of mail

coat

18.

themseh^es

396.

selves.
them-

Hemselven,

hinge.

Harrow,
cry of distress : C 225.
O. F. harau, hare!
Crier haro
make
hue
and
to
s?er,
cry after.
O. H, Ger. haren, to cry out ;
a

Scottish

them

help.
1573.

(pret.of honge) hanged

160, 358 ; pi.henge, A 677.
hence : B 1498. M.
Henne,

Heng

hefines, hens.
form

is

Hente,

Henten,

seize,take

of,get

he?ite,B 442 ; pp. hent,

kanfer, to frequent.
Hede, head : A 198, 455.
S.

A.
head

hoo/d,

henfod, M. Du.
side
haffet,

; Scottish

of the

head.

Heeld, held : A 337. A. S. Mold.

Heep,
heap, assembly, h6st : A
A.

575.

S.

heap, Ger.

heap, band, crowd.

'
a heepof houndes;'
of armed

M.

E.

keep,a band

men.

here

Hear,

Haiife,

Cf

933.

heathen,hoyden (M. Du.

heyden, a clown, rustic).

S.

of the word

in

Hegge, a hedge:
398.
hegge,a bush, shrub,hedge. We
other forms
in

(A.S.

the

local

Hays,

name

hege,a hedge);
high,

health

Hele,

whole

Heled,
S.

A.

prov.

207

great, 940.

hidden,

kept secret,

helan, to

cover,

hdl,

haren,to shout.

Herbergage,

ing,
lodg-

Herberwe,

inn, harbour : A 403, 765,

A. S. here,an army, and
C 169.
A
heorgan,to protect,defend.
'

for the ship.'

good harboro7igh
Hakluyt'sVoyages, iii.p. 35.
"

haired

Herd,

1660.

herd, keeper of cattle,a

Herde,
A
603. A.S. hyrde,
sh."Y"he7-d:
a
keeper,guardian; Ger. Hirte,
herdsman
a
; Icel. hirda,to keep

guard.
Here, to hear: A 169, 0*432.
See Heer.
Heres, hairs : a 555.
listen :
to
hearken,
Herknen,
hark,

668, 985, 1674.

hart

831.

Herte, heart : A 150.

Herteles, without heart,cowardly:
88.

cover,

; ct".G.

Hulle,

help off,get

halp,pp. holpen):
(pret.

'

the

as

ensiformis.''
cartilago
He

that undoes

him

(the

deer),
Doth

cleave the

brisket-bone,
upon
the spoon
Of which
a little gristle
grows.'
Sad

rid of

632.

Tyrwhitt explainsit

part of the breast,

lower
the
ribs unite with

where

concave

'

235.
conceal ;

Eng. hele, hill,to

of, to

B1748. The provincial

the
heart-spoonsignifies

Herte-spoon

the

cover.

Helpen

Ger.

navel.
B

A. S.
413.
health.
hdin,
;
:

htdl,cod of pease
a

46. (Pret.
B
723.)

herald:
Heraud,
B 159, 1675.
a
F. heraidd, heraul, from O. H.

Broken

'

hayes'(Oxford).
Heigh,

A 762.
(A.S. haga, a hedge), Hertely, heartily:

haw-thorn

and

698 ;

A. S. hen tan.

Hert,
A.

have

299,

hold

Heer, hair: A 589, B 1285. A. S.

hccr,her.
A. S.
Heetb, a heath : A 6, 606.
Goth,
heath
h""3,
haithi,the
;
country ; Icel. heidr, a
open
^^"aste ; Ger.
Heide, a heath ;
whence

E.

modern

more

(i) an abode, (2)custom,

F.
practice,skill : A 447.

Heed,

hence.

our

See Habergeon.

Haunt,

Hest,

Shepherd,act

command,

behe"t :

i. sc.
b

6.

1674.

GLOSSAR

230
A. S.

his horse

command.

Hete,

promise;

A.S.

1540.

Hold,

Icel. heita,
hdtan, O. Sax. hetati,
to call,promise.
Hethen,

heathen

66.

countryinbabited
Hethenesse,
distinction
heathens,
the
A 49 ; in contraby
the

Heve,

heave, raise

to

550.

to liftoff (pret.
haf,hof:

Heve

of^

Eng.

hove).A. S.

hebban,O. Fris.

heva, to heave, lift.

heavenly: b 197.
Hevenly,
He'we, colour, complexion,h^ie :
for
coloms
B
506. Hewes,

painting:b

cut:

to

esteemed, held,

wood, grove : A 6. A. S.
holt,O. H. Ger. holz, a wood.
Holt is still used in some
parts

Holt,

England for an
placeof trees, as

A. S. heh.

highly.

orchard

of

an
cherry-holt,

tion
planta-

nut-holt,

holt,as

any

or

It occurs
osier-holt,gooseberry-holt.

high,

Heyh,

See

18.

as
frequently

Heygh,

Heye,

832,

141,

Helpen.

is called

A.S.

564.

helped:

Holpen,

Ger. hmien.

heawan,

Hey,

hold,custody,hold ; A. S. healdan, haldan, to hold, retain.

beholden,b 449 ;
Holde, Holden,

coloured: C49. See Hew.

Hewed,
Hewen,

stop.

in hold,'in possession,
tody:
cusIcel.
A. S. ge-heald,
c 54.

'

In Norfolk
apple-holt.

A.S.hiw.

1230.

to

1861.

Christendom.

to

carter'sT^^oa / to

Cf. the

1675.

hdtan,to
a hest,from
h"ks,

to

Y.

local
near

Holt,

as

names,

element

an

in

wood

(Hants); Knoch-holt,

Havant

Tenterden
near
a wood
(Kent).
Hider, hither : A 672.
hollow : a 289. A. S. hoi,
Hihideous:
11
20.
B
Holwe,
Hidous,
Ger.
a hole ; holh, a ditch ; Low
dously, hideously,dreadfully:
The termination
hollow.
O. F. hide,hisde,
holig,
hidonr,
B 843.

hisdour,dread

hidus,dreadful.

promised; Highte,

Hight,

-we

was

of hdtan

to
(Ger.heissen),

called,

call, be

hdtte;

was

have

distinct usages
confounded.
two

On

'

HigMe.

so

been

highte

aloud

926.
oi

ace.

himself:A 184,528.
hindmost

Hindreste,

hips :

Hipes,
Du.

dat. and

Himselven,

Himselve,

472.

622.
A. S. hype,
A

the flank,
henp, Ger. H'lifte,

hip.
Hir, her
Hir,
Hir

120.

their,of them
fl/Zfr
=

of them

11,

minutiva
a dioriginally

murderers
: c 404.
Homicydes,
homeward
b 2098.
:
Homward,
Hond, handj A 193.
creditable,honourable,
Honest,

becoming : A 246.
to hang (pret.
he?ig):

Honge,

320.

1552.

Hool,
'

had

-oiu

force.

616, 719,
333, 1614.
Highte, to be called, B 699.
A.S. heht,het; pret. oi hdtan,io
command, promise. The preterite
called

or

whole

Hole,

533,

hdl,whole, sound
2148.
whence, wholesome, holy,"c.
A. S.

Hoolly, wholly: A 599.

home:
a
Hoom,
400,

Hoomly,

homely: A 328.

1881.
A.S.

ham, Ger. Helm.

Hoppesteres
(appliedto

ships),
mination
dancing: B 1159. -^ter is a terfeminine
the
marking
ster.
Eng. spingender,as in modern
See note.

all,A 586.

hors,
horses,A 74, 598, B 1634. A. S.

Hors,

Hit, it.

comrnanding
Ho, an interjection
B
:
cessation of an}i:hing
848,
a

hors;

horse

pi.hors.

168.

PI.

V.

GLOSSAR

Hoste, host: A 751.

Hostelrye, an hotel, inn: a 23,
Lat.
O. F. hos/el, Mid.
722.
inn
hostel,
a
(whence
hospitale,
Lat. hospes,
from
Eng. hospital),
a guest.
Hostiler,
innkeeper: A
24 1.
O. F.

Hote,

F. hotelier.
hosteller,
hot, hotly; A 97, 394.

entertained ; B
Inned, lodged,
6.
: A
Inspired, quickened

Houped,

houped, whooped

F.

580.

call

hoiiper, to

[Whoopi?ig-cough is
]
hooping-cough.
Hous, house :
Housbondrye,
Houslioldere,

out.

langlere^ a prater,
560. O.
lie.
jest,
lape,

; c 8.
economy
householder
:

to

Hunten,

Hunteresse,

8 29.

female

0?i

782,

:
hinting a-hunting

push:

to

heurter, Du.

horten,

hurl,

against. Hurt,
with

the

F.

1758.

base

to

dash

are

nected
con-

hort, to

butt.
B 2123.
Hust, hushed:
high,highly:
Hye, Hyghe,

haste,

1416.

In

21 21

hye

in

; to

39,

hasten,

haste,hastily.

Hyer, upper
398.
Hyne, hind, servant : A 603. A. S.
hina, hine, a servant, domestic ;
: A

hiwa, family.

from

in

Bale

makes

allusion

Kynge Johan, p. 39
Holy water and bredde
the

Bp.

this in

to
:

shall

dryve

dev'yll
;

Blessyngeswith blacke bedes wyll

helpe in every evyll.'
let, fashion, mode
lolitee,

682.

A.

amusement
joyfulness,

680, B

: A

949.

: c
lolyf, joyful,
254. F.
pleasant
joli,It. giulivo,
gay, fine,merry.

connects

it with

Icel. jol,

Christmas.
Eng. ytile,

lovirnee, a day'sjourney: B 1880.

luge, a judge: A 814, B 854. F.

juge,Lat.

ace.

iiidicem.

judgment : A 778.
tilt,
luste, lusten, tojoust,
engage
lugement,
in

O.

to
Y.jouster,

tournament

jostle.
=jouste,a

lustes

(vowel).

'

high estimation.

held

Diez

1217, 1605.
Hye,

jangler,to prattle,

F.

trick,
jest:A 705, c 271.
befool, deceive : B 871.

awaye

hunter

1489.
Hurtle,

F. jaiet,Lat.
leet, jet: c 41.
for beads, and
gagates. Used

hunter.
:

to

babbler:

gabbe,"c.

339-

hunt

to yelp. It is probably
Y.japper,
connected
with
Eng. gabble,

343

a
htnita,

properly laps,

humility: b 923.
Humblesse,
hunter:
B
820, 1160.
a
Hunte,
A. S.

3 34

(consonant).
formerly denoted
by /,
{J was
a
/.)
capital
especially
by
lalous, jealous:B 471.
C 615.
langle, to prate, babble:

A. S. hit, hot.
=

231

99, b 1628.
tilt;hence Eng.
A

tournament

1862.

like,

same

Cp.

'

64, 175.

A.

^.ylc.

of that ilk:

881.

from

O.F.

Lat.

dicium.
in-

206.

Inequal, unequal: B 1413.

Infect, invalid : A 320.
Inne,

judgment:

juise,judgment,

B 1137
Imagining,
plotting,
inn
house,
lodging,
In, Inne,

1579,

luwyse,

adv. in

41,

760.

Keep,

care,

keep

531-

take

attention,heed.
care

Take

398, 503

GLOSSARY

232

: B 1646.
Lacing, lacing,
fastening

(pp. of kemhe), combed,

neatlytrimmed : B 1285.
shaggy: B 1276. From
Kempe,

Kembd

Icel.

of

Cf. Camp

in

stiff

the

beard,
seal,cat,

Iia7np,a

whiskers

See Las.

lion.

or

Lak, want, lack

sharp: A 104.
fpret.Itepte,
pp.

Kene,
Kepe

guard,preserve,
kepe 7iat

Kervere,

kept),to

(asin
not): A 276,

take

care

care

A. S. cepan.
carver
: b' 1041.

1380.

fire to ; kyjtdill,
a
coal.
cf. Eng. can?iel
set

kynda, to
torch ;

Lat. cajidela.

From

kindred

Kinrede,

With

428.

low
knotted, thick-set fel-

549.

E.

Cf. M.

gnarr,
; Swed.

knotted
; gnarled,

full of gnarrs

knots

or

boy, a

servant

A. S. cnapa, Ger.

Knabe,

youth, servant

M.

E.

1870.
boy,

ktiave-

child,a male-child.
1931.

'

at

say

; net,

1093

lacs,Prov.
lace,
a
(Lat. laqiieus),

laz

F.

959.

Lasse, less

898.

imp.let

: a

188 ; lat be,cease.

'

lately, recently.
'

'

y-come

late

y-shave:

Late

'

77?

690.
Latoun, a kind of brass,or tinned
iron, latten : A 699. F. laiton,
Ij"uighe,
Launde,

latta,tin-plate.
laugh: C 267.

to

plain surrounded

has

Cotgrave

'

lands, a land

bushy plaine.'It
difference of

word

modern

our

or

untilled shrubbie

wild

launde, a
or

by

B
:
833.
hunting-grounds

to

seems

meaning,
Welsh

lawn.

llan,a clear space. Shakespeare

"

Knobbe,

snare

be, with

knighthood:

Knighthede,

should

lace, belt

trees,

1119.

Knave,

Las,

brass ; It.

knorla,to twist,curl,
Knarry,

his

at

largely.
B
large,'

large.'

Late,

friendship;
has/rend-reden,
enmity.
fo-reden,
:

'

says,
where
we

425,

Lat,

M. E.

knot

Chaucer

1 1

snare.

affix

The

and
-rede is equivalentto -ship,
The
kin-d-red.
in hat-red,
occurs

1422.

F.

A. S. suffix -r(kden.

Kiiarre,

Du. lak,
: c 24.
fault,want.
to lack, be wanting : B
Lakke,

Langage,
language: A 2
Large, adj. free; adv.

