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GIFT OF 
 Dr, Horace Ivie 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2008 with funding from 
 
 IVIicrosoft Corporation 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/englishofxivthceOOchaurich 
 
ENGLISH 
 
 OF 
 
 THE XIVTH CENTURY. 
 
ENGLISH 
 
 OF 
 
 THE XIV™ CENTURY, 
 
 ILLUSTRATED BY NOTES, GRAMMATICAL 
 AND PHILOLOGICAL, 
 
 ON 
 
 Gmttf^ prologue anti Migljl's Cale* 
 
 DESIGNED TO SERVE AS • 
 
 AN INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF 
 ENGLISH LITERATURE. 
 
 » • • . » ^ • * » ' * 
 . • ■, 
 
 » • ' ^ • •' •> o , , 
 
 • • • J > ' • , > ' J ' "> > 
 
 STEPHEN H. CARPENTER, A.M., 
 
 FROFESSOR OF RHETORIC AND ENGLISH LITERATURE IN THE STATE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 PUBLISHED BY GINN & COMPANY. 
 
 1886. 
 
Entered according to Act of Congress, m the year 1872. vy 
 
 STEPHEN H. CARPENTER, 
 
 In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Wasbmgton. 
 
 f.DUQATipN DEPT 
 GIFT OF 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 This book has been prepared with the design of afford- 
 ing the means of a critical study of the EngHsh Language 
 to a younger class of pupils than have hitherto been able 
 to pursue it profitably ; and, as it is only from a careful 
 study of literature that a thorough acquaintance with a 
 language can be gained, the work is also intended to 
 serve as an introduction to the study of English Literature. 
 I have therefore endeavored to render the Notes and Glos- 
 sary sufficiently full to remove every difficulty that would 
 meet a student of average ability ; intending, if erring 
 on either side, to err on the side of giving too much 
 rather than too little assistance. Particular attention has 
 been given to the grammatical construction, in the belief 
 that the true way to study a language is not from the 
 dead rules of grammar, but from the living forms of liter- 
 ature. I see no reason why the English, studied with 
 the same care and thoroughness which are given to the 
 ancient classics, may not afford equal mental discipline ; 
 especially if an author be studied whose archaisms will 
 prevent the common error of mistaking familiarity with 
 forms and idioms for a critical knowledge of the structure 
 of the language. 
 
vi PREFACE. 
 
 To Chaucer is assigned the third place among Eng- 
 lish poets, only Shakspeare and Milton ranking above 
 him ; and yet, to the mass of English readers, he is as 
 much a stranger as yEschylus or Virgil, the slight 
 archaism of his language being sufficient to repel all but 
 special students. It is no credit to our scholarship that 
 our own language has been thus neglected in our higher 
 courses of study, whilst such ample provision has been 
 made for the study of ancient and modern tongues. If 
 this volume shall serve in any degree to awaken a more 
 general interest in the critical study of a language which 
 need not fear comparison with any, either ancient or 
 modern, and familiarize our students with an author 
 who for five centuries has maintained his place among 
 the great poets of the world, its object will be fully 
 realized. 
 
 The text here given is mainly that of Morris, in the 
 Clarendon Press Series, to whose labors I am much 
 indebted ; occasionally, however, I have given a different 
 reading, for reasons given in the Notes. I have refei'red 
 to Morris's edition by the letter M. ; to Tyrwhitt's, by 
 the letter To 
 
 My first design was to include extracts from the Vision 
 of Piers Plowman ; but as the diction of that poem dif- 
 fers so materially from that of Chaucer, — representing 
 rather the language in its transitional state, — I have 
 deferred an edition of that Poem until some future time. 
 
 University of Wisconsin, 
 October, 1872. 
 
CONTENTS, 
 
 Introduction 
 
 The Prologue 
 
 The Knightes Tale . . . . 
 Notes to the Prologue , . 
 Notes to the Knightes Tale 
 Glossarial Index 
 
 IX 
 
 I 
 
 26 
 
 93 
 191 
 
 253 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 LIFE OF CHAUCER. 
 
 Of the early life of Geoffrey Chaucer, but little is 
 known. Even the date of his birth is uncertain. Ac- 
 cordins: to some authorities he was born at London in 
 the year 1328; by others this event is placed as late 
 as 1340. His writings reveal but the merest glimpses 
 of his personal history, so that the only authentic data for 
 an account of his life are a few scattered allusions in the 
 public records. Both Oxford and Cambridge claim the 
 honor of his education, but there is no certain evidence 
 that he studied at either. He seems to have been of 
 gentle blood, as we find him at a very early period of his 
 life attached to the royal household. 
 
 In 1359, Chaucer joined the army of Edward III., 
 which invaded France in November of that year. In the 
 campaign which followed, he was taken prisoner, but 
 was probably released upon the conclusion of the Great 
 Peace in 1360. In 1367 he received a pension of twenty 
 marks, in consideration of past and future services. 
 From 1370 to 13S0, Chaucer was in the royal service, 
 being employed on various diplomatic missions, which 
 
X INTRODUCTION. 
 
 he discharged so successfully as to receive additional 
 tokens of favor. In the prosecution of these duties he 
 travelled extensively, visiting the Low Countries, and 
 Italy, — then the resort of learned men, — and where he 
 formed the acquaintance of Petrarch, then in the full 
 splendor of his fome. 
 
 Chaucer's wife was PhilipjDa de Roet, whose sister 
 Katharine was afterwards wife of John of Gaunt, the 
 founder of the powerful House of Lancaster, to whose 
 fortunes the poet was thus naturally attached. While 
 Richard 11. was under the influence of this powerful 
 nobleman, Chaucer enjoyed the royal favor, but, as the 
 Duke's influence waned, the poet was reduced to poverty. 
 Richard 11. came to the throne upon the death of his 
 grandfather, in i378« Being but twelve years of age, 
 the government was placed in the hands of a council 
 composed of his three uncles, the Dukes of Lancaster, 
 York, and Gloucester. The insurrection under Wat 
 Tyler was hardly quelled, when a contest arose between 
 the nobles, which did not end until Henry Bolingbroke, 
 son of John of Gaunt, ascended the throne from which 
 Richard had been deposed by the act of Parliament. 
 
 For a time Richard continued the favor which Edward 
 III. had shown the poet; in 13S6, however, Chaucer 
 was dismissed from all his offices, and his pensions were 
 reduced, for some reason which has not been very satis- 
 factorily explained. It is probably owing to this fiict that 
 we possess the Canterbury Tales, — the work by which he 
 is best known. His active and cultivated mind, relieved 
 from the cares and duties of public life, sought a more 
 congenial employment in literature, which he had already 
 cultivated to a degree remarkable for that age. 
 
INTRODUCTION. xi 
 
 Chaucer was admirably fitted for his future eminence 
 by this varied hfe, so rich in adventure, — now with the 
 chivah-ous hosts which conquered the armies of the 
 French, and captured their king, — now in the En^-lish 
 Court, at the head of which was Edward III. and his no 
 less illustrious son, the Black Prince, — now in diplo- 
 matic service abroad, or sitting at the feet of the greatest 
 scholars of the day, — now an interested witness of the 
 troublous times which ended in the dejDosition and 
 tragical death of Richard II. ; and finally in aged and 
 honorable retirement, writing from the rich fund of his 
 varied experiences these inimitable Tales, which still, 
 after the lapse of five centuries, are as fresh as a spring 
 landscape after a shower. 
 
 On the return of Henry Bolingbroke from Spain, Chau- 
 cer had once more a powerful protector. His grants 
 were restored, and, upon the accession of Henry to the 
 throne, largely increased. His enjoyment of this pros- 
 perity, however, was brief. In 1400, a little more than 
 a year after the son of his old friend had been raised to 
 the throne, the poet was gathered to his fathers, full of 
 years and honors. 
 
 GRAMMATICAL OUTLINE. 
 
 Chaucer's English is substantially that of the present 
 day. It difiers from Anglo-Saxon in being analytic or 
 uninflected, although it may fairly be questioned whether 
 the spoken Anglo-Saxon ever fully conformed to the 
 cumbrous inflections of the written lansfuasfe. The fol- 
 lowing brief sketch gives an outline of the grammar of 
 Chaucer. 
 
xii INTBODUCTION. 
 
 NOUNS. 
 
 Singular. — The no77iinative answers to the modern 
 nominative. The genitive answers to the modern pos- 
 sessive, and regularly ends in es ; sometimes this case 
 takes no inflection, and sometimes it ends in e. The 
 dative denotes the relation expressed by the prepositions 
 to or J~or ; it regularly ends in e. The accusative an- 
 swers to the modern objective, and regularly ends like 
 the nominative. 
 
 The Plural regularly ends in es ; remnants of the old 
 n-declension are also found ; some nouns take no inflec- 
 tion in the plural. 
 
 PARADIGMS. 
 
 Sin^. NoM. lippe hors wjf l^dy assche man 
 
 Gen. lippes horses wyfes ladye assches mannes 
 
 Dat. lippe horse wvve ladje assche manne 
 
 Ace. lippe hors wjf lady assche man 
 
 Plur. lippes hors wyfes ladies asschen men 
 
 ADJECTIVES. 
 
 Adjectives have two forms, — the Definite and the In- 
 definite. The Definite, preceded by some definitive word, 
 terminates in e; this termination is usuall}^ dropped in 
 words of more than one syllable. The Indefinite takes 
 no inflection in the singular, but the plural ends regu- 
 larly in ^, which is usually dropped in predicate ad' 
 jectives, and in words of more than one syllable. 
 
INTRODUCTION. xiiJ 
 
 
 
 PRONOUNS. 
 
 
 Sing-. 
 
 Tst Pers. 
 
 2d Pers 
 
 2d Pers. 
 
 
 NOM. 
 
 I, Ic 
 
 thou 
 
 he she 
 
 hit, it 
 
 Gen. 
 
 min, mi 
 
 thin, thi 
 
 his hire, hir 
 
 his 
 
 DAT. ) 
 
 Acc. 5 
 
 me 
 
 the, thee 
 
 him hir, hire 
 
 hit, it 
 
 Plural. 
 
 
 
 
 
 NOM. 
 
 we 
 
 je 
 
 thei, they 
 
 
 Gen. 
 
 our, oure 
 
 joure, jour 
 
 here 
 
 
 DAT. > 
 
 Acc. 5 
 
 us 
 
 JOW 
 
 hem 
 
 
 The usual relative is the indeclinable t/iat^ but 
 this pronoun is often conibinecl with the jDersonal, 
 thus : that Jic = who ; t/iat Jiis = whose ; tJiat him = 
 whom. Who, which, wJiat, are regularly interrogative, 
 but tvho is sometimes used indefinitel3\ The7'e and 
 where are sometimes used as dative neuters of the and 
 what. Me and 7nen are used indefinitely, like the Ger- 
 man man. 
 
 VERBS. 
 
 In the inflection of the verb, final n denotes either the 
 plural, the infinitive, or the past participle. The so- 
 called regular verbs need no further explanation. The 
 irregular or strong verbs change the vowel in the pret- 
 erite ; some make a further change in the preterite plural : 
 as, pres. inf. sfnitcn; pret. sing, smoot, pi. siniten. The 
 subjunctive in both tenses takes e in the singular, and en 
 in the plural ; but n readily drops. The imperative sing- 
 ular is the root of the verb ; the plural usually ends in 
 eth. The infinitive ends in en; the n frequently drops. 
 The gerundial infinitive, or dative case of the infinitive 
 with the preposition to, occasionally occurs, as to see7ie^ 
 to see. 
 
XIV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 
 
 PARADIGM. 
 
 
 
 
 F 
 
 'res. 
 
 
 Pret. 
 
 
 
 Tnd. 
 
 Subj- 
 
 Imp. 
 
 Ind. 
 
 Suhj. 
 
 Sing. I. 
 
 helpe 
 
 helpe 
 
 
 halp 
 
 holpe 
 
 2. 
 
 helpest 
 
 helpe 
 
 help 
 
 halp 
 
 holpe 
 
 3- 
 
 helpe th 
 
 helpe 
 
 
 halp 
 
 holpe 
 
 PL 
 
 helpe (n) 
 
 helpe (n) 
 
 (2) helpeth 
 
 holpe (n) 
 
 holpe (n) 
 
 Inf. 
 
 helpe (n) 
 
 Pres. Part. 
 
 helpinge 
 
 P. Part. 
 
 holpe (n) 
 
 Occasional irregularities will be fully explained in the 
 Notes and in the Glossary. 
 
 PRONUNCIATION. 
 
 Vowels. — A. a, a as in French; ?i\ ■==: ah-ee, z.^ aye ; 
 au == ah-00. 
 
 E. e like French e; e as in met; e final indicating 
 oblique cases, feminine gender, plurals, adverbs, inflec- 
 tions of verbs, to be lightly pronounced ; but regularly 
 elided before a vowel or h ; also in the pronouns hire^ 
 he7'e^ oure, yoiire. This rule is liable to exceptions. Ea as 
 in break ; ee = e ; ei = ai; eo = e ; eu = // ; ey = ay. 
 
 I. Izz:^ ee ; I as m pit. 
 
 O. 6 as in oar; 6 (i) = French ; (2) = ii, as so/me; 
 (3) = 00 as in 7;wz'e. Oi = 00-ee, as French om ; 00 = 0. 
 Ou (i) = 60 as loud (lood) ; (2) = ^, as 021s (us) ; (3) =^ 
 a-00, as soul (sowl). 
 
 U. u = u ; u as i-n hut. 
 
 Consonants as at present, except, — 
 
 Gh ■=. German ch^ sometimes softened to a "hissed j." 
 This sound is represented in the text by an italic v, or gh. 
 H final was also a guttural, first softened and then silent. 
 
 If it is found too difficult to give these sounds, read as 
 in modern English, adding the final e when necessary to 
 the metre. 
 
CHAUCER. 
 
CHAUCER. 
 
 
 THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 Whan that Aprllle with his schowres swoote 
 
 The drought of Marche hath perced to the roote, 
 
 And bathed every veyne in swich licour, 
 
 Of which vertue engendred is the flour ; 
 
 Whan Zephirus eek with his swete breethe 5 
 
 Enspired hath in every holte and heethe 
 
 The tendre croppes, and the j^onge sonne 
 
 Hath in the Ram his halfe cours i-ronne, 
 
 And smale fowles maken melodie, 
 
 That slepen alle night with open eyhe, » 
 
 So priketh hem nature in here corages : — 
 
 Thanne longen folk to gon on pilgrimages, 
 
 And palmers for to seeken straunge strondcs, 
 
 To feme halwes, kouthe in sondry londes ; 
 
 And specially, from every schires ende is 
 
 Of Engelond, to Canturbury they wende, 
 
 The holy blisful martir for to seeke, 
 
 That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke. 
 
 Byfel that, in that sesoun on a day, 
 In Southwerk at the Tabard as I lay,-. 
 Redy to wenden on my pilgrimage 
 To Canturbury with ful devout corage, 
 At night was come hi to that hostelrie 
 
 ao 
 
2 TEE PROLOGUE. 
 
 Wei nyne and twenty in a companye, 
 Of sondry folk, by aventure i-falle 25 
 
 In felawschipe, and pilgryms were tliei alle, 
 That toward Canturbury wolden ryde ; 
 The chambres and the stables weren wyde, 
 Ant] wel weweven esed atte beste. 
 
 And schortly,, wli«,'(;n the sonne was to reste, 30 
 
 •So hadde! I spoken with hem everychon, 
 TTiat 1 'Was' bf -hbr©' fehiws'chipe anon, 
 And made forward erly for to ryse, 
 To take our weye ther as I yow devyse. 
 But natheles, whiles I have tyme and space, ss 
 
 Or that I forther in this tale pace. 
 Me thinketh it acordant to resoun, 
 To telle yow al the condicioun 
 Of eche of hem, so as it semede me, 
 
 And which they weren, and of what degre ; 40 
 
 And eek in what array that they were inne : 
 And at a knight than wol I first bygynne. 
 M A Knight ther was, and that a worthy man, 
 That from the tyme that he first bigan 
 To ryden out, he lovede chyvalrye, 45 
 
 Trouthe and honour, fredom and curtesie. 
 Ful worthi was he in his lordes werre. 
 And thereto hadde he riden, noman ferre. 
 As wel in Cristendom as in hethenesse, 
 And evere honoured for his worthinesse. 50 
 
 At Alisandre he was whan it was wonne, 
 Ful ofte tyme he hadde the bord bygonne 
 Aboven alle naciouns in Pruce. 
 In Lettowe hadde he reysed and in Ruce, 
 No cristen man so ofte of his degre. 55 
 
 In Gernade atte siesfe hadde he be 
 Of Algesir, and riden in Belmarie. 
 At Lieys was he, and at Satalie, 
 
THE PROLOGUE. 3 
 
 Whan they were wonne ; and in the Greete see 
 At many a noble arive hackle he be* 60 
 
 At mortal batailles hadde he ben fiftene, 
 And foughten for oure feith at Tramassene 
 .In lystes thries, and ay slayn his foo. 
 Tliis ilke worthi knight hadde ben also 
 Sometyme with the lord of Palatye, 65 
 
 Ageyn another hethene in Turkye : 
 And everemore he hadde a sovereyn prys. 
 /And though that he was worthy, he was wys, 
 And of his port as meke as is a mayde. 
 He nevere^it no vilonye ne sayde 70 
 
 In al his lyf, unto no maner wight. 
 He was a verray perfi^/^t gcntil knight. 
 But for to, telle _)'Ou of his array, 
 His hors was good, but he ne was nou^y^t ^iiy- 
 Of fustyan he werede a gepoun 75 
 
 Al bysmotered with his habergeoun. 
 For he was late ycome from his viage, 
 And wente for to doon his pilgrimage. 
 
 With him thcr was his sone, aj/ong SquYER, 
 A lovyere, and a lusty bacheler, 80 
 
 With lokkes crulle as they were leyde in presse. 
 Of twenty j^eer of age he was I gesse. 
 Of his stature he was of evene lengthe. 
 And wonderly delyvere, and gret of strengthe. 
 And he hadde ben somtyme in chivachie, 85 
 
 In Flaundres, in Artoys, and Picardie, 
 And born him wel, as in so litel space, 
 In hope to stonden in liis lady grace. 
 Embrowded was he, as it were a mede 
 Al ful of fresshe floures, white and reede. 9° 
 
 Syngynge he was. or floytynge, al the day ; 
 He was as fressli as is the moneth of May. 
 Schort was his goune, with sleeves longe and wyde. 
 
4 THE PROLOGUE 
 
 Wei cowde he sitte on hors, and faire ryde. 
 He cowde songes make and wel endite, 95 
 
 Juste and eek daunce, and wel purtraye and write. 
 So bote he lovede, that by nightertale 
 He sleep nomore than doth a nightyngale. 
 Curteys he was, lowely, and servysable, 
 And carf byforn bis fadur at the table. 100 
 
 '*' A Ieman hadde be, and servantes nomoo 
 At that tynie"", for him luste ryde soo ; 
 And he was clad in coote and hood of grene. 
 A shef of pocok arwes brighte and kene 
 Under his belte he bar ful thriftily. 105 
 
 Wel cowde he dresse his takel j^omanly ; 
 His arwes drowpede nou^//t with fetheres lowe. 
 And in his bond he bar a mighty bowe. 
 A not-heed hadde he with a broun visage. 
 Of woode-craft wel cowde he al the usage. no 
 
 Upon his arm he bar a gay bracer, 
 And by his side a swerd and a bokeler, 
 And on that other side a gay daggere, 
 Harneysed wel, and scharp as poynt of spere ; 
 A Cristofre on his brest of silver schene. us 
 
 An horn he bar, the bawdrik was of grene ; 
 A forster was he sothly, as I gesse. 
 
 Ther was also a Nonne, a Prioresse, 
 That of hire sm3dyng was ful symple and coy ; 
 Hire gretteste 00th ne was but by seynt Loy ; 120 
 
 And sche was cleped madame Englentyne. 
 Ful wel sche sang the servise divyne, 
 Entuned in hire nose ful semely ; 
 And Frensch sche spak ful faire and fetysly, 
 After the scole of Stratford atte Bowe, 125 
 
 For Frensch of Parys was to hire unknowe. 
 At mete wel i-taught was sche withalle ; 
 Sche leet no morsel from hire lippes falle, 
 
THE PROLOGUE. 5 
 
 Ne wette hire fyngres in hire sauce deepe. 
 
 Wei cowde sche carle a morsel, and wel keepe, 130 
 
 That no drope ne fil uppon hire breste. 
 
 In curtesie was set ful moche hire leste. 
 
 Hire overlippe wypede sche so clene, 
 
 That in hire cuppe was no ferthing sene 
 
 Of greece, whan sche dronken hadde hire draughte. 135 
 
 Ful semely after hire mete sche raughte, 
 
 And sikerly sche was of gret disport, 
 
 And ful plesant, and amyable of port. 
 
 And peynede hire to countrefete cheere 
 
 Of court, and ben estatlich of manere, 140 
 
 And to ben holden digne of reverence. 
 
 But for to speken of hire conscience, 
 
 Sche was so charitable and so pitous, 
 
 Sche wolde weepe if that sche sawe a mous 
 
 Caught in a trappe, if "It were deed or bledde, 145 
 
 Of smale houndes hadde sche, that sche fedde 
 
 With rosted fleissh, or my Ik and wastel breed. 
 
 But sore wepte sche if oon of hem were deed, 
 
 Or if men smot it with a 3'erde smerte : 
 
 And al was conscience and tendre herte. 150 
 
 Ful semely hire wymple i-pynched was ; 
 
 Hire nose tretys ; hire eyen greye as glas ; 
 
 Hire mouth ful smal, and therto softe and reed ; 
 
 But sikerly sche hadde a fair forheed. 
 
 It was almost a spanne brood, I trowe ; iss 
 
 For hardily sche was not undergrowe. 
 
 Ful fetys was hire cloke, as I was waar. 
 
 Of smal coral aboute hire arm sche baar 
 
 A peire of bedes gauded al with grene ; 
 
 And theron heng a broch of gold ful schene, 160 
 
 On which was first i-write a crowned A, 
 
 And after. Amor vincit omnia. 
 
6 THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 Another Nonxe with hire hadde sche, 
 
 That was hire chapelleyn, and Prestes thre. 
 
 t A Monk ther was, a fair for the inaistrie, 165 
 
 An out-rydere, that lovede venerye ; 
 
 A manly man, to ben an abbot able. 
 
 Full many a deynte hors hadde he in stable : 
 
 And whan he rood, men mighte his bridel heere 
 
 Gynglen in a whistlyng wynd as cleere, 170 
 
 And eek as lowde as doth the chapel belle. 
 
 Ther as this lord w^as kepere of the selle, 
 
 The reule of seynt Maure or of seint Beneyt, 
 
 Bycause that it was old and somdel streyt, 
 
 This ilke monk leet olde thinges pace, 17s 
 
 And held after the newe world the trace. 
 
 HejKaf nat of that text a pulled hen, 
 
 That seith, that hunters been noon holy men ; 
 
 Ne that a monk, whan he is reccheles 
 
 Is likned to a fissch that is waterles ; 180 
 
 This is to seyn, a monk out of his cloystre. 
 
 But thilke text held he not worth an ovstre. 
 
 And I seide his opinioun w^as good. 
 
 What schulde he studie, and make himselven wood, 
 
 Uppon a book in cloystre alway to powre ; 1S5 
 
 Or swynke with his handes, and laboure, 
 
 As Austyn byt? How schal the world be served? 
 
 Lat Austyn have his swynk to him reserved. 
 
 Therfore he was a pricasour aright ; 
 
 Greyhoundes he hadde as swifte as fowel in flight ; 190 
 
 Of prikyng and of huntyng for the hare 
 
 Was al his lust, for no cost wolde he spare. 
 
 I saugh his sieves purfiled atte honde 
 
 With grys, and that the fyneste of a londe. 
 
 And for to festne his hood under his chvnne 195 
 
 He hadde of gold y-wrought a curious pynne : 
 
THE PROLOGUE. 7 
 
 A love-knotte in the grettere cnde ther was. 
 
 His heed was balled, and schon as eny gUis, 
 
 And eek his face as he hadde ben anoynt. 
 
 He was a lord ful fiit and in good poynt ; 200 
 
 His eyen steepe, and rollyng in his heede, 
 
 That stemede as a forneys of a leede ; 
 
 His bootes souple, his hors in gret estate. 
 
 Now certeinly he was a fair prelate ; 
 
 He was not pale as a for-pyned goost. 205 
 
 A fat swan lovede he best of eny roost. 
 
 His palfray was as broun as is a berye. 
 
 p, A Frere ther was, a wantoun and a merye, 
 
 A lymytour, a fid solenipne man. 
 
 In alle the ordres foure is noon that can 210 
 
 So moche of daliaunce and fair langage. 
 /He hadde i-mad ful many a mariage 
 X)f j/onge wymmen, at his owne cost. 
 
 Unto his ordre he was a noble post. 
 
 Ful wel biloved and famulier was he 215 
 
 With frankeleyns over-al in his cuntre, 
 
 And eek with worthi wommen of the toun : 
 
 For he hadde jDower of confessioun, 
 
 As seyde himself, more than a curat, 
 
 For of his ordre he was licentiat. 220 
 
 Ful sweetely herde he confessioun, 
 
 And plesaunt was his absolucioun ; 
 
 He was an esy man toj'eve penance 
 
 Ther as he wiste han a good pitance ; 
 
 For unto a poure ordre for to _yive 225 
 
 Is signe that a man is wel i-schrive. 
 
 For if he j^af, he dorste make avaunt, 
 
 He wiste that a man was repentaunt. 
 
 For many a man so hard is of his herte. 
 
 He may not wepe although him sore smerte. 230 
 
 Therfore in stede of wepyng and preyeres, 
 
8 THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 Men mootjKive silver to the poiire freres. 
 
 His typet was ay farsed ful of knyfes '^ 
 
 And pynnes, for to jj/ive faire wyfes. 
 
 And certaynli he hadde a mery noote ; 23* 
 
 Wei couthe he synge and pleyen on a rote. 
 
 Of jeddynges he bar utterly the prys. 
 
 His nekke whit was as the flour-de-lys. 
 
 Therto he strong was as a champioun. 
 
 He' knew the tavernes wel in every toun, 240 
 
 And everych hosteller and tappestere, 
 
 Bet than a lazer, or a beggestere, 
 
 For unto such a worthi man as he 
 
 Acordede not, as by his faculte, 
 
 To han with sike lazars aqueyntaunce. 245 
 
 It is not honest, it may not avaunce, 
 
 For to delen with no such poraille, 
 
 But al with riche and sellers of vitaille. 
 
 And overal, ther as profyt schulde arise, 
 
 Curteys he was, and lowely of servyse. 250 
 
 Ther nas no man nowher so vertuous. 
 
 He was the beste beggere in his hous, 
 
 For though a widewe hadde noght 00 schoo, 
 
 So plesaunt was his I?i frincipio^ 
 
 let wolde he have a ferthing or he wente. 255 
 
 His purchas was wel better than his rente. 
 
 And rage he couthe and pleyen as a whelpe, 
 
 In love-dayes couthe he mochel helpe. 
 
 For ther he was not like a cloysterer, 
 
 With thredbare cope as is a poure scoler, 260 
 
 But he was like a maister or a pope. 
 
 Of double worstede was his semy-cope, 
 
 That rounded as a belle out of the presse. 
 
 Somwhat he lipsede, for his wantounesse, 
 
 To make his Englissch svvete upon his tunge ; 205 
 
 And in his harpyng, whan that he hadde sunge, 
 
THE PROLOGUE. 9 
 
 His eyghen twynkeld in his heed aright, 
 
 As don the sterres in the frosty night. 
 
 This worth i ly my tour was cleped Huberd. 
 
 ^ A Marchaunt. was ther with a forked herd, 270 
 
 In motteleye, and high on horse he sat, 
 
 Uppon his heed a Fhmndrisch bever hat; 
 
 His botes elapsed fiiire and fetysly. 
 
 His resons he spak ful solempnely, 
 
 Sownynge alway thencres of his wynnynge. 275 
 
 He wolde the see were kept for eny thinge 
 
 Betwixe Middelburgh and Orewelle. 
 
 Wei couthe he in eschaunge scheeldes selle. 
 
 This worthi man ful wel his wit bisette ; 
 
 Ther wiste no man that he was in dette, 280 
 
 So estately was he of governaunce, 
 
 With his bargayns, and with his chevysaunce. 
 
 For sothe he was a worthi man withalle. 
 
 But soth to sayn, I not what men him calle. 
 )i - A Clerk ther was of Oxenford also, aSs 
 
 That unto logik hadde longe i-go. 
 
 As lene was his hors as is a rake, 
 
 And he was not right fat, I undertake ; 
 
 But lokede holwe, and therto soberly. 
 
 Ful thredbare was his overeste courtepy, 290 
 
 For he hadde geten him yit no benefice, 
 
 Ne was so worldly for to have office. 
 
 For him was lever have at his beddes heede 
 
 Twenty bookes, clad in blak or reede, 
 
 Of Aristotle and his philosophic, 295 
 
 Then robes riche, or fithel, or gay sawtrie. 
 
 But al be that he was a philosophre, 
 \ Yet hadde he but litel gold in cofre ; 
 
 But al that he mighte of his frendes hente, 
 
 On bookes and on lernyng he it spente, 300 
 
 And busily gan for the soules preye 
 
lO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 Of hem thatjKaf him wherwith to scoleye, 
 
 Of studie took he most cure and most heede. 
 
 Not oo word spak he more than was neede, 
 
 And that was seid in forme and reverence 305 
 
 And schort and quyk, and ful of high sentence. 
 
 Sownynge in moral vertu was his speche, >. 
 
 And gladly wolde he lerne, and gladly teche. J 
 
 A Sergeant of Lawe, war and wys, 
 That often hadde ben atte parvys, . 310 
 
 Ther was also ful riche of excellence. 
 Discret he was, and of gret reverence : 
 He semede such, his wordes weren so wise, 
 Justice he was ful often in assise, 
 
 By patent, and by pleyn commissioun ; 315 
 
 For his science, and for his heih renoun, 
 Of fees and robes hadde he many oon. 
 So gret a purchasour was nowher noon. 
 Al was fee symple to him in effecte. 
 
 His purchasyng mighte nought ben enfecte. 320 
 
 Nowher so besy a man as he ther nas, '^ 
 And yit he seemede besier than he was. 
 In termes hadde he caas and domes alle, 
 That fro the tyme of kyng William were falle. 
 Therto he couthe endite, and make a thing, 325 
 
 Ther couthe no wight pynche at his writyng ; 
 And every statute couthe he pleyn by roote. 
 He rood but hoomly in a medle coote. 
 Gird with a seynt of silk, with barres smale ; 
 Of his array telle I no lenger tale. 330 
 
 A Frankeleyn was in his companye ; 
 Whit was his berde, as is the dayesye. 
 Of his complexioun he was sangwyn. 
 Wei lovede he in the morwe a sop in wyn. 
 To lyven in delite was al his wone, 335 
 
 For he was Epicurus owne sone, 
 
THE PROLOGUE. II 
 
 That heeld opynyoun that pleyn delyt 
 
 Was verraily felicite pcrfyt. 
 
 An houshaldere, and that a gret, was he ; 
 
 Seynt JuHan he was in his countre. 340 
 
 His breed, his ale, was alway after oon ; 
 
 A bettre envyned man was nowher noon. 
 
 Withoute bake mete was nevere his hous, 
 
 Of fleissch and fissch, and that so plentyvous, 
 •' Hit snewede in his hous of mete and drynke. 34s 
 
 '\Oi alle deyntees that men cowde thynke. •_/ 
 
 After the sondry sesouns of the j^eer. 
 
 So chaungede he his mete and his soper. 
 
 Ful many a fat partrich hadd ; lie in me we. 
 
 And many a brem and many a luce in stewe. 350 
 
 Woo was his cook, but-if his sauce were 
 
 Poynaunt and scharp, and redy al his gere. 
 
 His table dormant in his halle alway 
 
 Stood redy covered al the longe day. 
 
 At sessiouns ther was he lord and sire. 355 
 
 Ful ofte tyme he was knight of the schire. 
 
 An aulas and a gipser al of silk 
 
 Heng at his gerdel, whit as morne mylk. 
 
 A schirreve hadde he ben, and a countour ; 
 
 Was nowher such a worthi vavasour. 360 
 
 An Haberdassher and a Carpenter, 
 
 A Webbe, a Deyere, and a Tapicer, 
 
 Weren with us eek, clothed in 00 lyvere, 
 
 Of a solempne and gret fraternite. 
 
 Ful freissh and newe here gere aplked was ; 365 
 
 Here knyfes were i-chaped nat with bras. 
 
 But al with silver wrought ful clene and wel, 
 
 Here gurdles and here pouches every del. 
 
 Wel semede ech of hem a fair burgeys, 
 
 To sitten in aj^eldehalle on a deys. 370 
 
 Ever3'ch for the wisdom that he can, 
 
12 THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 Was schaply for to ben an alderman. 
 
 For catel hadde they inough and rente, 
 
 And eek here wyfes vvolde it wel assente ; 
 
 And elles certeyn were thei to blame. 37s 
 
 It is right fair to ben yclept madame^ 
 
 And for to gon to vigiles al byfore, 
 
 And han a mantel riallyche i-bore. 
 
 A Cook thei hailde with hem for the nones, 
 To boyle chyknes with the mary bones, 38« 
 
 And poudre-marchaunt tart, and galyngale. 
 Wel cowde he knowe a drau^/^te of Londone ale. 
 He cowde roste, and sethe, and broille, and frie, 
 Maken mortreux, and wel bake a pye. 
 But gret harm was it, as it thoughte me, 38s 
 
 That on his schyne a mormal hadde he. 
 For blankmanger he made with the beste. 
 