B
Kerving,
cutting,carving:
See
Carf.
1057.
Icel.
Kindled, lighted: b 1437.

left, ceased:
(pret.sing.),
Cf.
the
phrase 'left
492.

off.'

note.

; led,carried.

5S8

Lafte

See

Murray'sDiet.

(pret.),

B 1762 ; Ladde
(pp.),

Lad

largepimple

: B 345,
Knowe,
pp. known
Knyf, a knife: B 1141.
Kyn, kine: C 11.

word

the

033.

used

1442.

iii. 1.2:

'Under

this

in 3

Henry

VI.

thick-grownbrake

ourselves ;
through this laund anon

we'll shroud

B
nature:
For
Kynde,
Kynd,
1593.
deer will come.'
By kynde hy nature, naturally:
'the
Cf.
kindly
C 376.
(natural) Laurer, a laurel : B

the

fruits of the earth.' A. S. cy?id,

nature.

fayre fresh and grene

(Lives of Saints, Roxb.
P-

Ii.

Lacerte,

fleshymuscle

(Lat.lacertiis).

1895

'

In

latirere.'

Club,

5I-)

Laxatif,
:

169.

medicine

Laynere,

Laxatyf,
:
a

purging

123.
lanner

or

whiplash:

GLOSSAR

234
the corpse is set down

vein of metal

ing
enter-

on

await

churchyard,to

V.

the

a kind
lode-ship,

mentioned

Licour, liquor,
sap : A 3.
See Leef.
beloved
: c 59.
Lief,
Ligge, to lie: b 1347, c 404.
S.

A.

Eng.

in

pilots
;
vessel
fishing-

of

earlystatutes; Pro v.
for straining

loads,ditches

from

the water

away

lie, whence

licgan, to

lode-

loders, carriers,

meti,

arrival of the minister.

; M. E.

ore

the

fens;
for

leading stone

loadstone, a
drains.

lecgan,to lay.
(i) easily,(2)joyfully, Logge, to lodge; sb. a lodging,
B 1012.
176.
dwelling-place: C
33,
Logging, lodging:c 175. F.
Like, vb. impers. to please: A
Lightly,

loge,a hut

777Limes, limbs: B 1277.

Limitour, a friar licensed
alms

within

certain

ask

to

limit

209.

lineage:

Ligne,

to see, look

Loken,

locked,enclosed

252,

2064.

: a
264.
lisped

Lipsed,

List, it
liste:

:
pleases

locks

Listes, lists,
a

combats

or
'

1687.
"

55.
:

sight:

appearance,

Londe, land:
to
Longe, Longen,

pret.

14.

belong:

1420.

desire,long for:

Longes, lungs: 1894.

Looth, odious, hateful,disagreeable,

( barriers)or
Interpreter,
a

629.

438.

A. S.

lead
A

A. S.

12.

of

lyt,

lordlings(a

sirs,my
lord),

tive
diminu-

masters

761.
:
precept,doctrine, learning

Lore,

of the

486, B

979-

Lordinges,

htttel.

limb, any member

to

loat/i,
unwilling:

Du.
Goth, leilils,
lyiel,

See Lere.

527.

Lorn, lost. See Less.

lida,
Glied,a
Los, loss: B 1685.
;
liar :
a
to bend the limbs ; cf. Eng. lithe, Losengecur,
flatterer,
c

55.

lid, Ger.

Norse

limb
joint,

lissome.

Liveree,

506.
:
livery

363.

See

Losten

load

Lode, a
Lodemenage,
c.
are

losejigier.
lost : b 78.
(pi.pret.),

2060.

pilotage:

in this

sense

403.

in 3 George I,
of Lodemajiage

See Lodesterre.

Lodesterre,

Luce,

pike: A 350.
pleaseth.See List.
a

"

1 201.

loSi.

Lusty, pleasant,
joyful,
gay

loadstar,the poleThe

is the A. S. lad, a

firstelement

80,

671.

Lyf, life: A 'ji,B 1918.

Lyfly, in a lifelike way:

It

lode,a

: A

B655. Lustily, merrily,

gaily:
B

whence

way,
conduct.

Ickdnn,to lead,
again in loadstone

occurs

See

Lovyer, a lover : A 80.

Loud, loud, loudly: C 543.

Courts
Lust,
13.
held at Dover for the appointLust, pleasure:A 192.
ment
of the Cinque Port pilots. Lustinesse,
pleasure:

star:

O. F.

Lese.

note.

Used

tournaments

1701.

body:

925.

Longen,

Barrei

Litarge, white
Litel, little:

194.

Cowel's

lists.'

583

(ofhair),curls

Lond,

See Leste.
for
enclosed
place

102,

1313-

Cf. Du.

lispen.

Lith,

Loken,

Loking,
lime-tree

apartment

81.

693.
Linde,

small

loger,to sojourn.

Lokkes,

Linage,

or

Lyk, like:

590,

443.

1229.

GLOSSAR

Lyte, little: A 494 ; b 335, 476.

Lyth, lies : B 360.
Ly-ve, dat. of lyf,life ; hence alyve,
in life,alive,B 1840.
Lyves, alive,living:B 1537.

V.

^35

Marchant,

merchant

marshal

Marshal,

Mid.

752.

Lat.

70.

of

master

; O. Ger.

Mad,

Maad,

made:

pp.

394,

668.

Maat,

downcast
Mat, dejected,

F. 7?iat,
faded,quelled; Du.
feeble,
mai, exhausted ; Ger. 77iati,
dead ;
faint ; all from Pers. tjuit,

98.

chess ;

the

of
game
in chech-mate.

from
jtiate

E.

Maist, mayest
385. Maistow,
mayest thou : B 378, c 286.
Maister, a master, chief,a skilful
: B

artist

streete

261, 576.

th.e chief street

: B

skill,power,

Maistrye,

2044.

ity:
superior-

165.

Make,

Maister

companion

S. maca,

1698. A.

rnate

or

companion ;
spouse ; cf Eng.

Icel. 7nahi, a

7natch,

7ndhre,
The
schalk, a servant.
7)iarshal of the hall was
the person
who, at public festivals,
placed

Maked,
Male,

1666.

portmanteau,

694.
budget,F.

bag,

male,

O. F.

sb.

melancholy: C

Manasing,
B

menace:

: b

7ninae,

517.

threat,

F.

1178-

1145,

Lat.

7iace,

great

Adj. Malencolyk

Manace,

rtiail:

7nalle.

Malencolye,
113.

77ie-

tni/iaciae,

threats.

Maner,

kind,

manner,

71, 858, B 1017, C

of (withoutof).
sort
MoTier,
A

deve'

7)ianer

every
rank.

according to
his duty also

person
It was

preserve
marshal

Martirdom,

sort

26.
'

of dev.

fieldpresided
game.' Halliwell.
ovei

"

torment, martyrdom

Martyre, a torment
marrow
:
Mary,

704.
A. S.

380.

Dan.

7nearh,marrow;

G.

marv,

wild

fancy : C 273. Icel.

to jabber,chatter ; Norse
masa,
to drop asleep,
to begin
77iasast,
to dream
to
; Prov. Eng. 7nazle,
Cf.
the
if
as
wander,
stupefied.
phrase to be in a 77iaze.''

Mase,

'

Mat

Maat.

see

Matere,

matter:

727,

401.

matrimony : B
in
Maugree,
spiteof: b 311,
F. malgre,againstthe will
spiteof ; 77ial,ill,and gre,
pleasure.
Maunciple,
care

of Court

Inn

an

officer who

an

2237.

1760.
of,in

will,

has the

purchasingvictuals

of

for

College: A
hB.t.-ma7iccps,
purchaser,

544.

or

contractor.

maidenhood

1471.
Mayntene,

Mayst,

or

Mede,

: A

Marh.

to maintain:

reward,

M.

583.

7iieed :

77ied,Ger.

whence

r.

See Maist.

mayest.

A. S.

manhood, manliness

to

602.

dairy-maid.
Maiihod.

his

The

order.

of the

any out-door
B

and

peace

Maydenhode,

Manere,

sort:

'

Matrimoine,

pp. made:

the

horse,

and

M.

F.
77iarescalcus,

7narechal, the
horse

of the hall

E.

'j'jo.

Miethe, hire

meritorious.
77ieedful,

756Mansioun,
Mantelet,
mantle

Manye,
Many

a
a

mansion:

oon,

11

16.

short

little mantle,

1305.
mania, madness
:

many

one

Mede,
land
a

:
:

B
A

516.
317.

mead

a
:

89.

or

meadow,

hay-

A. S. 77l""d,
7}l""du,

meadow.

Medlee,

of

mixed

colour

to mix.
7nesler,
328. O.F. 7?iedler,

\Q^6

GLOSSAR

meek

Meek,
Meel,

meal:

what

69.

signifieda place where

mdl,

A. S.

13.

is marked

V.

out,

separate

confined

were

F. muer,

while

moulting.

part, a meal, a mark, spot. Cf.

M. E. cu/:-mele, cup
by cup ;

change ; Lat. mntare,

at intervals
stonnd-7nele,

moiite, to

; Eng.
piece-meal
; Ger. ein-mal,once.

Men,

; used

one

like the F.

on

149.

Mencioun,

mention

Mene,

mean,

to

mente):
Mere,

mare

(pret.
A. S.

541.

meay-h,a horse.

Du.

mniten, M.E.

moult.

household, attendants,
suite,domestics: b 400, c 574.
O. F. mesiiiie,
7nais?iee ; Mid. Lat.
(from

Low

from Lat. 77iafisio.

Middel, middle,midst: C 22S.
Minister, an office of justice
: c

Mermayde,

small
a
logically

A. S.

450.
Ger.
;

lake,

i7ian-

223.

mermaid

Lat.

a
sioiiata),
family,household,

Meriely, pleasantly:A 714.

a

change;

to

Meynee,

suite

605.

also

maisnada

: B 35.
intend

mare:

mere,

793,

whence

It. muta,

change ;

to

hawlis

'Minister
used

meant

etymoand

man;

it

in

from Lat. pi.mirabilia,

merveille;

opposition
Minister
magister,a big man.
is connected
with 77iimis,
less;
with
ningister
7nagis, more.

wonderful

Hence

mere,

Meer, the

sea

sea.

marvel:

Mervaille,

Mery,

256.

F.

things.

Myrie, pleasant,
joyful,merry: A 208, 757; B

was

A. S. 7"er^, merry

myrhd, ]ileasure.
joy,v:ihh.
chance,
misMeschaunce,
Misehaunee,
misfortime:

11

^i,

turns

ill:

out

F.

493,

4G0.

meschef (mes jnhuis, less ;

chef"caput, head).
v, 633.
Messager, a messenger:
Mester, need, necessity:b 482.
=

O. F. mester, need ; the same

as
O. F.
business ; from
7nestier,
Lat. mhiisteruim.

Mesurable, moderate : a 435.

C 106.
Met, pp. dreamed:
food:
a
Met3, meat,
1.^,6.Cf.
mats, food ; O. H.
dish.
food,
maz,
to
meet
: B 66C^.
Mete,
Goth,

used

to

impersonally,
as

: c

Meth., mead,

honey :
were

B
mue

me

Ger.

mette, 1

74. A. S. 7n"stdn.
made
of
drink
a

or

fattened

where

349.

Mew

fowls
also

Lat.

the

more

larly
particu-

singer poet. Even in

MysteryPlays the theatrical
"

of the
representation
Tes-ament

Old

or

New

story mystery is
"

it
corruption of 7ninis.te7-iiim
;
means
a
religiousministry or
and had nothingto do
service,
with
It ought to be
mystery.

speltwith
a

Science

/, therefore,and

an

with

not

of

jy.' Max
Miiller,
Language, Second
"

Series,p. 254.
Minatralcyc,

B 1339,
minstrelsy,

1666.
mirror

541.

: A
pleasure,amusement
766, 767.
Misboden
insulted,
(pp. of 7nisbede),
A. S.
injured: B 51.

beodrni,

to

phrases

coop
: A

the

or

'

1421.

vant'
ser-

minister.

a prooriginally
fessional

and
artist,

Mirour,
Mirthe,

it Is

dream, pret.mette.

dreamed

Mewe,

77ii7istrel
was

misfortune,

service ; in F. con7ni}iisteriii77i,
tracted
into metier,a profession.

Meschief, Mescheef,

Mete,

crown,
mi7iister came

From

280.
what

a servant,
77iijtister,

of the

Merye,

641,0251.

to

for

offer, as

to hid the

in

our

banns,' hid
'

thing.'

Misch.atince.

See Mescliaunce.

GLOSSARY.

Mishappe, to mishap, turn

badly for,B 78S.
Mo,

more

no

natno,

Mowe,

out

more,

544.

A. S. md.

Moche,

Mochel,

adj.
greatly: A

Muchel,

much,
132, 258, 467,

great ; adv.
B

Moche

1992.

lite

great and small.

viycel,
great, miclile.
and

Mone,
Mone,
508.

moan,

A. S. man,

403.
lamentation

; whence

moan

month

anger

ISQxa

92.

A. S. mod,

902.

Ger.

Mtith, mind, courage,

passion. Cf. Eng. moody.
Moorning,

mourning: B

21

murder,

to

murderer

c
:

406.

cancer,

a
:

or

Morwe,

kind

of soup
See note.

grene
gan-

384.
:

334,

780, B

tage
pot-

Moste,

Mot,
A

must

may,

742.

See

Mote,

Moste,

mouse

403.

Ne

Nedeth.,

not

2.

251.

65.

: B

neither

but, only :

nor,

254.

304.

of

must

necessity(die):

2170.

Ner,

nigher:

neck

Nekke,

near

Nere

See Moot.

pi.must

581,

992

839.
:

597.