 A ScHiPMAN was ther, wonyng fer by weste : 
 For ought I woot, he was of Dertemouthe. 
 He rood upon a rouncy, as he couthe, 390 
 
 In a gowne of faldyng to the kne. 
 A daggere hangyng on a laas hadde he 
 Aboute his nekke under his arm adoun. 
 The hoote somer hadde maad his hew al broun ; j 
 And certeinly he was a good felawe. 395 
 
 Ful many a draughte of wyn hadde he ydrawe 
 From Burdeux-ward, whil that the chapman sleep. 
 Of nyce conscience took he no keep. 
 If that he faughte, and hadde the hei^/^er hand, 
 By water he sente hem hoom to every land. 400 
 
 But of his craft to rekne wel his tydes. 
 His stremes and his daungers him bisides. 
 His herbergh and his mone, his lodemenage, 
 Ther was non such from HuUc to Cartage. 
 Hardy he was, and wys to undertake ; 405 
 
 With many a tempest hadde his berd ben schake. J 
 
THE PliOLOGUE. 13 
 
 He knew wel alle the havenes, as thei were, 
 
 From Gootlond to the cape of Fynestere, 
 
 And every crykc in Bretayne and in Spayne ; 
 
 His barge y-cleped was the Magdelayne. 410 
 
 Ther was also a Doct qur of Phisik, 
 In al this world ne was ther non him lyk 
 To speke of phisik and of surgerye ; 
 For he was grounded in astronomye. 
 
 He kepte his pacient wonderly wel 41s 
 
 In houres by his magik naturel. 
 Wel cowde he fortunen the ascendent 
 Of his ymages for his pacient. 
 He knew the cause of every maladye, 
 Were it of hoot or cold, or moyst, or drye, 420 
 
 And where engendred, and of what humour ; 
 He was a verrey parfi^/^t practisour. 
 The cause i-knowe, and of his harm the roote, 
 Anon hejK^f the syke man his boote. 
 
 Ful redy hadde he his apotecaries, 425 
 
 To sende him dragges, and his letuaries, 
 For ech of hem made other for to wynne ; 
 Here frendschipe nas not newe to begynne. 
 Wel knew he the olde Esculapius, 
 
 And Deiscorides, and eek Rufus ; 430 
 
 Old Ypocras, Haly, and Galien ; 
 Serapyon, Razis, and Avycen ; 
 Averrois, Damascen, and Constantyn ; 
 Bernard, and Gatesden, and Gilbertyn. 
 Of his diete mesurable was he, 43s 
 
 For it was of no superfluite. 
 But of gret norisching and digestible. 
 t His stiidie was but litel on the Bible. 
 In sangwin and in pers he clad was al, 
 Lined with taftata and with sendal. 
 And_yit he was but esy of dispence ; 
 
 440 
 
14 THE PROLOGUE, 
 
 He kepte that he wan in pestilence. 
 For gold in phisik is a cordial, 
 Therfore he lovede gold in special. 
 
 A Good WiF was ther of byside Bathe, 445 
 
 But sche was somdel deef, and that was skathe. 
 Of cloth-makyng she hadde such an haunt, 
 Sche passede hem of Ypres and of Gaunt. 
 In al the parisshe wyf ne was ther noon 
 That to the offryng byforn hire schulde goon, 4so 
 
 And if ther dide certe3'n so wroth was sche, 
 That sche was out of alle charite. 
 Hire keverchefs ful fyne weren of grounde ; 
 I durste swere they wey^/^eden ten pounde 
 That on a Sonday were upon hire heed. ass 
 
 Hire hosen weren of fyn Scarlett reed, 
 Ful streyte 3^-teyd, and schoos ful moj^ste and newe. 
 Bold was hire face, and fair, and reed of hewe. 
 Sche was a worthy worn man al hire lyfe, 
 Housbondes at chirche dore sche hadde fyfe, 460 
 
 Withouten other companye in youthe ; 
 But therof needeth noug-ht to speke as nouthe. 
 And thries hadde sche ben at Jerusalem ; 
 Sche hadde j^assed many a straunge streem ; 
 At Rome sche hadde ben, and at Boloyne, 465 
 
 In Galice at seynt Jame, and at Coloyne. 
 Sche cowde moche of wandryng by the weye. 
 Gattothed was sche, sothly for to seye. 
 Uppon an amblere esily sche sat, 
 
 Ywympled wel, and on hire heed an hat 470 
 
 As brood as is a bocler or a targe ; 
 A foot-mantel aboute hire hi pes large. 
 And on hire feet a paire of spores scharpe. 
 In felawschipe wel cowde sche lawghe and carpe. 
 Of remedyes of love sche knew parchaunce, 47s 
 
 For of that art sche couthe the olde daunce. 
 
%., 
 
 fH THE PROLOGUE. 1$ 
 
 A good man was thcr of religioun, 
 
 And was a poure Persoun of a toiin ; 
 
 But riche he was of hol}^ thought and werk. 
 
 He was also a lerned man, a clerk 480 
 
 That Cristes gospel trewely wolde preche ; 
 
 His parischens devoutly wolde he teche. 
 . Benigne he was, and wonder diligent, 
 
 And in adversite ful pacient ; 
 
 And such he was i-proved ofte sithes. 48s 
 
 Ful loth were him to curse for his tythes, 
 
 But rather wolde he j/even out of dowte, 
 
 Unto his poure parisschens aboute, 
 
 Of his oftrynge, and eek of his substaunce. 
 
 He cowde in litel thing han suffisaunce. 490 
 
 Wyd was his parisch, and houses fer asonder, 
 
 But he ne lafte not for reyne ne thonder, 
 
 In siknesse nor in meschief to visite 
 
 The ferreste in his parissche, moche and lite, 
 
 Uppon his feet, and in his bond a staf. 495 
 
 //This noble ensample to his scheep hej^af, 
 1 That first he wroughte, and after that he taughte," 
 
 Out of the gospel he tho wordes caughte, 
 
 And this figure he addede eek therto, 
 
 That if gold ruste, what schal yren doo ? 500 
 
 For if a prest be foul, on whom we truste. 
 
 No wonder is a lewed man to ruste ; 
 
 And schame it is, if that a prest take kepe, 
 
 A [foul] schepherde and a clene schepe ; 
 
 Wei oughte a prest ensample for to j/ive, 505 
 
 By his clennesse, how that his scheep schulde lyve. 
 
 He sette not his benefice to byre. 
 
 And leet his scheep encombred in the myre. 
 
 And ran to Londone, unto seynte Foules, 
 
 To seeken liim a chaunterie for soules, 510 
 
 Or with a bretherhede to ben withholde ; 
 
lb THE PROLOGUE. r ^ 
 
 \j 
 
 But dwelte at hoom, and kepte wel his folde, 
 
 So that the wolf ne made it not myscarye. 
 
 He was a schepherde and no mercenarie ; 
 
 And though he holy were, and vertuous, . 515 
 
 He was to sinful man nought dispitous, 
 
 Ne of his speche daungerous ne digne, 
 
 But in his teching discret and benigne. 
 
 To drawe folk to heven by fairnesse, 
 
 By good ensample, was his busynesse:. .^ 520 
 
 But it were eny persone obstinat, ^ 
 
 What so he were, of high or lowe estat, 
 
 Him wolde he snybbe scharply for the nones. 
 
 A bettre preest I trowe ther nowher non is. 
 
 He waytede after no pompe and reverence, 525 
 
 Ne makede him a spiced conscience, \ 
 
 But Cristes lore, and his apostles twelve, j '' 
 
 He taughte, and first he folwede it himselve. 
 
 With him ther was a Ploughman, was his brother, 
 That hadde i-lad of dong ful many a fother, 530 
 
 A trewe swynkere and a good was he, 
 Lyvynge in pees and perfi^/^t charitee. 
 God lovede he best with al his hoole herte 
 At alle tymes, though him gamede or smerte, 
 And thanne his neighebour right as himselve. 535 
 
 He wolde threisshe, and therto dyke and delve, 
 For Cristes sake, with every poure wight, 
 Withouten hyre, if it laye in his might. 
 His tythes payede he ful f\iire and wel, 
 Bothe of his owne swynk and his catel. S4o 
 
 In a tabard he rood upon a mere. 
 
 Ther was also a Reeve and a Mellere, 
 A Sompnour and a Pardoner also, 
 A Maunciple, and my self, ther were no mo. 
 
 The Mellere was a stout carl for the nones, 545 
 
 Ful big he was of braun, and eek of boones ; 
 
THE PROLOGUE. 17 
 
 That prevede wel, for overal tlicr he cam, 
 At wrastlynge he wolde have alwey the ram. 
 He was schort schuldred, brood, a thikke knarre, 
 Ther nas no dore that he nolde heve of harre, sso 
 
 Or breke it at a rennyng with his heed. 
 His herd as ony sowe or fox was reed. 
 And theito brood, as though it were a spade. 
 Upon the cop right of his nose he hade 
 A werte, and theron stood a tuft of heres, sss 
 
 Reede as the berstles of a sowes eeres. 
 His nose-thurles bhike were and wyde. 
 A swerd and bocler baar he by his side, 
 His mouth as wyde was as a gret forneys. 
 He was a jangler, and a golyardeys, 560 
 
 And that was most of synne and harlotries. 
 Wel cowde he stele corn, and toUen thries ; 
 And yet he hadde a thombe of gold parde. 
 A whit cote and a blewe hood werede he. 
 A baggepipe cowde he bio we and sowne, 56s 
 
 And therwithal he broughte us out of towne. 
 A gentil Maunciple was ther of a temple, 
 Of wdiich achatours mighten take exemple 
 For to be wys in beyying of vitaille. 
 
 For whether that he payde, or took by taille, 570 
 
 Algate he waytede so in his achate, 
 That he was ay biforn and in good state. 
 Now is not that of God a ful fair grace. 
 That such a lewed mannes wit schal pace 
 The wisdom of an heep of lernede men? 575 
 
 Of maystres hadde he moo than thries ten, 
 That were of lawe expert and curious ; 
 Of which ther were a doseyn in that house, 
 Worthi to ben stiwardz of rente and lond 
 Of any lord that is in Engelond, sSo 
 
 To make him lyve by his propre good, 
 
20 THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 And prively a fynch eek cowde he pulle. 
 And if he fond owher a good felawe, 
 He wolde techen him to han non awe 
 In such a caas of the archedeknes curs, 6ss 
 
 But-if a mannes soule were in his purs ; 
 For in his purs he scholde punyssched be. 
 * Purs is the erchedeknes heile,' quod he. 
 But wel I woot he lyede right in dede ; 
 Of cursyng oghte ech gulty man him drede; 660 
 
 For curs wol slee right as assoillyng saveth ; 
 And also war of him a signijicavlt. 
 In daunger hadde he at his owne assise 
 ThejKonge gurles of the diocise, 
 
 And knew here counseil, and was al here red. 665 
 
 A garland hadde he set upon his heed, 
 As gret as it were for an ale-stake ; 
 A bokeler hadde he maad him of a cake. 
 With him ther rood a gentil Pardoner 
 Of Rouncival, his frend and his comper, 670 
 
 That streyt was comen from the court of Rome. 
 Ful lowde he sang, Com hider, love, to me. 
 This sompnour bar to him a stif burdoun. 
 Was nevere trompe of half so gret a soun, 
 This pardoner hadde hcer as yelwe as wex, 67s 
 
 But smothe it heng, as doth a strike of flex ; 
 By unces hynge his lokkes that he hadde, 
 And therwith he his schuldres overspradde. 
 Ful thinne it lay, by culpons on and oon, 
 But hood, for jolitee, ne werede he noon, 680 
 
 For it was trussed up in his walet. 
 Him thoughte he rood al of the newe get, 
 Dischevele, sauf his cappe, he rood al bare. 
 Suche glaryng ey^/^en hadde he as an hare. 
 A vernicle hadde he sowed on his cappe. 685 
 
 His walet lay byforn him in his lappe, 
 
THE PROLOGUE. 21 
 
 Bret-ful of pardoun come from Rome al hoot 
 
 A voys he hadde as smal as eny goot. 
 
 No herd ne hadde he, ne nevere scholde have, 
 
 As smothe it was as it were kite i-schave ; 690 
 
 But of his craft, fro Berwyk into Ware, 
 
 Ne was ther such another pardoner. 
 
 For in his male he hadde a pilwebeer, 
 
 Which that, he seide, was oure lady veyl : 695 
 
 He seide, he hadde a, gobet of the seyl 
 
 That seynt Peter hadde, whan that he wente 
 
 Uppon the see, til Jhesu Crist him hente. 
 
 He hadde a cros of latoun ful of stones, 
 
 And in a glas he hadde pigges bones. 700 
 
 But with thise reliques, whanne that he fond 
 
 A poure persoun dwellyng uppon lond, 
 
 Upon a day he gat him more moneye 
 
 Than that the persoun gat in monthes tweye. 
 
 And thus with feyned flaterie and japes, 705 
 
 He made the persoun and the people his apes. 
 
 But trewely to tellen atte laste, 
 
 He was in churche a noble ecclesiaste. 
 
 Wei cowde he rede a lessoun or a storye. 
 
 But altherbest he sang an offertorie ; 710 
 
 For wel he wyste, whan that song was songe, 
 
 He moste preche, and wel affyle his tonge. 
 
 To Wynne silver, as he right wel cowde ; 
 
 Therefore he sang ful meriely and lowde. 
 
 Now have I toldjvou schortly in a clause ^"^^ 715 
 
 Thestat, tharray, the nombre, and eek the cause 
 Why that assembled was this companye 
 In Southwerk at this gentil hostelrie. 
 That highte the Tabard, faste by the Belle. 
 But now is tyme to yow for to telle 720 
 
 How that we bare us in that ilke night, 
 
22 THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 Whan we were in that hosteh-ie alight ; 
 
 And after wol I telle of oure viage, 
 
 And al the remenaunt of oure pilgrimage. 
 
 But first I prayj/ou of your curtesie, 725 
 
 That^e ne rette it nat my vileinye, 
 
 Though that I speke al pleyn in this matere, 
 
 To telle you here wordes and here cheere ; 
 
 Ne though I speke here wordes properly. 
 
 For this ye knowen also wel as I, 730 
 
 Whoso schal telle a tale after a man, 
 
 He moot reherce, as neigh as evere he can, 
 
 Everych a word, if it be in his charge, 
 
 Al speke he nevere so rudelyche and large ; 
 
 Or elles he moot telle his tale untrewe, 73s 
 
 Or feyne thing, or fynde wordes newe. 
 
 He may not spare, although he were his brother ; 
 
 He moot as wel seyn 00 word as another. 
 
 Crist spak himself ful broode in holy writ. 
 
 And wel ye woot no vileinye is it. 740 
 
 Eek Plato seith, whoso that can him rede, 
 
 The wordes mote be cosyn to the dedei 
 
 Also I praye ^ou to foi^eve it me, 
 
 Al have I nat set folk in here degre 
 
 Here in this tale, as that thei schulde stonde ; ~ 74s 
 
 My witt is schort, jKe may wel understonde. 
 
 Greet cheere made oure host us everichon, 
 And to the souper sette he us anon ; 
 And servede us with vitaille atte beste. 
 Strong was the wyn, and wel to drynke us leste. 750 
 
 A semely man oure boost he was withalle 
 For to ban been a marschal in an halle ; 
 A large man he was with Qyg-JiQn stepe, 
 A fiiirere burgeys was ther noon in Chepe : 
 Bold of his speche, and wys and wel i-taught, 7ss 
 
 And of manhede him lakkede right naught. 
 
THE PROLOGUE, 23 
 
 Eek therto he was right a mery man, 
 
 And after soper phiyen he bygan, 
 
 And spak of myrtlie amonges othre thinges, 
 
 Whan that we hadde maad our rekenynges ; 760 
 
 And sayde thus : ' Lo, lordynges, trewely 
 
 2e ben to me right welcome hertely : 
 
 P'or by my trouthe, if that I schal not lye, 
 
 I ne saugh thisj^eer so mery a companye 
 
 At oones in this herbergh as is now. 76s 
 
 Fayn wolde I don jkow mirthe, wiste I how. 
 
 And of a mirthe I am right now bytliought, 
 
 To doonjvou eese, and it schal coste nought. 
 
 2e goon to Caunturbury ; God jkou speede, 
 
 The blisful martir quyte_you _youre meede ! 770 
 
 And wel 1 woot, asj^e gon by the weye, 
 
 2e schapen jvow to talen and to pleye ; 
 
 For trewely comfort ne mirthe is noon. 
 
 To ryde by the weye domb as a stoon ; 
 
 And therfore wol 1 makenj^ou disport, 77s 
 
 As I seyde erst, and do j^ou som confort. 
 
 And if j^ow liketh alle by oon assent 
 
 Now for to standen at my juggement ; 
 
 And for to werken as I schal jkou seye. 
 
 To morvve, whanj^e riden by the weye, 780 
 
 Now by my fadres soule that is deed, 
 
 Butjve be merye, smyteth of myn heed. 
 
 Hold up j-'oure bond withoute more speche.' 
 
 Oure counseil was not longe for to seche ; 
 
 Us thoughte it nas nat worth to make it wys, 785 
 
 And grauntede him withoute more avys, 
 
 And bad him seie his verdite, as him leste. 
 
 ' Lordynges,' quoth he, ' now herkneth for the beste ; 
 
 But taketh it not, I prayejvou, in disdayn ; 
 
 This is the poynt, to speken schort and playn, i^ 
 
 That ech of jkow to schorte v/ith j^oure weie. 
 
24 THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 * 
 
 In this viage, schal telle tales tweye, 
 
 To Caunturburi-ward, I mene it so, 
 
 And horn-ward he schal tellen other tuo, 
 
 Of aventures that whilom han bifalle. 79s 
 
 And which of j^ovv that bereth him best of alle, 
 
 That is to seyn, that telleth in this caas 
 
 Tales of best sentence and most solas, 
 
 Schal han a soper at jvoure alther cost 
 
 Here in this place sittynge by this post, &» 
 
 Whan that we come ageyn from Canturbury 
 
 And for to maken_)/ou the more mery, 
 
 I wol myselven gladly with jj/ou i"y*^^' 
 
 Right at myn owen cost, and be_youre gyde. 
 
 And whoso vvole my juggement withseie 80s 
 
 Schal paye al that we spenden by the weye. 
 
 And if _ye vouchesauf that it be so. 
 
 Telle me anoon, withouten wordes moo, 
 
 And I wole erely schape me therfore.' 
 
 This thing was graunted, and oure othes swore 810 
 
 With ful glad herte, and pray den him also 
 
 That he wolde vouchesauf for to doon so, 
 
 And that he wolde ben oure governour, 
 
 And of oure tales jugge and reportour, 
 
 And sette a souper at a certeyn prys ; 815 
 
 And we wolde rewled be at his devys. 
 
 In heygh and lowe ; and thus by oon assent 
 
 We been acorded to his juggement. , 
 
 And therupon the wyn was fet anoon ; 
 
 We dronken, and to reste wente echoon, 820 
 
 Withouten eny lengere taryinge. 
 
 A morwe whan the day bigan to sprynge. 
 
 Up roos oure host, and was oure alther cok, 
 
 And gadrede us togidre alle in a flok. 
 
 And forth we riden a litel more than paas, 825 
 
 Unto the waterynge of seint Thomas. 
 
TEE PROLOGUE. 25 
 
 And there oure host bigan his hors areste, 
 
 And seyde ; ' Lordes, herkeneth if yo\\r leste. 
 
 2e vvoote joure forward, and I it you. recorde. 
 
 If even-song and morwe-song accorde, 830 
 
 Lat se now who schal telle tirst a tale. 
 
 As evere I moot drinke wyn or ale, 
 
 Whoso be rebel to my juggement 
 
 Schal paye for al that by the weye is spent. 
 
 Now draweth cut, er that we forther twynne ; 83s 
 
 Which that hath the schorteste schal bygynne/ 
 
 * Sire knight,' quoth he, ' my maister and my lord, 
 
 Now draweth cut, for that is myn acord. 
 
 Cometh ner,' quoth he, ' my lady prioresse ; 
 
 And ye. sir clerk, lat bejoure schamfastnesse, 840 
 
 Ne studieth nat ; ley hand to, every man.' 
 
 Anon to drawen every wight bigan. 
 And schortly for to tellen as it was, 
 Were it by aventure, or sort, or cas, 
 
 The soth is this, the cut hi to the knight, 84s 
 
 Of which ful blithe and glad w^as every wight; 
 And telle he moste his tale as was resoun. 
 By forward and by composicioun, 
 As jKe han herd ; what needeth wordes moo.? 
 And whan this goode man seigh that it was so, 850 
 
 As he that wys was and obedient • 
 To kepe his forward by his fre assent, 
 He seyde : ' Syn I schal bygynne the game, 
 What, welcome be thou cut, a Goddes namel 
 Now lat us ryde, and herkneth what I seye.' 855 
 
 And with that word we riden forth oure weye , 
 And he bigan with right a merie chere 
 His tale anon, and seide in this manere. 
 
THE KNIGHTES TALE. 
 
 Whilom, as olde stories tellen us, 
 
 Ther was a duk that bighte Theseus ; 
 
 Of Athenes he was lord and governour, 
 
 And in his tyme swich a conquerour, 
 
 That grettere was ther non under the sonne. s 
 
 Ful many a riche contre hadde he wonne ; 
 
 That with his wisdam and his chivah-ie 
 
 He conquerede al the regne of Femynye, 
 
 That whilom was i-cleped Cithea ; 
 
 And weddede he the queen Ipolita, lo 
 
 And broughte hire hoom with him in his contre 
 
 With moche glorie and gret solempnite, 
 
 And eek hire _yonge suster Emelye. 
 
 And thus with victorie and with melodye 
 
 Lete I this noble duk to Athenes ryde, 15 
 
 And al his host, in armes him biside. 
 
 And certes, if it nere to longe to heere, 
 
 I wolde han told jj^ow fully the manere, 
 
 How wonnen was the regne of Femenye 
 
 By Theseus, and by his chivalrye ; z<? 
 
 And of the grete bataille for the nones 
 
 Bytwixen Athenes and the Amazones ; 
 
 And how aseged was Ypolita, 
 
 The faire hardy quen of Cithea ; 
 
THE KNIGHTES TALE. 27 
 
 And of the feste that was at hire weddynge. 2s 
 
 And of the tempest at hire hoom comynge ; 
 
 But al that thing I mot as now forbere. 
 
 I have, God wot, a large feeld to ere, 
 
 And wayke ben the oxen in my plough, 
 
 The remenaunt of the tale is long inough ; 30 
 
 I wol not lette eek non of al this^owte, 
 
 Lat every felawe telle his tale aboute, 
 
 And lat see now who schal the soper wynne, 
 
 And ther I lafte, I wol agayn begynne. 
 
 This duk, of whom I make mencioun, 35 
 
 Whan he was come almost unto the toun, 
 In al his wele and in his moste pryde, 
 He was war, as he caste his eyg'he aside, 
 Wher that ther knelede in the hye weye 
 A companye of ladies, tweye and tweye, 40 
 
 Ech after other, clad in clothes blake ; 
 
 But such a cry and such a woo they make, 
 
 That in this world nys creature lyvynge, 
 
 That herde such another weymentynge, 
 
 And of this cry they nolde nevere stenten, 4S 
 
 Til they the reynes of his bridel henten. 
 
 'What folk benjKe that at myn hom comynge 
 
 Pertourben so my feste with cryinge?' 
 
 Qiiod Theseus, 'havej^e so gret envye 
 
 Of myn honour, that thus compleyne and crie? 50 
 
 Or who hath j'ow misboden, or oflended? 
 
 And telleth me if it may ben amended ; 
 
 And why that je ben clad thus al in blak?' 
 The eldeste lady of hem alle spak, 
 
 When sche hadde swowned with a dedly chere, ss 
 
 That it was rqiithe for to seen or heere ; 
 
 And seyde : ' Lord, to whom Fortune hath j^even 
 
 Victorie, and as a conquerour to lyven, 
 
 Nought greveth usj'ourc glorie and honour; 
 
28 THE KNIGHTES TALE. 
 
 But we beseken mercy and socour. 60 
 
 Have mercy on oure woo and oure distresse. 
 
 Som drope of pitee, thurgh j/oure gentilnesse, 
 
 Uppon us wrecchede wommen lat thou falle. 
 
 For certes, lord, ther nys noon of us alle, 
 
 That sche nath ben a duchesse or a queene ; 65 
 
 Now be we caytifs, as it is wel scene : 
 
 Thanked be Fortune, and hire false wheel, 
 
 That noon estat assureth to ben week 
 
 And certes, lord, to abiden j^oure presence 
 
 Here in the temple of the goddesse Clemence 7° 
 
 We ban ben waytynge al this fourtenight ; 
 
 Now help us, lord, syth it is in thy might. 
 
 I wrecche, which that wepe and waylle thus, 
 
 Was whilom wyf to kyng Capaneus, 
 
 That starf at Thebes, cursed be that day ; 7S 
 
 And alle we that ben in this array, 
 
 And maken al this lamentacioun, 
 
 We losten alle oure housbondes at the toun, 
 
 Whil that the sege ther aboute lay. 
 
 AndjKet the olde Creon, welaway ! 80 
 
 That lord is now of Thebes the citee, 
 
 Fulfild of ire and of iniquite. 
 
 He for despyt, and for his tyrannye, 
 
 To do the deede bodyes vileinye, 
 
 Of alle oure lordes, whiche that ben i-slawe, 85 
 
 Hath alle the bodies on an heep y-drawe, 
 
 And wol not suftren hem by noon assent 
 
 Nother to ben y-buried nor y-brent. 
 
 But maketh houndes ete hem in despite.' 
 
 And with that word, withoute more respite, 90 
 
 They fillen gruf, and criden pitously, 
 
 ' Have on us wrecchede wommen som mercy. 
 
 And lat oure sorwe synken in thyn herte.' 
 
 This gentil duk doun from his courser sterte 
 
THE KNIGHTES TALE. 29 
 
 With herte pitous, whan he herde hem speke. 95 
 
 Him thoughte that his herte wolde breke, 
 
 Whan he seyh hem so pitous and so maat, 
 
 That whilom weren of so gret estat. 
 
 And in his armes he hem all up hente, 
 
 And hem conforteth in ful good entente ; xoo 
 
 And swor his oth, as he was trewe knight, 
 
 He wolde don so ferforthly his might 
 
 Upon the tyraunt Creon hem to wieke, 
 
 That al the people of Grece scholde speke 
 
 How Creon was of Theseus y-served, 105 
 
 As he that hadde his deth ful vvel deserved. 
 
 And risfht anoon, withoute more abood 
 
 His baner he desplayeth, and forth rood 
 
 To Thebes-ward, and al his boost bysyde ; 
 
 No nerre Athenes wolde he go ne rvde, no 
 
 Ne take his eese fully half a day, 
 
 But onward on his way that nyght he lay ; 
 
 And sente anoon YjDolita the queene. 
 
 And Emelye hire yougQ suster schene. 
 
 Unto the toun of Athenes to dwelle ; 115 
 
 And forth he ryt ; ther is no more to telle. 
 
 The reede statue of Mars with spere and targe 
 So schyneth in his white baner large, 
 That alle the feeldes gliteren up and doun ; 
 And by his baner was born his pynoun 120 
 
 Of gold ful riche, in which ther was i-bete 
 The Minatour which that he slouch in Crete. 
 Thus ryt this duk, thus ryt this conquerour, 
 And in his boost of chevalrie the Hour, 
 Til that he cam to Thebes, and alighte 
 Faire in a feeld ther as he thousfhte fighte. 
 But schortly for to speken of this thing, 
 With Creon^ which that was of Thebes kyng. 
 He faught, and slough him manly as a knight 
 
 »5 
 
so THE KNIOHTES TALE. 
 
 In pleyn bataille, and putte the folk to flight ; uo 
 
 And by assaut he wan the cite after, 
 
 And rente doun bothe wal, and sparre, and rafter ; 
 
 And to the ladies he restorede agayn 
 
 The bones of here housbondes that were slayn, 
 
 To don exequies, as was tho the gyse. 135 
 
 But it were al to longe to devyse 
 
 The grete clamour and the waymentynge 
 
 Which that the ladies made at the brennynge 
 
 Of the bodyes, and the grete honour 
 
 That Theseus the noble conquerour 140 
 
 Doth to the ladyes, whan they from him wente. 
 
 But schortly for to telle is myn entente. 
 
 Whan that this worthy duk, this Theseus, 
 
 Hath Creon slayn, and Thebes wonne thus, 
 
 Stille in the feelde he took al night his reste, ms 
 
 And dide with al the contre as him leste. 
 
 To ransake in the tas of bodyes dede 
 Hem for to streepe of herneys and of wede, 
 The pilours diden businesse and cure, 
 After the bataile and disconfiture. 150 
 
 And so byfil, that in the tas thei founde, 
 Thurgh-girt with many a grevous blody wounde, 
 Two j/onge knightes liggyng by and by, 
 Bothe in oon armes, wroght ful richely ; 
 Of whiche two, Arcite highte that oon, iss 
 
 And that other knight highte Palamon. 
 Nat fully quyke, ne fully deede they were, 
 But by here coote-armures, and by here gere, 
 The Heraudes knewe hem best in special. 
 As they that weren of the blood real 160 
 
 Of Thebes, and of sistren tuo i-born. 
 Out of the taas the pilours han hem torn. 
 And han hem caried softe unto the tente 
 Of Theseus, and he ful sone hem sente 
 
THE KNIGHTES TALE. 3 1 
 
 Tathenes, for to dwellen in prisoim 165 
 
 Perpetuelly, he nolde no raunceoun. 
 
 And whan this worthy duk hath thus i-doon, 
 
 He took his host, and horn he ryt anoon 
 
 With laurer crowned as a conquerour ; 
 
 And there he lyveth in joye and in honour 170 
 
 Terme of his lyf j what nedeth wordes moo ? 
 
 And in a tour, in angwische and in woo, 
 
 This Palamon, and his fchiwe Arcite, 
 
 For everemo, ther may no gold hem quyte. 
 
 Thus passeth jj/eer by _yeer, and day by day, 17s 
 
 Til it fel oones in a morvve of May 
 That Emelie, that fairer was to seene 
 Than is the lilie on hire stalke grene, 
 And fresscher than the May with floures newe — 
 For with the rose colour strof hire he we, 180 
 
 I not which was the fayrere of hem two — 
 Er it were day, as was hire wone to do, 
 Sche was arisen, and al redy dight ; 
 For May wole han no sloggardye anight. 
 The sesoun priketh every gentil herte, 18s 
 
 And maketh him out of his sleepe sterte. 
 And seith, ' Ar^^s, and do thin observance.' 
 This makede Emelye han remembrance 
 To don honour to May, and for to ryse. 
 I-clothed was sche fresshe, for to devyse ; 190 
 
 HirejKelwe heer was browded in a tresse, 
 Byhynde hire bak, a jj/erde long I gesse. 
 iAnd in the gardyn at the sonne upriste 
 (Sche walketh up and doun, and as hire liste 
 
 (Sche gadereth floures, party whyte and reede, 195 
 
 To make a sotil gerland for hire heede, 
 .And as an aungel hevenly sche song. 
 The grete tour, that was so thikke and strong, 
 Which of the castel was the cheef dongeoun. 
 
32 THE KNIOHTES TALE. 
 
 (Ther as the knightes weren in prisoun, 200 
 
 Of which I tolde jKOW, and telle schal) 
 Was evene joynyng to the gardeyn wal, 
 Ther as this Emcly hadde hire pleyynge. 
 Bright was the sonne, and cleer that morwenynge, 
 And Palamon, this woful prisoner, 20s 
 
 As was his wone, by leve of his gayler 
 Was risen, and romede in a chambre on heigh, 
 In which he al the noble cite seigh. 
 And eek the gardeyn, ful of braunches grene, 
 Ther as the fresshe Emely the scheene 210 
 
 Was in hire walk, and romede up and doun. 
 This sorweful prisoner, this Palamon, 
 Gooth in the chambre, rom^-ng to and fro, 
 And to himself compleynyng of his woo ; 
 That he was born, ful ofte he seyde, alas ! 215 
 
 And so byfel, by aventure or cas. 
 That thurgh a wyndow, thikke of many a barre 
 Of iren greet, and squar as eny sparre, 
 He caste his eyen upon Emelya, 
 
 And therwithal he bleynte and cryede, a ! 220 
 
 As though he stongen were unto the herte. 
 And with that crye Arcite anon up sterte, 
 And seyde, ' Cosyn myn, what eyleth the, 
 That art so pale and deedly on to see ? 
 Why crydestow? who hath the doon offence? 22s 
 
 For Goddes love, tak al in pacience 
 Oure prisoun, for it may non other be ; 
 Fortune hathj^even us this adversite. 
 Som wikke aspect or disposicioun 
 
 Of Saturne, by sum constellacioun, 230 
 
 Hath jj/even us this ; although we hadde it sworn — 
 So stood the heven whan that we were born — 
 We moste endure it : this is the schort and pleyn/ 
 This Palamon answerde, and seyde ageyn, 
 
THE KNIGHTES TALE. 33 
 
 ' Cosyn, for sothe of this opynyoun 235 
 
 Thou hast a veyii ymaginacioun. 
 
 This prisoun causede me not for to crye. 
 
 But I was hurt right now thurghout myn eyhc 
 
 Into myn herte, that vvol my bane be. 
 / The fairnesse of that hidy that I see 340 
 
 / 2bnd in the gardyn rome to and fro, 
 Lis cause of al my cryying and my wo. 
 
 I not whether sche be womman or goddesse ; 
 
 But Venus is it, sothly as I gesse.' 
 
 And therwithal on knees adoun he fil, 245 
 
 And seyde : ' Venus, if it be j/oure wil 
 
 low in this gardyn thus to transfigure, 
 
 Biforn me sorweful wrecche creature, 
 
 Out of this prisoun help that we may scape. 
 
 And if so be my destine be schape 250 
 
 By eterne word to deyen in prisoun, 
 
 Of oure lynage have sum compassioun, 
 
 That is so lowe y-brought by tyrannye.* 
 
 And with that word Arcite gan espye 
 
 Wher as this lady romcde to and fro. 255 
 
 And vvith that sighte hire beaute hurte him so, 
 
 That if that Palamon was wounded sore, 
 
 Arcite is hurt as moche as he, or more. 
 
 And with a sigh he seyde pitously : 
 
 ' The freissche beaute sleeth me sodeynly 260 
 
 Of hire that rometh yonder in the place ; 
 
 And but I have hire mercy and hire grace, 
 
 That I may see hire atte leste weye, 
 
 I nam but deed ; ther nys no more to seye. 
 
 This Palamon, whan he tho wordes herde, 265 
 
 Dispitously he lokede, and answerde : 
 
 ' Whether seistow this in ernest or in pley ?* 
 
 ' Nay,' quoth Arcite, ' in ernest by my fey. 
 
 God helpe me so, me lust ful evele pleyc.* 
 
 3 
 
34 TEE KXIGETES TALE. 
 
 370 
 
 This Palamon gan knytte his browes tweye : 
 
 ' It nere,' quod he, ' to the no gret honour, 
 
 For to be fals, ne for to be tray tour 
 
 To me, that am thy cosyn and thy brother 
 
 I-swore ful deepe, and ech of us to other, 
 
 That nevere for to deyen in the payne, 275 
 
 Til that the deeth departe schal us twayne, 
 
 Neyther of us in love to hyndren other, 
 
 Ne in non other cas, my leeve brother ; 
 
 But that thou schuldest trevvely forthren me 
 
 In every caas, and I schal forthren the. 280 
 
 This was thyn oth, and myn also certayn ; 
 
 I wot right wel, thou darst it nat withsayn. 
 
 Thus art thou of my counseil out of doute. 
 
 And now thou woldest falsly ben aboute 
 
 To love my lady, whom I love and serve, 285 
 
 And evere schal, unto myn herte sterve. 
 
 Now certes, false Arcite, thou schalt not so. 
 
 I lovede hire first, and tolde the my woo 
 
 As to my counseil, and my brother sworn 
 
 To forthre me, as I have told biforn. 
 
 For which thou art i-bounden as a knisrht 
 
 To helpe me, if it lay in thi might, 
 
 Or elles art thou fals, I dar w^el savn.' 
 
 This Arcite ful proudly spak agayn. 
 
 ' Thou schalt,' quoth he, ' be rather fals than I. 
 
 But thou art fals, I telle the utterly. 
 
 For par amour I lovede hire first er thow. 
 
 What wolt thou sayn? thou wistest not j'it now 
 
 Whether sche be a womman or goddesse. 
 
 Thyn is affeccioun of holynesse, 
 
 And myn is love, as to a creature ; 
 
 For which I tolde the myn aventure 
 
 As to my cosyn, and my brother sworn. 
 
 I pose, that thou lovedest hire biforn ; 
 
 290 
 
 ^95 
 
 VM> 
 
77//; KMdllTF.S TALE. 35 
 
 W'ost thou nat wcl the olde clcrkes sawe, 30$ 
 
 That who schal^cvc a lover eny lawe? 
 Love is a grettere lawe, by my pan, 
 'J'hen may be^cve to eny erthly man. 
 Tlierfore posityf lawe, and such decre, 
 Is broke alday for love in ech degree. 3«o 
 
 A man moot nucdcii love maugre his heed. 
 He may nought flcn it, though he schulde be deed, 
 Al be sche mayde, or widewe, or elles wyf. 
 And eek it is nat likly al thy lyf 
 
 To stonden in hire grace, no more schal I ; 31s 
 
 For wel thou wost thyselven vcrraily, 
 That thou and I been dampned to prisoun 
 Perpetuelly, us gayneth no raunsoun. 
 We stryve, as dide the houndes for the boon, 
 They foughte al day, anrl^it here part was noon ; 3*0 
 
 Ther com a kyte, whil that they were so wrothe, 
 And bar awey the boon bitwixe hem bothe. 
 And therfore at the kynges court, my brother, 
 ^Ech man for himself, ther is non other. 
 
 Love if the list ; for I love and ay schal ; 325 
 
 And sothly, leeve brother, this is al. 
 Here in this prisoun moote we endure. 
 And everych of us take his aVenture.* 
 
 Gret was the stryf anrl long bytwixe hem tweye. 
 If that I hadde leyser for to seye ; 130 
 
 }5ut to theffect. — Tt happede on a day, 
 (To telle it^ow as schortly as I may) 
 A worthy duk that highte Perotheus, 
 That fclawe was unto duk Theseus 
 
 Syn thilke day that they were chihlren lyte, 335 
 
 Was come to Athenes, his felawe to visite, 
 And for to pleye, as he was wont to do, 
 For in this world he lovede noman so: 
 And he lovede him as tenderly agayn. 
 
36 THE KNIGHTES^ALE. 
 
 So wel they lovede, as olde bookes sayn, 340. 
 
 That whan that oon was deed, sothly to telle, 
 
 His felawe wente and soughte him doun in helle ; 
 
 But of that story lyst me nought to write. 
 
 Duk Perotheus lovede wel Arcite, 
 
 And hadde him knowe at Thebes jKeer by _yeer ; 34s 
 
 And fynally at requeste and prayer 
 
 Of Perotheus, withouten any raunsoun 
 
 Duk Theseus him leet out of prisoun, 
 
 Frely to gon, wher that him luste overal, . 
 
 In such a gyse, as 1 you telle schal. 350 
 
 This was the forward, playnly for tendite, 
 
 Bitwixe Theseus and him Arcite : 
 
 That if so were, that Arcite were yfounde 
 
 Evere in his lyf, by daye or night, o stound 
 
 In eny contr^ of this Theseus, 3ss 
 
 And he were caught, it was acorded thus, 
 
 That with a swerd he scholde lese his heed ; 
 
 Ther nas noon other remedy ne reed, 
 
 But took his leeve, and homward he him spedde ; 
 
 Let him be war, his nekke lith to wedde. 360 
 
 How gret a sorwe suffreth now Arcite ! 
 
 The deth he feleth thurgh his herte smyte ; 
 
 He weepeth, weyleth, cryeth pitously ; 
 
 To slen himself he wayteth pryvyly. 
 
 He seyde, ' Alias the day that I was born ! 36s 
 
 Now is my prisoun werse than biforn ; 
 
 Now is me schape eternally to dwelle 
 
 Nought in purgatorie, but in helle. 
 
 Alias ! that evere knew I Perotheus ! 
 
 For elles hadde I dweld with Theseus 370 
 
 I-fetered in his prisoun evere moo. 
 
 Than hadde I ben in blisse, and nat in woo. 
 
 Oonly the sighte of hire, whom that I serve. 
 
 Though that I nevere hire grace may deserve, 
 
THE KNIGHTES TALE. ^ 37 
 
 Wolde han sufficed right ynough for me}> 37s 
 
 O dere cosyn Palamon,' quod he, 
 
 ' Thyn is the victoire of this aventure, 
 
 Ful bhsfully in prisoun maistow dure ; 
 
 In prisoun? certes nay, but in paradys ! 
 
 Wei hath fortune y-torned the the dys, 380 
 
 That hast the sighte of hire, and I thabsence. 
 
 For possible is, syn thou hast hire presence, 
 
 And art a knight, a worthi and an able, 
 
 That by soni cas, syn fortune is chaungable, 
 
 Thou maist to thy desir somtyme atteyne. 38s 
 
 But I that am exiled, and bareyne 
 
 Of alle grace, and in so gret despeir. 
 
 That ther nys erthe, water, fyr, ne eyr, 
 
 Ne creature, that of hem maked is, 
 
 That may me helpe or doon confort in this. 390 
 
 Wei oughte I sterve in wanhope/ and distresse ; 
 
 Farwel my lyf, my lust, and my gladnesse. 
 
 Alias, why playnen folk so in comune 
 
 Of purveance of God, or of fortune. 
 
 That jKeveth hem ful ofte in many a gyse 39s 
 
 Wei better than thei can hemself devyse? 
 
 Som man desireth for to han richesse. 
 
 That cause is of his morthre or gret seeknesse. 
 
 And som man wolde out of his prisoun fayn, 
 
 That in his hous is of his mayne slayn. 400 
 
 Infinite harmes ben in this mateere ; 
 
 We witen nat what thing we prayen heere. 
 
 We faren as he that dronke is as a mows. 
 
 A dronke man wot wel he hath an hous. 
 
 But he not which the righte wey is thider, 40s 
 
 And to a dronke man the wey is slider. 
 
 And certes in this world so faren we ; 
 
 We seeken faste after felicite. 
 
 But we gon wrong ful ofte trewely. 
 
38 THE KNIOETES TALE. 
 
 Thus may we seyen alle, and namelyche I, 410 
 
 That wende and hadde a gret opinloun, 
 
 ThatjKif I mighte skape fro prisoun, 
 
 Than hadde I ben in joye and perfyt hele, 
 
 Ther now I am exiled fro mj^ wele. 
 
 Syn that I may not sen_yow, Emel3'e, 415 
 
 I nam but deed ; ther nys no remedj^e.' 
 Uppon that other syde Pahimon, 
 
 Whan that he wiste Arcite was agoon, 
 
 Such sorwe he maketh, that the grete tour 
 
 Resowneth of his j^ollyng and clamour. 420 
 
 The pure fettres on his schynes grete 
 
 Weren of his bittre salte teres wete. 
 ■ ' Alias ! ' quod he, ' Arcita, cosyn myn, 
 
 Of al oure strif, God woot, the fruyt is thin. 
 
 Thow walkest now in Thebes at thi large, 425 
 
 And of my woo thouj/evest litel charge. 
 
 Thou maist, syn thou hast wysdom and manhede, 
 
 Assemblen al the follv of oure kynrede, 
 
 And make a werre so scharpe on this cite, 
 
 That by som aventure, or som trete, 430 
 
 Thou mayst have hire to lady and to wyf, 
 j For whom that I mot needes leese my l^'f. 
 
 For as by wey of possibilite, 
 
 Syth thou art at thi large of prisoun free, 
 
 And art a lord, gret is thin avantage, 43s 
 
 More than is myn, that sterve here in a kage. 
 
 For I moot weepe and weyle, whil I lyve. 
 
 With al the woo that prisoun may mejvyve, 
 
 And eek with peyne that love me _yeveth also, 
 
 That doubleth al my torment and my wo.' 440 
 
 Therwith the fyr of jelousye upsterte 
 
 Withinne his breste, and hente him by the herte 
 
 So wgdly, that he lik was to byholde 
 
 The box-tree, or the asschen deede and colde. 
 
THE KNIOHTES TALE. 39 
 
 Tho seyde he : ' O cruel goddes, that governe 445 
 
 This world with byndyng of jKOure word eterne, 
 
 And writen in the table of athamaunte 
 
 2bure parlement, and jKOure eterne graimte ! 
 
 What is mankynde more unto j^ow holde 
 
 Than is the scheep, that rouketh in the folde? 450 
 
 For slayn is man right as another beest, 
 
 And dwelleth eek in prisoun and arreest, 
 
 And hath seknesse, and greet adversite, 
 
 And ofte tymes gilteles, parde. 
 
 What governaunce is in this prescience, 455 
 
 That gilteles tormenteth innocence ? 
 
 And j)/et encreceth this al my penaunce, 
 
 That man is bounden to his observaunce 
 
 For Goddes sake to letten of his wille, 
 
 Ther as a beest may al his lust fulfiUe. 460 
 
 / And whan a beest is deed, he hath no peyne ; 
 . But man after his deth moot wepe and pleyne, 
 
 Though in this w^orld he have care and woo : 
 
 Withouten doute it may stonde so. 
 
 The answere of this I lete to divinis, 46s 
 
 But wel I woot, that in this world gret pyne is. 
 
 Alias ! I se a serpent or a theef, 
 
 That many a trewe man hath doon mescheef, 
 
 Gon at his large, and wher him lust may turne. 
 
 But I moot ben in prisoun thurgh Saturne, 470 
 
 And eek thurgh Juno, jalous and eek wood, 
 
 That hath destruved wel neyh al the blood 
 
 Of Thebes, with his waste walles wyde. 
 
 And Venus sleeth me on that other syde 
 
 For jelousye, and fere of him Arcyte.' X^\j"^^^ 47s 
 
 Now wol I stynte of Palamon a lite, 
 
 And lete him in his prisoun stille dwelle, 
 
 And of Arcita forth I wol you telle. 
 
 The somer passeth, and the nightes longe 
 
 \ 
 
40 THE KNIGHTES TALE. 
 
 Encrescen double wise the peynes stronge 480 
 
 Bothe of the lover and the prisoner. 
 
 I noot which hath the wofuUere nij^ster. 
 
 For schortly for to seyn, this Palamon 
 
 Perpetuelly is dampned to prisoun, 
 
 In cheynes and in fettres to be deed ; 4Ss 
 
 And Arcite is exiled upon his heed 
 
 For evere mo as out of that contre, 
 
 Ne nevere mo he schal his lady see. 
 
 2ow loveres axe I now this question, 
 
 Who hath the worse, Arcite or Palamon.'^ 490 
 
 That on may se his lady day by day, 
 
 But in prisoun he moste clwelle alway. 
 
 That other wher him lust may ryde or go, 
 
 But seen his lady schal he nevere mo. 
 
 Now (ieemeth asj^ou luste, j/e that can, 495 
 
 For I wol telle forth as I bigan. 
 
 Whan that Arcite to Thebes comen was, 
 Ful ofte a day he swelte and seyde alas, 
 For seen his lady schal he nevere mo. 
 And schortly to concluden al his wo, 500 
 
 So moche sorwe hadde nevere creature, 
 That is or schal whil that the world may dure. 
 His sleep, his mete, his drynk is him by raft, 
 That lene he wex, and drye as is a schaft. 
 His eyen holwe, and grisly to biholde ; 505 
 
 His hew^e falwe„, and pale as asschen colde. 
 And solitary he was, and evere alone. 
 And waill3^ng al the night, making his moone. 
 And if he herde song or instrument, 
 
 Then wolde he wepe, he mighte nought be stent; 510 
 
 So feble eek were his spirites, and so lovve. 
 And chaunged so, that no man couthe knowe 
 His speche nother his vois, though men it herde. 
 And in his geere, for al the world he ferde 
 
THE KXIGIITES TALE. 4I 
 
 Nought oonly lyke the lovers maladye 515 
 
 Of Hereos, but rather Hk manye 
 
 Engendred of humour melancolyk, 
 
 Byforen in his sella fantastyk. 
 
 And schortly turned was al up-so-doun 
 
 Bothe habyt and eek disposicioun 52° 
 
 Of him, this woful lovere daun Arcite. 
 
 What schulde I alday of his wo endite? 
 
 Whan he endured hadde a _yeer or tuoo 
 
 This cruel torment, and this peyne and woo, 
 
 At Thebes, in his contre, as I seyde, 525 
 
 Upon a night in sleep as he him leyde, 
 
 Him thoughte how that the wenged god Mercuric 
 
 Byforn him stood, and bad him to be mury e. 
 
 His slepy jerde in bond he bar uprighte ; 
 
 An hat he werede upon his heres brighte. 530 
 
 Arrayed was this god (as he took keepe) 
 
 As he was whan that Argons took his sleepe ; 
 
 And seyde him thus : ' To Athenes schalt thou wende ; 
 
 Ther is the schapen of thy wo an ende.' 
 
 And with that word Arcite wook and sterte. 535 
 
 ' Now trewely how sore that me smerte.' 
 
 Qiiod he, ' to Athenes ri^7^t now wol I fare ; 
 
 Ne for the drede of deth schal I not spare 
 
 To see my lady, that I love and serve ; 
 
 In hire presence I recche nat to sterve.' S4o 
 
 And with that word he caughte a gret myrour, 
 
 And saugh that chaunged was al his colour. 
 
 And sauofh his visas^e al in another kvnde. 
 
 And right anoon it ran him into mynde, 
 
 That sith his face was so disfigured 545 
 
 Of maladie the which he hadde endured. 
 
 He miofhte wel, if that he bar him lovve, 
 
 Lyve in Athenes evere more unknowe. 
 
 And seen his lady wel neih day by day. 
 
42 THE KNIGHTES TALE. 
 
 And right anon he chaungede his aray, sso 
 
 And cladde him as a poure laborer. 
 
 And al alone, save oonly a squyer, 
 
 That knew his pryvyte and al his cas, 
 
 Which was disgysed povrely as he was, 
 
 To Athenes is he gon the nexte way. sss 
 
 And to the court he wente upon a day, 
 
 And at the jK^te he profrede his servyse, 
 
 To drugge and drawe, what so men wol devyse. 
 
 And schortly of this matier for to seyn, 
 
 He fel in office with a chamberleyn, 560 
 
 The which that dwellyng was with Emelye ; 
 
 For he was wys, and couthe sone aspye 
 
 Of every servaunt, which that servede here. 
 
 Wei couthe he hewe woode, and water bere, 
 
 For he was_yong and mighty for the nones, 55 
 
 And therto he was strong and bygge of bones 
 
 To doon that eny wight can him devyse. 
 
 Aj/eer or two he was in this servise, 
 
 Page of the chambre of Emelye the brighte ; 
 
 And Philostrate he seide that he highte. 570 
 
 But half so wel byloved a man as he 
 
 Ne was ther nevere in court of his degree. 
 
 He was so gentil of condicioun, 
 
 That thurghout al the court was his renoun. 
 
 They seyde that it were a charite 57s 
 
 That Theseus wolde enhaunse his desrree, 
 
 And putten him in worschipful servyse, 
 
 Ther as he mighte his vertu exercise. 
 
 And thus v^ithinne a while his name is spronge 
 
 Bothe of his dedes, and his goode tonge, 580 
 
 That Theseus hath taken him so neer. 
 
 That of his chambre he made him a squyer, 
 
 And _yaf him gold to mayntene his degree ; 
 
 And eek men broughte him out of his country 
 
THE KXIGIITES TALE. 43 
 
 Fro yeer to j/eer fiil pryvyly his rente ; 58s 
 
 But honestly and sleighly he it spente, 
 
 That no man wondrede how that he it hadde. 
 
 And thre_yeer in this wise his lyf he Ladde, 
 
 And bar him so in pees and eek in werre, 
 
 Thcr nas no man that Theseus hath derre. 590 
 
 And in this bhsse lete I now Arcite, 
 
 And speke I wole of Pahimon a lyte. 
 
 In derknesse and iiorrible and strong prisoun 
 This seven _yeer hath seten Pahimoun, 
 Forpyned, what for woo and for distresse. 595 
 
 Who feleth double sorwe and hevynesse 
 But Pahimon? that love destreyneth so, 
 That wood out of his wit he goth for wo ; 
 And eek therto he is a prisoner 
 
 Perpetuelly, nat oonly for a _yeer. 600 
 
 Who couthe ryme in Englissch proprely 
 His martirdam ? for sothe it am nat I ; 
 Therfore I passe as lightly as I may. 
 Hit fel that in the seventhe j'eer in ]May 
 The thridde night, (as olde bookes seyn, 605 
 
 That al this storie tellen more pleyn) 
 Were it by aventure or destine, 
 (As, whan a thing is schapen, it schal be,) 
 That sqone after the mydnvght, Palamoun 
 By helpyng of a freend brak his prisoun, 610 
 
 And fleeth the cite faste as he may goo. 
 For he hadde j^ive his gayler drinke soo 
 Of a clarre, maad of a certeyn wyn, 
 With nercotyks and opye of Thebes fyn, 
 That al that night though that men wolde him schake, 615 
 The gayler sleep, he mighte nou^//t awake. 
 And thus he fleeth as faste as evere he may. 
 The night was schort, and faste by the day, 
 That needes-cost he moste himselven hyde, 
 
44 'J^IiE KNIQHTES TALE. 
 
 And til a grove faste ther besyde 620 
 
 With dredful foot than stalketh Palamoun. 
 
 For schortl}'' this was his opynyoun, 
 
 That in that grove he w^olde him hyde al day, 
 
 And in the night then wolde he take his way 
 
 To Thebes-ward, his frendes for to preye 625 
 
 On Theseus to helpe him to werreye ; 
 
 And schortehche, or he wolde lese his lyf, 
 
 Or wynnen Emelye unto his wyf. 
 
 This is theffect and his entente playn. 
 
 Now wol I torne unto Arcite agayn, 630 
 
 That litel wiste how nyh that was his care, 
 
 Til that fortune hadde brought him in the snare. 
 
 The busy larke, messager of daye, 
 Salueth in hire song the morwe graye ; 
 And fyry Phebus ryseth up so brighte, 635 
 
 That al the orient laugheth of the lighte, 
 And with his stremes drveth in the greve^ 
 The silver dropes, hongyng on the leeves. 
 And Arcite, that is in the court ryal 
 
 With Theseus, his squyer principal, 640 
 
 Is risen, and loketh on the merye day. 
 And for to doon his observance to May, 
 Remembryng on the poynt of his desir, 
 He on his courser, stertyng as the fir. 
 Is riden into the feeldes him to pleye, 645 
 
 Out of the court, were it a myle or tweye. 
 And to the grove, of which that I yo\N tolde, 
 By aventure his wey he gan to holde. 
 To maken him a garland of the greves. 
 Were it of woodebynde or hawthorn leves, 650 
 
 And lowde he song aj^ens the sonne scheene ; 
 ^May, with alle thy floures and thy greene, 
 Welcome be thou, wel faire freissche Ma}^, 
 I hope that I som ^rene gete may,' 
 
THE KNIGHTES TALE. 45 
 
 And fro his courser, with a lusty herte, 655 
 
 Into the grove ful hastily he sterte, 
 
 And in a path he rometh up and doun, 
 
 Ther as by aventure this Palamoun 
 
 Was in a busche, that no man mighte him see, 
 
 For sore afered of his deth was he. 660 
 
 Nothinof ne knew he that it was Arcite : 
 
 God wot he wolde han trowed it ful lite. 
 
 But soth is seyd, goon sithen manyj/eres, 
 
 That fold hath eyen, and the woode hath eeres. 
 
 It is ful fair a man to here him evene, 665 
 
 For al day meteth men at unset stevene. 
 
 Ful litel woot Arcite of his felawe, 
 
 That was so neih to herken al his sawe, 
 
 For in the busche he sytteth now ful stille. 
 
 Whan that Arcite hadde romed al his fille, 670 
 
 And songen al the roundel lustily, 
 
 Into a studie he fel al sodeynly. 
 
 As don thes lovers in here queynfe geeres, 
 
 Now in the croppe, now doun in the breres, 
 
 Now up, now doun, as boket in a vvelle. 67s 
 
 Right as the Friday, sothly for to telle. 
 
 Now it schyneth, now it reyneth faste, 
 
 Right so can gery Venus overcaste 
 
 The hertes of hire folk, right as hire day 
 
 Is gerful, right so chaungeth sche aray. 680 
 
 Selde is the Fryday al the wyke i-like. 
 
 Whan that Arcite hadde songe, he gan to jjke, 
 
 And sette him doun withouten eny more : 
 
 ' Alas ! ' quod he, ' that day that I was bore ! 
 
 How longe Juno, thurgh thy cruelte, 68c 
 
 Wiltow werreyen Thebes the citee? 
 
 Alias ! i-brouW^t is to confusioun 
 
 The blood royal of Cadme and Amphioun ; 
 
 Of Cadmus, which that was the firste man 
 
46 THE KNIGHTES TALE. 
 
 That Thebes bulde, or first the toim bygan, oyo 
 
 And of that cite first was crowned kyng, 
 
 Of his lynage am I, and his ofspring 
 
 By verray lyne, as of the stok ryal : 
 
 And now I am so caytyf and so thral, 
 
 That he that is my mortal enemy, 69s 
 
 I serve him as his squyer povrely. 
 
 And yet doth Juno me w^el more schame, 
 
 For I dar nought byknowe myn owne name, 
 
 But ther as I was w^ont to bote Arcite, 
 
 Now hoote I Philostrate, nou^/^t worth a myte. 7°° 
 
 Alias ! thou felle Mars, alias ! Juno, 
 
 Thus hathjKoure ire owre kynrede al/ordo, 
 
 Save oonly me, and wrecched Palamoun, 
 
 That Theseus martyreth in prisoun. 
 
 And over al this, to sleen me utterly, 705 
 
 Love hath his fyry dart so brennyngly 
 
 I-styked thurgh my trewe careful herte. 
 
 That schapen was my deth erst than my scherte. 
 
 2e slen me with j^oure eyhen, Emelye ; 
 
 2e ben the cause wherfore that I dye. 710 
 
 Of al the remenant of myn other care 
 
 Ne sette I nought the mountaunce of a tare, 
 
 So that I couthe don aught toj^oure plesaunce.' 
 
 And with that word he fel doun in a traunce 
 
 A long tyme ; and afterward he upsterte 71s 
 
 This Palamon, that thoughts thurgh his herte 
 
 He felte a cold swerd sodeynliche gljde ; 
 
 For ire he quook, no lenger nolde he byde. 
 
 And whan that he hadde herd Arcites tale, 
 
 As he were wood, with face deed and pale, 720 
 
 He sterte him up out of the bussches thikke. 
 
 And seyde : ' Arcyte, false traitour wikke. 
 
 Now art thou Jient, that lovest my lady so. 
 
 For whom that I have al this peyne and wo, 
 
THE KNIGHTES TALE. 47 
 
 And art my blood, and to my counscil sworn, 725 
 
 As I ful ofte have told the heere byforn, 
 And hastbyjaped here duk Theseus, 
 And falsly chaunged hast thy name thus ; 
 I wol be deed, or elles thou schalt dye. 
 Thou schalt not love my lady Emelye, 73«* 
 
 But I wil love hire oonly and no mo ; 
 For I am Palamon thy mortal fo. 
 And though that I no wepen have in this place, 
 But out of prisoun am y-stert by grace, 
 I drede not that other thou schalt dye, 735 
 
 Or thou ne schalt not loven Emelye. 
 Ches which thou wilt, for thou schalt not astcrte/ 
 This Arcite, with ful dcspitous hertc, 
 Whan he him knew, and hadde his tale herd, 
 As fers as lyoun pullede out a swerd, 740 
 
 And seide thus : ' By God that sit above, 
 Nere it that thou art sike and wood for love. 
 And eek that thou no wepne hast in this place. 
 Thou schuldest nevere out of this grove pace. 
 That thou ne schuldest deyen of myn bond. 745 
 
 For I defye the seurte and the bond 
 Which that thou seyst I have maad to the. 
 .What, verray fool, think wel that love is fre ! 
 And I wol love hire mawgre al thy might. 
 But, for as muche thou art a worthy knight, 75° 
 
 And wilnest to dereyne hire by batayle, 
 Have heer my trouthe, to morwe I nyl not fayle, 
 Withouten wityng of eny other wight. 
 That heer I wol be founden as a knight, 
 And brvnsren harnevs ri^^ht inousfh for the ; 7SS 
 
 And ches the beste, and lef the worste for me. 
 And mete and drynke this night wil I brynge 
 Inough for the, and clothes for thy beddynge. 
 And if so be that thou my lady wynne, 
 
48 THE KNIQHTES TALE, 
 
 And sle me in this woode ther I am irine, 760 
 
 Thou maist wel han thy lady as for me.' 
 
 This Palamon answerede : ' I graunte it the.' 
 
 And thus they ben departed til a-morwe, 
 
 When ech of hem hadde leyd his feith to borwe. 
 
 O Cupide, out of alle charite ! 76s 
 
 O regne, that wolt no felawe han with the ! 
 Ful soth is seyd, that love ne lordschipe 
 Wol not, his thonkes, han no felaweschipe. 
 Wel fynden that Arcite and Palamoun. 
 Arcite is riden anon unto the toun, 770 
 
 And on the morwe, or it were dayes light, 
 Ful prively two barneys hath he dight, 
 Bothe suffisaunt and mete to darreyne 
 The batayle in the feeld betvvix hem tweyne. 
 And on his hors, alone as he was born, 77s 
 
 He caryeth al this barneys him byforn ; 
 And in the grove, at tyme and place i-set. 
 This Arcite and this Palamon ben met. 
 Tho chaungen gan the colour in here face. 
 Right as the honter in the regne of Trace 780 
 
 That stondeth in the gappe with a spere, 
 Whan honted is the lyoun or the here. 
 And hereth him come ruschyng in the greves, 
 And breketh bothe bowes and the leves, 
 And thinketh, ' Here cometh my mortel enemy, 785 
 
 Withoute faile, he mot be deed or I ; 
 For eyther I mot slen him at the gappe. 
 Or he moot sleen me, if that me myshappe : ' 
 So ferden they, in chaungyng of here hewe, 
 As fer as everich of hem other knewe. 790 
 
 Ther nas no good day, ne no saluyng ; 
 But streyt withouten wordes rehersyng, 
 Everych of hem help for to armen other. 
 As frendly as he were his owne brother ; 
 
THE KNIOHTES TALE. 49 
 
 And after that with scharpe speres stronge 7qs 
 
 They foynen ech at other wonder longe. 
 
 Thou myghtest wene that this Pahimon 
 
 In his fightyng were as a wood lyoun, 
 
 And as a cruel tygre was Arcite : 
 
 As wilde boores gonne they to smyte, 800 
 
 That frothen white as fome for ire wood. 
 
 Up to the ancle foughte they in here blood. 
 
 And in this wise I lete hem fightyng dwelle ; 
 
 And forth I wol of Theseus jkovv telle. 
 
 The destyne, mynistre general, 80s 
 
 That executeth in the world over-al 
 The4Durvcauns, that God hath seyn byforn ; 
 So strong it is, that though the world hadde sworn 
 The contrary of a thing byj^e or nay, 
 2et somtyme it schal falle upon a day 810 
 
 That falleth nought eft withinne a thousend j^eere. 
 For certeynly oure appetites heere, 
 Be it of werre, or pees, or hate, or love, 
 Al is it reuled by the sighte above. 
 
 This mene I now by mighty Theseus, 81= 
 
 That for to honten is so desirous. 
 And namely at the grete hert in iSIay, 
 That in his bedde ther daweth him no day, 
 That he nys clad, and redy for to ryde 
 With honte and horn, and houndes him byside. 820 
 
 For in his hontyng hath he such delyt. 
 That it is al his joye and appet\'t 
 To been himself the grete hertes bane, 
 For after jSIars he serveth now Diane. 
 
 Cleer was the day, as I have told or this, 825 
 
 And Theseus, with alle joye and blj-s, 
 With his Ypolita, the fayre queene, 
 And Emelye, clothed al in greene. 
 On honting be thay riden ryally. 
 
 4 
 
50 THE KNIGHTES TALE. 
 
 And to the grove, that stood fid faste by, 830 
 
 In which ther was an hert as men him tolde, 
 
 Duk Theseus the streyte wey hath holde. 
 
 And to the launde he rydeth him ful righte. 
 
 For thider was the hert wont have his flighte, 
 
 And over a brook, and so forth in his weye. 835 
 
 This duk wol have a cours at him or tvveye 
 
 With houndes, swiche as that him lust comaunde. 
 
 And whan this duk was come unto the launde, 
 
 Under the sonne he loketh, and anon 
 
 He was war of Arcite and Palamon, 8^0 
 
 That fougfhten breeme, as it were boores tuo ; 
 
 The brio:hte swerdes wente to and fro 
 
 So hidously, that with the leste strook 
 
 It seemede as it wolde felle an 00k ; 
 
 But what they were, nothing he ne woot. 845 
 
 This duk his courser with his spores smoot, 
 
 And at a stert he was betwix hem tuoo. 
 
 And pullede out a swerd and cride, ' Hoo ! 
 
 Nomore, up peyne of leesyng of youv heed. 
 
 By mighty Mars, he schal anon be deed, 850 
 
 That smyteth eny strook, that 1 may seen ! 
 
 But telleth me what mester men ye been, 
 
 That ben so hardy for to fighten heere 
 
 Withoute jugge or other officere, 
 
 As it were in a lystes really? ' 855 
 
 This Palamon answerde hastily, 
 
 And seyde : ' Sire, what nedeth wordes mo? 
 
 We ban the deth deserved bothe tuo. 
 
 Tuo woful wrecches been we, and kaytyves, 
 
 That ben encombred of oure owne lyves ; 86q 
 
 And as thou art a rightful lord and juge, 
 
 Ne _yeve us neyther mercy ne refuge. 
 
 And sle me first, for seynte charite ; 
 
 But sle my felavve eek as wel as me. 
 
THE KNIGHTES TALE. 51 
 
 Or sle him first ; for, though thou knovvc it lyte, 86s 
 
 This is thy mortal fo, this is Arcite, 
 
 That fro thy lond is banyscht on his heed, 
 
 For which he hath deserved to be deed. 
 
 For this is he that com unto thi gate 
 
 And seyde, that he highte Philostrate. 870 
 
 Thus hath he japed the ful many a j^er, 
 
 And thou hast maked him thy cheef squyer. 
 
 And this is he that loveth Emelye. 
 
 For sith the day is come that I schal dye, 
 
 I make pleynly my confessioun, 87s 
 
 That I am thilke vvoful Palamoun, 
 
 That hath thy prisoun broke wikkedly. 
 
 I am thy mortal foo, and it am I 
 
 That loveth so hoote Emelj^e the brighte, 
 
 That I wol dye present in hire sighte. 880 
 
 Therfore I aske deeth and my juwyse ; 
 
 But slee my felawe in the same W3se, 
 
 For bothe han we deserved to be slayn.' 
 