238. Nehke-boon,

of the neck.

Nercotikes,

newe

Moot.

712.

we

needful

Nede,

"

712.

must.

Ne

603.

ne

Newe,

Mottelee, motley: A 271.

value
Mountaunce,
amount,

Mous,

526.
A

bone

204.

to muzzle.

561.

428.
hath,hath

Neet, neat, cattle

F. rniiseau, muzzle, nose

of
animal : B 1293.
It. lynisolare,

most:
A
Most,
B
greatest, 37.

625, c

: a

not:

was

was,
A

"e

Neer,

Mosel,
an

Mo.

Nath-eles, nevertheless : A 35.

Ne, adv. not, A 70 ; conj.nor,

morning,

Mor-weninge,

morrow

or

not:

Natli

264.

619.

3S6. See note.

adj.morning : a 358.
a

See

narrow
close,
tie

"

not

am

am,

Morne,
Mortreux,
:

sore,

1653.

Mordring, murdering: B 1 143.

B 898.
More, greater,more:
Mormal,

53.

: C 424.
Nedely, of necessity
of
B
:
Nedes,
necessity 3 1 1 Nedesof necessity
cost
: B
fiedes-ways,

221, 405.
c

kettle-drum

loi, 544.

Nat,

10.

3rd pers. sing.; mo"t, 2nd pers. ;

moton, pi.; moste, pret.
Mordre, sb. murder, c 201, 231,
a

1607.

especially;
B410, 1851.
(^forna mo^, no more, A

Name

'No.s

may, must, ought (pi.

pres.
moten, pret.tnoste,muste) : A 232,
735, B 27. A. S. mot, 1st and

398 ; vb.

nation

ne

"

Narwe,

Moot,

Mordrer,

miner:

See note.

Namely,

Moneth,

Mood,

Mynour,

Wacioun,
Naker, a

to moan.
miriati,

Month,

1048.

141.

N.

first cause

moon

Murmure,
murmuring: B 1601
Murye, glad,merry : B 528.
dat. remembrance
: B 544,
Mynde,

476.

My-selven, myself: a 803.

2129.
the

able:

are

A. S.

Moder, mother :
Moevere, mover,

^37

narcotics
were,

were

not

614.
:

7.

: A 428. Al
newly,recently
lately; of newe
recently,
"

anew.

Nexte,
Nigard,

nearest:

555.

niggard: c 95. M. E.
nig, nigon, a niggard; Norse
nyggja, to gnaw, scrape ; Sw.
njugga,to scrape up (money);
"J^'gg, sparing.
Night, pi.nights: c 53.
a

238

GLOSS

A
:
Nightertale, the night-time

period.
reckoning,

-z'a/e

97.
iWis, ]Srys
IJ'oglit,not

Nolde

not

43.

wot, know

'Noil,"
not

Norice,
Norissing,

nurse

295.

437,

Nose-thirles, nostrils

2159.
557. See

: A

Thirle.
Wot

knows

wot,

See

not.

Noot.

Notabilitee,a thingworthy to be
known
: c 3S9.
Nets, a note (inmusic) : A 235.
Not-heed,
Cf.

crop-head:

Hen.

not-pated,1

109.

IV.

ii. 4.

78.
nor.
Nother, neither,
Nothing, adv. not at

N owtlae

the

nou

justnow,

all

then,

710W

1647.

: b

present. As nouthe
present: A 462. A.S". da,

at

at

then.

Ny, nigh,nearly:
as

Nyce, foolish:

472 ;

as
(close)

near

Opie, opium
Oratorie, a
torys,
may
the

as

jiy as,

588.

O.

2159.

by

: A

one

679.

515.

614.

closet

set
B

for

apart
'

1047.
our

Ora-

prayers

heard and
accepted.'Becon's
be

sooner

better
of

1432,

one

wherein

"

Christ,p.

Parker

533,

Soc.

Ordeyne, to
Ordinaunce,
:

ordain

1695.
position
plan, orderlydis-

1709.

Orisoun, prayer, orison: B 1514.

Orlogge, a clock : c 34.
Oth, Ooth., an oath : A 810.
Ounce, a small portion: A 677.
Outhees, outcry, alarm : B 1154.
Mid.

Lat. hutesium

O. F.

i. 179).
huteys(Britton,

Outher

or

(Ducange);

either

: b

or

7,

628.

Outrely, utterly,
wholly : c 409.
started
out:
c 227.
Out-sterte,
Over, upper: A 133.
Overest,
uppermost

495.

See

T48.
765.

study:

or
.

the

Acts

?ie +

only

Oonly,

the

485.

oon,

prayers
ment,
nutri-

Norisshinge,

nurture

and

at

450.

oak:

an

Oon

See "Wost.

710.

syth.es, oftentimes
Oghte, ought : A 660.

Ook,

not,

collected

Ofte

Oon, one
Ones, once

the

Liturgy of

alms

Oo,

284, B 181,482.

the

Church

Offertory
not

550-

knows

in

Offring, the

253.

jie +

Creed
Western

: A
Worabre, number
716.
: A 449, 654.
Non, Noon, none
: A
Nones, nonce
379, 523.
118.
a nun
: A
Nonne,

Noot,

Y.

: A

wolde,would

"e

/s,is

"e

AR

290.

Overal, everywhere:

216.

Cf

Ger. ixherall.

O,

one

: A

304,

73S

; B

354.

B 1164.
Over-riden, ridden over:
Overspradde, pret. spread over :

See

Oo.

Obeisaunce, obedience :
Observaunce,
resjDect:

2116.

B
b

187,

678.

Over-th.-wart,athwart,across
: B
1 133.
A. 8.J"iueor,
lique.
obcrooked,

642.
Of, off:

Offende,
B

Si 8.

to

Ger.

hurt, injure,attack

51.

Owen,
C

Offensioun, offence,
hurt,damage
B if,58.
Oflfertorie,a
said

(Eng. queer M.
quer, athwart.)

E. quer,

or

sentence

sung

of

Scripture

after the

Nicene

Owene,

own

2219,

134.

Owher, anywhere : A 653.

Oynement, ointment,unguent

631.
Oynouns,

onions

634.

GLOSSAR

Y.

239
horse for

riding; veredus,

going
whence
post-horse,

Ger.

Pferd,
paard, a horse.
Pan, the skull,brain-pan: B 307.
Cf. M. E. hern-pan,brain-pan.
furniture
Paraments, ornamental
a

Du.

Pace,

to pass, b

36 ;

away,

pass

744

484.

Pacient, patient:

palace:

Paleys,

carried

pass,
sur-

the

on

hills

if we

But
the

the

or
*

1341.
abode

the

of the

the Collis

the hill was

Palatifius from

deity,whose

called

Pales,a pastoral
festival

brated
cele-

w^as

the 21st

on

every year
the birthdayof Rome.

of

April,as
It

to

was

child,

first furrow

foot

of

have

laid the

most

ancient

the
and

of his

mansion
his

on

to

Collis

the

order to make

Aiirea, as

of Nero's

House.

room

was

of all the

kings and

it

This

house
called

it became

palaces

of
emperors
Miiller,Science

Second

called,

was

henceforth

Palatium, and

Max

had

emperor'sresidence,the

the Golden

type

Under

"

privatehouses

Palatinus,in
Domns

followed
Nero.

pulled down

for the

hill,and
by

same

was

and

all

in

of Cicero

houses

the

example

Nero,

hill,

the

of

the

Europe.'

Series,p.

of Language,
251.

Palfrey, a horse for the road : A

F. palefroi, Mid.
Lat.
207.
an
paraveredus,
palafridus,

easy-

1643.

way of love : B 297.

with great affection :
Cf. Barbour's
Bruce,

by

Paramour,
Paramours,
B
1254.
xiii. 485.

Pardee

Parde,

oath

Dieu,a

=par
seller of

mon
com-

563.

Pardoner,

indulgences:

A543-

Pai'fit,
perfect: A 72, 422, 532,
Parisshen, a parishioner:A 482.
B 1724.
Parte, party, company:
Partrich, a partridge: A 349.
: B
Party e,
Party, partly
195.

part:

1799Parvys

Pas, foot-pace
B

note.

825

pi.paces,

F. pas, Lat. passus.

sant,
surpass : A 448. Pas-

1032.

Passe,

See

310.
:

adj. partial:B

2150;
A

to

the

neighbourand enemy
Augustus built his

on

Tiberius

to

of the

foundation

the

Catiline.

the

thus

Palatinus, stood

Collis

later times

"

hill,and

that

the

on

part of Rome,
Quadra'a. On this

Roma

be

have

supposed to

the

day

wolf-

the

Romulus,

was

drawn

the

commemorate

which

on

clothes

Hills.

Tiber, one

was

and
Palati7ius,

are

herds
shep-

Seven
called

at

we

to

of
look

name

back

of

There,

the

palace is now
royalfamily.
the historyof

seven

; to

574.

soon

pass on,

2140

surpassing:

Passing,

1249, 2027.

Payen,
a

pagan

: B

F.paien,

1512.

pagan.

: C 30.
Peer, equal (as in peerless)
Pees, peace : B 589.
Peire, pair: A 159.
to
Pekke,
pick : c 147. A. S.

to

pick,pull;

to

pycan,

Du.

pikken,

pick.

Penaunce,

pain,sorrow:

penance,

B457-

Penoun,

pennant

the end

(borneat
F.

120.

of

ensign

or
a

lancet,B

Lat.

pe"i07in;

penna,

pinna, a feather,wing.
Perce,
Perrye,

to

pierce: A
jewelry:

2.

Y. percer.
2078. F.

perre.

Pers,

of

439.

sky-blue colour

O. F. pers.

Persoun,

priest
:

Perturben,

parson

parish-

or

478.
to disturb

48.

GLOSS

240

pestilence,
plague:

Pestilens,

AR

Pleyiie, to complain :

Pleynen,

590-

pain, grief: b

sb.

Peyne,

Peynen,

Peyne,

endeavour

Peynte,

pains,

1263.

'

hair, bald : A
Norse
pila, to pluck;
627.
Low
Ger, pulen, to pluck,pick;
Eng. peel; F. piller,to rob.

strippedof

Burton's
poll.'"

Pill and

of Mel.

MS.

Anat.

top of the head

Pomel,

p. 31.
See

Piled.

like

Cf. Low

: A 694.
pillow-case

G.

a
b'dren,

bilren,
; kiisse?i; Dan. vaar,
pillow-case
a

case

case.

cover,

Piuclie,

to

It is

Lat.

find fault

(with):

with

1831.
spots

round

apple,dappled:

an

Pomely gray

616.

apple-gray
; Low
F.

grisius pomellatus.

pomtne, Lat. pormnn.

apoplexy:

Poplexye,

Poraille, the poor

See

21.

247.

Povre.

behaviour : A 69.
Port, carriage,
: b
Portreiture, a set of pictures
mo.

1057,
a

marked

Pomely,

Pore.

: B
Piler, a pillar
1^5.
Pilour, a plunderer: B 149.

Pilwe-beer,

Pecok,

Harl.

Elles. MS.

arboraria.

or

other
purgyd, fro fylthe or
thynge grevows,
piirgatus;
Promptorium Parv. See Apiked.

'

393.

Pighte, pitched: B 1831.

^
Pykyd,
Piked, adj.trimmed.

Piled,

pacok. Lat. pauo.

halberd,
PoUax,
pole-ax: B
have
We
also bole-axe,
1686.
Icel. bol-bx,M. E. bul-axe,falx

1076.

also written

139.

pair:

to

paint

to

take

462.

complain

to

Pleynly, fully:B 875.

Pocok, peacock: a 104,

439;

torture, B 275.

Peyre,

Y.

painting: B
Pprtreyour, a painter:
Portreying,

1080.
B

1041.

F.

pourtraire,to draw ; from

traire,Lat. irahere,to draw.
Pose, to propose, put the question

326.

304.

of victuals ; promess
perly
additional
allowance

Post, pillar,
support : A 214.
an
Poudre-raarcliaunt, a kind of
served to the inmates of religious
spice: a 381. See note.
houses
festival
noise with
at
A
a
:
a
a
high
Poupe, to make

Pitaunce,

horn

224.

Pitous, compassionate,
piteous

: A

Pitously, piteously
:

259.

Plat, plain,flat :

B
987.
: A
plentiful
344.
Plesaunce, pleasure: B 713.
Plesaunt, pleasant: A 254.
Plesen, to please: A 6io.
Pley, play,pleasure: B 267,
to
Pleye, Pleyen,
play, take
one's pleasure
: A
236, 758, 772.
:
Pleyinge, playing,amusement

Plentevous,

203.

Pleyn,

plain:

790.

fully,
Pleyn, full,
openly: A 315,
bataile
327. Pleyn
open battle :
"

Poure,

long:

143-

130.

to
*v

579.
pore, to
1

look close and

85.

Povre, poor : A 225, 478. Povrely, poorly: B 554. O. F. povre,

Lat. pauper,

Poynaunt,

pungent

352.

: B 643.
particle,
particular
: A
Practisour, practitioner
422.
Preche, to preach : A 481. F.

Poynt,

precher,Lat. predicare.
Preest, Prest, a priest: A 164.
Preisen, Praysen, to praise. F.
prix, price; It. precio, price,
worth ; Sp.prez, honour, glory.
Presse, to press : B 1672.
Prest, ready. Lat. praesto, in
in prest in
readiness ; M. E.
"

GLOSSAR

242
Queen,

queen

Goth.

24.

whence
with

qens, qino,wife,woman.

Queynt,

quenched, pret.
B
quenched :

pp.

queynte,

was

Cf.

1476.

1463,

A. S.

drenched.