 This worthy duk answerde anon agayn, 
 And seide, ' This is a schort conclusioun : 8S5 
 
 lour owne mouth, byjKour confessioun. 
 Hath dampned j^ou, and I wil it recorde. 
 It nedeth nought to pyne yow with the corde. 
 2e schul be deed by mighty Mars the reede ! ' 
 The queen anon for verray wommanhede 890 
 
 Gan for to wepe, and so dede Emelye, 
 And alle the ladies in the companye. 
 Gret pite was it, as it thoughte hem alle, 
 That evere such a chaunce schulde falle ; 
 For gentil men thei were, of grot estate, 895 
 
 And nothins: but for love was this debate. 
 And sawe here bloody woundes wyde and sore ; 
 And alio crvden, bothe Jesse, and more, 
 ' Have mercy, Lord, upon us worn men alle ! ' 
 
52 THE KNIQHTES TALE. 
 
 And on here bare knees adoim they falle, 900 
 
 And wolde han kist his feet ther as he stood, 
 Til atte laste aslaked was his mood; 
 ( For pite renneth sone in gentil herte. 
 And though he first for ire quok and sterte, 
 He hath considerd shortly in a clause, 905 
 
 The trespas of hem bothe, and eek the cause : 
 And although that his ire here gylt accusede, 
 2et in his resoun he hem bothe excusede ; 
 And thus he thouglite wel that every man 
 Wol helpe himself in love if that he can, 910 
 
 And eek delyvere himself out of prisoun ; 
 And eek his herte hadde compassioun 
 Of vi^ommen, for they w^epen evere in oon ; 
 And in his gentil herte he thoughte anoon. 
 And softe unto himself he seyde : ' Fy gis 
 
 Upon a lord that vvol han no mere}', 
 But be a lyoun bothe in word and dede, 
 To hem that ben in repentaunce and drede, 
 As wel as to a proud dispitous man, 
 
 That wol maynteyne that he first bigan ! 920 
 
 That lord hath litel of discrecioun. 
 That in such caas can no divisioun ; 
 But weyeth pride and humblesse after oon.' 
 And schortly, whan his ire is thus agon, 
 He gan to loken up with eyen lighte, 925 
 
 And spak these same wordes al in highte. 
 ' The god of love, a ! benedicite^ 
 How mighty and how gret a lord is he ! 
 Agayns his might ther gayneth non obstacles. 
 He may be cleped a god for his miracles ; 930 
 
 For he can maken at his owne gyse 
 Of everych herte, as that him lust devyse. 
 Lo her this Arcite and this Palamoun, 
 That quytly wcren out of my prisoun, 
 
THE KNIGHTES TALE. 53 
 
 And mighte han lyved in Thebes ryally, 935 
 
 i\nd witen I am here mortal enemy, 
 
 And that here deth Hth in my might also, 
 
 And jKet hath love, maugre here eygh^n tuo, 
 
 I-broLight hem hider bothe for to dye. 
 
 Now loketh, is nat that an heih folye? 940 
 
 Who may not ben a fool, if that he love? 
 
 Byhold for Goddes sake that sit above, 
 
 Se how they blede ! be they nought wel arrayed ? 
 
 Thus hath here lord, the god of love, y-payed 
 
 Here v^agres and here fees for here servise. 945 
 
 And yet they wenen for to ben ful wise 
 
 That serven love, for ought that may bifalle. 
 
 But this isjKet the beste game of alle, 
 
 That sche, for whom they han this jolitee, 
 
 Can hem therfore as moche thank as me. 950 
 
 Sche woot no more of al this hoote fare, 
 
 By God, than wot a cuckow or an hare. 
 
 But al moot ben assayed, hoot and cold ; 
 
 A man moot ben a fool or_yong or old ; '» 
 
 I woot it by myself ful _yore agon : 955 
 
 For in my tyme a servant was I on. 
 
 And therfore, syn I knowe of loves peyne, 
 
 And wot how sore it can a man destreyne. 
 
 As he that hath ben caught ofte in his lace, 
 
 I you forj^eve al holly this trespace, 960 
 
 At request of the queen that kneleth heere. 
 
 And eek of Emelye, my suster deere. 
 
 And ye schul bothe anon unto me swere, 
 
 That neveremo ye schul my corowne dere, 
 
 Ne make werre upon me night ne day, 965 
 
 But ben my freendes in al that ye may. 
 
 I ^ow for_yeve this trespas every del.' 
 
 And they him swore his axyng fayre and wel. 
 
 And him of lordschipe and of mercy prayde, 
 
54 THE KNIGHTES TALE. 
 
 And he hem graunteth grace, and thus he sayde : Q70 
 
 ' To speke of real lynage and richesse, 
 
 Though that sche were a queen or a pryncesse, 
 
 Ech of _yow bothe is worthy douteles 
 
 To wedden when tyme is, but natheles 
 
 I speke as for my suster Emelye, 975 
 
 For whom ye han this stryf and jelousye, 
 
 2e wite j/oureself sche may not wedde two 
 
 At oones, though ye fighten evere mo : 
 
 That oon of _yow, al be him loth or leef, 
 
 He mot go pypen in an ivy leef; 980 
 
 This is to sayn, sche may nought now han bothe, 
 
 Al be ye nevere so jelous, ne so wrothe. 
 
 And for-thy I you putte in this degre, 
 
 That ech of j^ou schal have his destyne. 
 
 As him is schape, and herkneth in what wyse ; 985 
 
 Lo here your ende of that I schal devyse. 
 
 My wil is this, for plat conclusioun, 
 Withouten eny repplicacioun. 
 If that you liketh, tak it for the beste, 
 That everych of you. schal gon wher him leste 9^0 
 
 Frely withouten raunsoun or daungeer ; 
 And this day fyfty wykes, fer ne neer, 
 Everich of jkou schal brynge an hundred knightes, 
 Armed for lystes up at alle rightes, 
 
 Al redy to derayne hire by batayle. 99s 
 
 And this byhote I you withouten fayle 
 Upon my trouthe, and as I am a knight. 
 That wdiether of jow bothe that hath might. 
 This is to seyn, that whether he or thou 
 May with his hundred, as I spak of now, 1000 
 
 Slen his contrarye, or out of lystes dryve, 
 Thanne schal I j/even Emelye to wyve, • 
 
 To whom that fortune j/eveth so fair a grace. 
 The lystes schal I maken in this place, 
 
rilE KNIGETES TALE. 55 
 
 And God so v>'jsly on my sowle rewe, 1005 
 
 As I schal evene juge beii and trewe. 
 
 Th schul non other ende with me make, 
 
 That oon of j^ow ne schal be deed or take. 
 
 And If you thinketh this is wel i-sayd, 
 
 Sayeth _youre avy^s, and holdeth j^ow apayd. loic 
 
 This isj/oure ende andjvoure concUisioun.' 
 
 Who loketh hghtly now but Pahimoun ? 
 
 Who spryngeth up for joye but Arcite? 
 
 Who couthe telle, or who couthe it endite, 
 
 The joye that is maked in the place 1015 
 
 Whan Theseus hath don so fair a grace? 
 
 But down on knees wente every maner wight, 
 
 And thanken him with al here herte and miht, 
 
 And naniely the Thebans ofte sithe. 
 
 And thus with good hope and with herte blithe 1020 
 
 They take here leve, and hom-ward gonne they ryde 
 
 To Thebes with his olde walles wyde. 
 
 I trowe men wolde deme it necligence, 
 If I for_yete to telle the dispence 
 
 Of Theseus, that goth so busily 1025 
 
 To maken up the lystes rially ; 
 That such a noble theatre as it was, 
 I dar wel sayn that in this world ther nas. 
 The circuit a myle was aboute, 
 
 Walled of stoon, and dyched al withoute. 1030 
 
 Round was the schap, in maner of compaas, 
 Ful of degrees, the heighte of sixty paas, 
 That whan a man was set in o degre 
 He lette nought his felawe for to se. 
 
 Est-ward ther stood a gate of marbel whit, 1035 
 
 West-ward right such another in the opposit. 
 And schortly to conclude, such a place 
 Was non in erthe as in so litel space ; 
 For in the lond ther nas no crafty man, 
 
56 THE KNIOHTES TALE. 
 
 That geometry or arsmetrike can, 1040 
 
 Ne portre}'our, ne kervere of ymages, 
 
 That Theseus nejK'if hem mete and wages 
 
 The theatre for to maken and devyse. 
 
 And for to don his ryte and sacrifise, 
 
 He est-ward hath upon the gate above, 104s 
 
 In worschipe of Venus, goddesse of love, 
 
 Don make an auter and an oratorye ; 
 
 And v^^est-ward in the mynde and in memorye 
 
 Of Mars, he hath i-maked such another, 
 
 That coste largel}^ of gold a fother. 1050 
 
 And north-ward, in a toret on the walle. 
 
 Of alabaster whit and reed coralle 
 
 An oratorye riche for to see, 
 
 In worschipe of Dyane, of chastite. 
 
 Hath Theseus doon wrought in noble wise. 1055 
 
 ButjKit hadde I forjeten to devyse 
 
 The noble kervyng, and the purtreitures. 
 
 The schap, the contenaunce and the figures. 
 
 That weren in these oratories thre. 
 
 First in the temple of Venus may stow se 1060 
 
 Wrought on the wal, ful pitous to byholde, 
 The broken slepes, and the sykes colde ; 
 The sacred teeres, and the wayment3'ng ; 
 The fyry strokes of the desiryng. 
 
 That loves servauntz in this lyf enduren ; 1065 
 
 The othes, that here covenantz assuren. 
 Plesance and hope, desyr, fool-hardynesse, 
 Beaute andj^outhe, baudery and richesse, 
 Charmes and force, lesynges and flaterye, 
 Dispense, busynesse, and jelousye, 1070 
 
 That werede of yelwe guides a gerland, 
 And a cukkow sittyng on hire hand ; 
 Festes, instrumentz, carols, and daunces, 
 Lust and array, and alle the circumstaunces 
 
THE KNIGHTES TALE. 57 
 
 Of love, which that I rekned have and schal, 107s 
 
 By ordre wereii peynted on the wal. 
 
 And mo than I can make of mencioun. 
 
 For sothly al the mount of Citheroun, 
 
 Ther Venus hath hire principal dwellyng, 
 
 Was schewed on the wal in portraying, 1080 
 
 With al the gardyn, and the lustynesse. 
 
 Nought was forj/ete the porter Ydelnesse, 
 
 Ne Narcisus the fayre of yore agon, 
 
 Nejvet the folye of kyng Salamon, 
 
 Ne eek the grete strengthe of Hercules, 108 s 
 
 Thenchauntementz of Medea and Circes, 
 
 Ne of Turnus with the hardy fiers corage. 
 
 The riche Cresus caytif in servage. 
 
 Thus mayjve seen that wisdom ne richesse, 
 
 Beaute ne sleighte, strengthe, ne hard3'nesse, 1090 
 
 Ne may with Venus holde champartye. 
 
 For as hire lust the world than may sche gye, 
 
 Lo, alle thise folk i-caught were in hire las, 
 
 Til they for wo ful often sayde alias. 
 
 Sufficeth heere ensamples oon or tuo, 1095 
 
 And though I couthe rekne a thousend mo. 
 
 The statu of Venus, glorious for to see. 
 
 Was naked fletyng in the large see, 
 
 And fro the navel doun al covered was 
 
 With wawes grene, and brighte as eny glas. xioo 
 
 A citole in hire right hond hadde sche, 
 
 And on hire heed, ful semely for to see, 
 
 A rose garland fresch and wel smellyng. 
 
 Above hire heed hire dowves flikeryng. 
 
 Biforn hire stood hire sone Cupido, 1105 
 
 Upon his schuldres wynges hadde he tuo ; 
 
 And blynd he was, as it is often scene ; 
 
 A bowe he bar and arwes brighte and kene. 
 
 Why schulde I nought as wel cek telle you alle 
 
58 THE ENIGHTES TALE. 
 
 The portraiture, that was upon the walle mo 
 
 Withinne the temple of mighty Mars the reede? 
 Al peynted was the wal in lengthe and breede 
 Lik to the estres of the grisly place, 
 That highte the grete temple of Mars in Trace, 
 In thilke colde frosty regioun, ms 
 
 Ther as Mars hath his sovereyn mancioun. 
 First on the wal was peynted a forest, 
 In which ther dwelleth neyther man ne best. 
 With knotty knarry bareyn trees olde 
 Of stubbes scharpe and hidous to byholde ; 1120 
 
 In which ther ran a swymbel in a swough. 
 As though a storm schulde bersten every bough : 
 And downward on an hil under a bente, 
 Ther stood the temple of Marz armypotente, 
 Wrought al of burned steel, of which thentrc 1125 
 
 Was long and streyt, and gastly for to see. 
 And therout cam a rage and such a vese, 
 That it made al the gates for to rese. 
 The northen light in at the dores schon. 
 For wyndowe on the wal ne was ther noon, 1130 
 
 Thurgh which men mighten any light discerne. 
 The dores were alle of ademaunrz eterne, 
 I-clenched overthwart and endelong 
 With iren tough ; and, for to make it strong. 
 Every piler the temple to susteene 1^35 
 
 Was tonne greet, of iren bright and schene. 
 Ther saugh I first the derke ymaginyng 
 Of feloyne, and al the compassyng ; 
 The cruel ire, as reed as eny gleede ; 
 
 JThe pikepurs, and eek the pale drede ; 1140 
 
 V^The smyler with the knyf under his cloke ; 
 The schepne brennyng with the blake smoke ; 
 The tresoun of the murtlieryng in the bed ; 
 The open werre, with woundes al bi-bled ; 
 
THE KNIOHTES TALE. 59 
 
 Contek with bloody knyf, and scharp manace. ii4s 
 
 Al ful of chirkyng was that sory place. 
 
 The sleere of himself jet saugh I there, 
 
 His herte-blood hath bathed al his here ; 
 
 The nayl y-dryven in the §chode a-nyght ; 
 
 The colde deth, with mouth gapyng upright. 1150 
 
 Amyddes of the temple sat meschaunce, 
 
 With disconfort and sory contenaunce. 
 
 2et saugh I woodnesse laughying in his rage ; 
 
 Armed complaint, outhees, and hers outrage. 
 
 The caroigne in the bussh, with throte y-corve : 1155 
 
 A thousand slain, and not of qualme y-storve ; 
 
 The tiraunt, with the prey by force y-raft ; 
 
 The toun destroied, thcr was no thyng laft. 
 
 2et sawgh I brent the schippes hoppesteres ; 
 
 The hunte strangled with the wilde beres : "60 
 
 The sowe freten the child right in the cradel ; 
 
 The cook i-skalded, for al his longe ladel. 
 
 Nought was forj/eten by the infortune of Marte ; 
 
 The cartere over-ryden with his carte. 
 
 Under the whel ful lowe he lay adoun. "6s 
 
 Ther were also of Martz divisioun. 
 
 The harbour, and the bocher, and the smyth, 
 
 That forgeth scharpe swerdes on his stith. 
 
 And al above depeynted in a tour 
 
 Saw I conquest sittyng in gret honour, 1170 
 
 With the scharpe swerd over his heed 
 
 Hangynge by a sotil tvvj^ne threed. 
 
 Depeynted was the slaughtre of Julius, 
 
 Of grete Nero, and of Anthonius ; 
 
 Al be that thilke tyme they were unborn, 1175 
 
 T^t was here deth depeynted ther byforn. 
 
 By manasyng of Mars, right by figure. 
 
 So was it schewed in that purtreiture 
 
 As is depeynted in the sterres above, 
 
6o THE KNIOHTES TALE. 
 
 Who schal be slayn or elles deed for love. nSo 
 
 Sufficeth oon ensample in stories olde, 
 
 I may not rekne hem alle, though I wolde. 
 
 The statue of Mars upon a carte stood, 
 Armed, and lokede grym as he were wood ; 
 And over his heed ther schynen two figures uSs 
 
 Of sterres, that been cleped in scriptures. 
 That oon Puella, that other Rubeus. 
 This god of amies was arayed thus : — 
 A wolf ther stood byforn him at his feet 
 With eyen reede, and of a man he eet ; ngo 
 
 With Sotyl pencel depeynted was this storie, 
 In redoutyng of Mars and of his glorie. 
 
 Now to the temple of Dyane the chaste 
 As schortly as I can I wol me haste, 
 
 To telle jKOU al the descripcioun. nos 
 
 Depeynted ben the walles up and down, 
 Of huntyng and of schamefast chastite. 
 Ther saugh I how woful Calystope, 
 Whan that Dyane agreved was with here. 
 Was turned from a womman to a bere, 1200 
 
 And after was sche maad the loode-sterre ; 
 Thus was it peynted, I can say no ferre ; 
 Hire sone is eek a sterre, as men may see. 
 Ther sawgh I Dane yturned til a tree, 
 I mene uoug'ht the goddesse Dyane, "05 
 
 But Peneus dou^/^ter, which that highte Dane, 
 Ther saug^h I Atheon an hert i-maked, 
 For vengeaunce that he saugh Dyane al naked ; 
 I saugh how that his houndes han him caught, 
 And freten him, for that they knewe him naught. 121(7 
 Tit peynted was a litel forthermoor, 
 How Atthalaunte huntede the wilde boor. 
 And Meleagre, and many another ino, 
 For which Dyane wroughte hem care and woo. 
 
THE KNIGHTES TALE. 6l 
 
 Ther saugh I many another wonder storye, 1215 
 
 The whiche me list not drawe to memorye. 
 
 This goddesse on an hert ful hyhe seet, 
 
 With smale hoimdes al aboute hire feet, 
 
 And undernethe hire feet sche hadde a moone, 
 
 Wexyng it was, and schulde wane soone. 1220 
 
 In gaude greene hire statue clothed was, 
 
 With bowe in honde, and jrwes in a cas. 
 
 Hir ey^-^en caste sche ful lowe adoun, 
 
 Ther Pluto hath his derke regioun. 
 
 Wei couthe he peynte lyfly that it wrou^/5te. 
 
 With many a floren he the hewes boughte. 1230 
 
 Now been thise listes maad, and Theseus 
 That at his grete cost arayede thus 
 The temples and the theatre every del, 
 Whan it was don, hym likede wonder wel. 
 But stynte I wil of Theseus a lite, 1235 
 
 And speke of Palamon and of Arcite. 
 
 The day approcheth of here retournynge, 
 That everych schulde an hundred kni^/^tes brynge, 
 The bataille to derreyne, as I you tolde ; 
 And til Athenes, here covenant to holde, 1240 
 
 Hath everych of hem brought an hundred knightes 
 Wel armed for the werre at alle rightes. 
 And sikerly ther trowede many a man 
 That nevere, siththen that the world bigan, 
 As for to speke of knighthod of here bond, 124? 
 
 As fer as God hath maked see or lond, 
 Nas, of so fewe, so noble a companye. 
 For every wight that lovede chyvalr3'e, 
 And wolde, his thankes, have a passan t name, 
 
62 THE KNIGETES TALE. 
 
 Hath preyed that he mighte ben of that game ; 1250 
 
 And wel was him, that therto chosen was. 
 
 For if ther felle to morwe such a caas, 
 
 Tq knowen wel, that every lusty knight, , ^, 
 
 That loveth paramours, and hath his might, 
 
 Were it in Engelond, or elleswhere, 1255 
 
 They wolde, here thankes, wilne to be there. 
 
 To fighte for a lady ; benedicite I 
 
 It were a lusty sighte for to see. 
 
 And right so ferden they with Palamon, 
 
 With him ther Wente knyghtes many oon ; 1260 
 
 Som wol ben armed in an habergoun, 
 
 In a brest-plat and in a light gypoun ; 
 
 And somme woln have a peyre plates large ; 
 
 And somme woln have a Pruce scheld, or a targe ; 
 
 Somme woln been armed on here legges weel, 1265 
 
 And have an ax, and somme a mace of steel. 
 
 Ther nys no newe gyse, that it nas old. 
 
 Armed were they, as I have you told, 
 
 Everich after his opinioun. 
 
 Ther_maistow sen comyng with Palamoun 1270 
 
 Ligurge himself, the grete kyng of Trace ; 
 Blak was his herd, and manly was his face. 
 The cercles of his eyen in his heed 
 They gloweden bytwixe j^elwe and reed ; 
 And lik a griffoun lokede he aboute, 1275 
 
 With kempe heres on his browes stowte ; 
 His lymes greete, his brawnes harde and stronge, 
 His schuldres broode, his armes rounde and longe. 
 And as the gyse was in his contre, 
 
 Ful heye ujDon a char of gold stood he, 1280 
 
 With foure white boles in the trays. 
 Instede of cote armure over his harnays. 
 With nayles jKelwe, and brighte as eny gold. 
 He hadde a beres skyn, col-blak, for-old. 
 
THE KNIQETES TALE. 61, 
 
 His longe heer was kembd byhynde his bak, 128s 
 
 As eny ravens fether it schon for-blak. 
 
 A vvrethe of gold arni-gret, of huge wighte, 
 
 Upon his heed, set ful of stoones brighte, 
 
 Of fvne rubies and of dyamauntz. 
 
 Aboute his char ther wenten white alauntz, 1290 
 
 Twenty and mo, as grete as eny steer, 
 
 To hunten at the Ij'oun or the deer. 
 
 And folwede him, with mosel faste i-bounde, 
 
 Colers of golde, and torettz fyled rounde. 
 
 An hundred lordes hadde he in his route 1295 
 
 Armed ful wel, with hertes sterne and stoute. 
 
 With Arcita, in stories as men fynde, 
 The grete Emetreus, the kyng of Ynde, 
 Uppon a steede bay, trapped in steel, 
 
 Covered with cloth of gold dyapred wel, 1300 
 
 Cam rydyng lyk the god of armes. Mars. 
 His coote armure was of cloth of Tars, 
 Cowched w^ith perles whyte and rounde and grete. 
 His sadel was of brend gold newe ybete ; 
 A mantelet upon his schuldre hang^nig 1305 
 
 Bret-ful of rubies reede, as fir sparclyng. 
 His crispe heer lik rj-nges was j-roime, 
 And that wasj/elwe, and gliteryng as the sonne. 
 His nose was heigh, his eyen bright cytryn, 
 His lippes rounde, his colour was sangwyn, 1310 
 
 A fewe freknes in his face y-spreynd, 
 Betwixe jKelwe and somdel blak y-meynd, 
 And as a h'oun he his lokvnsr caste. 
 Of fyve and twenty j'eer his age I caste. 
 His herd was wel bygonne for to sprynge ; 1315 
 
 His voys was as a trumpe thunderynge. 
 Upon his heed he werede of laurer grene 
 A garlond freisch and lusty for to sene. 
 Upon his bond he bar for his deduyt 
 
64 THE KNIGHTE8 TALE. 
 
 An egle tame, as eny lylie whyt. 1320 
 
 An hundred lordes hadde he with him ther, 
 
 Al armed sauf here hedes in here ger, 
 
 Ful richely in alle maner thinges. 
 
 For trusteth wel, that dukes, erles, kynges, 
 
 Were gadred in this noble companye, 132s 
 
 For love, and for encres of chivahye. 
 
 Aboute this kyng ther ran on every part 
 
 Ful many a tame lyoun and lepart. 
 
 And in this w^ise thise lordes alle and some 
 
 Been on the Sonday to the cite come 1330 
 
 Aboute prime, and in the toun alight. 
 
 This Theseus, this duk, this worthy knight. 
 
 Whan he hadde brought hem into his cite, 
 
 And ynned hem, everich at his degre 
 
 He festeth hem, and doth so gret labour 133s 
 
 To esen hem, and don hem al honour, 
 
 That^it men wene that no mannes wyt 
 
 Of non estat ne cowde amenden it. 
 
 The mynstralcye, the servyce at the feste, 
 
 The grete j/iftes to the moste and leste, 1340 
 
 The riche aray of Theseus paleys, 
 
 Ne who sat first ne last upon the deys, 
 
 What ladies fayrest ben or best daunsynge, 
 
 Or which of hem can daunce best and singe, 
 
 Ne who most felyngly speketh of love ; 134s 
 
 What haukes sitten on the perche above. 
 
 What houndes liggen on the floor adoun : 
 
 Of al this make I now no mencioun. 
 
 But of theffect ; that thinketh me the beste ; 
 
 Now comth the poynt, and herkneth if jkou leste. 135a 
 
 The Sonday night, or day bigan to springe. 
 When Palamon the larke herde synge, 
 Although it nere nought day by houres tuo, 
 T'\t sang the larke, and Palamon also 
 
TEE ENIGETES TALE. 65 
 
 With holy herte, and with an heih corage uss 
 
 He roos, to wendeii on his pilgrymage 
 
 Unto the bhsful Citherea benigne, 
 
 I meiie Venus, honorable and digne. 
 
 And in hire hour he walketh forth a paas 
 
 Unto the lystes, ther hire temple was, 1360 
 
 And doun he kneleth, and, with humble cheere 
 
 And herte sore, he scide as j/e schul heere. 
 
 ' Faireste of faire, O lady myn V enus , 
 Doughter of Jove, and spouse to Vulcanus, 
 Thou gladere of the mount of Citheroun, ■ 1365 
 
 For thilke love thou haddest to Adeoun 
 Have pite of my bittre teeres smerte. 
 And tak myn humble prayere to thin herte. 
 Alias ! I ne have no lang^ag-e to telle 
 
 Thefiectes ne the tormentz of myn helle ; J370 
 
 Myn herte may myn harmes nat bewreye ; 
 I am so confus, that I can not seye. 
 But mercy, lady brighte, that knowest wele 
 My thought, and seest what harmes that I fele, 
 Considre al this, and rewe upon my sore, 137s 
 
 As wisly as I schal for evermore, 
 Em forth my might, thi trewe servaunt be, 
 And holden werre alway with chastite ; 
 That make I myn avow, so yQ me helpe. 
 I kepe nat of amies for to j'elpe. 1380 
 
 Ne I ne aske nat to-morwe to have victorie, 
 Ne renoun in this caas, ne veyne glorie 
 Of pris of armes, blovven up and doun. 
 But I wolde have fully possessioun 
 
 Of Emelye, and dye in thi servise ; 1385 
 
 Fynd thou the maner how, and in what wyse 
 I recche nat, but it may better be. 
 To have victorie of him, or he of me, 
 / So that I have my_ kidy in myn armes. 
 
 5 
 
66 THE KNIGHTES TALE. 
 
 For though so be that Mars is god of armes, 1390 
 
 loure vertu Is so gret in heven above, 
 
 That if you Hst I schal wel han my love. 
 
 Thy temple wol I worschipe everemo, 
 
 And on thin auter, wher I ryde or go, 
 
 I wol don sacrifice, and fyres beete. 139s 
 
 And if ye wol nat so, my lady sweete. 
 
 Than praye I the, to morwe with a spere 
 
 That Arcita me thurgh the herte bere. 
 
 Thanne rekke I nat, whan I have lost my lyf, 
 
 Though that Arcite wynne hire to his wyf. 1400 
 
 This is theffect and ende of my prayere, 
 
 T\i me my love, thou blisful lady deere.' 
 
 Whan thorisoun was doon of Palamon, 
 
 His sacrifice he dede, and that anoon 
 
 Ful pitously, with alle circumstances, 1405 
 
 Al telle I nat as now his observances. 
 
 But atte laste the statu of Venus schook, 
 
 And made a signe, wherby that he took 
 
 That his prayere accepted was that day. 
 
 P'or though the signe schewede a delay, 1410 
 
 2et wiste he wel that graunted was his boone ; 
 
 And with glad herte he wente him hom ful soone. 
 
 The thridde hour inequal that Palamon 
 Bigan to Venus temple for to goon, 
 
 Lp roos the sonne, and up roos Emelye, 1415 
 
 And to the temple of Diane gan sche hye. 
 Hire maydens, that sche thider with hire ladde, 
 Ful redily with hem the fyr they hadde, 
 Thencens, the clothes, and the remenant al 
 1 hat to the sacrifice longen schal ; M20 
 
 The homes fulle of meth, as was the gyse ; 
 Ther lakkede nou^//t to don hire sacrifise. 
 Smokyng the temple, ful of clothes faire, 
 This Emelye with herte debonaire 
 
THE KXIGHTES TALE. 6*J 
 
 Hire body wessch with water of a welle ; 1425 
 
 But how sche dide hire rite I dar nat telle, 
 But it be eny thing in general ; 
 
 And j/et it were a game to heren al ; v 
 
 JTo him that meneth wel it were no charge : 
 But it is good a man be at his large. 1430 
 
 Hire brighte hcer was kempt, untressed al ; 
 A corone of a grene ok cerial 
 Upon hire heed was set ful faire and meete. 
 Tuo fyres on the auter gan sche beete. 
 And dide hire thinges, as men may biholde 1435 
 
 In Stace of Thebes, and thise bokes olde. 
 Whan kynled was the fyr, with pitous cheere 
 Unto Dyane sche spak, asje may heere. 
 
 ' O chaste goddesse of the woodes greene, 
 To whom bothe heven and erthe and see is scene, 1440 
 Qiieen of the regne of Pluto derk and lowe, 
 Goddesse of maydens, that myn herte hast knowe 
 Ful many a yeer, and woost what I desire, 
 As keep me fro thi vengeaunce and thin yre, 
 That Atheon aboughte trewely : 1445 
 
 Chaste goddesse, wel wost thou that I 
 Desire to ben a mayden al my lyf, 
 Ne nevere wol I be no love ne wyf. 
 I am, thou wost, y\t of thi companye, 
 A mayde, and love huntyng and venerye, '\ t'y.^^A.Ajr^^Mso 
 And for to walken in the woodes wylde, 
 
 Now help me, lady, syth ye may and kan. 
 
 For tho thre formes that thou hast in the. 145s 
 
 And Palamon, that hath such love to me, 
 
 And eek Ai'cite, that loveth me so sore. 
 
 This grace I praye the withouten more. 
 
 As sende love and pees betwixe hem two ; 
 
68 THE KNIGHTES TALE. 
 
 And fro me torne awey here hertes so, 1460 
 
 That al here hoote love, and here ciesir, 
 And al here bisy torment, and here fyr 
 Be queynt, or turned in another place ; 
 And if so be thou wolt do me no grace, 
 Or if my destyne be schapen so, 146s 
 
 That I schal needes have on of hem two, 
 (As sende me him that most desireth mejj 
 Bihold, goddesse of clene chastite, 
 The bittre teeres that on my cheekes falle. 
 Syn thou art mayde, and kepere of us alle, 147° 
 
 My maydenhode thou kepe and w^el conserve, 
 And whil I lyve a mayde I wil the serve.' 
 The fyres brenne upon the auter cleere, 
 Whil Emelye was thus in hire preyere ; 
 But sodeinly sche saugh a sighte queynte,-\ 1475 
 
 For right anon on of the fyres queynte, / 
 And quykede agayn, and after that anon 
 That other fyr was queynt, and al agon ; 
 And as it queynte, it made a whistelyng, 
 As doth a wete brond in his brennyng. i4So 
 
 And at the brondes ende out-ran anoon 
 As it were bloody dropes many oon ; 
 For which so sore agast was Emelye, 
 That sche was wel neih mad, and gan to crie, 
 For sche ne wiste what it signifyede ; 1485 
 
 But oonly for the feere thus sche cryede 
 And wep, that it was pite for to heere. 
 And therwithal Dyane gan appeere. 
 With bowe in bond, right as an hunteresse, 
 And seyde : ' Doughter, stynt thyn hevynesse. 1490 
 
 Among the goddes hye it is affermed, 
 And by eterne word write and confermed, 
 Thou schalt ben wedded unto oon of tho 
 That han for the so moche care and wo ; 
 
THE KNIGHTES TALE. 69 
 
 But unto vvliich of hem I may nat telle. 149s 
 
 Farwel, for I ne may no lenger dvvelle. 
 
 The fyres which that on myn auter brenne 
 
 Schuln the declaren, or that thou go hennc, 
 
 Thyn aventure of love, as in this caas/ ~\ 
 
 And with that word, the arwes in the caas 1500 
 
 Of the goddesse clatren faste and rynge, 
 
 And forth sche wente, and made a vanysschynge, 
 
 For which this Emelye astoneyd was. 
 
 And seide, ' What amounteth this, alias ! 
 
 I putte me in thy proteccioun, 1505 
 
 Dyane, and in thi disposicioun.' 
 
 And hoom sche goth anon the nexte waye. 
 
 This is theffect, ther nys no more to saye. 
 
 . The nexte houre of Mars folwynge this, 
 
 vArcite unto the temple walked is 151° 
 
 Of fierse Mars, to doon his sacrifise. 
 
 With alle the rites of his payen wise. 
 
 With pitous herte and heih devocioun, 
 
 Right thus to Mars he sayde his orisoun : 
 
 ' O stronge god, that in the regnes colde 1515 
 
 Of Trace honoured art and lord y-holde, 
 
 And hast in every regne and every londe 
 
 Of armes al the bridel in thyn honde, 
 
 And hem fortunest as the lust devyse, 
 
 Accept of me my pitous sacrifise. 1520 
 
 If so be that my j/outhe may deserve, 
 
 And that my might be worthi for to sei-ve 
 
 Thy godhede that I may ben on of thine. 
 
 Then praye I the to rewe upon my pyne. 
 
 1525 
 
70 THE KNIGHTES TALE. 
 
 1530 
 
 For thilke sorwe that was in thin herte, 
 
 Have reuthe as wel upon my peynes smerte. ^ 
 
 I am jKong and unkonnyng, as thou wost, 1535 
 
 And, as I trowe, with love offended most, 
 
 That evere was eny lyves creature ; 
 
 For sche, that doth me al this wo endure, 
 
 Ne rekketh nevere wher I synke or fleete. 
 
 And wel I woot, or sche me mercy heete, 1540 
 
 I moot with strengthe w'ynne hire in the place ; 
 
 And wel I wot, withouten help or grace 
 
 Of the, ne may my strengthe noughte avayle. 
 
 Then lielp me, lord, to-morwe in my batayle, 
 
 P'or thilke fyr that whilom brente the, 1545 
 
 As wel as thilke fir now brenneth me ; 
 
 And do that I to-morwe have victorie. 
 
 Myn be the travaile, and thin be the glorie. 
 
 Thy soverein temple wol I most honouren 
 
 Of any place, and alway most labouren 1550 
 
 In thy plesaunce and in thy craftes stronge. 
 
 And in thy temple I wol my baner honge, 
 
 And alle the armes of my companye ; 
 
 And evermore, unto that day I dye, 
 
 Eterne fyr I wol biforn the fynde. isss 
 
 And eek to this avow I wol me bynde : 
 
 My berd, m}^! heer that hangeth longe adoun, 
 
 That nevere y'lt ne felte offensioun 
 
 Of rasour ne of schere, I wol the j/ive, 
 
 And be thy trewe servaunt whil I lyve. 1560 
 
 Now lord, have rowthe uppon my sorwes sore, 
 
 2"if me the victorie, I aske the no more.' 
 
 The preyere stynte of Arcita the stronge, -/-^*^ 
 
 The rynges on the temple dore that honge, ( {A^ "^ 
 
THE KNIGHTES TALE. 7 1 
 
 And eek the dores, clatereden ful faste, 1565 
 
 Of which Arcita somwhat hym agaste. 
 
 The fyres brende upon the auter brighte, 
 
 That it gan al the temple for to lighte ; 
 
 And swote smel the ground anon upj'af, 
 
 And Arcita anon his hand up-haf, 1570 
 
 And more encens into the fyr he caste, 
 
 With othre rites mo ; and atte histe 
 
 The statu of Mars bigan his hauberk rynge. 
 
 And with tliat soun he herde a murmurynge 
 
 Ful lovve and dym, that sayde thus, ' Victorie.' 1575 
 
 For wdiich he j^af to Mars honour and glorie. 
 
 And thus with jo3-e, and hope wel to fare, 
 
 Arcite anoon unto his inne is fare, 
 
 As favn as foul is of the brighte sonne. 
 
 And right anon such stryf ther is bj'gonne isSo 
 
 For thilke grauntyng, in the heven above, 
 
 Bitwixe Venus the goddesse of love, 
 
 And INIars the sterne god armypotente. 
 
 That Jupiter was busy it to stente ; 
 
 Til that the pale Saturnus the colde, 1585 
 
 That knew so manye of aventures olde, 
 
 Fond in his olde experiens an art. 
 
 That he ful sone hath plesed every part, 
 '^s soth is sayd, eelde hath gret avantage, 
 
 In eelde is bothe wisdom and usage ; 1590 
 
 |Men may the olde at-renne, but nat at-rede. 
 ^Saturne anon, to stynte stryf and drede, 
 
 Al be it that it is aga3'ns his kynde. 
 
 Of al this stryf he gan remedy fynde. 
 
 ' My deere dou^/^ter Venus,' quod Saturne, 1595 
 
 ' ]My cours, that hath so wyde for to turne, 
 
 Hath more power than woot eny man. 
 
 Myn is the drenchyng in the see so wan ; 
 
 Myn is the piisoun in the derke cote ; 
 
72 THE KNIOHTES TALE. 
 
 Myn is the strangle and hangyng by the throte ; 1600 
 
 The murmure, and the cherles rebellyng. 
 
 The groyning, and the pryve empoysonyng ; 
 
 I do vengeance and pleyn correctioun, 
 
 Whiles I dwelle in signe of the lyoun^ 
 
 Myn is the ruyne of the hihe halles, 1605 
 
 The fallyng of the toures and the walles 
 
 Upon the mynour or the carpenter. 
 
 I slowh Sampsoun in schakyng the piler. 
 
 And myne ben the maladies colde, 
 
 The derke tresoun, and the castes olde ; 1610 
 
 Myn lokyng is the fader of pestilence. 
 
 Now wep nomore, I schal don diligence 
 
 That Palamon, that is thyn owne knight, 
 
 Schal have his ladv, as thou hast him hijjht. 
 
 Though Mars schal helpe his knight, yet natheles i6is 
 
 Bitwixe jj/ou ther moot som tyme be pees, 
 
 Al bejj/e nought of 00 complexioun. 
 
 That causeth al day such divisioun. 
 
 I am thi ayel, redy at thy wille ; 
 
 Wep thou nomore, I w^ol thi lust fulfille.' 1620 
 
 Now wol I stynten of the goddes above, 
 
 Of Mars, and of Venus goddesse of love, 
 
 And telle jKOu, as pleinly as I can. 
 
 The grete effect for which that I bigan. 
 
 Gret was the feste in Athenes that day, 1625 
 
 And eek the lusty sesoun of that May 
 Made every wight to ben in such plesaunce. 
 That al that Monday jousten they and daunce, 
 And spenden hit in Venus heigh servise. 
 But by the cause that they schulde arise 1630 
 
 Erly for to seen the grete fight. 
 Unto their reste wente they at nyght. 
 And on the morwe whan that day gan sprynge, 
 Of hors and herneys noyse and claterynge 
 
THE KXIGHTES TALE. 73 
 
 Ther was in the hosteln-es al aboute ; 1635 
 
 And to the paleys rood ther many a route 
 
 Of lordes, upon steedes and paUVeys. 
 
 Ther mayst thou seen devvsvng: of hernevs 
 
 So uncowth and so riche, and wrought so wel 
 
 Of gfoldsmithrv, of browdynof, and of steel ; 1^40 
 
 The scheldes brighte, testers, and trappures ; 
 
 Gold-beten hehnes, hauberkes, cote-arniures ; 
 
 Lordes in paramentz on here courseres, 
 
 Knightes of retenu, and eek squyeres " 
 
 Naylyng the speres, and hehnes bokelyng, 1645 
 
 Gigg};iig of scheeldes, with layneres lasyng ; 
 
 Ther as need is, they were nothing ydel ; 
 
 The fomv steedes on the golden bridel 
 
 Gnawvnor, and faste the armurers also 
 
 With fyle and hamer prikyng to and fro ; 1650 
 
 Yemen on foote, and communes many oon 
 
 With schorte staves, thikke as they may goon ; 
 
 Pypes, trompes, nakers, and clariounes, 
 
 That in the batai'^* blowe bloody sownes ; 
 
 The paleys ful of peples up and doun, 1655 
 
 Heer thre, ther ten, holdyng here questioun, 
 
 Dwynvnof of thise Thebane knigrhtes two. 
 
 Somme seyden thus, somme seyde it schal be so ; 
 
 Somme heelde with him with the blake berd, 
 
 Somme with the balled, somme with the thikke herd ; 1660 
 
 Somme sayde lie lokede grym and he wolde fighte ; 
 
 He hath a sparth of twenti pound of wighte. 
 
 Thus was the halle ful of devvnvnore, 
 
 Longe after that the sonne gan to springe. 
 
 The grete Theseus that of his sleep awaked 1665 
 
 With menstralcve and novse that was maked, 
 
 Heldj'it the chambre of his paleys riche. 
 
 Til that the Thebane knvsrhtes bothe i-liche -^ 
 
 Honoured weren into the paleys fet. 
 
74 TEE KNIOHTES TALE. 
 
 Duk Theseus was at a wyndow set, 1670 
 
 Arayed right as he were a god in trone. 
 
 The peple preseth thider-ward ful sone 
 
 Him for to seen, and doon heigh reverence, 
 
 And eek to herkne his hest and his sentence. 
 
 An herowd on a skaftbld made an hoo, 1675 
 
 Til al the noyse of the peple was i-doo ; 
 
 And whan he sawh the peple of noyse al stille, 
 
 Tho schewede he the mighty dukes wille. / 
 
 ' The lord hath of his heih discrecioun 
 Considered, that it were destruccioun 3680 
 
 To gentil blood, to lighten in the gyse 
 Of mortal bataille now in this emprise ; 
 Wherfore to schapen that they schuhi not dye. 
 He wol his firste purpos modifye. 
 
 No man therfore, up peyne of los of lyf, 1685 
 
 No maner schot, ne poUax, ne schort knyf 
 Into the lystes sende, or thider brynge ; 
 Ne schort swerd for to stoke, with point bytynge, 
 No man ne drawe, ne bere by his side. 
 Ne noman schal unto his felawe ryde 1690 
 
 But oon cours, with a scharpe ygrounde spere ; 
 Fpyne if him lust on foote, himself to were. 
 And he that is at meschief, schal be take, 
 And nat slayn, but be brought unto the stake, 
 That schal ben ordeyned on eyther syde ; 1695 
 
 But thider he schal by force, and ther abyde. 
 And if so falle, the cheventein be take 
 On eyther side, or elles sle his make. 
 No lenger schal the turneynge laste. -^ 
 God spede you ; go forth and ley on faste. 1700 
 
 With long swerd and with mace fi^//t your fiUe. 
 Goth now jKoure way ; this is the lordes wille.* 
 
 The voice of peple touchede the heven. 
 So lowde cride thei with merv Steven : 
 
THE KNIOHTES TALE. 75 
 
 ' God save such a lord that is so good, 1705 
 
 He wilneth no destruccioun of blood ! ' 
 
 Up gon the trompes and the melodye. 
 
 And to the lystes ryt the companye 
 
 By ordynaunce, tliurghout the cite large, 
 
 Hangyng with cloth of gold, and not with sarge. 1710 
 
 Ful lik a lord this noble duk gan ryde, 
 
 These tuo Thebanes upon eyther side ; 
 
 And after rood the queen, and Emelye, 
 
 And after that another companye, 
 
 Of oon and other after here degre. 171s 
 
 And thus they passen tliurghout the cite. 
 
 And to the lystes come thei by tyme. 
 
 It nas not of the day j/et fully pryme, 
 
 Whan set was Theseus ful riche and hye, 
 
 Ypolita the queen and Emelye, 172° 
 
 And other ladyes in degrees aboute. 
 
 Unto the seetes preseth al the route ; 
 
 And west-ward, thurgh thej^ates under Marte, 
 
 Arcite, and eek the hundred of his parte. 
 
 With baner red ys entred right anoon ; 1725 
 
 And in that selve moment Palamon 
 
 Is under Venus, est-ward in that place, 
 
 With baner whyt, and hardy cheere and face. 
 
 In al the world, to seeken up and doun, 
 So evene withouten variacioun, 1730 
 
 Ther nere suche companyes tweye. 
 For ther nas noon so wys that cowthe seye, 
 That any hadde of other avauntage 
 Of worthinesse, ne of estaat, ne age, 
 
 So evene were they chosen for to gesse. 173s 
 
 And in two renges faire they hem dresse. 
 And whan here names rad were everychon. 
 That in here nombre gile were ther noon, 
 Tho were the j'ates schet, and cried was lowde : 
 
76 THE KNIQHTES TALE. 
 
 ' Doth now^your devoir, jj/onge knightes proude ! ' 1740 
 
 The heraldz lafte here prikyng up and doun ; 
 
 Now ryngen trompes loude and chirloun ; 
 
 Ther is nomore to sayn, but west and est 
 
 In gon the speres ful sadly in arest ; 
 
 In goth the scharpe spore into the side. 174s 
 
 Ther seen men who can juste, and who can ryde ; 
 
 Ther schyveren schaftes upon scheeldes thykke ; 
 
 He feeleth thurgh the herte-spon the prikke. 
 
 Up springen speres twenty foot on highte ; 
 
 Out goon the swerdes as the silver brighte. 1750 
 
 The helmes thei to-hewen and to-schrede ; 
 
 Out brest the blood, with sterne stremes reede. 
 
 With mighty maces the bones thay to-breste. 
 
 He thurgh the thikkeste of the throng gan threste. 
 
 Ther stomblen steedes stronge, and doun goon alle. 1755 
 
 He rolleth under foot as doth a balle. 
 
 He foyneth on his feet with a tronchoun, 
 
 And he him hurtleth with his hors adoun. 
 
 He thurgh the body is hurt, and siththen take 
 
 Maugre his heed, and brou^/^t unto the stake, 1760 
 
 As forward was, right ther he moste abyde. 
 
 Another lad is on that other syde. 
 
 And som tyme doth hem Theseus to reste. 
 
 Hem to refreissche, and drinken if hem leste. 
 
 Ful ofte a-day han thise Thebanes twoo 1765 
 
 Togidre y-met, and wrought his felawe woo ; 
 
 Unhorsed hath ech other of hem tweye. 
 
 Ther nas no tygre in the vale of Galgopheye, 
 
 Whan that hire whelpe is stole, whan it is lite, 
 
 So cruel on the hunte, as is Arcite 1770 
 
 For jelous herte upon this Palamon : 
 
 Ne in Belmarye ther nis so fel lyoun. 
 
 That hunted is, or for his hunger wood, 
 
 Ne of his prey desireth so the blood. 
 
THE KNIGHTES TALE. 77 
 
 As Palamon to slcn his foo Arcite. 1775 
 
 The jelous strokes on here hehnes byte ; 
 
 Out renneth blood 011 bothe here sides reede. 
 
 Som tyme an endc thcr is of every dede ; 
 
 For er the sonne unto the reste wente, 
 
 The stronge kyng Emctrcus gan hente 1780 
 
 This Palamon, as he faught with Arcite, 
 
 And made his swerd depe in his fleissch to byte ; 
 
 And by the force of twenti is he take 
 
 Unyolden, and i-drawe unto the stake. 
 
 And in the rescous of this Palamon 1785 
 
 The stronge kyng Ligurge is born adoun ; 
 
 And kyng Emetreus for al his strengthe 
 
 Is born out of his sadel a swerdes lengthe, 
 
 So hitte him Palamon er he were take ; 
 
 But al for nought, he was brought to the stake. 1790 
 
 His hardy herte mighte him helpe nought ; 
 
 He moste abyde whan that he was caught, 
 
 By force, and eek by composicioun. 
 
 Who sorweth now but woful Palamoun, 
 
 That moot nomore gon agayn to fighte ? 179s 
 
 And whan that Theseus hadde seen this sighte, 
 
 Unto the folk that foughten thus echon 
 
 He cryde, ' Hoo ! nomore, for it is doon ! 
 
 I wol be trewe juge, and nought partye. 
 
 Arcyte of Thebes schal have Emelye, 1800 
 
 That by his fortune hath hire faire i-wonne.' 
 
 Anoon ther is a noyse of people bygonne 
 
 For joye of this, so lowde and heye withalle. 
 
 It semede that the listes scholde falle. 
 
 What can now fayre Venus doon above? 1805 
 
 What seith sche now? what doth this queen of love? 
 But wepeth so, for wantyng of hire wille. 
 Til that hire teeres in the lystes fille ; 
 Sche seyde : ' I am aschamed douteles.' 
 
78 THE KNIGETES TALE. 
 
 Saturnus seyde : ' Dou^/zter, hold thy pees. 1810 
 
 Mars hath his wille, his knight hath al his boone, 
 
 And by myn heed thou schalt ben esed soone.' 
 
 The trompes with the lowde mynstralcye, 
 
 The herawdes, that ful lowde j/olle and crye, 
 
 Been in here wele for joye of daun Arcyte. 1815 
 
 But herkneth me, and stynteth now a lite, 
 
 Which a miracle ther bifel anoon. 
 
 This fierse Arcyte hath of his helm ydoon. 
 
 And on a courser for to schewe his face, 
 
 He priketh endelonge the large place, 1820 
 
 Lokyng upward upon his Emelye ; 
 
 And sche agayn him caste a frendlych ^yg'ke, 
 
 (For wommen, as to speken in comune, 
 
 Thay folwen al the favour of fortune) 
 
 And sche was al his cheere, as in his herte. 1825 
 
 Out of the ground a fyr infernal sterte. 
 
 From Pluto sent, at request of Saturne, 
 
 For which his hors for feere gan to turne, 
 
 And leep asyde, and foundrede as he leep ; 
 
 And or that Arcyte may taken keep, 1830 
 
 He pighte him on the pomel of his heed. 
 
 That in the place he lay as he were deed. 
 
 His brest to-brosten with his sadel-bowe. 
 
 As blak he lay as eny col or crowe. 
 
 So was the blood y-ronnen in his face. 1835 
 
 Anon he was y-born out of the place 
 
 With herte soor, to Theseus paleys. 
 
 The was he corven out of his barneys. 
 
 And in a bed y-brought ful faire and blyve, 
 
 For he was y'lt in memory and on lyve, 1840 
 
 And alway crying after Emelye. 
 
 Duk Theseus, with all his companye, 
 
 Is comen hom to Athenes his cite. 
 
 With alle blysse and gret solempnit^. 
 
THE KNIGHTES TAlE. 79 
 
 Al be it that this aventure was falle, 1845 
 
 He nolde nought disconfortcn hem alle. 
 
 Men seyde eek, that Arcita schal nought dye, 
 
 He schal ben heled of his mahidye. 
 
 And of another thing they were as fayn, 
 
 That of hem alle was thcr noon y-slayn, 1850 
 
 Al were they sore hurt, and namely oon, 
 
 That with a spere was thirled his brest boon. 
 
 To othre woundes, and to broken armes, 
 
 Some hadde salves, and some hadde charmes, 
 
 Fermacyes of herbes, and eek save 1855 
 
 They dronken, for they wolde here lymcs have. 
 
 For which this noble duk, as he wel can, 
 
 Conforteth and honoureth every man, 
 
 And made revel al the longe night, 
 
 Unto the straunge lordes, as was right. i860 
 
 Ne ther was holden no disconfytyng, 
 
 But as a justes or a turneying ; 
 
 For sothly ther was no disconfiture. 
 
 For fallynge nis not but an aventure ; 
 
 Ne to be lad with fors unto the stake 1865 
 
 Unyolden, and with twenty knightes take, 
 
 O persone allone, withouten moo. 
 
 And haried forth by arme, foot, and too. 
 
 And eek his steede dryven forth with staves, 
 
 With footmen, bothej/emen and eek knaves, 1870 
 
 It nas aretted him no vyleinye, 
 
 Ther may no man clepe it no cowardye. 
 
 For which anon Duk Theseus leet crie. 
 To stynten alle rancour and envye, 
 
 The gree as wel of o syde as of other, 1875 
 
 And either side ylik as otheres brother ; 
 And yi\{ hem j^iftes after here degre. 
 And fully heeld a feste dayes thre ; 
 And conveyede the kynges worthily 
 
8o THE KNIGHTES TALE. 
 
 Out of his toun a journee largely. 1880 
 
 And horn wente every man the righte way. 
 Ther was no more, but ' Farwel, have good day !' 
 Of this bataylle I wol no more endite, 
 But speke of Palamon and of Arcyte. 
 
 Swelleth the brest of Arcyte, and the sore isss 
 
 Encresceth at his herte more and more. 
 The clothred blood, for eny leche-craft, 
 Corrumpeth, and is in his bouk i-laft, 
 That nother ve3^ne blood, ne ventusyng, 
 Ne drynjs:e of herbes may ben his helpyng. 1890 
 
 The vertu expulsif, or animal, 
 Fro thilke vertu cleped natural, 
 Ne may the venym voyde, ne expelle. 
 The pypes of his longes gan to swelle, 
 ^nd every lacerte in his brest adoun 1895 
 
 Is schent with venym and corrupcioun. 
 Him gayneth nother, for to gete his lyf, 
 Vomyt upward, ne dounward laxatif ; 
 Al is to-brosten thilke regioun. 
 
 Nature hath now no dominacioun, 1900 
 
 And certeynly ther nature wil not wirche, 
 Farwel phisik ; go ber the man to chirche. 
 This al and som, that Arcyta moot dye. 
 For which he sendeth after Emelye, 
 
 And Palamon, that was his cosyn deere. 190s 
 
 Than seyde he thus, as jj/e schul after heere. 
 
 * Naught may the woful spirit in myn herte 
 Declare a poynt of alle my sorv^es smerte 
 To yow^ my lady, that I love most ; 
 
 But I byquethe the service of my gost 1910 
 
 To yaw aboven every creature, 
 Syn that my lyf ne may no longer dure. 
 Alias, the woo ! alias, the peynes stronge. 
 That I iox yow have suffred, and so longe ! 
 
THE KNIOHTES TALE. 8 1 
 
 Alias, the deth ! alas, myn Emelye ! 1915 
 
 Alias, departyng of our companye ! 
 
 Alias, myn hertes queen ! alias, my wyf ! 
 
 Myn hertes lady, endere of my lyf ! 
 
 /What is this world? what asken men to have? ! 
 
 / Now with his love, now in his colde grave j 1920 
 
 Allone withouten eny companye. 
 
 Farwel, my swete foo ! myn Emelye ! 
 
 And softe tak me in _youre armes tweye, > 
 
 For love of God, and herkneth what I seye. 
 
 I have heer with my cosyn Palamon 1925 
 
 Had stryf and rancour many a day i-gon, 
 
 For love of j/ow, and for my jelousie. 
 
 And Jupiter so wis my sowle gye, 
 
 To speken of a servaunt proprely, 
 
 With alle circumstaunces trewely, 1930 
 
 That is to seyn, truthe, honour, and knighthede, 
 
 Wysdom, humblesse, estaat, and hey kynrede, 
 
 Fredom, and al that longeth to that art, 
 
 So Jupiter have of my soule part. 
 
 As in this world right now ne knowe I non 193s 
 
 So worthy to be loved as Palamon, 
 
 That serveth jKou, and wol don al his lyf. 
 
 And if that evere ye schul ben a wyf, 
 
 Forj/et not Palamon, the gen til man.* 
 
 And with that word his speche faile gan ; 1940 
 
 For fro his feete up to his brest was come 
 
 The cold of deth, that hadde him overcome. 
 
 And yet moreover in his armes twoo 
 
 The vital strengthe is lost, and al agoo. 
 
 Only the intellect, withouten more, 1945 
 
 That dwellede in his hcrte sik and sore, 
 
 Gan faylen, when the herte felte deth, 
 
 Dusken his eyghen two, and foyleth breth. 
 
 But on his lady jit caste he his ye ; 
 
 6 
 
82 TEE KNIGETES TALE. 
 
 His laste word was, ' Mercy, Emel3-e ! ' igso 
 
 His spiryt chaungede hous, and wente ther. 
 
 As I cam nevere, I can nat tellen wher. 
 
 Therfore I stynte, I nam no dyvynistre ; 
 
 Of soules fynde I not in this registre, 
 
 Ne me ne list thilke opynyouns to telle 1955 
 
 Of hem, though that thei writen wher they dwelle. 
 
 Arcyte is cold, ther Mars his soule gye ; 
 
 Now wol I speke forth of Emelye. 
 
 Shrighte Emelye, and howleth Palamon, 
 And Theseus his suster took anon 1960 
 
 Swownyng, and bar hire fro the corps away. 
 What helpeth it to taryen forth the day, 
 To tellen how sche weep bothe eve and morwe? 
 For in swich caas wommen can han such sorwe, 
 Whan that here housbonds ben from hem ago, 1965 
 
 That for the more part they sorwen so, 
 Or elles fiillen in such maladye, 
 That atte laste certeynly they dye. 
 Infynyte been the sorwes and the teeres 
 Of olde folk, and folk of tendre yeeres ; 1970 
 
 For him ther weepeth bothe child and man 
 In al the toun, for detli of this Theban ; 
 So gret a wepyng was ther noon certayn, 
 Whan Ector was i-brought, al freissh i-slayn, 
 To Troye ; alias ! the pite that was ther, 1975 
 
 Cracchyng of cheekes, rending eek of heer. 
 'Why woldest thou be deed,' thise wommen crye, 
 'And liaddest gold ynowgh, and Emelye?' 
 No man ne mighte gladen Theseus, 
 
 Savyng his olde fcider Egeus, tcSo 
 
 That knew this worldes transmutacioun, 
 As he hadde seen it tornen up and doun, 
 <Joye after woo, and woo after gladnesse : 
 And schewede hem ensamples and liknesse. 
 
THE KNIGIITES TALE. 83 
 
 / ' Right as ther deyde never man,' quod he, 1985 
 
 / * That he ne lyvede in erthe in som degree, 
 1 Right so ther lyvede nevere man,' he seyde, 
 V' In al this vv^orld, that som tyme he ne deyde. 
 
 This world nys but a thurghfare ful of woo", 
 
 And we ben pilgryms, passyng to and froo \' 1990 
 
 Deth is an ende of every worldly sore/ 
 
 And over al this j'it seide he mochcl more 
 
 To this effect, ful wysly to enhorte 
 
 The peple, that they schulde hem reconfortc. 
 
 Duk Theseus, with al his busy cure, 1995 
 
 . Cas t now wher that tlie sepulture 
 
 Of good Arcyte may best y-maked be, 
 
 And eek most honourable in his degre. 
 
 And atte laste he took conclusioun. 
 
 That ther as first Arcite and Palamon 2000 
 
 Hadden for love tlie bataille hem bytwene. 
 
 That in that selve grove, soote and greene, 
 
 Ther as he hadde his amorous desires. 
 
 His compleynt, and for love his hoote fyres. 
 
 He wolde make a fyr, in v^diich thoffice 2005 
 
 Of funeral he mighte al accomplice ; 
 
 And leet comaunde anon to hakke and hewe 
 
 The okes olde, and leye hem on a re we 
 
 In,culpouns wel arrayed for to brenne. 
 
 His officers with swifte feet they renne, 2010 
 
 And ryde anon at his comaundement. 
 
 And after this, Theseus hath i-sent 
 
 After a beer, and it al overspradde 
 
 With cloth of gold, the richeste that he hadde. 
 
 And of the same sute he cladde Arcyte ; 2015 
 
 Upon his hondes hadde he gloves white ; 
 
 Eek on his heed a croune of laurer grene, 
 
 And in his bond a swerd ful bright and kene. 
 
 He leyde him bare the visage on the beere, 
 
84 THE KNIGHTES TALE. 
 
 Therwlth he weep that pite was to heere. 2020 
 
 And for the people schulde seen him alle, 
 Whan it was day he broughte hem to the halle, 
 That roreth of the crying and the soun. 
 
 Tho cam this woful Theban Pahimoun, 
 With flotery herd, and ruggy asshy heeres, 2025 
 
 In clothes blake, y-dropped al with teeres ; 
 And, passyng other of wepyng, Emelye, 
 The rewfuUeste of al the companye. 
 In as moche as the service schulde be 
 The more noble and riche in his degre, 2030 
 
 Duk Theseus leet forth thre steedes brynge, 
 That trapped were in steel al gliterynge, 
 And covered with the amies of dan Arcyte. 
 Upon thise steedes, that weren grete and white, 
 Ther seeten folk, of which oon bar his scheeld, 2035 
 
 Another his spere up in his hondes heeld ; 
 The thridde bar with him his bowe Turkeys, 
 Of brend gold was the caas and eek the herneys ; 
 And riden forth a paas with sorweful chere 
 Toward the grove, as ye schul after heere. 2040 
 
 The nobleste of the Grekes that ther were 
 Upon here schuldres carieden the beere, 
 With slake paas, and eyghen reede and wete, 
 Thurghout the cite, by the maister streete. 
 That sprad was al with blak, and wonder bye 2045 
 
 Right of the same is al the strete i-wrye. 
 Upon the right bond wente olde Egeus, 
 And on that other syde duk Theseus, 
 With vessels in here hand of gold wel fyn, 
 Al ful of hon}^, mylk, and blood, and wyn ; 2050 
 
 Eek Palamon, with ful gret companye ; 
 And after that com woful Emelye, 
 With fyr in bond, as was that time the gyse, 
 To do thoffice of funeral servise. 
 
TEE KXIGHTES TALE. 85 
 
 Hey^-Zi labour, and ful gret apparailyng 2055 
 
 Was at the service and the fyr makyng, 
 That with his grene top the heven raughte, 
 And twenty fad me of brede tharmes straughte ; 
 This is to seyn, the boowes were so brode. 
 Of stree first ther was leyd ful many a loode. 2060 
 
 But how the fyr was maked up on highte, 
 And eek the names how the trees highte, 
 As ook, fyr, birch, asp, alder, holm, popler, 
 Wilwe, elm, plane, assch, box, chesteyn, lynde, laurer, 
 Maple, thorn, beech, hasel, ewe, wyppyltre, 2065 
 
 How they weren feld, schal nou^/^t be told for me ; 
 Ne how the goddes ronnen up and doun, 
 Disheryt of here habitacioun, 
 In which they woneden in rest and pees, 
 Nymphes, Faunes, and Amadrydes ; 2070 
 
 Ne how the beestes and the briddes alle 
 Fledden for feere, whan the woode was falle ; 
 Ne how the ground agast was of the lighte, 
 That was nought wont to seen the sonne brighte ; 
 Ne how the fyr was couched first with stree, 207s 
 
 And thanne with drye stykkes cloven a three, 
 And thanne with grene woode and spicerie, 
 And thanne with cloth of gold and with perr^'ej 
 And gerlandes hangyng with ful many a flour, 
 The myrre, thensens with al so greet odour ; 20S0 
 
 Ne how Arcyte lay among al this, 
 Ne what richesse aboute his bodv is ; 
 Ne how that Emely, as was the gyse, 
 Putte in the fyr of funeral servise ; 
 
 Ne how she swownede when men made the fyr, 2085 
 
 Ne what sche spak, ne what was hire desir ; 
 Ne what jewels men in the fyr tho caste, 
 Whan that the fyr was gret and brente faste ; 
 Ne how summe caste here scheeld, and summe here spere, 
 
86 THE KNIGHTES TALE. 
 
 And of here vestlmentz, which that they were, 2090 
 
 And cuppes ful of wyn, and mylk, and blood, 
 
 Into the fyr, that brente as it were wood ; 
 
 Ne how the Grekes with an huge route 
 
 Thre tymes ryden al the fyr aboute 
 
 Upon the lefte bond, with an heih schoutyng, 209s 
 
 And thries with here speres clateryng ; 
 
 And thries how the ladyes gonne crye ; 
 
 Ne how that hid was hom-ward Emelye ; 
 
 Ne how Arcyte is brent to aschen colde ; 
 
 Ne how that Hche-wake was y-holde atoo 
 
 Al thilke night, ne how the Grekes pleye 
 
 The wake-pleyes, ne kepe I nat to seye ; 
 
 Who wrastleth best naked, with oyle enoynt, 
 
 Ne who that bar him best in no disjoynt. 
 
 I wol not tellen eek how that they goon 2105 
 
 Horn til Athenes whan the pley is doon. 
 
 But schortly to the poynt than wol I wende. 
 
 And maken of my longe tale«an ende. 
 
 By processe and by lengthe of certeyn yeres 
 Al stynted is the mornyng and the teeres 2110 
 
 Of Grekes, by oon general assent. 
 Than semede me ther was a parlement 
 At Athenes, on a certeyn poynt and cas ; 
 Among the whiche poyntes yspoken was 
 To ban with certeyn contrees alliaunce, ans 
 
 And ban fully of Thebans obeissaunce. 
 For which this noble Theseus anon 
 Let senden after gentil Palamon, 
 Unwist of him what was the cause and why ; 
 But in his blake clothes sorwefully 2120 
 
 He cam at his comaundement in bye. 
 Tho sente Theseus for Emelye. 
 Whan they were set, and husst was al the place, 
 And Theseus abyden hadde a space 
 
THE KNIGIITES TALE. 87 
 
 Or eny word cam fro his wysc brest, 2125 
 
 His eyeii sctte he ther as was his lest, 
 And with a sad visage he sykede stille, 
 And after that right thus he seide his wille. 
 ' The firste moevere of the cause above, 
 Whan he first made the fayre cheyne of love, 2130 
 
 Gret was theftect, and heigh was his entente ; 
 Wei wiste he why, and what therof he mente ; 
 For with that fiiire cheyne of love he bond 
 The fyr, the eyr, the water, and the lond 
 In certeyn boundes, that they may not flee ; 213s 
 
 That same prynce and moevere eek,' quod he, 
 'Hath stabled, in this wrecchede world adoun, 
 Certeyne dayes and duracioun 
 To alle that ben engendred in this place, 
 Over the whiche day they may nat pace, 2140 
 
 Al mowe theyjj/it tho dayes wel abregge ; 
 Ther needeth non auctorite talle^e ; - 
 For it is preved by experience, 
 But that me lust declare my sentence. 
 Than may men by this ordre wel discerne, 2145 
 
 That thilke moevere stable is and eterne. 
 Wel may men knowe, but it be a fool. 
 That every part deryveth from his hool. 
 For nature hath nat take his bygynnyng 
 Of no partye ne cantel of a thing, 2150 
 
 But of a thing that parfyt is and stable, 
 Descendyng so, til it be corumpable. 
 And therfore of his wyse purveaunce 
 He hath so wel biset his ordenaunce. 
 
 That spices of thinges and progressiouns aiss 
 
 Schullen endure by successiouns. 
 And nat eterne be withoute lye : 
 This maistow understande and sen at eye. 
 
 ' Lo the 00k, that hath so long a norisschynge 
 
88 THE KNIGHTES TALE. 
 
 Fro tyme that it gynneth first to springe, 2160 
 
 And hath so long a lyf, as we may see, 
 Yet atte laste wasted is the tree. 
 
 ' Considereth eek, how that the harde stoon 
 Under oure feet, on which we trede and goon, 
 2"it wasteth it, as it lith by the weye. 2165 
 
 The brode ryver som tyme wexeth dreye. 
 The grete townes seen we wane and wende. 
 Then mayj^e see that al this thing hath ende. 
 
 ' Of man and womman sen we wel also. 
 That nedes in oon of thise termes two, 2170 
 
 That is to seyn, in youthe or elles age, 
 He moot ben deed, the kyng as schal a page ; 
 Som in his bed, som ir^the deepe see, 
 Som in the large feeld, as men may se. 
 Ther helpeth naught, al goth that ilke weye. 2175 
 
 Thanne may I seyn that al this thing moot deye. 
 What maketh this but Jupiter the kyng? 
 The which is prynce and cause of alle thing, 
 Convertyng al unto his propre welle. 
 
 From which it is dereyved, soth to telle. 2180 
 
 And here agayns no creature on lyve 
 Of no degre avayleth for to stryve. 
 
 Than is it wisdom, as it thinketh me, 
 To maken vertu of necessite 
 
 And take it wel, that we may nat eschewe, 2185 
 
 And namelyche that to us alle is dewe. 
 And who so gruccheth aught, he doth folye. 
 And rebel is to him that al may gye. 
 And certeynly a man hath most honour 
 To deyen in his excellence and flour, 2190 
 
 Whan he is siker of his goode name. 
 Than hath he doon his freend, ne him, no schame. 
 And gladder oughte his freend ben of his deth, 
 Whan with honour upj^'olden is his broth, 
 
THE KNIGHTES TALE. 89 
 
 Thanne whan his name appalled is for age ; 2195 
 
 For al forwten is his vasselaCTe. 
 
 Thanne is it best, as for a vvorthi fame, 
 
 To dyen whan a man is best of name. 
 
 The contrarye of al this is wilfulnesse. 
 
 Why grucchen we ? why have we hevynesse, 2200 
 
 That good Arcyte, of chyvalry the flour, 
 
 Departed is, with duete and honour 
 
 Out of this foule prisoun of this lyf? 
 