"

O.

cwmcan,

couth
strange, quaint, unF.
673, 1475.
coint,

Lat.

known, acquainted
cog7iitus,

'

the

Rather,

'

to

raze

\2ijeven

to

ground.

sooner

Milton
295.
of early.'

in the

rathe

uses

A. S.

dreynte

Fris. kivtnka,to waste

away
A. S. cwenca7i, to quench.

Queynte,

Y.

sense

hrcEd,swift, quick ; Icel.

hradr,quick.
of reche),
reached :
Raughte
(pret.
A
136, B 2057. A. S. rcecan,
reach,
pret. rihte ; Ger. reichen,
extend

; whence

Dutch\

(from the

rach

instrument

an

of

ture.
tor-

with.

alive,quick ; B 157 ; vb.

Raunsoun,
F. rangon,
revive,b 1477'. A. S. civic,

Quike,
to

Cf.

alive.
'

dead

'

'

the

quick and

the
'

the

quicJi
;
couch
( quitch grass)
grass
called in Norfolk
qtiicke?i.
: B 934.
Qmtly, free,at liberty
B
Quod, quoth :
49, 376.
Quook, quaked, trembled : B 718,
to
A. S. cwacan,
quake,
904.
tremble ; Ger. quackebi,
to waver.
To this family of words
belong
;

to

cut

'

quag,

quaver.

Quyte,
'

to

in

free,as

to

phrase

our

quit of,'hence

get

to

set

free,b 174 ; to requite: a 770

Lat. quietus,
at rest,free from all
claims

a
discharge
; It. qnieto,
Hence
aclegal claims.
quite,
requite.

from

ransom

Rebel, rebellious: A 833, B 2188.

Rebelling, rebellion : B 1601.
Rekke

Recche,

read),read

play,toy wantonly
sb. a raging wind, B
to

257;
127. F. rage, Lat. rabies.
to search

Ransake,
ransack

reck:

1387, 1399.
for,regard.
careless
reckless,

179, Files. MS.

to comfort
Reconforte,

Recorde,

The

M.

try, probe.

Sw.

rausaka,

search

Icel.

rati

razn)
Sw. soka),to seek.

house

Rasour,

razor

: B

shaven, cut close

Lat.

E.

to search,
signifies

Goth,

radere,

to,

A. S.

care

Reechelees,

heed

540,
to

reccan,

1994.

remember, remind

to

829.

advise,explain,
interpret:
A.
S.
B
rcedan,to
2213, C 76,
advise, explain
reda, to
; Sw.
Ger.
disentangle
raiheti,to
;

Rede,

to

'

conjecture,to

read

read:

to

1559.
the

to

rasum,

to

M.

E.

Redy,
Reed,
Reed,
Reed

(forplunder),

147.

rajisahe also

(pret. roghte,
care, take

to
roughte),

Redoutinge,

(pp. of rede, to

purchase

back, redemption.

riddle.'

See

709.

above.

R.

E 1737Rage, vb.

raention,raen-

a
(;07i, Lat'.red-emptio,

Rede,

Had

166, 318.

O. F.

to

plan
Rede,

A
B

21,

352.

358.

red

: A

See Rede.
90, 153,

(imp. of rede),read:
counsel, adviser

plan,line

1192.

fear.

310.

66^

458.
;

of conduct.

to refresh

1764.
kingdom, reign: B 8,

Refresshe,
Regne,
a

766.

rannr,
saka
(

Reh.erce,

F. i-as,

ground;
shave

redoute,to

ready :

Reed,
also

reverence:

to

rehearse:

732.

F.

to go over
rehercer,
again,like a
a ploughed
over
(F.Aerce)

harrow

field. Cf
np old

our

phrase to

grievances.'

'

rake

GLOSSAR

Rehersing, rehearsal: b 792.

reckon :
to
Rekne,
Rekene,
A, S,

1075.

401,

reckoning: A
(pi.remes), realm

:
a

Remenaunt,

Renienaut,
Rending,

nant
rem-

ranks

O. F.

re7ig ;

1736.

: B

Sc.

a
hritig,
;
ring,whence also harangue.
Renne
(pret.ron, ran; pret. pi.
ronne

ronne7i), to

We

have

or

542,

gerefa.Hence ihirealso port-reeve,

sheriff;

reverse, contrary: C 157.

to be sorry for, to have

vers,

B
am

1777*
in re7met, or

this form

reeve

bailiff:

compassion or pity on,

run:

A. S.

Rewe,

ironne, iroimsji,

pp.

ro7ine,

steward,

599.

Re

row,

O. H. Ger.

line,range

to

A. S.

Revel, feasting,
merry-making : b
O.
F.
1859.
revel,
noise,gaiety.
Reverence, respect:A 141.

F. rang,

rai7ig,a

vb.

borough-reeve.

hrendan,to
rendaii,

tear.

Renges,

See Aretted.

regol,Lat. regula.

A. S.

1976.

re-

respit,

Reule,
rule,A 173;
rule,A 816,B 814,c 224.
Reve,

F.
rispetto,

sb.

Lat.

84.
tearing (of hair):

724,

Harl. MS.

from

accordingto Diez,
Lat. regalis(givingLow
regaliinen),

Lat.

90.

Rethor, a rhetorician: C 387.

Rette, to ascribe,impute : A 726,

316.
dom
king-

regard, consideration, delay,

respite.

to

600.

O. F. reahne. It. reame,

delay:

spectus. It.

rechuen,

Eekening,
Heme

243

Respyt,
A

7-eccan,

; Ger.

number
say, tell,
to reckon.

"

V.

to

rtie

'Me

reweth'
1
1005,1375.
A.
S.
hreosorry, grieved.

Ger.

be

to

tuan,

sorry

for, grieve;

Re7:e,mourning.

makes

rtmnet, that which

curdle.
run
or

milk

Rewe,

row,

A. S.

2008.

line.

rcewe,

line :

sorrowful : b
most
RewfuUeste,
Renning, running: A 551.
2028.
;
income, profits
Rente, revenue,
It.
F.
Rewthe,
ruth,pity: b 56.
A
rendre,
re7idere,
373.
sb.
Lat. reddere,to give up, yield:
Reyn,
rain, A 492, 595 ;
F. rente, income, revenue.
Reyne, vb. to rain,b 677.
inroad
an
or
Reyse, to make
Repentaunce,
penitence: b 918.
militaryexpedition: A 54. A
Repentaunt,
penitent:A 228.
German
O. H. G.
word ; from
Replicacioun, a reply: B 988.
G.
M.
H.
a
reisa,
reise, military
Reportour, reporter: A S14.
B
expedition(theinvariable term).
Rescous, rescue:
1785- O. F.
covered
Richesse, riches : b 397. This
rescoiirre, to deliver ; rescous, re-

word, as well as al77is(M. E.

messe),is a singularnoun
;

; It. riscuotere
to fetch
exctitere),

pawn

Lat.

from, take by
to

beat

com

(Lat. rethingout of

immediately

tear

to

excutere,
force ; F. escowre,
the chaff
from

(Cotgrave).
to quake, shake:

11

Rightes, rightly:B 994.

28,.

825.

At

alle

in all respects.
rightes rightly
resound
: B 1742.
Ringen, ring,
=

opinions, reasons

Rit, rides

right:

sew/' =

37,

847.
Resoune,

pret. pt. rode,

Riden,

274.
reason,

the

French.

A. S. hrysian.

Resoun,

rived
de-

See Ryden.

Rese,

Resons,

from

al-

Roghte,
to resound

Recche.

420.
R

Cf. 6:7

123.

bids,

sends.
cared

for

520.

See

GLOSSAR

244
i6o

Koial, royal, b

royally,B 855 ;

Koially,
Eoialliche, a
:

378.
to walk,
:
Rome,
207.
Ronnen,
pret. pi.ra" : B 2067.
Rood, rode : A 169. See Ryden.
Roos, rose : A 823.
Roost, a roast : A 206.
A. S.
Rore, to roar : B 2023.

r(iria?i.

Roste,

to

Rote,

fiddle with

three

rote, O. H. G.

O. F.
Celtic

it to

origin;

strings.

hrotd

cf. W.

of

crwth,

fiddle.

Byrote

327.

lie

to

ruck

hy

hurken,
to

rage,

Rouncy,

to

down,

close,cower

Ger.

Low

450.

squat down

Dan,

hackney

F.

390.

roTicin.

Roundel,
Route, a

kind

of song

company,
O. F. }-07/te.

622.

671.

assembly:

broken, uneven) : B 2025. M. E.

to
shake, tear ; Norse
rogge,
speare
Shaketo
rock, shake.
rngga,
uses
ragged for rugged,
rough,harsh.
a deep roaringnoise : B
Rumbel,

F.

Lat.

sa/,

388.

se),saw

850,

825.

save,

Save,

the herb

except :

683.

salvia

or

sage

F. sauge.

1855.

pimpled :

Sawceflera,

625. See

note.

"k.

word,
saying,

305, 668.
; whence

discourse

A. S. sagu,

ing
say-

secgan, to say.

(pret.of se),saw

Say

Scalled, having the

294.

or
scall,scale,

A 627. Cf.
scab, scabby,scurfy,

scald head.'
O. F.

Scape, to escape : b 249.

It. scappare.
eschapper.

: A
583.
parsimoniously

Scarsly,

misfortune,harm
Scathe, loss,
in

As
A. S.

Sclendre,
C

13.

less.
scathescath-ing,

sceadan,to injure.

slender,slight
: A
587,
M. Du. slinder,thin.

study,

Seche,

Scole, school,style: A 125.

Scoler, scholar : A 260.
attend school,
to
Scoleye,

to

302.

Seke,
A

(as in

seek

to

seech)
be-

784.

Secree, secret
Seen, to see :
Seet

56,415,

95.
499.

(pi. seten),sat:

1217,

2035-

S.

siege: v" 'jg.

^edia,seggin,a seat

Sege,
Sad, sober,staid:
Sadly, firmly: B
Cf.
sad, firm.

strument
ina musical
psaltery,
like
a harp :
something

Save,

2127.

1744.
'

Snow

Hindley,p. 7.

129,

296.

1121.

Ryden, to ride; pret. rood; pret.

-^X.riden; pp. riden : a 780,

The

14.

salted
Lat. salsa,

(pret.of

446.

Rudeliche, rudely: A 734.

torn,
Ruggy,
rugged, rough (lit.

"

SauJly, safely:

'

brood.
a

colour

salt.

O. F. rote, a route, track.

Rouke,

791.

salted food; from

things,

Sawe,

rote:

rote.

sauce:

sauce. It. salsa

A
A

236. Roquefortsupposes
a

blood-red

333-

Sauce,

fryingpan;

stringedinstrument

634.

to roast ; It. rosta, a

Ger. Rost, a grate.

to

of

764.
147, 383, F.
O. H. Gar. r6ste?i), Sautrye,
:

Saluing, salutation

Saugh
roast

(from

roster

Rote,

to salute

Salue,

Sangwyn,
B

roam

be

V.

in

M.

good
Storm,

E.

ness.^
saded

Lat. sedes,a
down
sitting

seat

F.

It.
siege,

sitting
;

or

the
obsidiiwi,

before

town

in

hostile way.
of se),saw
Seigh (pret.

193.

GLOSSAR

saint:

Seint,

A
173.
Seistow, sayest thou : B 267.
Seith, saith,says : A 1 78.
Seke, to seek : A 13, 17. See

Seke, pi.sick:

18, 245. A. S. sf/oc.

It is perhapsconnected

with

sigh,

E. sike.

Selde, seldom: B 681.

Selle, give,sell : A 278.
b
Selve, same:
1726. Cf. 'the
A. S.

selfsame day,'"c.
Ger.

seolf,

selbst.

simple,poor: C 555. A. S.
whence
s"klLg,
Eng. silly; Ger.
blessed,happy.
selig,
Seme
to
A
seem
:
(vb. impers.),
Sely,

39-

seemly,comely: A 751;
becomingly,A 123, 136. M. E.
to fit,
seme, seemly ; Icel. sama,

Semely,

adorn ; Norse
the

sama,

like ; A. S.

sam,

same.

Seraicope, a short cope : A 262.

See
Sendal, a thin silk : A 440.

visible

not
adj.,

Sentence,

798, B

sense,

of
'

1244.
solas
'

and

"

adj.visible.

pp.)
meaning, judgment,

matter

Cf.y-sene,

134.

A. S. gesene,

592.

(An

story

306,

Tales

o{ sentence
instructive and

county.- F. sergent,It. sergente.

Sermoning,
preaching: B 2233.

bondage

Servage,
Servant,

(PP-

to

follow

whence

state, suit

servant,

1088.

B
B

1377;

lover, 956.
Servisable, willingto be of
A

See Seigh..
Sey, saw.
Seyde, pret. of seye, said : A 183.
Seye, Seyn, to say (pret.
seyde):
A

181, 468, 738, 787.

2209.

A. S.

secgan.
See Seigh.
Seyh, saw.
Seyl, a sail : A 6cj6.
Se3m, pp. seen : c 461.
Seyn, to say : A 284.

(pp.

Seynd

of

senge),sniged,

toasted,broiled : C 25.
Seynt, Seynte, holy,a saint

697,B 863.
an

See

Seint.
shaft:

arrow,

504.

A. S.

an
sceaft,
arrow, pole(Du.
schaft,a reed, rod, pole); from
A. S. scafan,to shave.

Shake, pp. shaken :

modest:
Shamfast,

406.
b

1197.

modesty:

Shap, form, shape; B 1031.

Shape, Shapen, to plan,purpose,
ordain : A 772, 809. Shapen,
ordained:

250,

534.

(Pret.

shop, shoop.) A. S. scapan, to

form, create ; ge-sceap, creation,
form ; Icel.

skap,form, shape.
Shaply, fit,
likely: A 372.

iceaf,Du.
Sheeldes,

vice
ser-

99.

train of argument
series,

(at

Izw),suit (ofclothes).