 Why grucchen heer his cosyn and his wyf 
 
 Of his welfare that lovede hem so wel ? 2205 
 
 Can he hem thank ? nay, God woot, never a del, 
 
 That bothe his soule and eek hemself ofliende, 
 
 And yd they mowe here lustes nat amende. 
 
 ' What may I conclude of this longe serye, 
 But after wo I rede us to be merye, 2210 
 
 And thanke Jupiter of al his grace .f* 
 And or that we departe fro this place, 
 I rede that we make, of sorvves two, 
 O parfyt joye lastyng ever mo : 
 
 And loketh now^ wher most sorwe is her-inne, 2215 
 
 Ther wol we first amenden and b^^gynne. 
 
 ' Suster,' quod he, ' this is my fulle assent. 
 With al thavys heer of my parlement, 
 That gentil Palamon, j^'our owne knight, 
 That serveth jKOw with herte, wille, and might, 2220 
 
 And evere hath doon, syn that ve fyrst him knewe, 
 Thatjve schul of j^oure grace upon him rewe. 
 And take him for_youre housbond and for lord: 
 Leen mej^oure hand, for this is oure acord. 
 Let see now of j)/oure wommanly pite. 2225 
 
 He is a kynges brother sone, pardee ; 
 And though he were a poure bacheler, 
 Syn he hath served jkou so many a yeer, 
 And had for )'ou so gret adversite, 
 
go TEE KNI0HTE8 TALE. 
 
 It moste be considered, leeveth me. 2230 
 
 For gentil mercy aughte passe right/ 
 
 Than seyde he thus to Palamon the knight ; 
 
 ' I trowe ther needeth Htel sermonyng 
 
 To maken^ou assente to this thing. 
 
 Com neer, and tak j^oure lady by the bond.' 2235 
 
 Bitwixe hem was i-maad anon the bond, 
 
 That highte matrimoyn or mariage, 
 
 By al the counseil and the baronage. 
 
 And thus with alle blysse and melodye 
 
 Hath Palamon i-wedded Emelye. 2240 
 
 And God, that al this wyde world hath wrought, 
 
 Sende him his love, that hath it deere a-bought. 
 
 For now is Palamon in alle wele, 
 
 Lyvynge in blisse, in richesse, and in hele, 
 
 And Emelye him loveth so tendrely, 2245 
 
 And he hire serveth al so gentilly, 
 
 That nevere was ther no word hem bitweene 
 
 Of jelousye, or any other teene. 
 
 Thus endeth Palamon and Emelye ; 
 
 And God save al this fayre companye ! 2250 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 ci 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 I. Whan. A series of adverbs of time, place, and manner, are 
 formed from the pronominal roots ; e.g. : 
 
 Personal 
 
 he 
 
 Demonst. & Rel. 
 
 the 
 
 Interrog. 
 
 who 
 
 Place 
 
 here 
 
 
 tliere 
 
 
 where 
 
 
 hither. 
 
 
 thither 
 
 
 whillier 
 
 
 hence 
 
 
 thence 
 
 
 whence 
 
 Time 
 
 
 
 then 
 
 
 when 
 
 Manner 
 
 
 
 the, thus 
 
 
 why, how 
 
 Hcj'ey tJierey where, are derived from the A.S. dative (locative) ; 
 thetty &c., from the Accusative ; (hey hazu, &c., from the Instrumen- 
 tal. The adverb ihe must be distinguished from the pronoun : as, 
 the more, the better = qtio magis, eo melius. 
 
 Whan that = at what (time) that. That is frequently added 
 to words originally interrogative, to give them a relative force, 
 e.g., xvho that, tvhy that, tvhere that, when that, &LC. ; and by 
 analogy also to other words, to render them more or less indefi- 
 nite, as if that, though that, &c. "When the original force of the 
 interrogative was lost, the that was omitted as unnecessary. 
 This may also be explained by an ellipsis; thus, "when [it is] 
 that." 
 
 Aprille = April (Lat. aperire, to open), the month in which 
 the year opens. 
 
 his. The neuter pronoun was originally hit, gen. his. Its 
 is of comparatively recent origin, not being found in the Bible 
 except by misprint. See Craik's E. of S., § 54; Abbott's Sh. 
 Gram. § 22S; Bible Word-Book, sub voc. //. 
 
 schowres = showers. Sing, schoxvcr. The change of the 
 pronunciation of words ending in re to er is of recent date. 
 Geo. Gascoigne (1576) in his Notes of Instruction concerning 
 the Making of Verse says: (12) "This poeticall license is a 
 shrewde fellow, and couereth many faults in a verse; it maketh 
 
94 NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 words longer, shorter, &c., . . it turkeneth (disturbs) all things 
 at pleasure, for example .... pozver for pozvre" See note 
 1. i8. 
 
 Sxvooie plural of sxvot, sweet. Final e denotes either the 
 plural or the definite declension. This, although the older 
 form, is here probably a mere orthographic variation for the 
 sake of rhyme, of which liberty there are many instances in the 
 early poets : it may, however, indicate an unsettled pronun- 
 ciation ; cf. 1. 5 also, "me iveleth his swete swotness." A.R., 92. 
 "Thes cos is a swetnesse and a delit of heorte so unimete swote 
 and swete." lb. 102. 
 
 3. every. Literally ever-each = ever-like-this. " 
 
 swick = such. O.E. swy/c, of which the Gothic gives the full 
 form swa-leiks^ in which swa is an old form of the relative pronoun 
 preserved in so, whoso. 
 
 The following pronominal roots are compounded with lie : 
 i [he) the who swa 
 
 like (each). thilke. whilke (which). swilke (such). 
 h'cour. Accent on ultimate, which shows that the word was 
 considered as foreign. 
 
 4. which, O.E. xvhilk. Goth, hwa-letks, i.e., like what, of 
 what kind, (Lat. qua-lis) originally used only as an interroga- 
 tive. 
 
 verttce, accent on ultimate. Vital energy. Literally, manli- 
 ness, (Lat. vir') hence the distinguishing characteristic of man or 
 woman, that is, energy and chastity, bravery standing for all 
 good qualities. See note 1. 515. 
 
 5. breethe. Final e denoting dative. 
 
 6. holte, heethe. Final e denoting dative. 
 
 7. croppes. £"5 plural termination ; usually syncopated. From 
 A.S. crop, the top, an ear of corn : some, however, derive from 
 ge-rip, what is reaped. 
 
 yonge sojine. Because just entered upon his annual course 
 through the signs of the zodiac. 
 
 8. Ram. " There is a difterence, in astronomy, between the 
 sign Aries and the constellation Aries. In April the sun is, 
 theoretically, in the sign Taurus, but visibly in the constellation 
 Aries." M. 
 
 halfe^ adv. Final e denoting dative, which in A.S. was 
 used adverbially. In half, halt, we have a remnant of an old 
 word for o^ie, ha. 
 
 / 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 95 
 
 Ha-lf= ha, one, leiha^ part; halt is from the root lith to go, 
 and thus = one-limbed. 
 
 t-ron7ie, pp. run. The prefix / or y usually denotes the past 
 participle ; A.S. and Ger. ge. It sometimes, however, is equivalent 
 to the intensive prefix be; cL y-roujien, A.S. be-urnen. K , 1835. 
 
 9. maken, pi. — The present ind. pi. ending in A.S. was ath, 
 which in some dialects changed to 5 as in the third sing. The 
 pr. pi. ending was on. En seems to be the result of a tendency 
 towards uniformity. So also slepe^i in the next line. 
 
 10. that, the A.S. relative; who, which, what, being always 
 interrogative. 
 
 alle night, ace. of time. "The extent of time and space is 
 put in the accusative after verbs." March, A.S. Gr., § 295. We 
 still say all night, all day, but, except in such idiomatic expres- 
 sions, we prefix the article; as, all the year ; cf " He continued 
 all night in prayer." Luke vi. 12. " He was al nyght dwellinge 
 in the preier of God." lb. ; Wiclif. To denote time ivhen the A.S. 
 used the genitive or dative, which idiom we have still preserved, 
 although we have lost the case termination. "But (she) served 
 God with fastings and prayers night and day." Luke ii. 37. 
 "Daeges and nihtes theowigende." A.S. In such expressions 
 we also denote the case relation by a preposition ; as, by night. 
 
 Morris reads, " al the night." I follow Tyrwhitt as being 
 more idiomatic; cf. alday. K., 522. 
 
 eyhe =eye. A.S. eage ; ^changing intoj; cf daeg, day. 
 
 11. priketh = inciteth, spurreth. It sometimes means to ride 
 on horseback; as, — 
 
 " A gentle knight was pricking on the plaine." F.Q^, i. i, § i. 
 
 hem == them. A.S. him. We have taken the A.S. dative for 
 our ace. or objective case of the pronouns, as the modern 
 French forms the nominative case of nouns from the Latin ac- 
 cusative. The form thefn has been assumed from the plural of 
 the demonstrative se, seo, thact. Hem is still in colloquial use; 
 as, "Give 'em to me." This affords a good illustration of the 
 growth of language; the plural of the personal pronouns has 
 disappeared, while its place has been filled by the plural of the 
 definite article, for which we had no further use. 
 
 nature, accented on the ultimate. 
 
 here = their, of them. A.S. heora, gen. pi. = of them. See 
 remarks on hem. Cf. "here a\ler cappe," p. 586= the caps of 
 them all. 
 
96 NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 c or age s f h.Q?ir\.s. We use heart in this sense; as, "to take 
 heart." 
 
 12. Ty/a;/?;^ = then. See note 1. i. 7^/^^;/ and /i^^-^z were origi- 
 nally the same word, and in E.E. there is great confusion in their 
 orthography; then being usually written ihaji, and than, the?!. 
 "The Cambric (is) sooner stayned then the course canvas." 
 " When parents have more care how to leave their children 
 wealthy />^e« wise, and are more desirous to have them mainteine 
 the name then the nature of a gentleman." Euphues, Arber's 
 ed. p. 34. 
 
 To gon= to go, infinitive. The A.S. inf. ending was an, 
 which changed to en; then dropped the ?/, and finally the e, 
 which brings us to the present form. 
 
 13. ^palmers, strictly persons who had made a pilgrimage to 
 the Holy Land, and brought back a palm branch as a token : 
 here used as synonymous with pilg-rijn. A palmer was one who 
 made a business of visiting shrines, while a pilgrim was one who 
 made such a journey in pursuance of a vow, and then returned 
 to his usual avocation. 
 
 for to seeken. The A.S. verb, besides the common infinitive, 
 had another substantive fonrj of the verb, answering to the 
 dative case of the infinitive, which is called the gerund, and 
 which was always preceded by to, while the infinitive wanted 
 this prefix. This gerund denoted the action rather than the act. 
 Having lost the power of distinguishing cases by terminations, 
 the construction was indicated by prepositions, as in the case 
 of nouns; the infinitive taking the prefix /<?, and the dative or 
 gerundial infinitive prefixing for to the regular infinitive. To 
 seeken inust be construed as a verbal in the dative aittrfor. We 
 find the gerundial construction in E.E. without for, thus adopt- 
 ing the A.S. construction. " Art thou he that art to cummynge." 
 Matt. xi. 3; Wiclif. " Eart thu the to cumenne eart." A.S. 
 But the gerund without for, generally in E.E., and always in 
 modern English, appears in the form of the present participle; 
 e. g., " Nyle ye gesse that I am to accusinge you." Jno. v. 45; 
 Wiclif. " Seeing is believing." This gerundial in modern Eng- 
 lish is inflected in all the cases, with the prepositions for, to, 
 or a, e. g., "He has a strong passion for painting; " " I go a- 
 fishing." Sometimes the gerundial has the form of the infinitive, 
 from which it must then be carefully distinguished. " And fools 
 who came to scoff remained to pray." The following observa- 
 
NOTES TO THE PnOLOGUE. 97 
 
 tions may aid in distinguishing gerundial forms from infinitives, 
 and from nouns and participles in I'ng- : (a) An iJifitiitive is 
 always either the subject or object of a verb ; as, " To err is 
 human;" ''He told me to go." Gerundial forms are found, 
 however, after intransitive and passive verbs. "Why run to 
 meet what you would most avoid?" "Slain to make a Roman 
 holiday." (b) Gerundial forms are often connected with adjec- 
 tives or nouns, apparently being governed by them; as, "Apt 
 to teach ; " " A time to build ; " " A house to let." (c) If ending 
 in ing-i gerundials may be governed by a preposition, and also 
 govern a case ; as, "He spent a fortune in educating his son." 
 The primary object of the gerundial form is to express purpose, 
 fitness, &c., — to consider the act done rather than the doing it. 
 The distinction between these two meanings of the modern Eng- 
 lish infinitive is important, because different A.S. forms are rep- 
 resented, and because they correspond to different constructions 
 in the classic languages. Partly from Angvis's Handbook, p. 205. 
 
 14. to feme kalwes. Construe with longe7i to goii. Read : 
 *'Then people long to go on pilgrimages to distant shrines." 
 
 15. schires, gen. oi scJiire. 
 
 e;?^e = extremity. "His going forth is from the end of the 
 heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it." Ps. xix. 6. 
 
 16. Engclo7td; i.e., land of the Angles, — England. 
 Canturbicry, three syllables. 
 
 Tvend = go. Went, the assumed pret. of go, is the pret. of 
 wend. The original pret of go was eode or yode, which indicates 
 the root z'o, from which go has been derived by strengthening / 
 into J and then into^. We still use the expression "Wending 
 one's way." 
 
 17. /loly. A.S. halig, hal, hale; tg, adj. termination. It is 
 curious to notice that the words in A.S. denoting virtues and 
 vices are the same as those which denote bodily graces or de- 
 fects ; as, kalig, holy, from hale, whole, sound ; wrong from 
 ivrtjigafi, to twist; wicked from tvtcan, to yield : A holy man is 
 a healthy man ; a wicked man is a weak man ; a wrong action 
 is an action wrung or twisted out of proper shape. 
 
 viartir, Thomas a Becket. 
 fay to seeke = iov to seeken. See 1. 13 and note. 
 
 18. 7"//a/=:who. The A.S. relative was t/iat, who being al- 
 ways interrogative. 
 
 holpen p.p. of helpen. 
 
 7 
 
98 
 
 NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 tvJian that. See note 1. i. Such expressions reveal the pro- 
 nominal force of the adverb, that referring to when considered as 
 a pronoun. As the interrogative force oi who and its derivatives 
 was lost, the relative word was dropped. 
 
 seeke = sick, ill. This use of the word is now called an Ameri- 
 canism, the English having restricted its use to nausea. The 
 orthography is varied for the sake of the rhyme. "It is some- 
 what more tolerable to help the rime by false orthographic then 
 to leaue an vnpleasant dissonance to the eare by keeping trewe 
 orthographic and loosing the rime ; as, for example, it is better to 
 rime Dore with Restore^ then in his truer orthographic which is 
 Doore ; and to this word Desire to say Fier, then fyre, though 
 it be otherwise better written Jire.''' Puttenham's Arte of Poesie, 
 ii. 8. 
 
 19. Byfcl. Construe w'ith was come, 1. 23. 
 
 that, dem. pron. Whenever in a sentence a leading element 
 is replaced by a sentence which, for emphasis or grace, is thrown 
 out of its natural position, or when placed at such a distance 
 from the leading verb as otherwise to. form a blind construction, 
 the demonstrative pronoun that is used to call attention to the 
 element already or hereafter to be introduced : e.g., " To be or 
 not to be, that is the question; " " We hear it not seldom said 
 that ignorance is the mother of admiration " = We not seldom 
 hear ignorance is, &c., said. " We cannot place a verb or a 
 sentence in the accusative relation without prefixing to it a con- 
 junction; i.e., a pronoun which is the bearer of the case relatioL 
 in which the sentence appears." Bopp, Comp. Gr., 1414. Some 
 grammarians call that, when so used, the " sentence article," 
 which is perhaps its best and most expressive designation. The 
 demonstrative fc^xe of the word is shown by the fact that when 
 the exact words of another are quoted, that is omitted, as : " He 
 said * I will come ' " = He said that he would come. We use the 
 definite article similarly before nouns in the predicate; as, " He 
 spoke the truth." When the language was inflected, pronouns 
 being the most highly inflected of the parts of speech, the 
 demonstrative would by its terminations indicate most clearly 
 the construction. Thus, in Greek, the infinitive or a sentence 
 maj^ be construed as a substantive ; the construction in such cases 
 being always shown hy the inflection of the neuter article pre- 
 fixed, which exactly corresponds to the case under consideration. 
 In the case now before us, that calls the attention to the fact that 
 
NOTES TO TUE PROLOGUE. 99 
 
 the sub3ect of by/el has not been introduced ; it therefore qualifies 
 "Wei njne and twenty, &c., was come." 
 
 T/iai in such cases is also sometimes explained as having a 
 relatival force, but it is better considered as a substantival sign. 
 See also note, 1. 43. 
 
 20. Tabard. "A jaquet or slevelesse coat worne in times 
 past by noblemen in the warres, but now only by heraults [her- 
 alds], and is called theyre ' coate of armes in servise.' It is the 
 signe of an inne in Southwarke by London, within the which 
 •was the lodging of the Abbot of Hyde by Winchester. This is 
 the hostelrie where Chaucer and the other pilgrims mett together, 
 and, with Henry Baily, their hoste, accorded about the manner 
 of their journey to Canterbury." Speght. 
 
 23. was come. An intransitive pluperfect form. Intransitives 
 in A.S. formed the perfect and pluperfect with the auxiliary to be, 
 as ic eom, waes cumen ; ic si, waere cumen. 
 
 hostelrie., a lodging, an inn, usually abbreviated into hotel. 
 " Hostler properly signifies the keeper of an inn, and not, as 
 now, the servant who looks after the horses." M. We still call 
 the keeper of an inn " mine host." 
 
 24. Wei = full, adv. 
 
 tji a company. We would now omit the article, which here 
 has the force of one; in one company, i.e , together. 
 
 25. Of sojidry folk = of various kinds, different classes of 
 people; gen. after numerals. 
 
 folk., coll. noun = people. This word has no plural form. 
 
 by aventure ifillc = by chance fallen into fellowship or com- 
 pany. 
 
 ave7iture = ad-venture. By aventure = Fr. peradventure. 
 We find at a vefiture= at aventure, and adventure. "A certain 
 man drew a bow at a venture." i Kg. xxii. 34. 
 
 26. y£7/«if5c^^^^, fellowship. From y^/rttf, a companion. The 
 suffix s/i/_p (from A.S. scaj)an, to make) denotes state, office; 
 cf. landscape. 
 
 t/iei. It is worthy of notice that Chaucer always uses the 
 personal forms here, hem for the oblique cases, but the demon- 
 strative form thei for the nominative plural of the personal 
 pronouns. 
 
 Alle, dissyllable. Final e denotes the plural. 
 
 27. xvolden, pr. pi. of ivill. 
 
 ryde = riden, inf. ; final e sounded.* 
 
lOO NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 chainhres — stables, private and public rooms. (?^ Stable lit- 
 erally means a standi?ig place, but in this connection perhaps 
 alludes to the public rooms of the inn (the standing places), as 
 compared with the private rooms or chambers (sleeping places). 
 " And he . . . ledde into a stable and dide the cure of hym." 
 
 Luke X. 34. Wiclif. 
 "Ther was not place to hym in the comyn stable." 
 
 Luke ii. 7. lb. 
 
 29. tvel — esed : a translation of the French bien at'ses. Easy 
 retains this force in such expressions as "A man in e«5y circum- 
 stances." 
 
 atte = '!i\. the, O.E. at than, atten, A.S. at thain. Atte is usu- 
 ally followed by the dative as in E.E., and when followed by a 
 feminine noun the corresponding form is atter. 
 
 beste, adjective in dative, used adverbially with ellipsis of 
 noun. 
 
 30. schorily=^'\n a little while. 
 
 to reste = at rest; i.e., had set. To and at are different forms 
 of the same word; cf. Lat. ad. 
 
 31. So correlates with that in next line. 
 
 Everychon = every one. The y in every represents the word 
 eacli, and thus gives to the word its distributive force. 
 
 32. Jiere = their, gen. pL, used adjectively. 
 
 anon = in one (moment), afi = in. Gower writes " in one." 
 "And loke upon her ever in one." Con. Am., iii. 28. 
 " But ever in one min eye longeth." lb., 29. 
 
 33. made, dissyllable ; contracted from maked. 
 
 34. tker as I yaw devyse= to that place that I speak to you of. 
 Ther ^5 = where. When followed hy as, ther seems to retain its 
 pronominal force, while as serves as its correlative pronoun. 
 When the pronominal force was wholly lost, as was dropped. 
 
 Where was originally used only as an interrogative. 
 
 devyse = to speak of. We still use advise in the same sense ; 
 as, " He was advised of the fact." 
 
 35. natheles = none-the-less, nevertheless; cf. Lat. quominus. 
 tvhiles = whilst. The OE. hivile is still in good colloquial 
 
 use, the comparatively modern form zvhtlst being generally pre- 
 ferred in written discourse. 
 
 36. Or thai = before that, ere that. Or = A.S. aer, ere. 
 " Clear was the day as I have told or this." K., 825. 
 " Or ever thou hadst formed the earth." Ps. xc. 2. 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. lOl 
 
 37. Met/ii7iketh = it seems (proper) to me. Me is dative after 
 the so-called impersonal construction. In A.S. this verb had 
 two forms, — an Kctxvtt, i/icficau, to think, and an intransitive, 
 thincan, to seem. We have confused the two verbs in modern 
 English by spelling both alike; whilst in the case oi set^ sit ; lay, 
 lie, we have retained the distinction in the spelling as well as 
 in the sense. "And the watchman said, Me thinketh the run- 
 ning of the foremost," etc. 2 Sam. xviii. 27. We still use me- 
 thinks, but without any conception of its true construction. The 
 grammatical subject of thinketh is the inf. to telle, which is here 
 anticipated by it, according to our common idiom ; it, therefore, 
 refers to to telle as its antecedent. 
 
 In illustration of this construction compare the expression 
 "If you please," \\\\q.xq you is dative, and please a subjunctive by 
 inflection. 
 
 acc<7;'(f«»//^=accordingto, with the French participial ending. 
 
 resouji, accented on the ultimate. 
 
 38. To telle = to teWen. Final e sounded. 
 
 yozv, dative after to telle. \ ' i* n \ ' ' •^'> V' 
 
 coii-di-ci-oiin. 
 
 t i 
 
 » 3 
 
 i 3 
 
 30. hem = them. / "■ ^ > ' ■ ■ . ' « ^„ = 
 
 SO as: so limits to telle; as (also) is 'a, cop jpnJc^ibn 
 it semede me = \t seemed to me. Me, dative. 
 
 40. which (A.S. hivy-lic, like what) here means -vhat sort of 
 persons, noting an indirect question. 
 
 de£'re = degree, station in life. This word originally denoted 
 the steps, or seats in an amphitheatre arranged in the form of 
 steps, and came, as here, to denote rank, from the custom of as- 
 signing certain seats to the different classes of society; ci. de- 
 grade =\.o seat one lower; cf. also K., 11. 576, 1032. 
 
 41. %vhat array that. The relative that is added because of the 
 interrogative force of %vhat: it is also added to all cases of ivho, 
 zvhich, -what, to form the relative. The full construction would 
 be, " In what array it was that they were in." 
 
 Inne, adv. In O.E. the prep, is in, the adv. itine. 
 
 42. knight. "It was a common thing in this age for knights 
 to seek emploj'ment in foreign countries which were at war." M. 
 
 thati = then. 
 
 ^y^/««^ = begin ; inf. e final is sounded as sign of the inf. 
 By has been corrupted into be in several words; e.g., because for 
 bycause. 
 
I02 NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 43. t/icr, indefinite pronoun, and like it used to anticipate 
 or designate the subject, which is usually introduced subse- 
 quently : the expression here is equivalent to, " Ther was a 
 knight," but poetic license has restored the order, although the 
 word which denotes the inversion in prose is still retained. Ther 
 acts like a demonstrative, calling attention to the subject, if already 
 introduced, or anticipating it if placed after the verb ; and its use 
 is best explained by that (see note, 1. 19) when used to call atten- 
 tion to a leading element, either by way of emphasis, or for the 
 sake of clearness. That there in such cases is a pronoun, and 
 not an adverb or an expletive as it is sometimes called, may be 
 seen by a comparison of the two words thus used, viz., it and 
 there, as the same reasoning will apply to both; cf. " Thaer 
 weard geworden micel eorthbifung." A.S. "^5geschah ein 
 grosses erdheben." Ger. Matt, xxviii. 2. Cf. also, "These are 
 times that try men's souls," and, "There ai-e times that try men's 
 souls." The first expression = " These times try men's souls;" 
 the second = " Certain times try men's souls." The first is a 
 definitti stat^mei't; -vhe 'second is indefinite: the difference is, 
 of course, due tc bhe s'u'bject, which in one case is a definite de- 
 rconstrat^ve, and- in the other an indefinite demonstrative. 
 
 '•iind'i/^(^t'^=2ind th'at- t>rie'(he). The demonstrative is used to 
 emphasize the word to which it refers. Cf. Gr. kol tovto, Eph. 
 ii. 8. "We still use ' and that' to give emphasis, and call atten- 
 tion to an additional circumstance; e.g., 'He was condemned, 
 afzd that unheard. ' " Abbott, Sh. Gr., § 70. 
 
 44. that=\\\\o\ to be construed with he in next line. We 
 also find that his = vfh.osQ. K., 1852. That ///;« = whom ; ruho 
 being used interrogatively, and that being a general relative was 
 rendered definite by the addition of the personal pronoun, which 
 could not be used relatively without some relative word. We 
 have obviated the difficulty by using %vho as a personal relative, 
 retaining the indefinite relative that. 
 
 45. c>^)'r'(7/;'ve = the profession of a knight. Y. chevalier. The 
 Lat. caballiis has passed into English as cob, with a singular 
 change in meaning, not denoting a spirited horse, but the re- 
 verse. 
 
 46. honoiir, frcdom, accented on the ultimate. 
 curtesie = courtly manners. 
 
 "I take thy word. 
 And trust thy honest offered courtesy, 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 103 
 
 Which oft is sooner found in lowly sheds 
 With smoky rafters, than in tapestry halls 
 And courts of princes, where it first was named 
 And yet is most pretended." 
 
 Comus, 322. 
 
 47. lordes., ^Qn. of lord, — lord's, — the apostrophe marking 
 the elision of the vowel. 
 
 48. hadde, pronounced kad. 
 rideti, p.p. = ridden. 
 
 ferre, comp. of far. Thus, also, ^f?r;'<? = dearer ; ner = 
 nearer ; sarre = sorer ; ivarre = worse. 
 
 49. Christendom — hethenesse =^\x\ Q,\\r\?,\\^x\ lands — heathen 
 countries. Ilcthcnesse is from the root heath = the open country. 
 The same low idea of the morals of country people is seen in the 
 word villain ^^\v\c\\ means xnllagcr ; that is, the person attached 
 to the villa or farm as opposed to citizen. 
 
 As in., to be read '5 in. 
 
 50. honoured., supply he was. 
 
 Scan : And ev | ere hon | oured for [ his worth | inesse. 
 
 51. Alisandre. "Alexandria was won (and immediately after 
 abandoned) in 1365, by Pierre de Lusignan, King of Cyprus. 
 Walsingham says : ' Interfuerunt autem huic captione cum rege 
 Cyprice plures Anglici.' " T. 
 
 52. Fill ofte tyme = {\\\\ many a time, — very many times. 
 He hadde the bord byg-ofine. " He had been placed at the 
 
 head of the table, the usual compliment to extraordinary merit." 
 T. Mr. Marsh suggests (which suggestion is adopted by Mor- 
 ris) that bord'is the Low Ger. boort, joust, tournament. Wright's 
 Diet. Ob. and Prov. Eng. gives " Bordes (A. N. behordeis) 
 tournaments ; " but the following extract from Gower's Confessio 
 Amantis, iii. 29S, would seem to be conclusive in favor of 
 Tyrwhitt's explanation: — 
 
 "The floure of all the town was there 
 
 And of the court also there wQre, 
 
 And that was in a large place 
 
 Right even before the Kinges face, 
 
 Whiche Artestrates thanne hight. 
 
 The pley was pleied right in his sight. 
 
 And who most worthy was of dede 
 
 Receive he shnlde a certain mcdc, 
 
 And in the citee here a price \^^rize']. 
 
I04 NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 Appollinus, which ware and wise, 
 Of every game couth an ende [a^«r/], 
 He thought assay, howso it wende, 
 And fell among hem into game, 
 And there he wanne him such a name 
 So as the king himself accompteth 
 That he all other men surmounteth. 
 And bare the prise above hem alle. 
 The king bad that into his halle 
 At souper time he shall be brought. 
 
 • ••••• 
 
 At souper time netheles 
 
 The king amiddes all the pres 
 
 Let clepe him up amonge hem alle 
 
 And bad his mareshall of his halle 
 
 To setten him /;/ s?ick degre 
 
 That he upon him might e se. 
 The king was sone sette and served 
 
 And he which had his prise deserved, 
 
 After the kinges owne worde 
 
 Was made beg-in a iniddel horde 
 
 That bothe king and quene him sigh \jnight 5<?e]." 
 53. Aboven alle nacioiins. He took the precedence of the rep- 
 resentatives of all other nations at the Court of Prussia. " When 
 our English knights wanted employment, it was usual for them 
 to go and serve in Pruce or Prussia, with the Knights of the 
 Teutonic order, who were in a state of constant warfare with 
 their heathen neighbors in Lettow (Lithuania), Ruce (Russia), 
 and elsewhere." T. 
 
 Pruce; i.e. Borussia^ Lower Russia. 
 
 55. Read : " No Christian man of his rank had reysed (raided) 
 so often in Lithuania and in Russia." 
 
 56. Ger7iade = Granada. Algezir was taken from the Moor- 
 ish king of Granada in 1344. 
 
 atte = at the. See note, 1. 29. 
 
 be = been. The final efi dropped as in the infinitives. The 
 A.S. beon had no past participle ; cf. ydo = ydon. 
 
 57. ridcn = ridden. Pronounced rid'n. 
 
 '■'- Bclmarie and Tremassene were Moorish kingdoms in 
 Africa." M. 
 
 58. Lieys in Armenia was taken from the Turks by Pierre de 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 105 
 
 Lusignan about 1367, and Satalie (Attalia) bj the same prince 
 soon after. 
 
 59. Greete See = that part of the Mediterranean between the 
 Greek islands and the coast of Syria. " Ye shall even have the 
 great sea for a border." Numb, xxxiv. 6. 
 
 60. arive. Literally a landing, an arrival, but here denoting 
 a hostile landing. Terms denoting travel in E.E. denote quite 
 frequently warlike movements ; cf. rider, Ger. rittey = a warrior. 
 
 "Fro thenne he goth toward Itaile 
 By ship, and there his arrivaile 
 Hath take, and shope him for to ride [;'«/(f J." 
 
 Gower, ii. 4. 
 *' And forth he gotli, as nought ne were, 
 To Trojs and was the firste there. 
 Which londeth and toke arrivaile. 
 For him was lever in the bataile, 
 He saith, to deien as a knight 
 Than for to live in all his might 
 And be reproved of his name." lb., 66. 
 "Tho saw I eke all the arivaile 
 That -<^neas had made in Itaile." H. of F., i. 451. 
 Scan : At man | y a no | bl' arriv | e hadde | he be. 
 Tyrwhitt reads annee. 
 
 6t. mortal battailles ^=^ dedidly conflicts; as distinguished from 
 mere tournaments or listes, as in 1. 6^, which denotes single 
 combat or duel. 
 
 battailles, battles. Primary signification, the blows given in 
 combat; hence a company of men engaged in battle. "Their 
 battles are at hand." Shak. J. C, v. i. (i.e., battalions). 
 
 62. foughten, p.p., sc hadde. 
 
 63. /y5/^5 = tournaments ; single combats. So called from 
 the line (Lat. licium) enclosing the field of combat. 
 
 "The field with listes was all about enclosed, 
 To barre the prease of people farre away." 
 
 Spenser, F. Q^, iv. 3, § 4. 
 Listes also denotes the enclosed space : — 
 "At last arriving by the listes side, 
 Shee with her rod did softly smite the raile." 
 
 F. Q^, iv. 3, § 46. 
 ay = alway, i.e., each time; not as now denoting continuous 
 duration. 
 
lo6 NOTES TO THE FEOLOGUE. 
 
 64. like = same; cf. "of that ilk." 
 
 65. Some iyme = at one time. Some is the A.S. indefinite 
 pronoun. Sum man = aliquis, Tyme in the ace. of time. 
 
 /^/-^= sovereign. "Lord, which in modern English has 
 become synonymous with nobleman, was in A.S. klaford, which 
 is supposed bv some to mean, — ord, the origin of, hlaf. loaf; 
 while others look upon it as a corruption of Jilaf-zveard, the 
 warder of bread. It corresponds to the German Brot-kerr, and 
 meant originally employer, master, lord." Max IMuIler. But this 
 etymology is doubtful. See note under 1. 601. 
 
 Palatye in Anatolia: one of the lordships held by Christian 
 knights under the Turks. 
 
 66. /icthene, sc king, "The word heathen acquired its mean- 
 ing from the fact that, at the introduction of Christianity into 
 Germany, the wild dwellers on the heaths [open country] longest 
 resisted the truth." Trench on Words. 
 
 " Hethen is to inene after heeth and untiled erthe." 
 
 Piers PI. 
 
 67. sovercy7t f>/ys = a superior renown : the highest praise. 
 
 68. though that = though. This expression is perhaps best 
 explained by considering it as elliptical, and supplying it be^ as 
 in the expression " if so be that." 
 
 69. of his port =^ in his deportment; an imitation of the A.S. 
 gen. of part or relation. See March, A.S. Gr., § 321. 
 
 mayde = a maiden. This word in the A.S. has a variety of 
 meanings; e.g., maid, daughter, family, relation, tribe, people, 
 country. From the ~oot magati, to be able, whence also the form 
 maeg; in the masculine, denoting son, relation, neighbor. The 
 literal meaning would therefore be "the strength of a family," 
 a designation peculiarly applicable to children when each family 
 composed a clan, which would be strengthened as well bv the 
 matrimonial alliances of the daughters, as by the number of the 
 sons. 
 