588.
E. E.

scce, sco,

A. S. seo, sio.
Sheef, a sheaf:

Serye,

2035

boil, seethe : A 383,

seodan, to boil, cook ;
whence
Eng. sodden, suds,
Seththen, since. See Sith.
Seurtee, security,
surety: B 746.
followed:
O. F.
c
Sewed,
517.
Lat.
sewir,
seqrd,Eng. stie, to
Sethe,

E. sermuunen,
to preach,discourse, Shave, shaven : A
from Lat. sermo.
She, she, A 446.

19.

840.

"

oi

season

pi.),
(pret.
sat,b
sat
B
sette), :
594.

Sharafastnesse,

amusing tales.'
Sergeant i^orSergeaunt) of lawe
servie?isad legem,a servant
of
the sovereignfor his law business
The
A
:
king had
309.
formerly a sergeant in every

M.

Sesoun,
Seten

Shaft,

note.

Sene,

245

A, S.

Seche.

M.

V.

A. S.
A
104.
Ger.
Schaub.
schoof,

coins called

278. F. ecus, i. e.
called,
so
Sheld,

shield

crowns

coins
shields,

1264,

24-6

GLOSS

bright,fair,beautiful : a
A. S. scyne, bright,
2IO.

Skene,

AH

Y.

Shorte,

shorten

to

791.

Shere.
115, B
clear ; Ger. schon,beautiful.
: B 627.
Shortly, briefly
stroyed Shovite, to shout : c 567.
Shent,
pp. of schende,hurt, deS.
A.
beshrew
to
: B
scendan,
Shrewe,
1896.
curse,

confound, shame.
stables: B 1142.
Shepne,
to

scypen,

A. S.

(for sheep),

stall

stable.
shears:

Shere,

divide,shear

cut,
Icel. skera, to cut.

sceran,

A. S.

1559.

to

To

this

belong shear, share, shore,

a
sheard, or sherd
plough-share,
(as in pot-sherd),short, skirt,
root

rhirt.

Sherte, a shirt :
Shet, pp. shut:

300.

scyttan,to shut.
with

shoot; for

the

door

by

bar driven
Shires

ende

county:
SMrreve,
a

shire

bolt

or

388.

of

shire

or

15.

county

(reeve)of

See

359.

shrewmouse

shoe
the

pi.shall

say, the
'

149.

partynge.

hair

itself:

Schody?ige or deSeparacio, divisio.'

Parv.

'

Prompt.
Schodynge
heede, discrimen.' Ibid.

of the

"

A. S.

sceudan, scddan, Ger.

scheiden, to separate, divide.
this

familyof

words

belong

shide, board,lath ; M. E. shider,

shiver ; shider, to shiver to
a
a

pieces; Eng. sheath,skid. Cf.

the
schedynge of tonges.'
The longages
Trevisa,ii. 251.
'

"

'

tonges

i-schad and

Sholde,
Shoon

198.

'

889.

shoulder

678.

shouldered, having
549. A. S. sadder,
Ger. Schulter,
a shoulder.
(Root
:

unknown.)
Shine, shin,leg : A 386. Shines,
A. S. scina,
shins,legs: B 421.
the
shin ; Ger.
Schiene, Dan.
Shivere,

253.

temple(of the head),

others

and

so

was

Shrighte, Shryked, shrieked : B

1^)59' C 5^0- Sw. skrika,Xo
cry,
shriek.
screech,

of the

bulders

were

to-schift.' Ibid.

Shulde,

(pret.of

should

shine),shone

742.

sure,

Sikerly,

See

certain

iicher ; from

Lat.

Seke.
B

191.
Cf. Ger.

33.

secitms.

:
surely,certainly,
truly

AI37-

Siknesse, sickness: b 39S, 453.

Short for
Sin, since: A 601.
sithen ;
Sit, sits:

Sith.

see

741.

Sith, Sithen, since, afterwards:

A. S.
B 72, 434" 545. 663, 1 244.
time
wards.
aftersW,
; siSdan, after,
Eng. since sins, for
sithens. Cf Du. sinds,Ger. seit,
=

is used

Sith

writers.

249.
A

Comp. sikerer,C

since.

"

to be shattered

: B
1747.
Shortely, shortly,
: B 627.
briefly
Sight, providence: B 814.

Siker,

To

was

screw.

called

"

Sik, sick

"

supposed to
they (hornets)
and cruel.'
are
shrewd, fierce,
Topsells Serpents,
p\93.

and
1

horse

because its bite

be fatal.
Cf.

properlythe partingof the hair

of a man's head,not, as Tyrwhitt
b

vicious

a splint.
skinne,

Reve.

She, a
Shode,

The

shoulders

the governor
or

calls

Shulder, a
Sholdred,

means

end

crafty,sharp,intelligent,
clear-sighted.A
horsekeeper

shut is to close

forwards.
sailor

hence

Shul,

of

607,; hence shrewd.

Originally
M. E.
shreived
wicked, and

It is connected
to

Shipman,

A. S.

1739.

See

Schoole

of

See

Abuse,

Reprints).

by

bethan
Eliza-

Gosson's

p. 18

(Eng.

GLOSSARY.

Slake, slow: b 2043, SeeAslake.

: b 1173.
Slaughtre, a slaughter

bounded
c

Snibbe,

661, B
S.
A.
to
sUan,
strike,slay
364,
to strike)
(Ger. schlagefi,
; whence,

slay: A

to

hammer).
slaughter, sledge (in sledgeslepe),
slept

98,

397-

604.
sl(sgr,crafty,sly;
contrivance,
slcEgd,
cunning.The
E.

wise ;

sly
"

sleight
"

dom,
wis-

prudence. See Slyly.

Slepen, to sleep: A 10.
Sleping, sleep: c 192.
Slepy, causingsleep: b 529.
Sieves, sleeves
Slider,
With

slide

are

slowe

9,

146,

smartly.
(pret.srnerte),to pain,
hurt, displease:A 230, 534, B
536. A. S. smeortafi, to smart;
Du.
smart, Ger. Schrnerz, pain,

Smerte

ache.

perfuming,causing

smote

Smothe,

676.

149,

to

F.suobdain,

Solas, solace, mirth

portant,
209 ; im-

festive,a

364.

pompously: A

(pret.of

274.

B
feast, festivity
:

: A

some
one

640.

other

Sorii

sum
.

397, 399.

: A 174.
Som-del, somewhat
A
summer
:
Somer,
394.
ofhcer employed
an
Somnour,

an

to

appear in
called
now

to
delinquents

summon

apparitor:

543.

Sond,
447.
Sondry, sundry,various: A 14.
1812.
: B 1412,
Sone, soon
Sone, a son : A 79.
Song, pret.sang : B 197. Songe,
: C

pp. sung:
the

Sonne,
Soor,

adj.

266, 711.

sun

sore

:
:

7,

5, 204.

1837.

Soote, sweet : A i.
Sooth, Sothe, sb. truth

adj.true

It still exists in

1423.

O.

260, 717.

ecclesiastical courts,

adj. smarting, sharp,

grievous,A 149 ; adv. sharply,

Smot

289.

12.

Som,

153-

perfumed :

cold.

60.

Solempnely,
Solempnitee,

Smerte,

Smoot,

nip with

sudden.
SoSodein,
Sodeyn,
ly:
suddendeynliche, Sodeynly,

sand

Smoking,

belong snip,snap,
to

succour

good sensj): B 586.

:

S occur,

connected

Slyly, prudently,
wisely(usedin
small

this

To

102.

Solempne,

"

Smale,

Eng. sno7ip,a

head.

798.
See note.

122, 1608.

be

; Prov.

the

on

Solaas,

slew
of sle),
(pret.

Slow

Slough,

523.

sudden.

grave.
behynde.' Pals-

draw

or

soudaifi,Lat. subitaneus, subitus,

'

Smal,

blow

sledge(M, E. sled),slade,Sec.
Slogardye, sloth : B 184. M. E.
slogge,to be sluggish; whence
sltig,
sluggish. I slogge,I waxe

jag,knot

193.

: B 406.
slippery

the root

Dan.

: A
So,
Soberly, sad, solemn

swarm.

snubbed, stumpy
s"z/6-nose). Cf. M. E. snub,
(cf.

snout

so

snub

reprove,

snape, sneap,

Icel.

M.

to

a-

Eng.

snubbe,to reprove ; Icel,

snubba, to chide ; snoppa, a

class of words

Sleere, a slayer: B 1147.

Sleeth, slays: B 260.
Sleighte, contrivance, craft

Prov.

345.

Fris.

of
(pret.

snie, snive,snew, to

stiee,

194.

Slee, Sleen,

Sleep

snoiued,swarmed,

Snewede,

slee),slain:

of

(pp.

Slawe

347

smite),

846.

smooth, smoothly:

A 845, B 767.
forsooth,soothsayer. A. S. soS,
truth ; sod, true ; sode, truly.

Cf. Sansk.
an

safya, true, Gr. eteos,

adjectiveformed

from

the

M8

GLOSSAR

ary
of the auxili-

participle
present
be.

as, to

the

Lat.

is allied to

Sat

being.

ens,

(Max

Miiller.)
Sootlifastnesse, truth

Sootlily, truly:A 117, 468,

See note.
Sop (inwyn) : A 334.
Soper, supper : a 348, B 33.
Sore,

sorely:

sorrowful

Sorweful,
Scry, sorrowful:
^
Sory comfort'
'

'

sory grace

1152.
A. S.

sdr, a wound.

Sotil,subtle,fine-wrought 196 ;
thin,1 1 72.
A. S.

781,B 1005.

sdwel.
a

sound

'

'

'

of

maner

spices,
grocery wares.'

Sovereynly,
Sowne, vb.

reign:
sove-

1564.
in, tendingto
B

Sowninge

uses

tend to

542.

sound, A 275, 565 ;

to

sb. sound
Chaucer

203.

307.
=

good.

goer
Starf

or

stilts.

upon

of sterve),
died:
(pret.
a

yearlingbullock,a

stirk

bullock

an
ox-calf;
sheep ; stier,

the male

O. H. Ger.

S parr en,

Sparth,
B

1662.

Special

ia sparrow
'

in

A
special,'
specially:

speed,hasten, prosper
: A
(pret.
spedde)
769,B 359.
to
Speken,
s-peak(pret.spak): A
142.

to

See

626.

444-

Spede,

Spak.

stero, a ram
; Ger.
bull.
Stier,Stier chen, a
stal,pp. stole,
Stele, to steal (pret.

stolen): A 562.
shone :
Stemed,
stem, steem,

halberd
or
battle-axe,
lc"\. sparda,an axe.

Sparwe,

rafter.

steer

bar, bolt (Eng.spar): b

132,218. M. E. s/)arre,to bolt ;

A. S. sparrnn, Ger. sperren, to

shut,bolt ; M. Du. sperre,sparre,
a
sparre, Ger.
spar, bar; Dan.

75.

A. S. steor, a'
1291.
Ger.
Prov.
ster, sterch,
;
:

192,737-

Sparre,

2137.

Sterve.

Steer,

Spak, spake: A 124. See Speken.

abstain from :
Spare, to refrain,

ily:
Stalke, to step slowlyand stealthA.S.
621.
to
B
stcelcan,
with
Dan.
stalke,to go
step ;
a
long steps. Cf. M. E. stalker,

See

into goode

sownen

"

22.

Squyer, a squire: A 79.

Stablissed, established :

67.
: C
surpassingly

to

1013,
Sw.

(pp. of springe),
sprung,
widely spread: B 579.
'ierscrupulSpyced, sophisticated,
ous:
See note.
A 526.
Spycerye, spices: B 2077. spices
Lat.
kinds. F. apices,
species,
cf.the
a
species
;
phrase general
All
dealer ; Sp.generos, kinds.
Hakluyt, iii.p.

674.
Souple, supple,pliant: A
Sovereyn, high, supreme,

Soun,

sprengan;

: B

Soule, soul

A, S.

words.

discomfort;

spread: b 2045.
to
spring: B

Eng.

Spronge

212.

1146,

misfortune.

sdrig,sore

cf.

Sporn ;

burst,
springa, spricha, to
Ger.
to
spring;
sprengeii, scatter,
burst open ; Eng. sprig,sfray,
sprinkle,
belong to this familyof

pp.

1749.

230,

chance
Sort, destiny,

Ger.

spora,
spurn.

Springen,

536.
844.
b
361, 419.
Sorwe, sb. sorrow:
A. S. sorh,Ger. Sorge. Sorwen,
vb. to be sorrowful, grieve.
adv.

Spere, a spear : b 781,795.

Spores, spurs : A 473. A.S. spura,

Sprad,

507.

; c

Y.

'

Sleem

or

lowe

A.

M.

202.

E.

of

gleam
light.
flamma ;
fyxt,

of

'

Prompt. Parv.
to
(pret.
steyite,
pp. stent),

Stenten

A.S.
B
stop, cease:
45, 510.
stintan,to be blunt ; stioif,blunt,
blockish

; Icel. stutlr,short ; O.

Sw. sttmt, short.

and stinted.

Stepe,

Cf.

Eng. stunted

(notdeep
glittering;
bright,

GLOSS

250

puted,
oi strive),
strove, dis(pret.

Strof

vied v^ith
strand

Strond.

Strook,

stroke

strife,

iSo.

O. F.

Sc.

843.

contest

a sister :
sustren),
(pi.

sound
a

A. S.

498.

die, perish(through
M.
faint
E, swelte, to
heat);
(through heat). The Prompt.

sweltan, to

has

Parv.

swal-

Sweltryngeor

'

sound

'Swalterynforhete

to

The

M.

swoon,

other

sword:
a
Swerd,
A, S. sweord.
Swere
swore,

963.

root

in

zn-swer.