 70. no — 72e. In E.E. as in French, the noun and the verb 
 were each negatived, the two negations not making an afiirma- 
 tive. We have here three negatives, never — no — 7ie. 
 
 t'/7f>«j'e = conduct unbecoming a gentleman. "The word 
 villain is, first, the serf or peasant ; villanus, because attached to 
 the villa or farm. He is, secondly, the peasant, who, it is fur- 
 ther taken for granted, will be churlish, selfish, dishonest, and 
 generally of evil moral conditions ; those having come to be 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 107 
 
 assumed as always belonging to him, and to be permanently 
 associated with his name, by those higher classes of society who, 
 in the main, commanded the springs of language. At the third 
 step, nothing of the meaning which the et\inology suggests, 
 nothing of the villa survives any longer; the peasant is wholly 
 dismissed, and the evil moral conditions of him who is called by 
 this name alone remain; so that the name would now, in this its 
 final stage, be applied as freely to peer, if he deserved it, as to 
 peasant." Trench, Eng. Past and Pres , 262. 
 
 The villain or villein in England was a feudal tenant of the 
 lowest class, and hence the transfer of meaning in the word had 
 probably a better foundation than aristocratic pride. 
 
 71. mancr w/'^/i^/ = manner of wight; sort of person. In 
 E.E. <?/" is omitted after matnicr. "And all manner vessels of 
 ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood." Rev. 
 xviii. 12. 
 
 " So in swiche maner rime is Dantes tale." C. T., 6709. 
 
 72. verray^^\.r\xQ.. In E.E. used as an adjective. "Art thou 
 my very son Esau.'"' Gen. xxvii. 25. *' Very God of very God." 
 Creed. 
 
 ^f?^//7= noble ; with the manners of the higher orders of 
 society ; well-bred. This word comes from the Latin gens^ which 
 signified a clan, and was used particularly to designate those 
 patrician families who had descended from the senators selected 
 by Romulus and Tarquin. Gentile is the same word, meaning 
 the clans or tribes; hence all clans but ours. Cf. genteel, 
 gentlonan. 
 
 73. But — i.e., "I will omit further encomium." 
 yow, dative, indirect object of telle. 
 
 array = outfit. " Whos schulen tho thingis be that thou 
 hast arayed." Luke xii. 20; Wiclif. 
 
 74. ne — ?iongJit, the usual double negative. 
 
 nought ^= in no respect (from A.S. na — ivikf). We use the 
 full form as a noun, and the contracted form as the adverb; 
 of. naught, nought^ ?iot. 
 
 gay=\\ye\y, fast. Morris sa^^s : "Gay here seems to signify 
 decked out in various colors," but we still speak of Q. gay horse^ 
 meaning one full of mettle. 
 
 75. Tverede., preterite of xvear. A.S., iverian pr. werede. In 
 this case the general tendency of the language towards the sub- 
 stitution of the weak for the strong conjugation has been over- 
 
lo8 NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 come by the more powerful influence of analogy; so that this 
 verb, which in A.S. was conjugated according to the weak form, 
 has in modern English taken a strong preterite. 
 
 76. w//-^ = bj; cf. Ger. mil. With and by are closely allied in 
 many of their uses, the original signification of either denoting 
 proximity. 
 
 " He is attended ivHh a desperate train." 
 
 Shak. Lear, ii. 4. 
 h'^.hergeotm^ a diminutive of hauberk (A.S. halsbeorg=^nec'k- 
 guard), but often used as synonymous with it; a piece of defen- 
 sive avraor, descending from the neck to the middle : according 
 to some, "armor protecting the head and shoulders." The fol- 
 lowing; *ixtract from the Rime of Sir Thopas, § 24, 25, describes 
 the arr^or of a knight : — 
 
 " He didde next his white lere \_skin'\ 
 Of cloth of lake [^Ihieti] fine and clere 
 
 A breche and eke a sherte ; 
 And next his shert an haketon \cassoch'\ 
 And over that an habergeon 
 
 For percing of his herte ; 
 And over that a fine hauberk^ 
 Was all ywrought of Jewes werk, 
 
 Ful strong it was of plate ; 
 And over that his cote-armoure, 
 As white as is the lily floure, 
 
 In which he wold debate \_Jighf\.^* 
 
 77. ycome, p.p. come. The prefix i or y denotes the past parti- 
 ciple of verbs. It is still used as an archaism in yclept. In A.S. 
 it was also prefixed to the preterite tense. 
 
 vi'age, a journey either by sea or land. The journey to Can- 
 terbury is called a viage in 1. 792. 
 
 78. pilgrimage^ which he had vowed in case of his safe return. 
 It was usual to perform such votive pilgrimages in the dress 
 worn on the journey. 
 
 80. lovyere. This is still the vulgar pronunciation, but which 
 is only an archaism; formed from A.S. Infian, pronounced loof- 
 yan. 
 
 Lusty^ vigorous, handsome ; without the opprobrious force 
 the word has since acquired. 
 
 bacheler. "A soldier not old or rich enough to lead his re- 
 lations into battle with a banner. The original sense of the word 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 109 
 
 is It't/Ie, small, young, from Welsh back." Webster. " The func- 
 tions of a knight were complete when he rode at the head of his 
 retainers assembled under his banner, which was expressed by 
 the term ' lever banniere.' So long as he was unable to take 
 this step, either from insufficient age or poverty, he would be 
 considered only as an apprentice in chivalry, and was called a 
 knight bachelor." Wedgwood, 2d ed. 
 
 81. «5 = as if. The verb ivere leyde being in the subjunctive, 
 rendered the conjunction unnecessary, so long as the conditional 
 mode was indicated by inflection. Having lost the power of 
 indicating contingency by the form of the verb, we now use the 
 conjunctions if., though., &c. The construction without if is fre- 
 quent in Shakspeare. See Craik's E. of S., p. 279. 
 
 %2. of txventy yeer, A.S. gen. of time how long, "And whanne 
 Jhesus was maad of twelve yeeres." Luke ii. 42 ; Wiclif. The 
 A.S. more generally expressed this idea by ivititre. 
 
 yeer, p\. In E.E. neuters took no inflection in the plural; 
 thus hors, deer, &c. ^'Harvest is the primitive signification of 
 our English word year, and its representative in the cognate 
 languages. I am aware that this is not the received etymology 
 of year, nor do I propose it with by any means entire confidence. 
 . . . In Anglo-Saxon ert^ signifies an ear of grain ; and by sup- 
 plying the collective prefix ge, common to all the Teutonic lan- 
 guages, we hsLve gear, an appropriate expression for harvest, and 
 at the same time a term which, as well as winter, was employed 
 as the name of the entire year. The corresponding words, in 
 the cognate languages, admit of a similar derivation; and this, 
 to me, seems a more probable etymology than those by which 
 these words are connected with remoter roots." Marsh, Lect. 
 on E. L., p. 245, note. 
 
 ^^55c = should think ; subj. The idea of uncertainty does not 
 attach to\his word in E.E. 
 
 S3, evene lengthe = -pyo\)e.Y height; i.e., neither too tall nor too 
 short, — the usual height. 
 
 84. gret^gYe.2it; definite form ^r^/c. 
 
 Of strengthe^=B.s regards strength. This use of (discom- 
 mon in Shakspeare. "A valiant man of his hands." Abbott's 
 Sh. Gr., § 113. Cf. " Swift of foot." " A zeal of God." Rom. 
 X. 2. It is the A.S. adjunct genitive denoting the part or relation 
 in which the quality is conceived. See ^larch, A.S. Gr., § 321. 
 
 85. chevachie, military service. " It most properly means an 
 
no NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 expedition with a small party of cavalry, but is often used gen- 
 erally for any military expedition. HoUinshed calls it a rode 
 [i.e., a raid]. T. 
 
 87. And dorn /i/m ri'el==^hehaved bravely. 
 
 as — so. As is a contraction of also (A.S. eal-swa), the all 
 merely emphasizing the so. ^5= in that way; to that degree 
 that. Read: " And had borne himself bravely — all in so little 
 time — in hope to stand in his lady's favor." Tyrwhitt reads 
 "as of so," which would mean " for one of his years," an easier 
 reading, though the other gives the same general meaning. 
 
 88. lady ^race = lady's grace. Lady is for Ladye, gen. sing. 
 (not pi. as Morris's ed. reads). In E.E. the genitive of some 
 feininine nouns ended in e ; other nouns ending in e were some- 
 times inflected in a similar manner. " That biteth the horse 
 heels." Gen. xlix. 17, w4iere, however, horse may be gen. pi. 
 A.S. Jiorsa. 
 
 89. Embroided^=Q,rvihxo\dQ.xQ.d., — zV, i.e., his clothing. 
 
 90. all adv. used intensivel3\ 
 
 fresshe. " The English brisk, frisky, and fresh, all come from 
 the same source. . . . Fresh has passed through a Latin chan- 
 nel, as may be seen from the change of its vowel, and, to a cer- 
 tain extent, in its taking the suffix me7it in refreshment, which is 
 generally, though not entirely, restricted to Latin words. Under 
 a thoroughly foreign form it exists in English as fresco, so called 
 because the paint was applied to the walls whilst the plaster was 
 still fresh or damp." M. Muller. 
 
 91. ^(y/v;/^e = playing on the flute. 
 
 "And many a floyte and litling home." H. of F., iii. 133. 
 al the day, ace. of time. 
 
 92. inoneth = month. " Moo7i is a very old word. It was mona 
 in A.S. For month, we have in A.S. monath, in Gothic menoth. 
 In Sanskrit we find mas for moon, and masa for month. Now 
 this mas in Sanskrit is clearly derived from a root ma, to meas- 
 ure, to mete. The mooti, therefore, is the measurer, and month 
 is the portion of time measured by it." See Sci. of Lang., Miil- 
 ler, ist Series, p. 16. 
 
 93. wv'</<? = large. We read in the poem on the Deposition of 
 Richard II. of " Sieves that slode uppon the erthe." p. 22. 
 
 94. sitie and ryde, infinitives ior sitten and riden depending on 
 coxvde. 
 
 on hors=^ on horseback. The loss of inflection has rendered 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. Ill 
 
 necessary a large increase of definitive words. We would be 
 obliged to use the article here. 
 
 y(7/>g 11= fairly, well. Any adjective in A.S. could be used in 
 the dative a.s an adverb; having lost the inflection, we restrict 
 the adverb to the form in ly, A.S. lice. 
 
 95. make, endite, juste, dauiice, puriraye, and -write, are infini- 
 tives depending upon cotvde. 
 
 96. /wr/raje = draw, sketch. We restrict the noun portrait 
 to a painting of a face or person. 
 
 ivriie. To be able to write was a rare accomplishment; cf. 
 clergy = clericus = clerk. 
 
 97- w/^-^/^r/a/e = night-time. "A.S. nihtern-dael. Lj'd- 
 gate uses nigktertyjne." T. Morris explains as night tale = the 
 reckoning or time of night. 
 
 98. sleep = s,\eY>\.. The addition of t changes this verb to 
 the weak conjugation. It was a useless addition* 
 
 nygktyngale =^ mghtingoXQ. A.S. nihte, by night; gale, a 
 singer, from gala n, to sing; cf. I^at. gall/is. 
 
 99. Curteys. See note, 1. 46. 
 servysable^ willing to render service. 
 
 100. carf^^^ carved, — pr. of kerven, to carve. 
 
 loi. Teman. "Yeman, or yeoman, is an abbreviation of 
 yeongeman, as yoiithe is oi yeongthe. Young men being most 
 usually employed in service, servants have, in many languages, 
 been denominated from the single circumstance of age. The 
 title of yeoman was given, in a secondary sense, to people of 
 middling rank, not in service. The appropriation of the word 
 to signify a small landholder is more modern, I apprehend." T. 
 More probably, a countryman. Frisic, gaeman, a villager. 
 
 he, i.e., the knight. 
 
 servantes, dissyllable, accented on ultimate. 
 
 no moo = no more. An abbreviated comparative of many. 
 Afo, moe. are common in Shakspeare. 
 
 102. ki>]i luste = \t pleased him. Hiin maybe construed as 
 dative after the impersonal construction, or, perhaps better, as 
 in A.S., as ace. after impersonal of feeling. '• Impersonals of 
 appetite or passion, in A.S., govern an accusative of the person 
 suffering." March, § 290. So hunger, thirst, list, long, loath, 
 irk, rue, dream, tickle, smart, game. 
 
 Ryde, inf. subject of luste. 
 
 103. ^^c?^=hat, Ger. hut. Hood now denotes a covering 
 
112 NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 for the head worn bj women. It literally means a protection, 
 or covering. 
 
 Grene was the favorite color of hunters. " Immediately he 
 clothed the chiefest of his men in Lincoln green, with black 
 hats, and white feathers, all alike." Robin Hood in Thom's 
 E. E. Prose Rom., p. iii. 
 
 104. ;pocok arives, arrows feathered with peacock feathers. 
 Aschain in his Toxophilus (p. 129, Arber's ed.) says: "And 
 trewelye at a short but, which some man doth use, ye Pecock 
 fether doth seldome kepe vp ye shaft eyther rj'ght or leuel," to 
 Avhich bad reputation Chaucer evidently alludes in 1. 107. 
 
 arwe5=^ arrows. A.S. arcive, arive, froin ar (ore), copper, 
 and therefore equivalent in meaning to " the weapon," — as we 
 say " the steel " for " the sword." Copper, being found pure and 
 easily worked, was the earliest metal made use of by man, and 
 in most langu2%es has given the generic name for metal. Thus 
 Hesiod says (Op. 149): "The ancients had copper implements 
 (weapons) and copper houses, and they wrought (dealt) in 
 copper, for they did not have the black iron." Thus the Greek 
 term for copper, ;ta/i/c6c, was used by Homer for the general term 
 weapon and also metal. So A.S. ar, O.N. or, Eng. ore, Ger. 
 erz, Lat. tes {aer-s), all point to one and the same metal, — cop- 
 per; and as the Greeks called the sword Xf^^f^^d and the Latins 
 designated weapons by aera (" Ardentis clipeos atque aera mi- 
 cantia cerno," Virgil, Aen. ii. 734), so our ancestors used the 
 same word to designate their chief weapon. Wedgwood, how- 
 ever, refers the name " to their ivhirring through the air." 
 
 brighie. Formerly applied to sounds as well as to objects. 
 
 " Heosong so schille and so brihte." O. and N. 1654. 
 " The phenomena from whence all representative words are im- 
 mediately taken must, of course, belong to the class which 
 addresses itself to the ear; and we find accordingly that the 
 words expressing attributes of light are commonly derived from 
 those of sound." Wedgwood. 
 
 105. thriftily, carefully, with the air of a man who under- 
 stood his business. 
 
 106. yomanly, in a manner becoming a yeoman. 
 
 107. 'With fetkeres, because of the bad adjustment of the 
 feathers. This use of Tvith is common in Skakspeare. "With 
 (which like by signifies juxtaposition) is often used to express 
 the juxtaposition of cause and effect." Shak. Gr., § 193. 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 1 13 
 
 loTve, adv. modifying drowpede. 
 
 109. Not-heed^ a head with close-cut hair. T_\rvvhitt's Glos- 
 sary explains as " a head like a nut." 
 
 111. bracey, armor for the ami to protect it from the recoil 
 of the bow-string. "A bracer serueth for two causes, one to 
 saue his arme from the strype of the strynge, and his doublet 
 from wearynge, and the other is, that the strynge glydynge 
 sharpelye and quicklye of the bracer, may make the sharper 
 shoote." Toxophilus, Arber's ed., 108. 
 
 112. bokeler, a dissyllable. 
 
 113. t/tat other ^=^ the other. The neuter of the A.S. demon- 
 strative, which we have taken as the definite article, was thact, 
 and in E.E. was often used where we would now use the posses- 
 sive pronoun. The same usage prevails in Greek. 
 
 daggere. " The syllable ^a^ or rt'/^ represents the noise of 
 a blow with something sharp; then the instrument with which 
 the blow is given, or any thing of similar form." Wedgwood. 
 
 114. Harneysed^ equipped; fitted with hangings. 
 
 115. Cristofre, an image of St. Christopher, patron saint of 
 the weather and forests, and especially reverenced by the lower 
 orders of society; it was worn as a brooch, and was considered 
 as having power to shield the wearer from hidden danger. 
 
 117. forster, a forester; one who had charge of a forest. 
 
 119. symple. Elide final e before a vowel. The original 
 meaning of simple lacked the idea of stupidity which we gen- 
 erally attach to it. Simple has come to us through the French; 
 while complex, from the same root, has come from the Latin direct, 
 
 120. gretteste. Final e denotes definite declension. 
 
 Ne — biit=^on\y. Still used in England in the form «C(^/^/. 
 Wright's Die. The second negative is here supplied by but, 
 which has a negative force. " The thief cometh tiot but for to 
 steal." Gr. d /z^. Jno. x. 10. Cf. also, " There were but ten " 
 ;^ there were no more than (only) ten. See Abbott's Shak. Gr., 
 §§ 1 18-130. 
 
 Z,^V = Eloy, i.e., St. Eligius. Tyrwhitt reads: " nasbut by 
 St. Eloy." 
 
 122. sang the 5^rT;/5e = intoned the service. "And bi tlie 
 weie ase heo geth, go singinde hire beoden " (beads, prayers). 
 An. R., 424. 
 
 Servise, prayers, — not mass, which could be celebrated only 
 by a priest. 
 
 8 
 
114 NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 123. E?iiii?ied I'ji her nose. The notion that there is a peculiar 
 solemnity in a nasal tone is not jet extinct. 
 
 semcly, becomingly : trissyllable. 
 
 124. From the time of William the Conqueror, who filled all 
 offices in Church and State with Normans, and thus made 
 French the aristocratic language, until nearly, if not quite, to 
 the time of Chaucer, familiarity with the French language was 
 esteemed a mark of high breeding and education. Gower, a 
 contemporary of Chaucer, wrote one of his long poems in 
 French, one in Latin, and one in English. The confusion of 
 the speech of the different classes of people ISetween these three 
 tongues — Latin being spoken by ecclesiastics, French by the 
 nobility, and English by the common people — is admirably 
 shown by the specimens given in the " Political Songs of Eng-^ 
 land," edited by Thos. Wright for the Camden Society, 1839. 
 
 " En seynt eglise sunt multi saepe priores; 
 Summe beoth wyse, multi sunt inferiores." p. 251. 
 Robert of Gloucester (i. 364) gives the following account of the 
 introduction of French : — 
 
 " Thus come lo ! Engelond into Normannes honde, 
 And the Normans ne couthe speke tho bote her owe speche, 
 And speke French as dude at om and here chyldren dude also 
 
 teche 
 So that hej' men of thys lond, that of her blod come, 
 Holdeth alle thulke speche that hii of hem nome. 
 For bote a man couthe French, me tolth of hym wel lute; 
 Ac lowe men holdeth to Englyss and to her kunde speche 
 yute." 
 That is : Thus came England into the Normans' hands; and the 
 Normans could not then speak any but their own language; and 
 they spoke French as they did at home, and so taught their chil- 
 dren ; so that the nobility of this land that descended from them 
 all (hold to) continue to use that language that they received of 
 them. For, except a man understood French, one made but 
 little of him; but the common people continue to use English 
 and their native speech yet. 
 
 Prof. Earle, in his " Philology of the English Tongue," says: 
 " During this long interval (from the 12th to the 14th cen- 
 tury) the reigning language was French ; and this fashion, like 
 all fashions, went on spreading and embracing a wider area, 
 and ever growing thinner as it spread, till in the thirteenth and 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 1 15 
 
 fourteenth centuries it was become an acknowledged subject of 
 derision." p. 65. 
 
 125. scole of Stratford, after the style spoken in the rural 
 districts of England, rather than that spoken in Paris. 
 
 126. Frcnsch of Paris. Of the various dialects spoken in 
 France, that spoken at the capital early became the standard. 
 For a most interesting account of this subject, see Brachet's 
 Historical French Grammar. " Chaucer thought but meanly 
 of tlie English French spoken in his time. It was proper, how- 
 ever, that the Prioress should speak some sort of French, not 
 only as a woman of fashion (a character which she is repre- 
 sented to affect), but as a religious person." T. 
 
 u7tk}ioive, p.p. = unknown. The tendency to drop final n, 
 which has prevailed in the case of the infinitive, is here ex- 
 hibited in the case of the participle, where it has in inost cases 
 successfully resisted. 
 
 127. at inete=^ at the table. 
 
 ivithalle, besides, with all her other accomplishments. 
 
 128. Falle, inf., to be construed with/ee/(pr. of let). 
 
 129. Ne xvette hyrc fyngres. The use of knives and forks at 
 table is one of the refinements of modern civilization; cf. '• He 
 that dippeth his hand with me in the dish." Matt. xxvi. 23. 
 
 130. keepe^ sc. cowde sche = she knew how to take care. A.S. 
 cepan^=\.o take, to attempt, to regard, heed, keep. 
 
 To take keep = io take care. " He that keepeth [i.e., careth 
 for] Israel shall not slumber nor sleep." Ps. cxxi. 4. See K., 
 1380. 
 
 132. leste = pleasure, that to which she gave attention. The 
 verb as well as the noun lust in E.E. simply denoted pleasure, 
 and was not restricted to base passion as at present. With the 
 second meaning given above, cf. listless. 
 
 i2,-\. fcrtki?/g, literally, a fourth part; hence any small por- 
 tion. For the same tendency to restrict a definite part to mean- 
 ing a small part, cf. t it /ie = tenth. wo/V/y = one-half. 
 
 135. dronken. p.p. drunk. A.S. drincan, p. dratic, p.p. drun- 
 cen. The pret. and p.p. of this class of verbs should be carefully 
 distinguished. 
 
 136. Fill scm-e-ly., very prettilv, becomingly. 
 
 ^««^<^^e = reached, pret. of reche. This old pret. is obso- 
 lete, and a new one has been formed after the analogy of weak 
 verbs. 
 
Il6 NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 137. of grei disport, attributive genitive; cf. "He is a man 
 of means." She was very fond of gajetj. 
 
 139. peynede hire = took pains. The reflexive use of this verb 
 is obsolete. 
 
 to countrefete cheere = \.o imitate the manner. The idea of 
 imitation for a fraudulent purpose, which now attaches to coun- 
 terfeit, is wanting in E.E., where counterfeit not unfrequentlj 
 denotes a portrait. 
 
 140. estatlich, like one possessed of an estate ; hence stately, 
 high-bred. 
 
 court. " CoJiors or Cors was first used in the sense of a hur- 
 dle, an enclosure, a cattle 3'ard. The cohortes^ or divisions of 
 the Roman armj, were called by the same name; so many 
 soldiers constituting a pen or a court. Thus cors, cortis, from 
 meaning a pen, a cattle-yard, became in mediaeval Latin 
 Curtis, and was used, like the German Hof, of the farms and 
 castles built by Roman settlers in the provinces of the Em- 
 pire. Lastly, from meaning a fortified place, curtis rose to the 
 dignity of a roj'al residence, and became synonymous with 
 palace." Max Miiller, Sci. Lang., 269. 
 
 141. to bc?i koldefi=^to be considered. ■ 
 
 142. ^/^/ = still further, indicating simply a change in the 
 point of view. But is in A.S. buta?i for bi-uta?i, that is ^j/- 
 out ^:= without = near- but- out. It gradually loses its adversative 
 force, and becomes a simple conjunction. 
 
 for to speken, the gerund or verbal noun. We would now 
 ^^y speaki}ig, &c., using the independent participial construction. 
 144. If that = 1^ so be that; if it happened that. Accord- 
 ing to this explanation, that is the sentence article, belonging 
 to the sentence she saw, &c., which is the subject of the sup- 
 plied verb. This explanation will also apply to the other cases 
 where that follows a conjunction. 
 
 146. of smale houndes, a partitive genitive; cf. A.S. " Ic 
 haebbe his her" = I have some (of it) here. Perhaps, however, 
 this is an imitation of the French idiom. The A.S. generally 
 uses the genitive, sometimes the preposition of. 
 
 147. wa^/t'/ <5rce(f^ fine white bread. Dogs were usually fed 
 on coarse lentil bread baked for that purpose. 
 
 148. But = Sir\d; it is equivalent to an emphatic conjunction, 
 its adversative force calling especial attention to the new partic- 
 ular. 
 
NOTES TO THE FROLOGUE. 1 17 
 
 Scan : But so | re wepte | sch' if oon | of hem | were deed. 
 
 149. me?i, the indefinite pronoun {one), now unfortunately 
 obsolete. It is also written me, which must be carefully dis- 
 tinguished from the dat. and ace. of/. 
 
 smoL pret. singular; the plural would be smite. So in A.S. 
 he smot, we smiton. 
 
 yerde^^a. stick, a rod. A.S. gyrd, geard. This word means : 
 (i) an enclosed place (Goth, garda, a gard or fold, gards, a 
 house), a garden; (2) the means by which such enclosure is 
 effected, i.e., palings or sticks; (3) finally, the word comes to 
 denote a lineal measure determined by the usual length of such 
 palings. So, also, rod has passed to denote a measure of dis- 
 tance ; and rood, a measure of area. 
 
 152. /r<?/>'5:= slender, well-proportioned. 
 
 " Her face gentil and tretise." Rom. R., 1016. 
 
 Eyen = e.yes. A remnant of the n declension of nouns; cf. 
 oxen, chicken, kine. 
 
 255. a spanne broad, ace. of measure. 
 
 troive^^ih'xnk, should think. 
 
 156. hardily, assuredly, certainly. Hard originally denotes 
 strength (cf. /tardy), thence reliability. 
 
 157. I -was tuaar, I was aware, I observed. 
 
 159 peire^=ii set; used to denote anything, the parts of 
 which, or the natural divisions of which, are equal to each 
 other. 
 
 bedes = heixds,, a rosary. Bead is derived from the A.S. bid- 
 dan, Ger. betoi, to pray; it means: (i) a prayer; (2) a string 
 of balls upon which the tale or tally of prayers was kept: hence 
 the phrase " to tell one's beads "= to say one's prayer*. 
 
 gauded al zvith gre7ie, with green gaudes. The gaudees were 
 large beads upon the rosary indicating a Pater Noster. 
 
 160. broch^^'-' brooch, signified: (i) a pin; (2) a breastpin; 
 (3) a buckle or clasp ; (4) a jewel or ornament. It was an orna- 
 ment common to both sexes. The ' crowned A.' is supposed to 
 represent Amor or Charity, the greatest of all the Christian 
 graces." M. 
 
 162. Amor vijicit omnia. Love (charity) conquers (surpasses) 
 all things. 
 
 163. Another Nonne. Tyrwhitt says: "No nun could be a 
 chaplain." Probably a nun who assisted her in her duties aS 
 prioress, and called a chaplain from the analogy. 
 
Il8 NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 164. chapelly7i. This word maj' be used here as equivalent to 
 assistant. Tjrwhitt, however, rejects these two lines as interpo- 
 lations, because of the difficulty mentioned above. According 
 to Spelman, the word chapel has passed through the following 
 significations : (i) a chest or coffer, in which the relics of martjrs 
 were preserved; (2) a building in which these capellae of relics 
 were kept; (3) a place of praj'er, because of the peculiar sanctity 
 of such places. Accordingly the word chaplaui would pass 
 through corresponding changes, and would mean : (i) a keeper 
 of such a coffer of relics ; (2) one whose duty it was to superin- 
 tend the building in which the coffer was kept, or that part of 
 the building in yhich the shrine was erected ; (3) one whose 
 duty it was to read prayers. Inferior clergv can read prayers, 
 while no one but a consecrated priest can celebrate mass. Hence 
 the idea of inferioritj^ would naturally attach to the w'ord chap- 
 lain, and the word might come in time to denote a servant in a 
 religious house.- The same idea of inferiority attaches to a chapel 
 as compared with a church. Webster's Dictionary gives another 
 derivation of chapel: "Originally a short cloak, hood, or cowl, 
 a sacred vessel, chapel. It is said that the king of France in 
 war carried St. INIartyn's hat into the field, which was kept in a 
 tent as a precious relic, whence the place took the name capclla., 
 a little hat. and the priest who had the custody of the tent was 
 called capellaftus, now chaplain.'' Wedgwood says, and we think 
 with good reason, alluding to the foregoing derivation: "But 
 we have no occasion to resort to so hypothetical a derivation. 
 The canopy or covering of an altar where mass was celebrated 
 was called capella, a hood. . . . And it can hardly be doubted 
 that the name of the canopy was extended to the recess in a 
 church in which an altar was placed, forming the capella or 
 chapel of the saint to whom the altar was dedicated." 
 
 165. a fair for the maistric = ?i fair one for the position of 
 master. " The phraseybr the maistre is equivalent to the French 
 four la 7naistrie, which in old books of physic was applied to 
 such medicines as we usually call sovereign [specific] or excel- 
 lent above all others. In the same sense the monk is said to be 
 fair for the maistrie — above all others." T. 
 
 166. A}i Oid-rydere ^ox\Q. who rides after the hounds in hunt- 
 ing. Out in composition often denotes to a great degree, intensi- 
 fying the word to which it is joined ; cf. <?«/-«//</-^«/^= thoroughly ; 
 utter.) &c. 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 1 19 
 
 veilerye = hunting ; a practice of the monks which occasioned 
 great scandal. 
 
 "And these abbotes and priours don agein here rihtes ; 
 Hii riden wid hauk and hound, and contrefeten knihtes." 
 
 Pol. Songs, 329. 
 
 167. to bcfi, inf., construed with able. 
 
 to ben an abbot able. His qualifications for this holy office 
 aiford a fine opportunity for Chaucer's satire. In a similar strain 
 of satire we speak of corpulent men as "fit for aldermen." 
 
 168. Ficl ma.^j a. Ma7iy must be construed as an adverb 
 modifying «, which is here equivalent to the numeral one. In 
 semi-Saxon (Layamon) we find the two words joined; nom. 
 mojtienne, gen. vioniennes. In illustration of this use of a, cf. 
 " With him ther wente knvghtes many oon." K., 1260. " Of fees 
 and robes hadde he many oon." P., 317. " In the same way the 
 Germans say mancher (adj.) Mann, but solch (adv.) ein Mann. 
 In A.S. the idiom was ' many man,' not ' many a man.' " Abbott, 
 Shak. Gr., § 85. At present the use of the article is simply to 
 allow the word many to stand with a singular noun ; in such 
 cases many a = ma?iy times a, causing the word to be taken dis- 
 tributively; while many used with the plural would denote the 
 collective use of the noun to which it belonged. The distribu- 
 tive use is more intensive, as it fixes the attention upon the 
 unit. The force of the expression has caused it to be retained, 
 although its true syntax is no longer obvious. 
 
 stable, article omitted. 
 
 169. bridel heerc gynglen. The verb hecre governs hridcl 
 gynglen as its object. The infinitive when construed as a noun 
 retains its verbal force. Bridel is the ace. subject of gynglen, 
 "After verbs of perceiving . . . and some others, the logical 
 object is the infinitive clause." March, § 293. "Anciently no 
 person seems to have been gallantly equipped on horseback, 
 unless the horse's bridle or some other part of the furniture was 
 stuck full of small bells. Wiclif, in his Trialoge, inveighs 
 against the priests for "their fair hors and jolly and gay sad- 
 eles, and bridles ringing by the way." Warton, 167. 
 
 170. Gvv;^/£?«, inf. jingling. Tyrwhitt reads _^7/_^(?//;/^. Pro- 
 long the first foot=^-/«^-ling. 
 
 171. loude and cleere are adverbs. 
 doth, sc. gynglen. 
 
 172. There a5 = there where = where. In such expressions 
 
I20 NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 as was probably added to indicate the relative force of what 
 otherwise might be taken for the demonstrative adverb; cf. 
 whereas TShak.) = where that. In E.E. there and i/ien are used 
 in cases where we would write vjJiere and when ; the former 
 beinsf in E.E. both demonstrative and relative, and the latter 
 being interrogative. As is added to all the interrogative adverbs 
 to render them relative, and may have also been added to those 
 which bv their form were either demonstrative or relative, to 
 determine their relative character, or the addition may have 
 been due to the force of analogy. 
 
 173. Maiire — ^e«ei'i? = Maur — Benedict. St. Maur was a 
 disciple of St. Benedict. The rule (discipline) of these saints 
 was the oldest, and consequently the strictest fonn of discipline 
 in the Catholic church. 
 
 174. Bycause />^«/ = because, for the reason that; cf. "by the 
 cause." K., 1630. In compounds where ^/precedes, it is changed 
 to be ; as, before, behittd, beside ; where it follows, it retains its 
 form; as, thereby, hereby, t&c. The prefix be, in English verbs, 
 stands in the place of three prefixes originally distinct: (i) be, 
 the intensive prefix, as bereave (Goth., biraubon) ; (2) the inten- 
 sive or collective prefix ^e, as believe, Ger. glauben (Goth., ga- 
 laubjau); (3) the preposition by, as hecovae^^ by-come. Be in 
 the ist and 3d cases was undoubtedly originally the same, de- 
 noting nearness, hence intensity. 
 
 that refers to catcse considered as a noun ; cf. "In the place 
 that the tree falleth '= where the tree falleth, or, as it would be 
 in E.E., xvhere that; cf. also therefore ^^^ior this, that. 
 
 somdel= somewhat. We still say " a good deal." 
 
 176. trace. Other readings are space, pace. 
 
 To hold the trace ^=to follow the track. 
 
 177- of that text. That which suggests a mental state is in 
 A.S. put in the genitive. The statement of the act in this case 
 is but an expressive way of showing his utter contempt for the 
 strict discipline of the early monks. Of is here equivalent to 
 concerning. 
 
 a pulled he7t. "A moulting hen, a worthless hen, because 
 neither laying eggs nor fit for food." M. " The French poulet, 
 which then meant a ^^oung child, is Anglicized into something 
 which looks like the participle of the verb to prill in the Prol- 
 ogue, 177." Earle's Philology. Neither of these explanations 
 appears to me satisfactory. I think it means a hen reduced to a 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 121 
 
 mere skeleton, — as we say, "mere skin and bones." The word 
 is variously written pulled, peeled, pilled, pollid, and is probably 
 allied to French piller, to plunder, and hence figuratively = poor. 
 "Thou must not pil and powle the tenant." Latimer, vii. Ser. 51, 
 Arber. 
 