Swete,

We

moaning, sighing
noise, caused
by the
wind
(or perhaps, a shivering
movement) : B, iilSj, Harl. MS.
Swymbel

swymel, is

of

E.

M.

(Cf.
'

or

717.

Swevene,

sb.

pp. y-

;
swear

have

the

in Lat.

such
Swich,
a
great : B

5,
:

265,

same

A. S.

the

{^ sop-mis).
=

swich a,
A3;
A. S. swilc,such

so
=

lie,like.
labour, toil

A. S.

sican.

485, B

Tas.
the
sleeveless

arms

It

541.

18S,

toil.
labourer

of

coat

on

arms

20,

the old dress of the

was

Chaucer

labourer, and

applies
of

frock

loose

the

coat

embroidered

were

herald's

Taille,

It. tabarro,

the
coat.
over-

531.

F.

have

as

scored

account

piecesof wood

notched

570.

E.

440.

tally,

to
tailler,

Tak, imper.take
Take, pp. taken
Takel, an arrow
M.

:
an

in two

54"-

; vb. to

See

which

to
:

to labour,toil : A 186.
Swinken,
A. S. swine,labour, toil ; svjincaii,

Swinkere,

T.

same

so, and

sb.

head.')

1569.

76.

have

somnus
:

2127.

Syth.es, times

it to

swefan, Icel. sofa,

We

sleep.

fro.

and

pi.),swine

sigh,B. 1062

Taflfata, taffeta

dream

swefen, from

to

move

598Syke,

S. sia/'te.
a

sweem,
to

Allied

in the
swiminifig

(sing,and

Swyn

tive
diminu-

swim

Icel. siueima,to

ploughman.

sweet:

nected
con-

sough, "c.

S.

A.

112,

(pret.swor, swoor
y-sworen),to

454,

to

is

that

'

swd,

swooti

shews

of

sort

to
siu"klan,
Eng.
sweat, Eng. sultry (^"iweltry), Taas.
heat.'
Tabard,
sweltering

Swink,

sound,

swogh,

hot ; Prov.

be

root

55,

E.

Swymbul,

febylnesse, Sythe,
(or swownyn)
1019.

cawsys

1961.

swoon:

with

or

exalo, sincopizo.'Cf.

Cf.

21.

sound.

to
sivdgan,

Swowne,

svvownynge(sincopa).' sigh,B 682,

terynge or

to

11

mourning, sighing.
fainted

Swelte,

A.

ments,
ele-

souch, swo2ich, sough, the

of the wind.
A. S. sweg,

13,

161.

or

storm:

streben,to strive.
Stubbes, stumps, trunks : B 1120.
A. S. styb,Du. stobbe,
stump ; of.
stubble.
stubborn,
610.
: A
Subtilly, craftily
: A
Suffisaunce, sufficiency
490.
Suffisaunt, sufficient : B 773.
Sureote, an upper coat : A 617.
Sustene, tp sustain : B 11 35.
Suster

See Swere.
Swor, Swore.
the raging of the
Swough,

13.

:
1580.
Ger.
strife ; esti'iver,
estrif,

Stryf,

A R Y.

:
:

: A

cut.

226.

1789.
106.

It

seems

(like loom,
signified

lome) any sort of implement

used
whether
utensil,
or

tool

or

and Strutt's

weapon.

Sportsand

See note

Pastimes,
Swed.
2nd ed.,p. 59. Cf.
taekel,
Ger. Takel,tackle.

GLOSS

Tale, speech,discourse,story:

AR

V.

2ra

take account
831. Telle tale
of,estimate ; litel tale hath he
told,'c 298, littleheed has he
=

'telle

^a/e'

no

related

of.

Thinke.

notice of, make

account
no
tell
tales
to
A
:
Taleii,
722.

Tapicer,
F.

upholsterer:A 362.

an

Tappestere,

female

tapster

target

F. targe.
Tas, sb. heap

147, 151, 162.

Athens:

165,

Techen,

teach, direct

to

308, C 129.

A. S. iron, teona,

; teonan, tynan, to
wrong
incense.

Teres,

tears

Tespye,
1

to

B.

the

personal
his
:
(possessive)

pronouns

thanhes, he being willing; Kir

thaiikes,
theybeing willing; like
soil

their

gre, leur gre, with

his

good-will.
the

arms

the array
the advice

716.

2218.
: B
Thavys,
to thrive,prosper:
c
Thee,
A.

156.

to flourish,
S./e'ow,
grow.

Theffeet, the effect :

A
they :
They,
Northern

form

the Southern

to

It is

seem.

'

it

to

seems

me

37

me,

seemed

to

me,

thoughte'' it

'him

pierce: B 1852. A. S.
to pierce,
pirel,a hole ; pirlian,
thrill, drill

and

or

thai;

to

be

O. H.

1419.

A. S.

diminutive,
in

is found

ptirh, through;

compare

Ger.

we

may

durchil,

pierced,from durch, through.

Thise, pi.these : A 701, B 673.
Tho, pi.the,those : a 498, b 265,
A. s. avi.

A. S. cIk'.
Tho, then: B 135.
the
office
B
:
Thoffice,
2005.
thumb
: A
563.
Thombe,
A. S.
Thonder, thunder: A 492.
Ger.
Dormer.
punor,
the orison

or

prayer

1403.
enslaved

Thral, slave,serf,one

694.

: B

It

Icel.prcell,servant.
a

is probablyconnected
B

iiostrils

whence

simpler form

A. S.

nosefhirles). The

seems
J)irel

The

heo,hi.
:

the
J)illic,/"ylc,

to

Thorisoun,

331.

475.

is t/ia

Thertcens, the incense

182,

Ger. dunken.

1493.

2058, Harl.

: B

MS.

Tharray,

appeared to him, A
; us
A. S. pyncau,^
A 785.
thoughte,

(M.E.

the genitive
768, 1249. Used

with
adverbially

or

682

Thonkes,

Tharmes,

34,

impersonally, as

385;

612.

Thynke,

it
thoughte,

me

468.

Thinke,

anger,

O. F. teste,F. tete, the

thanks

A.S.

thifiketh '

Thabsence, the absence, B 381.

then: A 12.
Than,
Thanne,

the F.

Thilke, the like, that:

Thirle,

oi thank

Thider, thither : B 405.

thick-haired
Thikkeherd,

injury,

422.

e?py

641.

Thankes,

that ;

Therto, besides: a 153, 757.

Thestat, the state or rank

used

head.

Thank,

where

"

like,that.

helmets
or
Testers, head-pieces,
B

as

335,1525.

Tendite, to endite,tell : B 351.

:
vexation, annoyance
Tene,

2248.

from

Distinct

1660.

MS.

Teche,
A

471.

275.
is a

716.

Tathenes=^to

Harl.

shield

or

word.

Thaiik

172.

241.

Targe,

think.

to

: B
Thentree, the entrance
1125.
there
: A
Ther,
43 ; where, A 547.

Ther

a carpet.
tapis,

the increase

Thencrees,
Thenke,

takeno

icS6.

'

paid;

the enchantments

Thenchauntenients,

with

Goth, thragjan,
to
prcegia/i,

A. S.
run.

GLOSS

^52
Thred, Threed, thread:
Thredbare, threadbare
thrash ;
to
Thresshe,
A. S.
/erscati, Icel.
also

Threshold

beat ; and
wald), wood ;
the

part

but

this

260.

536.

A. S. J^erscati,
A. S.
(
foot ;

due

was

thrust,press:
Threste,
Icel.prysta.
to

to

1754.

605.
thrice
:
A 63.
Thryes,
Thurgh,
through : B 362.
purh,
Thurgh-fare,

A. S.

630. F. tonrner.
tor, turn, twist,is seen

to

The

turn

root

Lat. tomus, a lathe : torwind.

whirla
quere, to twist ; turbeji,

75

See

1.

Toun,

town

Tour,

tower

ough.
thor-

piercedthrough,

See

152.

Til,

Girt.

Icel. tily
to.

"

See Breste.

To-brosten, burst or broken

pieces: b 1833, 1899.
hewed
cut
or
To-hewen,

pieces

to take

Tollen,

in

1751.

in

toll

payment

or

A. S. toll,
It seems
tax.
connected
with E. tale,
tell. See

Kluge.

over

To-raorwe,
yere
as

780.
(as in to-

to-morrow,

See Morwe.
this

The

to

year)is the

in M. E.

to,

prep,

2032.
with

great

as
1 1

as

tun

36.

trappingsof

horse

1641.
trance

714.

horse-harness

draw,

horses

which

by

traces

1281,

F.
treachery:C 510.
tricherie,trickery
; tricher, to

Trecherye,
trick.

Trede,

to tread

2164.

B 1143.
Tresoun, treason:
Trespas, trespass : B 960.
Tresse, a tress,plait:B 191.

F.

tresse,It. treccia.

Tretee, treaty : B 430.

Tretys, long and
tioned
well-proporA

Trewe,
a

152.

true:

481.

531.
In M.

Trewely,
E.

we

have

t7-yg,correspondingto

form

Icel. tryggr, Goth,

Trompe,

triggws,true.
trumpet: A 674, B
headless

of

shaft

truncheon):

spear

or

(E.

spear
F. trone^on,

1757.

from

Tool, weapon

Toon,
360.

Hall's

"

Chronicles,Ixxxii.

broken
B

armes.'

several

1316.

tongue
ference
Tonne-greet, having the circum-

See

trace.

having trappings: b
vi horses richely
trapped

'

Tronchoun,

F.

176.

265, 712.

"

note

to

felde, tranies.^

Parv.

together.
togedere,

Tonge,

172, 419.
B

Prompt.

truly:
A

Tonret,
1051.
Trace, track,path, 'tTrace, of

562.

Zoll in

478.

Trays, the

To, at, gone to : A 30.

See Toon.
To, toe : B 1S6S.
verbal
a
To-, as
prefix, Ger. zer-,
Goth. dU-, in twain, Lat. dh-.
To-breste, burst asunder: B 1753.

Schere.

turret

Traunce,

620.

to : B

shreds

in

cut

Trappures,

Thurgh-girt,

: B

in the

Trapped,

ihairh, Ger.

throughand

Eng.

durch,

Torne,

wey

B
ihorough-^^xe.:

Cf. Goth,

1989.

See note.

signified To-shrede,

the

by
merely
popular etymology.

Thridde,

ringsor swivels

Torets, small

if it

as

V.

1294.

E.

M.

as

beaten

third

: A

J"resJija.

wold

to

1172 ;

occurs

from
thresch-wold,

AR

toes

Top, head

:
:

96.

42 ;

A. S. tul.

Toos,

Lat. truncus.
truth : A 46,763 ;
Trouthe,
B

752.

Trowe,
:

590.

troth,

trowe

to

~1

believe
think

it to

155, 524.
be true.

GLOSSAR

E.

Hence
from

triie.

Trussed

up,

tro-th

tru-th

like

packed up

68

1.

O. F. trousser, torser, to pack up.

Cf. Eng. truss, a bundle,
tucked up : A 621.
Tukked,
tournament
a
Turneyinge,
See

1669.

tvau
{{.),

root

we

(n.).-With

this

connect

twi7i,

may

twine,twill,twig.
eweS

that"

name

of

'

twiggers.

twaine.'' The
2 +

Twinne,

of

or

Abuse,

depart, separate :

to

(knowing), ignorant: b
our
English Bible
cunning is used in a

good

sense.

not

two

tides,A

unknown

Unyolden,

See

119.

havingyielded:

not

of 7///^ei/e),
(pret.
upheaved,
See Heve.
: b
uplifted
1570.

Up-haf

flat

Up-right,
1

the

on

back

150.

: B
Up-riste, dat. uprising
193.
Up-so-doun,
upside down :

519-

upstarted,arose

Up-sterte,
See

441.

Up-yaf,

Tydes,
tid, time;

A. S.

401.

Sterte.

up

gave

1569.

in the
a

portion: a
(Eng. owice.)

MS.

unknown,

Uncoutli,

677,

rare,

un-

1639. See Couthe.

TJndergrowe, undergrown : A 156.
cotith:

the time

Undern,

of the
A. S.

C 402.
hour
of

mid-day

undern,the

the day, 9 P.M.

the intervening
signifiesliterally
hence
and
the
period,

mi'ddle
meal

of

the

taken

forenoon,

at

that

time.

or

In

the present passage, it probably

In mod.
means
11
A.M.
Eng.
dialects it means
mid-afternoon,
or
4 P.M.
their meals

Undertake,

The

labourers

elevenses and
to

affirm

391-

Unknowe,

126,

O. F.

vavaseur.

is explainedin various

to

baron,

Vavasour

was

sub-vassal

probably
sort of
a
holding a small fief,
esquire.
Venerye, hunting : A 166, B 1450.
most

Lat.

uenari,

whence

to

poison,venom:

Venim,

chase ;

hunt,

(^^uenationetn).

venison

1893,

1896.
Ventusyng,
term

Vernicle

A
:

Verray,
Vese,

cupping, a surgical
1889.

tence
verdict, judgment, sen-

Verdit,

787.
685.

See note.

Verrey, tnie, very : A 72,

Verraily, truly:A 33S.

422.

unknown:

360.

term

a
ways : Tyrwhitt says it means
middle-class landholder
Blount
;
it as one next in dignity
explains

call

fourses.
288, c

played
(dis-

rendered

service

; B 2196.
vassal)

Vavasour,

small

Harl.

valour, courage

Vasselage,

This

548.

196.

IT.

It

See Yolden,

1784

by

third

pointed
ap-

"Wite.

whence, tidy,tides.

meal

time, not

set

666.

639.

time

Tyde,

TJnce,

at
b

See above.

S35.
Two,

hower

It appears also in twelve

10), and twenty (2 x 10).

p. 17.

(=

the

by

An

Schoole

"

calls

Tusser

twins

bear

ning
cun-

In
1535.
the word

Unwist,

Tome.

unknowing,not

Unkonniug,

{i.),twa
(n.); Icel. tveir (m.),

tv"sr

253

Unset,

T-weye, two, twain : A 704, 792 ;

A. S. twegen (m.),
B
40, 270.
twai
twd
(m.),
(f.n.); Goth,
twos

Y.

rush

gush; lit.

an

of

wind, draught,

impulse:

1127.

GLOSSAR

254

Elles.

impetus (gloss in

Lat.

MS).

See

form

is the

O.

Ger.

H.

by

pel,
to imdrive, lc"\.fysa,

to

to drive
exhort,A. S.fesian,

(whence probably
^ng. feaze,feeze,or pheese,

which

both

means

Stanyhurst's
Virgil (Nares),

in
and

Troilus

215) ;

ii. 3.

Cressida,

and

also

speare's
Shake-

in

chastise,as

to

Icel. sb.

the

"Wanie,

the word

in

examples,observe

For

question.
he fysde
ac
'

"

but he poured
genehe,'
forth arrows
enough (Death of
Byrhtnoth,ed. Grein, 1. 269);
and
'fus and forSgeorn,'
eager
forward

of going
281). Hence
probably
modern
Eng. fuss.^ Skeat.
desirous

391.

See

A. S. tvattian,to diminish ;
a
deficiency.To the root
tvan,
wan
belongs possibly A. S.
whence

pale ;

"Wantovp-n,

wan.

free,

wanton,
The

208.

: A

strained
unre-

wawprefix

-tojcn

A. S.

trained,from

-togen,

(tolead,
educate,pp. getogefi).Cf Ger.
icon

iingezoge/i.

"Wantownesse,

forS flane

and

131.

1220.

264.
fysi, an
impulse, inclination,
wish, which exactlycorresponds "War, aware,
to

decrease,diminish

to

implies lack;^

drive,as

to

despair:B

"Wanhope,

wa?m,

the

aM'ay
Prov.

conquered:

won,

Winne.

"Wanie.

dropping
", the A. S. fus,
quick,eager ; Icel. fuss, eager ;
hence the verbal forms in Swed.
the

fosa,

"Wan,
See

funs,

whence,

quick;

prompt,

oldest

'The

note.

Y.

cautious, prudent:

A. S. wcEr, war, cautious.

'
I perceived,
war
A 157-

309.
'
I was
War

wantonness

him,

beware

to

governedby
(Infin.
warian,
With

to

oghte).A. S.
be cautious.

be ware,

this

root

662.

connected

are

ward, tvarder,warn, gziard,

guardian.

(id. 1.
the

"

Vestimens,
Veyn, vain

vestments
B

of the veins

1889.

Vileinye, sb. unbecoming

726:

talk,disgrace:
84.

Vitaille, victuals
Vouclie-sauf,
A

to

70,

: A
569,749.
vouchsafe, grant

to

wave

veikr

cf. M.

lament

wcEcan,

tending
at:

wacian,

watch, keep watch ; Eng.

watch, tvaits.
Walet, a wallet ; a 6S1, 686.
to

Icel.

E. woe,

A. S.

%vdc,

alas !

well-a-way!

80, c 560.

"Waymentinge,

to cry ivai
literally
to
guaiolore,

or

cry

guai !

vigilsfor the dead

A. S.

29.

Cf. Ital.

woe.

2102.

wave,

worthless.

wcll-a-day!

W.

A. S.

iioo.

lamentation, wailing: B*I37,

1063. O. F.
tuaimenter, to

1893.

See "War.
"Waar, aware, wary.
ceremonies
"Wake-pleyes,

See note.
water
: a 180.

wagian, to

pi. weak

"Waymenting,

expel :

the

weak, mean,
"Waylaway,

807, 812.

Voyden,

"Waterlees, without
B
waves:
Wawes,
wag.
Wayke,

duct
con-

wastel,later gasteau,

cake, F. gateau.

W(kg,a

Viage, voyage : A 77, 723.

: A
Vigilyes, vigils
377.
or

O. F.

147.

2090.

236.
blood

Veyne-blood,
B

bread-cake

"Wastel-breed,

Wayte,

the look

be

on

for

: A

525, 571 ;

weaver:

to

look

to

out
B

for,

364.

See Awayt.

Webbe,
M.
a

E. hunt-e,a

362.

Cf.

hunter; tromp-e,

a prisoner.
trumpeter ;prison-e,

GLOSSAR

curity
(dat. wedde), pledge, sein
pledge, as
; to wedde,
a
pledge : .B 360. A. S. wed,
Eng. wed,
agreement ; whence
wedlocli.
wedding,

"Wed

"Wedden,

wed

to

A. S.

148.
clothing
attire of men
woid, clothing,

and

It is still retained

women.
'

well

Weel,

68, 1265.

E.

653

much,

396.

fountain

source,

2179.

weened, thought:

411.

Wenden,
A

Eng.

ivent

go,

1356.

; B

is the

pass
The
of

tense

past

'

Cf. the

wende.

one's

to

16, 21

away:

phrase

to wend

way.'

"Wene,

to

think

797.

hope,
It is preservedin E.
suppose.
"c.
ween, over-weening,
"Wepe, "Wepen
(pret.weep, wep;
hope

to

; wenan,

wepe?i), to

weep:

144,

230.
: B 733.
"Wepne, a weapon
"Were, to defend, guard : B

A. S.

779,

wore

Wirche,

564.

75,

1692.

defend.

werian,to

"Wered,
"Werken,

to

work

47,

war:

429.

Du.

strife,
war
; F. guerre.
make
to
"Werreye,
'Werreyen,

against:

"Werte,

626, 686.

wart

(wear,

varta, Ger.
B

555.

knot,

467.

34,

esteems

luei !

cry

or

363.

"Weymentinga

See "Way-

44.
when

"Whan, "Whanne,

15, 18,

wart),Icel.

(pret.ofwasche),washed:

1425.

sb.

wax

wherefore, why, lo !

What,

422,

184,

854wheel

68, 1165.

pimples, blotches

"Whalkes,

632.
where

"Whar,
"Whar,
R

whether

1952.

of two

998.

"Which, what.
B

1394.

whether, which
Which

what

a,

1817.

"

the

"Whippaltra,
Cf

2065.

Mid.

cornel-tree
Ger.

Low

wipel-

bo7n,the cornel-tree (Pritzel).

"Whyl. whilst : A 35, 397. "Whyle,
time.
A. S. hwil, time ; Norse

hvila,to

It is retained

rest.

'
while
awhile ;
to
'
time
to pass the
in rest or recreation.

1545.

A. S. hwilmn.

was

old

seen

an

away
time

formerly, once

in M.

in
the

away
:

The

i,
-?/w

adverbial

ending,as
K./errum,
Eng.
afar ;

seldom.
A. S.

Warze.

"Wete, wet, moist

"Wette, wetted :
Wex,

wail ; to

to

"Whylom,

tuerre,

"Wessh

"Wayle,

1901.

Werre,

weart

504.
of
of full

man

:
a way
"Way, Weya,
Weyath,
weigheth,

"Whether,

ween,

A. S. luen,

war

man

: B
growing, increasing

Wexing,

"Wheal,

"Wane.

"Wende,

pp.

'

adult, a

a.n

"

179.

B37"Welle,
"Wende,
See

has

"Wex,

menting.

wealth
weal, prosperity,

Wele,

weaxati,

Shakespeare

woe

adv. full,
AA7"el,
very,

increase.

to

increased, became
wax

become-

increase,grow,

to

923M.

1487. Cf.
creep, /ee^ crept,leapt.

^^eep, wept:

"Wexe,
A. S.

1220.

in

w/e^cfs.'

widow's

^55

growth.

974.

"Wede,

Y.

1480.

"Whjrt, white

238.

Comp.

Whittar.

"Widwa,
"Wight,

widow

253.

living creature ; a
any
male
female: A 71,
or
person,
326. A. S. iviht.

129.

"Wighte,

675.

"Wikke,

weight :

1287.

wicked, bad, untoward

256
B

AR

GLOSS

M.

weak

wikke,poor,

E.

:
Wilfully, willingly

Wilne,

desire:

to

wiln,wish

wolde,would,

276.

27.
Woln, Wolle

wibiian,to desire.

wimple :

giiimple,M.
wrap

F.

470.

Du.

winged :

wonne,

527.

gain,profit: 275.
work:

See

1901.

:
certainly
1928.
wis, as certainly,
as
truly:

See Ywis.

58S.

truly: B 1376.
understanding,judgment,

wisdom:

Wite,

279, 746.
learn
to
know,

to

3rd pers.
402 ; 1st and
indie,
2nd
wot, wool;
wost

sing,
pers.

pi. witen, tvyten;

S.

wiste.

A.

whence

wit,to

pret.
know

witan,
"c.
wit, witty,
to

maintained:

Withholde,
Withouten,

without:

538;

besides,A 461.
Withseyn,
:

Withseye,

805, B

282.

knowledge :

Witing,

say
gain-

to

753.

A.

233.

Woo,

loathsome, hateful :
S. wldtian, to nauseate,
sb.

sorrow,

woe,

rowful,
1766; lament, B 42 ; adj.sora
grieved, displeased,

351See Wood.

Wode.

Wodebynde,
Wofullere,
B

482.

more

650.

sorrowful

2069.

wohneu,

to

(pp.of winne),

Wonnen

conquered,obtained:

51,

19.
mad

w6d,

A. S.

582, B 471.

: A

mad

wodnes,

madness.

Woodly,
madly, B 443.
madness
:
Woodnesse,
Wo
ok, awoke : B 535.

1153.

know:
A
(ist pers.),
659 ; (3rd pers.),knows,

389,

Woot

28.

See Wite.
Worse,

worse

366.

sb. honour

; Worschip-

: b
ful, honourable
1054.
to
honour, to
Worshipe,

proper
worth

1393.
herbs :

A. S.
401.
still exists in

"

wort-yard,

herb-garden).
Worthinesse,
bravery:
brave
Worthy,
'Wost, knowest

estthou,

:
:

305.

pay

another's

to

respect

50.

47, 68.

Wostow,

know-

See Wite.

Wrastle, to wrestle: B 2103.

: A
548.
Wrastling, wrestling

Wrecehe,

woodbine,
the

606.

weort,

loathe.

Wo,

335,

388, b

It
wyrt.
orchard
cole-wort,

See

"Wite.

Wlatsome,

1215

wiinian,Ger,

Wortes,
B

dwell

to

A. S.

Worship,

51T.

B
B

custom,
usage
A. S. wtme.

Wood,
See Ywis.

Wisly,
Wit,

wonderful:

Wonne,

"Wis^ywis,
C

890.

Wone,

Werken.

As

ting :

feel-

womanly

Wommanhede,

dwell, inhabit,rest.
a
Woning,
dwelling,habitation:

to

686.

182.

759.

Winnyng,
Wirche,

wilt thou

Woltow,

: A

(pret. waji, won ; pp.

to win, obtain,
wotvieti),

gain :

Wone,

Winne

: B

wonderfully
483, 796.
"Wonderly, wonderfully: A 84.

to

p. 140.

Winged,

42 ; pt. s.

pi.wolden,

144 ;

(pi.of wol),will

wilt ;

Wolt,

Wonder,

wimpelen,
wimpel,a veil,flag. See

1263.

"Wiltou, wilt thou : B 298.

"Wilwe, willow-tree : B 2064.
for the neck :
a covering
Wimpel,
decked,
A
Ywimpled,
151.
with

will,A

A. S.

751.

vb.

Wole,

Wol,

mean,
A. S. wican, to be weak.

229.

V.

73,
Wreke,

wretch, wretched

248.

wreak

to
:

revenge,

103.

avenge,

258

GLOSS

in

as

A.S.gerd,

^arJ-measure.

gyrd,twig,rod, stick.
Yerd, enclosure,yard: c 27. A. S.

AR

y.

payed :

Y-payed,
Y-pinched,

944.

tightly plaited:

151-

Y-preved, proved to be : A 485.

geard, hedge, enclosure,garden ;
orchard
( wort-yard), Y-raft, bereft: B 1157. Pp. of
Eng. yard,
to snatch,bereave.
reven,
garden.
8 ; clustered,
Y ronne,
A
B
b 298.
Yet
now
run,
justnow:
Y-ronnen,
1307.
Yeve,
run, coaguYeve, Yiven, to give : A
lated
*^^ rennen,
: B
Pp1835.
223.
=

=^

Y-falle, fallen: A 25.

Y-fetered, fettered: b 371.
found: b 353, c 362.
Y-founde,
Y-go, gone, A 286.
Y-grounde,
ground, sharpened
pp.
:

1691.

Y-holde,

esteemed, held

pp.

Yive, Yiven,

give

to

: A

225

pp.

(in a cart):
530.
Pp. oi !ede7i,to lead, carry.

Y-laft, left:

1888.

Pp. of/sven,

to leave.

alike,

592,

1876;

made:

1207,

1997.
Y-met, pp. met : b i 766.
Y-meynd
(pp.oimenge),mingled,
mixed:

131

2.

: A

373.

yielded: B 2194.
A. S. gildan,to
of
yeldeji.
Pp.

give up.
to
yell: b 1814.
youl.
Eng. go2il,
Yond, yonder : B 241.

young:
long time.

long

Prov.

Y-slayn,

690.
226.

of

589. Pp.

1850.

of

spretige),
B
sprinkled,scattered:
131 1.
A. S. spritigan,
to spring; Ger.
(pp.

to
sprijiga,

the

split. Cf.

springa leak.'
Y-stiked, pierced,b 707.
B 11 56.
Y-storve, dead:
Pp. of

phrase

'

to

sterven, to die.

Y-sworn,

as^oon

year.

: B 420.
Youling, yelling
Yew,
you : a 34, 38.

turned:

warned

380, 1204.
c

wedded:

Y-wedded,
Y-wimpled,

Y-wis,

sworn:

412.
b

decked

2240.
with

See "Wimpel.

470.

certainly,truly,c
A. S. geu'is.

379,

wont, accustomed.

See

Y-wont,

of
955;
ago,
A. S. gedra,
time.
gear,

shear.

Y-spreynd

622.

7, 79,213.
Yore

time

yore, in olden
of yore, from

slain

wimple

pay,

Yolle,

Yore,

cut

Y- warned,

pp.

YongjYonge,

shriven

Y-shrive,

279.

shaven

Y-turned,

enough

of

Y-served,
pp. served: B 105.
Y-set, appointed: B 777.

274.
Y-taught, taught: a 127.
Y-tsyd, tied : a 457.
A.S.77iefigia?i,

to mix.

Y-nogh,
Yolden,

y-see7i.)

Sw.

681.
pp.

the

sprengen, to scatter,burst open

Y-liche, pi.alike,B 1668.

Y-logged, lodged: C 171.

Y-maked,

pp.

(Distinctfrom

Sene.

to
shere?i,

423.

carried

See

Y-shorn,

Y-knovp-e, known

Ylyke,

Y-scalded, scalded : b 1162.

Ysene, adj. pi. visible : a 592.

Y-shave,

1340.

given,B 57.

Y-lyk,

run.

Y-seyled, sailed

1516, 2100.
Yifte, gift:

Y-lad,

to

"Wone.
made
lu ere

wrought,

worked,

Y-wroght,
A

196. Pp.

of

werken,

hen.

Y-wrye,

covered

gewrigen,pp.
to cover.

2046.

oiivrton

or

A.

S.

wr'ihan,

NAMES.

PROPER

OF

INDEX

in the Notes.
further explained
are
proper names
to the Six-text Edition.
references in this Index
are
Throughout
suitable to that
Prestos Tale, the numbers
Tale and Nonne
the Knight's
edition are givenwithin marks ofparenthesis.
Throughout the Prologue,

Many of the
The

the

numbering is the

Achilles,

Adam,
Ado

same

in the text.

as

Baldeswelle, Baldeswell

4338.
444S.
b

on, Adonis,

Bathe, Bath, a 445.

Belle, the Bell,an inn,A 719.

2224.

Affrike, Africa,B 4314.

A
Algezir, Algeciras(in Spain),
A

Belniarye,Benamarin, A 57, 2630.

Beneit, St. Bennet,A 173.
Gordonius, A
Bernard, Bemardus

51.

Hamadryades,

Amadrides,

620.

Alisaundre, Alexandria,

434-

Berwick-on-Tweed,

Berwik,

292S
Amazons, A
Amazones,
Amphioun,
Amphion, A 1546.
B
Andromache,
Andromacha,

Boece, Boethius,b 4432, 44S4.

Boloigne, Boulogne in France, A'

465-

4331.

Mark

Antonius,
Antony,
A
i.
Aprille, April,

Bradwardyn,
bishop,B 4432.
A 409.
Britayne, Brittany,
Bourdeaux, A 397.
Burdeux,

2032.

Arcita,A 1013,
I28i,"c. ; A'rcita,
2761; Arcite, Burnel, Brunellus
A 103 1, T080, II 12, "c.; A'rcite,
1 211.
1 152,
Cadme,
Cadmus,
1344, "c. ; A'rcit',

Argus,

692.

S80.

Areita

in Norfolk,

; accented

the ass,
A

1546 ;

4502,
mus,
Cad-

1547.

1390.

A 2056.
Calistopee, Callisto,

Aristotle, A 295.
Artoys, Artois, A 86.
Athenes, Athens,A 861, 873,880
it

Capaneus,

932.

Cartage, Carthage,A 404,

Catoun, Dionysius Cato,

the

4555.

(where perhaps
4130,
Athenians;,
4161,4166.
968,973,1023,1194,
CaunterlDury, Canterbury,A 16,
I39i,"c.
Atthalante, Atalanta,A 2070.
22,27,769,793,801.
a
Attheon, Actoeon, A 2065, 2303.
Chauntecleer, i.e. clear-singer,
Averrois,

Averroes,

means

Moorish

cock, B

A 433.
physician,

Chepo,

Avicen, Avicenna, a 432.

saint
Augustyn,
Augustine,
*

4431 ; Austin, A

187,1S8.

younger,
S

4039, "c.

Chcapside,in London,

754Cipioun,

Scipio Africanus
B

4314.

the

26o

INDEX

OF

PROPER

Circes, Circe,A 1944.

Citherea, Venus, A 2215.
Citheroun,
Cithseron,a

NAMES.

in
Cape Finisterre,
a
Spain, 408.
1936, Plaundres, Flanders,A 86.
Elaundrish, Flemish,A 272.
2223.
Clemence, Clemency (agoddess), Fleming, a Fleming,B 4586.
A 928.
Frensli, French, A 124, 126.
B
a
Colle, dog, 4573.
Friday, A 1534, 1539; b 4531,
Coloigne, Cologne, A 466.
454^.
Constantinus
Constantyn,
Afer,
A

Finistere,
N.W.

433-

Creon, a 938,961,963,986,1002.
Cresus, Croesus,A 1946,b 4328.
Crete, A 980.
Cristofre, St. Christopher(on a

brooch),A 115.

Galgopheye, Gargaphia,A 2626.

Galice, Gallicia in Spain,A 466.
Galien, Galen, A 431.

Gatesden, John
A

Gatisden

of Oxford,

434.

Geoffreyde Vinsauf,
Anglo-Norman troiivere,B 4537.

Gaufred,

Cupido, Cupid,A 1963 ; Cupide,

1623.

in East

Ghent

Gaunt,

448.
Genilon,

Flanders,

Johannes Damasce-

Damaseien,
nus,

Dane,

twelve

433.

Daphne,

Daniel,

2062,2064.

4318.

Deiscorides,

A
Dioscorides,

430.

Dertemouthe, Dartmouth, A 389.

Diane, Diana, a 2051, 2057, 2063 ;
oratory of, 191
to, 2297.

Ecclesiaste,

2051

2,

; prayer

Ganelon,
peers,

one

of

the

4417.

Gerland, Garland, a dog, B 4573.

Gernade, Granada, A 56.
Gilbertyn, Gilbertus Anglicus,A
434-

Gootlond,
Gottland,an island in
the Baltic Sea, A 408.

Grece, Greece, A 962.

Grekes, Greeks, A 2899, 2951,

Ecclesiasticus,B

2959,

2969.

4519-

Ector,

2832, B4332

; Ectores,

B 4331.
Hector's,
Egeus, ^geus, A 2838,
Egipt, Egypt,B 4323.

Hercules,

121.

2113.

English, English speech,A 265,

1459-

Epicurus,A 336.
A 429.
Esculapius, ^sculapius,

Epicurus,

Paunes,

of
g-e;i.

pi.Fauns,

Femenye,

Amazons,

the
A

2928.

country

866, 877.

of

A 43 1
physician,
liasdrubal's,B

4553-

2905.

Eglentyne,
Emelye, Emilia,a 871,972, 1035,
1046,"c. ; Emelya, 1077, i860;
Emely, i860.
Emetreus, a 2156,2638,2645.
Eneidos, Vergil's
^neid, B 4549.
Engelond, England, a 16, 580,
a

Haly, an Arabian
Hasdrubales,

the

1943.

Hereos,

Eros, Cupid, Love,

1374Huberd,

Hubert,

Hulle, Hull, A
lakke

Straw,

269.

404.

Jack Straw, B 4584.

lame, Santiago,or Compostella,

in Gallicia,A 466.
lerusalem, Jerusalem,A 463.
Ilioun, Ilion,the citadel of Troy,
B

4546.

Inde, India,A 2156.

loseph, Joseph,B 4320.
A 2222.
love, Jove,Jupiter,
Ipolita, Hippolyte,A. 868, 88 1,
971, 1685.

INDEX

OF

PROPER

A 340.
lulian, St. Julian,
lulius, JuliusCaesar,A 2031.
luno, Juno,A 1329, 1555, 1559.
A
lupiter, Jupiter,
2442, 3069.

Kenelm,

saint,

4300,

261

NAMES.

the"river

Orewelle,

Orwell, A 277,

Oxford,A 285.

02:enford,

Palamon,

1014,

1031,
1070, "c.

Palamoun,
Palatye, .Palathia,A

4302.

"c.

65.

126.

Paris,
saint,B 4631.
Penneus, Peneus, A 2064.
Perotheus, Pirithous, A
A

Paul,

Latin,

4355 ; Latyn,

LauncelotG
of the

Lake,
B

romance,

hero

63S.

Lancelot

Lake,

de

of Arthurian

1202, 1205,

4402.

Lettow, Lithi:ania,A 54.

Lycurgus,A 2129, 2644.

Ligurge,
London,

382, 509.

Loy, St.

A
Eligius,

120.

2085.
Lyde, Lydia, B 4328.
Lyeys, formerly
Layas,now
A 58.
A

Macrobius,

Maerobeus,

of

March,
4378*4380-

Marche,

Ayas,

to, 2373 ; Marte, 2021

prayer

Martes,

St.

Maudelayne,
a

ship,A

1462, 1500,

1510,

1511,

2484.

980.
2486.

oik, Norfolk

Nymphes,

(alludingto John

i.

i), A

254-

Pruce, Prussia,A 53.

A

2045.

I.,B 4538.
Romans, B 4555.
Romayns,
Rome, A 465, 687 ;
Rome,
Richard

Richard,

//.Nymphs,

619.
A

2928.

4561.
Rouncivale, Roncesvalles, A 670.
Rubeus, A 2045.
Ruce, Russia, A 54.
Rufus,

fox,B

Arabian
Spanish-

A 432.
physician,

Greek
i.e.

Russel,

Narcisus, Narcissus, A 1941.

Nero, A 2032, B 4560.
Northf

ning
in, i.e. in the begin-

Razis, Rhasis,a

Medea,
1944.
Meleagre, Meleager,A 2071.
Mercenrike, Mercia, B 4302.
Mercurie, Mercury,A 13S5.
Middelburgh,
Middelburg, in
A 277.
Holland, near Flushing,
A

4548.

Principio,

Magdalen,

410.

Monday,

name

Maure, St. Maur, A 173.

May, A 92, 1034, 1037, 1042, 1047,

Minotaur,

509.
Priam,

Puella,

gen. 2024.
of

4461.

Plato, A 741.
Pluto, A 2082, 2299, 2685.
Poules, St. Paul's Cathedral,

4313.

March,

1982,"c.; statue of,2041;

1428,1558,1728.
a book
Physiologus,
animals
B
Theobaldus,
by

Pieardye, Picardy,A 86.

Pirrus, Pyrrhus,B 4547.

975, 1559, 25S1 ; oratory

1907, 1969 ; temple of,

assumed.

Arcite's

name,

on

sheep,b 4021.

1227.

Phisiologus,

B 4574.
servant-girl,

Malkin, a
Malle, name

Mars,
of,

91,

Pertelote, a hen, B 4060,4074, "c.

Peter, saint Peter,a 697.
Pharao, Pharaoh, B 4323.
Phebus, Phoebus, the sun, A 1493.
Philostrate,

of Diana,

Lucyna, Lucina,aname

11

A
physician,

reddish, name

430.
of a

4524.

king Solomon, A 1942.

Samson, A 2466.
Satalye, Attalia,a 58. The initial

Salamon,
Sampsoun,
s

representsGk.

'sfor

ci?

(prep.)

iZ52

INDEX

Saturn,

Saturne,

2685

2450,

Scithia,

Scythia,

Grete,

Sea,

882.

the

Trace,

Levant,

860, 878,907,963,

saint

Thomas,

Thrace,

physician,

Sinon,

4418.

Sonday,

Sunday,

2188,

455,

1638,

Tremessen,

Troy,

Troye,

2833,

Turkish,

Turkeys,

432.

826.

1972,

2129.

Tramissene,
Arabian

an

998,

"c.

looi,

A59-

Serapion,
A

Theseus,
Thomas,

4417.

867,

Great

1328,

NAMES.

2443.

Iscariot,

Judas

PROPER

1088,

Saturnus,

Scariot,

See,

OF

Turkye,

Turkey,

Turnus,

62.

A
B

4419.

2895.

66.

1945.

2209,

Southwark,

Southwerk,

20,

Venus,

718.

Spain,

Spayne,

Statins,

Staee,
Stratford
at

Bow,

Tars,

inn,

an

Talbot,

dog,

Tartary

Taurus,

of,

2526;

20,

to,

; prayer
A

2221.

2222.

Hertfordshire,
William

"William,

719.

for

Wat,

2160.

692.

Walter,

I.,

324.

Idleness,

Ydelnesse,

"

Venus,

Thebanes,

643.

2515,

pi. 2570;

in

Ypres,

to

1940.

Hippocrates,

Ypocras,

porter

West

Flanders,

431.
A

448.

1877.

Thebans,

1002,

1918

of, 1904,

4573.

(?),A

4384.

1955

1536,

1332,

104,

Vulcan,

in

"Ware,

adj. Theban,

Thebane,

Thebes,

oratory

"Watte,

Tabard,

102,

Stratford

125.

Vulcanus,

2294.

Bowe,

atte

4532

statue

409.

933,

1019,

939,

967, 983, 986,

Zephirus,

(Sec.

THE

END.

5.

Zephyr,

west

wind,

OXFORD

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