 '"Thus ye derid hein unduly with droppis of anger, 
 And stonyed him with stormes that stynted nevere, 
 But plucked and pulled hem anon to the skynnes, 
 That the ffresing iTrost ffreted to here hertis." 
 
 Dep. Ric, 12. 
 
 "A nation scattered and peelled." Is. xviii. 2. Some derive 
 
 the word from depilatus, bald. "And if it is a foul thing to a 
 
 womman to hQ pollid, or to be maad ballid." Wiclif, i Cor. xi. 6. 
 
 "As pyled as an ape was his skulle." C. T. , 3933. 
 
 "With skalled browes blake and piled herd." P., 627. 
 
 178. That seith, that. First that, rel. pron. referring to text ; 
 second that, sentence article, modifying the sentence which is the 
 object o{ seith. 
 
 fioon = not at all, in no case: an emphatic negative = no 
 one. It must be explained as an adverbial accusative. 
 
 179. r^cc^e/^5 = reckless : regardless of the laws ofhis order. 
 Tyrwhitt supposes Chaucer to have written 7-eghelles (A^S. regol, 
 rule) = without rule, but the other explanation suits the context 
 better. 
 
 iSo. is likened= is to be likened to : is like to. 
 
 7va/er/^5 = out of water. Words in less are now used only 
 subjectively. 
 
 181. This is to 5^r« = that is to say. Philosophicalh', it is 
 more correct to use the near demonstrative in such cases, but 
 our present idiom is fixed otherwise. 
 
 to seyji, predicate with is. 
 
 a monk, &c., sc. is likc7ied. 
 
 \^2.-^worth, an abbreviated form of worthy, which in A.S. was 
 followed by a gen. of price. W^e have retained this construction 
 with 'worthy; with zuorth, however, we use, as here, the ace. of 
 definition. 
 
 183. T seide=\ should say. Subj. pret. 
 
 opiniouii, trissyllable. 
 
 good. The usual etymology refers this word to the same root 
 as God, with the original meaning of moral excellence. It is, 
 however, probable that the resemblance is only accidental, and 
 
12 2 NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 that the original force of good is given more nearly in this pas- 
 sage, — an opinion that 'tvill hold. 
 
 184. J^V/«/ = why, wherefore, Lat. ^z^/'^. Common in Shak- 
 
 speare. 
 
 studie, inf. The auxiliary verbs are followed by the infini- 
 tive, although they have degenerated into hardly more than 
 modal or tense signs. 
 
 himselven^ ace. sing. For dative, see 1. 528. As we inflect 
 self on\y in the plural, v does not occur in the sing. 
 
 ivood, crazy, mad. This root is preserved in Wednesday 
 (Wodensday), so named from the A.S. god Woden, — the Raging 
 one, — an appropriate designation for the god of war. Scot, ivud, 
 mad, distracted, wild. " An' just as wud as wud can be." Burns. 
 185. To pow re = to -^ovQ, to he. construed y^'xth studie. "Why 
 should he devote himself (study, cf. Lat. studere) to poring over 
 books in a cloyster, and make himself mad.'"' 
 
 186. 57X^^'«/('e = labor, inf., construe with xvhat schulde, 1. 184. 
 This word is now obsolete, although used by Milton. 
 
 187. Hozv schal, &c. A fine bit of special pleading, or sar- 
 casm. This whole passage is punctuated differently; some place 
 an exclamation point after what, and only commas until byt ^ 
 Morris points a full stop after poure. With the first pointing, 
 which seems to give the easiest reading, the sense would be 
 "what! should he study, &c., how shall the world be served." 
 With this pointing, sdmlde and swyjike will be subjunctives. 
 With the pointing given in our text, " How schal," &c., is rather 
 an assertion under cover of a question = if he should study, «&c., 
 the world could not be served. 
 
 188. "Let Austin keep his labor for himself." 
 
 \'$>c). ;pricasour^=2i hard rider. Literally "a spurrer," one 
 who rode with " whip and spur." 
 
 aright ^= 0)1 r/^///= indeed. We now use dovjnright with a 
 similar force. 
 
 190. Scan : Greyhoundes ] he hadde | as swifte [ as fowel [ in 
 flight. 
 
 foxvel, pi. = birds. Now usually restricted to domesticated 
 birds. 
 
 192. Was al his lust=^ his pleasure was wholly. 
 
 for no cost, &c. = " for no expense would he abstain from 
 these sports." ISI. Perhaps, better, "he would on no account 
 refrain, — for no reason. The verb cost is sometimes used figu- 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 123 
 
 rativelj as nearly equivalent to cause; e.g., " Slaverj'- cost the 
 country a four years' war." So also ncedes-cosi = {or the reason 
 of need; on account of necessity. 
 
 193. purjilcd, embroidered. Purfil (subst.) signifies the em- 
 broidered or furred trimming of a dress; hence the verb comes 
 to have the general meaning to ornament. 
 
 atte = at the. 
 
 194. that, sc. which was. Or atid that may be explained as an 
 emphatic conjunction = aitd that too. 
 
 195, Hood. "With an hode on his hed, a lousi hatte aboue." 
 P.P. v. 195. 
 
 197. love-knot, an intricate knot, typical of an indissoluble 
 union. Such minute touches of description reveal the charac- 
 ter of the monk with a wonderful life-likeness. 
 
 198. balled =^h2i.\di. ''The original meaning seems to have 
 been: (i) shining; (2) white." M. "Smooth as a ball." T. 
 ''Besides signifying void of hair, bald is used in the sense of 
 having a white mark on the face." Wedgwood. Cheap whiskey 
 which fires the face is called bald-face (see Bartlett's Diet. Am.), 
 in which the O.E. bal, a blaze, is clearly recognizable. 
 
 199. And eek connects_/ace with the subject o{ schon, as though 
 it had been separately expressed. 
 
 ««<y«/ = anointed, p.p. Verbs ending \x\ d or t contract the 
 ending ed : (1) by dropping the ^ or t ; (2) by transposing the 
 letters ed and uniting the consonants; (3) or by transposing 
 the letters of the termination: e.g., <^///^ = builded ; caste^=^ 
 casted ; let =^ letted ; fedde = feded. 
 
 200. lord, a title of honor, like Sir, given to persons of su- 
 perior rank, and to monks. 
 
 m good point, a translation of the French etnbonpoint, — ro- 
 tundity of figure. 
 
 201. eyefi steep ^bright eyes. 
 
 " Stepe stayred stones of his stoute throne." E.E. Al. Poems, 
 ii. 1396. 
 
 rollyng hi his heede, quick in their movements ; cf. Gr. Buiicjrp, 
 a frequent epithet of youths. 
 
 202. That, rel. pron. pi. relating to 6'jr.'^. "That shone like 
 the fire under a caldron." 
 
 203. bootes souple. The term boot at first probably denoted 
 a brogan or moccason, a bag of leather laced on the instep. Prob- 
 ably so named from their being made of the entire skin of the 
 animal ; cf. bottle. 
 
124 NOTES TO THE PBOLOGUE. 
 
 20^. forpyned goost = ^ spirit wasted awaj by punishment. 
 The force of yb;' in composition (Ger. ver) is opposition, dete- 
 rioration, &c. The Greek napa is simiLarlj used, and (being 
 from the same root) affords a good explanation of the prefix, 
 Ilapa means alofig side of : hence as a prefix denotes that which 
 fails of coming up to a certain mark. 
 
 207. brojcn, connected with byrnan, to burn. 
 
 berye. Bhaksh in Sanskrit = to eat: hence Lat. bacca, Goth. 
 basja (A.S. beria), a berry. What a wonderful revelation of the 
 primitive condition of man is given in the simple fact that the 
 word iox food is berry, — that which grows of its own accord ! 
 
 208. The fonre Ordres were : (i) The Dominicans, or preach- 
 ing friars ; (2) The Franciscans, or Gray Friars; (3) The Car- 
 melites, or White Friars; (4) The Augustine (Austin) Friars. 
 
 ivantotcn^^^^fvee ; literally, untrained, unrestrained : xva?i^= un ; 
 2Vowe« = trained. " Schomeleas is the mon . . . that deth eni 
 untoweschipe " = that doeth any wanton act. An. R., 170; cf. 
 "Ne [beon heo] so fulitowune"= be they never so coarse. lb., 
 244. 
 
 209. $olemp7ie-= festive. The word literally means ann7ial, 
 and originally denoted those religious ceremonies which were 
 celebrated annually: hence the word comes to have two mean- 
 ings, — (i) demanding reverence ; (2) festive. The latter meaning 
 is obsolete. The p was inserted to facilitate the pronunciation 
 of both m and n; having dropped the/, we only sound the ;». 
 
 211. daliaimce and fair lauo-age = gossip and flattery. 
 
 213. rvymmen. In early times the sexes were distinguished by 
 their occupations. Men were called the " weapon side" of the 
 family; women, the " spindle side." The first gave rise to we^- 
 meji ; the second to wif-men^ the weaving men. 
 
 at his otvjie cost. The marriage settlement proposed by thQ 
 friends of the bride was one of her chief attractions. Pepys (in 
 his Diary, 1662) mentions his objections to the small dowry of 
 a lady proposed for his brother, and broke off the match on this 
 account. He also gave his sister £600 as her dowry. 
 
 214. Scan : Unto | his ordr' | he was ] &c. 
 
 Post, support, pillar. " Originally 2i post was something pos- 
 ited or placed firmly in the ground, such as an upright piece of 
 wood or stone. . . . As a post wonld often be used to mark a fixed 
 spot of ground, as in a mile-post, it came to mean the fixed or ap- 
 pointed place, where the post was placed, as in a military post, 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 125 
 
 the post of danger or honor, &c. The fixed places where horses 
 were kept in readiness to facilitate rapid travelling during the 
 times of the Roman Empire were thus called posts^ and thence 
 the whole system of arrangement for the conveyance of persons 
 or news came to be called the posts. The name has retained an 
 exactly similar meaning to the present day in most parts of 
 Europe; and we still use it in post-chaise, post-boy, post-horse, 
 postilion. A system of post conveyance for letters having been 
 organized for about two centuries in England and other countries, 
 this is perhaps the meaning most closely associated with the 
 word post at present, and a number of expressions have thus 
 arisen : such as, post-office, postage. . . . Curiously enough we 
 now have iron letter-posts, in which the word post is restored 
 exactly to its original meaning." Jevon's Logic, 34. From the 
 notion fixed or placed^ the word easily passes to the idea of sup- 
 port or any thing placed under. 
 
 216. cu?i t re ^=^ country. " Gegeiid in German means region 
 or country. It is a recognized term; and it signified originally 
 that which is before or against, what forms the object of our 
 view. Now, in Latin, gegcn, or against, would be expressed by 
 contra; and the Germans, not recollecting at once the Latin 
 word rcgio, took to translating their idea of Gegend, that which 
 was before them, by contratum \contrd\ or terra contrata. This 
 became the Italian contrada, the French contrce, the English 
 coHutry.''' Max Miiller, Sc. of L., 291. 
 
 The travelling friars were always welcome guests at the 
 houses of men desirous of information, as they alone were pos- 
 sessed of any knowledge of foreign countries ; and besides the 
 current news of the day, which no other class had such means 
 of hearing, they were acquainted with science both experimental 
 and practical. 
 
 217. xvortki, noble, distinguished: contrasted in rank with 
 thefrankleynSf and as to residence, in town, as opposed to the 
 CO tin try. 
 
 toiin (A.S. tuii), properly a plot of ground enclosed by an 
 hedge (A.S. tvnan, to close) ; many dwellings enclosed; that is, 
 a village. The word for city is bur/i (from beorgan, to protect), 
 which denoted a number of dwellings surrounded by a wall. 
 Wiclif uses toun in the sense of field : " I have bought a toun." 
 Luke xiv. iS. From this root we have tunnel, an enclosed 
 space. 
 
126 NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 218. confcssioiitt, quadrisyllable. 
 
 219. more thafi a curat. A curate could not grant absolution 
 in all cases. 
 
 220. licentiat. He was a licentiate of his order; that is, he 
 had license from the Pope to grant absolution in all cases. 
 
 224. Ther as he iviste han == in those cases where he knew he 
 would have. Haji, inf., contracted from haven ; ace. subject 
 omitted. 
 
 pitance, Iiterallj=a mess of victuals given in charity; hence 
 a gift for a religious purpose. " An extraordinary allowance of 
 victuals given to monastics in addition to their usual commons." 
 T. Sometimes an addition allowed to the portion of a single 
 person, and hence denoting any small portion. 
 
 225. For — for to give. The first yi?/' is a conjunction; the 
 second with to, the sign of the gerund. In this case we would 
 still use the gerundial construction; as, " For, giving unto a 
 poor order, is a sign," &c. 
 
 226. signe=^^ sign. In E.E. the article is often omitted, 
 where our present idiom requires it. Nouns were then rather 
 the names of things than of conceptions. So Spenser, F. Q^, I. 
 vi. Title: — 
 
 *' Fayre Una is releast whome salvage nation does adore." 
 is -well i-schrive=\s, worthily shriven; has been worthily 
 absolved. 
 
 227. he gaf, he. The first he refers to the penitent, the second 
 to the friar. 
 
 Dorste make avaufit=he felt confident; literally, he dared 
 to make a boast. 
 
 229. of his herte, &c.= is so hard-hearted. This construction 
 is the A.S. genitive of part in which the quality is conceived; it 
 is equivalent to the Latin ablative of limitation; &.g>, pedibus 
 acger. 
 
 230. He may not wepe^^he is not able to weep. The literal 
 meaning o{ may is to be able. A.S. magan. " Thei schulen not 
 mowe." Luke xiii. 24, Wiclif. They shall not be able. A. V. 
 So also in the preterite : 
 
 " His felavv Aristippus hight 
 Which mochel couthe and mochel might." 
 
 Gower's Con. Am., iii. 160. 
 although, emphatic form of though, which is a derivative of 
 the demonstrative pronoun ; the ugh is the intensive pronominal 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 1 27 
 
 particle; Goth, tik, Lat. ce. Though is therefore equivalent to 
 Lat. quanquam. 
 
 him sore smerte= it might pain him severely: he might be 
 trulj penitent. 
 
 Him, ace. after smerte. 
 
 231. in stede=^ in place. Now usually written together. 
 
 232. Me?i moot = orxQ van^t. 
 
 233. typet. " When the order degenerated, the friar combined 
 with the spiritual functions the occupation of peddler, huckster, 
 mountebank, and quack doctor." Brewer (quoted by Morris). 
 
 234. ivyfes, dat. pi. of ^cvif. 
 
 235. 7iooie=\oice. for singing. Note (Lat. notus) is: (i) a 
 mark by which anything may be known ; (2) (in music) a mark 
 designating certain sounds; (3) by metonomy, such a sound; 
 (4) a musical voice, — a voice capable of making the notes. 
 
 236. couthe he 5)'«^e = knew he how to sing. Synge and 
 fleyen, inf. depending upon couthe. 
 
 rc>/e = a musical instrument. " Notker savs that it was the 
 ancient psalteriujn, but altered in shape and with an additional 
 number of strings." T. 
 
 237. yeddynges (dissyllable) = romances or poetic tales, pop- 
 ular songs. 
 
 utterly = from every one : wholly, to the utmost. 
 
 238. Jlour-de-lys= lily. 
 
 239. Therto = besides, literally = to this. 
 
 240. He kneiv the tavernes -wei, a recommendation as a fellow 
 traveller. 
 
 241. ta_p_pestere ^ tapster. The termination stere, ster, denotes 
 a feminine agent, although in the fourteenth century it was not 
 always thus used ; this may have arisen froin the gradual trans- 
 fer to men of certain avocations which in more warlike times 
 belonged exclusively to women. The gradual loss of the idea of 
 gender in this suffix would indicate the decadence of that state 
 of society in which the husband was styled theivaepman (weapon- 
 man), and the introduction of a higher civilization. We have 
 also formed a class of words by analogy, in which, however, 
 something of the original idea of feminine inferiority is pre- 
 served; 2iS, you7igstcr. We find in O.E. hrezustere, ivebbestere 
 (mas. zvebbe)., forestere, huckstcre, &c. We still use spinster as 
 a feminine. In the case of S07igster we have made a double 
 feminine by adding the ]?'rench suffix ess. This termination is 
 
128 NOTES TO THE PBOLOGUE. 
 
 by some referred to the Sanskrit siri, meaning woman : but the 
 ending ^er in all languages of our fainilj signifies the agent or 
 doer; e.g., Sansk. peiar, Lat. pater, Gr. iraTTjp, Goth, fadar, 
 Ger. vater, Icel. fadir, A.S. faeder, Eng. father ^=\.\\q. one who 
 feeds or supports. It is not impossible that an inorganic s may 
 have been added, thus giving rise to a masculine ster. 
 
 243. zvortki here refers to social standing; cf. the expression, 
 " worshipful sir." 
 
 as he, sc. was. 
 
 244. Accordede 9iot=\t did not comport with his dignity. 
 The subject of accordede is to hati, Sic, in the next line. 
 
 as by hisfaculte=^ as tending to lessen his influence. 
 by here = against ; cf. "I know nothing by myself." i Cor. iv. 
 4; i.e., against myself. 
 
 245. sike, pi. of sick. This use o{ sick is now called an Amer- 
 icanism, the English restricting the meaning of the word to 
 nausea. , 
 
 246. " It is not becoming, it may not profit one to associate 
 (have dealings) with such poor people." This is in explanation 
 of 11. 243, 244. 
 
 honest is here used in its Latin signification = /lonorable. 
 
 247. Scan : Fo-r | to del | en with | no such | poraille. 
 Deleft, to share, to have intercourse with. A.S. daelati, to 
 
 divide. Hence, as in all commercial transactions there is a 
 sharing of values, the word easily came to have its present 
 meaning of doing business. We ^£?a/ with the grocer; that is, 
 we give him 2^ part of our money for a part of his goods. For 
 in this construction seems only to indicate the gerund : it has 
 not the force of a preposition, as to deleft is the subject of 
 the sentence. It may possibly be construed as a conjunction 
 introducing the sentence, but thrown out of its natural place by 
 the exigencies of the metre. 
 
 248. a/= altogether. 
 
 ^/c//e=the rich, pi. adj. The language, because of the loss 
 of inflection in adjectives, does not allow the omission of the 
 article in cases like this. 
 
 sellers of vitaille = those who would give him his livelihood. 
 Sellers here means givers; cf. " Syle tham the thd bidde." 
 Matt. V. 42. Give to him that asketh. 
 
 249. Scan : And o | v'ral ther | &c. 
 schulde = inight, subj. pret. 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 129 
 
 arise = come hack. A figure taken from the "coming up" 
 of seed. He was courteous where it would pay. 
 
 250. iotue/y of service = humble in performing his services. 
 
 251. Notice the negatives n'as no man novohcr. 
 
 Ver^uof^s =^ active, energetic, diligent. From Lat. vir, a man. 
 Virtue is therefore manliness, or manhood, which at first was 
 synonymous with physical bravery, afterwards applied figura- 
 tively to denote moral courage in resisting evil, and finally it 
 has been applied to the spirit which resists the sins to which 
 one is peculiarly exposed. What a revelation of character is 
 given by the employment of this word ; as, virtuoso^ to desig- 
 nate one skilled in ornamental arts; or vertu, to denote articles 
 whose only use is ornament! 
 
 252. beggere, beggar. That is, a man with a hag, which was 
 the usual sign of a mendicant. It is a curious and instructive 
 fact that this word is not from the A.S. ; cf " Scheome, ich 
 telle. . . . uorte beggen ase on harlot." An. R., 356. 
 
 253. Oo sckoo = Q. shoe. Some read a sou, a half-penny. 
 Scan : For though | a wid | ew' had | de noght | 00 schoo. 
 
 254. Ift principio. The beginning of St. John's Gospel in 
 the Vulgate. 
 
 256. purchas — /?(?;/^6 = proceeds of begging; regular income. 
 nvel better = much better. 
 
 257. rage and fleyen are inf. depending upon couthe. 
 
 258. love-dayes. Days appointed upon which differences might 
 be settled by arbitration, without recourse to law. These arbi- 
 trators were usually chosen from the clergy, who thus had a 
 fine opportunity of enriching themselves, — an opportunity of 
 which they were not slow to take advantage. "Mr. Kitchin sug- 
 gests that these private days of peace are analogous to the truga 
 dei, — truce of God, — so often proclaimed by bishops between 
 A.D. 1000 and 1300. This truce lasted from 3 p.m. Saturday to 
 6 A.M. on Monday." M. Perhaps, however, the word may be 
 nothing more than a corruption of law-days, — the days on which 
 sheriffs held their courts. "They [the lawj'ers] follow Sises and 
 Sessions, Letes, Lawdays and Hundredes." Latimer, vii Ser. ^;^, 
 Arber. I^etes^=^io\wr\ courts : kundredes = co\xvt?> for the hundreds. 
 The fact that Lawdaj^s, or days upon which terms of court opened, 
 were usually determined by the festivals of the church, would 
 facilitate this confusion. " It was ordered by the laws of King Ed- 
 ward the Confessor, that from Advent to the octave of the Epipha- 
 
 9 
 
I30 NOTES TO THE PROLOQUE. 
 
 nj, from Septuagesima to the octave of Easter, from the Ascension 
 to the octave of Pentecost, and from three in the afternoon of 
 all Saturdays till Monday morning, the peace of God and of 
 holy church shall be kept throughout all the kingdom. And so 
 extravagant was afterwards the regard that was paid to these 
 holy times that . . . Britton is express that in the reign of King 
 Edward the First no secular plea could be held, nor any man 
 sworn on the Evangelists in the times of Advent, Lent, Pente- 
 cost, harvest an'd vintage, the days of the great litanies, and all 
 solemn festivals. But he adds that the bishops did nevertheless 
 grant dispensations . . . that assizes and juries might be taken 
 in some of these holy seasons. . . . The portions of time that 
 were not included within these prohibited seasons fell naturally 
 into a fourfold division, and, from some festival day that im- 
 mediately preceded their commenceinent, were denominated the 
 Terms of St. Hilary, of Easter, of the Holy Trinity, and of St. 
 Michael. . . . There are in each of these terms stated days called 
 days in ba)ik ; that is, days of appearance in the court of coinmon 
 bench. They are generally at the distance of about a week from 
 each other, and have reference to some festival of the church. 
 On some one of these days in bank all original writs must be 
 made returnable. . . . But on every return day in the term the 
 person summoned has three days of grace, beyond the day 
 named in the writ, in which to make his appearance." Black- 
 stone, iii. 276. 
 
 259. Uier^= on such occasions; i.e., in putting in pleas. 
 There, being the dative of the demonstrative, may mean either 
 itt that flace, or at that time. 
 
 261. maister, chief, or head of a religious house. 
 
 263. That rounded, &c. = that kept its shape round as a bell 
 in a press or throng, — alluding to the shortness of the garment, 
 which, upon the full figure of the friar, resembled a bell; and to 
 the quality and abundance of the material, which kept its shape 
 even in a press or crowd. 
 
 265. To make his Englissch szvete, &c. To those ecclesiastics 
 whose native language was French the English must have 
 seemed harsh. We have rendered it much smoother than it 
 was in the time of Chaucer by silencing the gutturals. 
 
 266. i^«;-^j';/_^ probably = playing on any musical instrument. 
 See line 236. 
 
 268. don, pi. for doen. This use of do is common,' but improper 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 131 
 
 Do can be used in place of the verb only by ellipsis, in which 
 case the verb omitted can be restored from the preceding clause. 
 We evidently cannot say "do twinkled," but we can say "We 
 love because you do." Originally do could only be followed by 
 the infinitive; we have relaxed the rule so as further to allow 
 the infinitive to be suggested by a diflferent mode. The force of 
 this rule is, that do must not be employed as an auxiliary and as 
 a leading verb in the same sentence. 
 
 269. cleped, called, monosyllable. Still retained in archaic 
 English in the p. participle j'c/c//. 
 
 270. forked herd. A forked beard was the fashion at this 
 time. 
 
 271. high on kors^=&\'Qci upon his horse; cf. "He carries a 
 high head." We say "on foot "or "a-foot;" but 07i horse is 
 obsolete. We use the preposition with the gerund with the omis- 
 sion of the article or relative word, as a-huntuig. 
 
 272. c/(7^5e(f= clasped. Connected with c//^, to embrace. The 
 word clip is still used to denote an iron passing around the axle 
 of a wagon. The tendency to shift the position of the letter s 
 appears in A. S. ; e.g., asce^ or «c5^, ashes ; ascian or acsia7i,\.o 
 ask, which is still vulgarly pronounced ax. 
 
 /aire and fetysly^=WQ\\ and neatly. 
 
 275. " Always having reference to the increase of his gains." 
 Sownynge = ho2i?>\\ng, sounding-^ having reference to ; cf. the 
 legal phrase " Sounding in damages." 
 
 tkencres = th& increase. The article (definitive) frequently 
 coalesces with the defined word when such word begins with a 
 vowel. The case endings of nouns were originally definitive 
 words, which have coalesced with the stem form, in the same 
 manner as the verbal endings, which were originally pronouns, 
 have become attached to the stem. So long as the original force 
 of these endings is felt, the subjects of verbs, when pronouns, are 
 omitted, and definitive words are in like manner omitted in the 
 case of nouns. In Early Saxon there is no article; in Early 
 English it is quite sparingly used : but when the real force of 
 the inflectional endings was lost, the article and other definitive 
 words have been introduced to supply their place. From this 
 tendency to unite the article and noun in pronunciation, — a 
 sort of inflection at the beginning of the word, — several curious 
 forms have arisen; e.g., nonce, the initial n being the ace. ter- 
 mination of the article ; so also, nokcs (oaks), nale (ale). But one 
 
132 NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 of the most curious instances is the Turkish name for Constan- 
 tinople, — Siamboid, which is a corruption of the Greek dq rfjv 
 7roAiy= to the citj. The Turks frequently hearing this phrase, 
 and not knowing its meaning, quite naturally took it to be the 
 name of the city. 
 
 276. 'zvere kept^=\\& wished the sea to be watched or guarded 
 " so that he should not suffer from pirates or privateers." M. 
 
 for e?iy t/ii?ige = ixt all hazards, by all means. For here has 
 the meaning m comparison tvit/i, in preference to. He wished 
 the sea to be guarded in preference to any thing else. Morris, 
 however, explains for by for fear of which does not seem to 
 me satisfactory. 
 
 277. MiddelburgJi, a port in the Netherlands. 
 Orewelle, a port in Essex. 
 
 278. " He knew how to give French crowns in exchange ; " that 
 is, to act as a money-changer, a class of extortioners. 
 
 5c>^t'e/^e5 = shillings (skieldings). French crowns marked 
 with a shield. 
 
 279. /lis xvit bisette=^ employed his wits. Wit is here used 
 somewhat as we still use the word to denote the mental faculties, 
 but with a dash of contempt, as though they were put to an un- 
 worthy use ; cf. "A clerk had beset his while," Millere's Tale, 
 = A clerk had employed his time. 
 
 280. JVo man iviste, &c., a fine stroke of description. 
 
 281. "So stately was he in his demeanor in his bargains, 
 and in making his arrangements for borrowing money." Mor- 
 ris explains so steadily, probably an error of the press. The idea 
 is that he had such a confident air that, even when borrowing 
 money, no man suspected that he was in debt. 
 
 282. bargayns. " O. Fr. barguigner, to chaflfer, bargain, or 
 more properly (says Cotgrave) to wrangle, haggle, brabble, in 
 the making of a bargain. The proper meaning of the word is 
 contest, debate, and it was frequently used in O.K. and Scotch 
 in the sense of fight, skirmish." Wedgwood. 
 
 283. zvit/ialle, in spite of all, nevertheless. The original force 
 of with = against, which is still retained in compounds; e.g., 
 zuithstand, -vithhold. Withalle is simply an emphatic form of 
 with, and will vary in meaning as with varies. 
 
 284. But introduces an unexpected clause : one would expect 
 that being a worthy man his name would be known. 
 
 J not^^^l ne wot. I know not. The negative frequently com- 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 1 33 
 
 bines with the following word; as, nam^^ ne am, »a5 = ne was, 
 nath^= ne hath, nolde ^ ne wolde. 
 
 me?t /iim calle^^wh^Li one might call him, — what his name 
 was. 
 
 285. Clerk = a scholar, an educated person. This word 
 affords an admirable illustration of the changes which the 
 meaning of a word undergoes corresponding to certain changes 
 in the objects designated by it. Clerk is originally the Greek 
 KhjpiKog, — literally, chosen by lot. It was in very early times 
 applied to the clergy, because, as is supposed, Matthias was thus 
 selected to be an Apostle. The word clergy is the same word 
 derived through the Latin clericatus. During the Middle Ages 
 the ecclesiastics were possessed of all the learning in the world, so 
 that the word clerk became synonymous with learned person ; 
 and, as the estimation of learning fell, it signified any one who 
 could read; while clergie was used to denote learning, or men of 
 learning. The word now signifies one whose chief employment 
 is writing, or an attendant in a store, probably because writing 
 was deemed an accomplishment essential to a shop-keeper, in 
 keeping his accounts. 
 
 Oxoiford =^ Oxford, "as if the ford of the oxen (A S. Oxjia- 
 ford), but the root ox (esk, oiise) is of Celtic origin, and signifies 
 ivater.'" M. Oxenford therefore means "the ford of the (river) 
 Ouse." 
 
 286. That unto logic, &c. Who for a long time had given his 
 attention to logic Literally, who had gone into logic, &c. 
 We stiW speak of going into law or any other profession. The 
 condition in which the study left the student is a satire upon the 
 method of teaching logic then in vogue. 
 
 286. He ; that is, the Clerk. 
 
 288. right fat^=^ very fat. This use of right is a vulgarism at 
 present, or confined to colloquial use. We say " right oft'," 
 "right away." "A Southerner would say, 'It rains right 
 hard.'" Bartlett's Diet. 
 
 291. gctcn, p.p. = gotten, got. 
 
 hitn, dative = for himself. 
 
 be)iefice=^?^x\ ecclesiastical living. This word is the same with 
 benefit (Lat bene, facere^, and originally signified an estate in 
 lands granted for life only, and held at the good-will of the 
 owner. It afterwards technically signified the grant of temporal 
 authority hy the Pope as a fee of the Roman see. Finally, 
 
134 NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 upon the extinction of feudalism, it was restricted to religious 
 livings. 
 
 292. 50 wo;'/<//y = sufficiently worldly: so is here equivalent 
 to so as. 
 
 293. For him ivas lever, &c. = For he would rather have. 
 Literally, it was more agreeable to him to have, him, dative 
 after lever. 
 
 294. Scan : Twen | ty book | es clad | &c. Twetity was prob- 
 ably pronounced t' wenty. 
 
 296. T/ie}i^= than, ace. of the definitive; cf. Lat. qtcam. 
 5(7zyi';'/e= psaltery, a Greek instrument of music; cf. psalm, 
 
 a hymn to be sung to the psaltery. 
 
 297. al be = although it be; for al be it, usually written as 
 one word, albeit. Sometimes we find al standing for this expres- 
 sion. Be is here in the subjunctive, which accounts for the 
 omission of though. "Albeit I do not say to thee." Phile- 
 mon, 19. 
 
 fhilosophre. There is a play here upon the word philoso- 
 pher, which was used to designate an alchemist, who pretended 
 to turn base metals into gold by the so-called "Philosopher's 
 Stone," as well as a lover of learning, a student. 
 
 298. hadde, which is usually a monosyllable, is here a dis- 
 syllable. 
 
 299. ofhisfrendcs=^^\'om his friends, genitive of source. 
 
 301. gan preye = prayed, did pray. Gau is a contraction of 
 begau, and is used as a past auxiliary. 
 
 302. gay him = gave to him. him, dative. It w^s not 
 unusual at this time for students to support themselves at the 
 universities by begging. 
 
 ■zvherTvith = with what. This word is still in use in this 
 sense, and finely exhibits the pi-onominal force of xvhere (dative 
 of ivhaf) after the preposition -with. 
 
 306. high se?tte7ice ^=^ o( great pith or meaning. 
 
 307. sozvnv7ige in moral vertu = in consonance with moral 
 virtue. The word consonance preserves the figure, and perhaps 
 gives the sense more accurately than the usual explanation tend- 
 ing to, which would have reference to the hearers, rather than to 
 the revelation of the speaker's virtue; cf. note, 1. 275. 
 
 moral, from the Latin mos, manner, custom, habit, passes to 
 the meaning correct manners, and right habits, — that which 
 ought to be as well as that which is. 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 135 
 
 308. This line aptly describes the true scholar. 
 
 309. A Sergeant of Laxve ^= ■a. lawyer of the highest rank. 
 **The degrees were those of barristers (first styled apprentices, 
 from apprendrc to learn), who answered to our bachelors; as 
 the state and degree of a serjeant, servientis ad legem^ did to 
 that of doctor." Blackstone, i. 23. Sergeant is another form 
 of servant, g in French words frequently becoming 'w ox v in 
 English. 
 
 ivar and tvyse = cautious and skilful. 
 
 310. T/iat = who. 
 
 Parvys. The portico of St. Paul's, where the lawyers were 
 accustomed to meet for consultation. The frequency of his being 
 at these consultations indicates his reputation and his practice. 
 
 311. Ther. Used to introduce the sentence. It refers to the 
 subject already mentioned. 
 
 312. of gret reverence = Vi person to whom great reverence 
 was shown, entitled to great respect for his opinions. Genitive 
 of quality or characteristic. 
 
 313. He semede such = He appeared like a learned lawyer. 
 
 314. Justice . . . in assize. " The judges upon their circuits 
 now sit by virtue of five several authorities. ... 4. A commission 
 of assize, directed to the justices and Serjeants therein named, to 
 take (together with their associates) assizes in the several 
 counties." Blackstone, i. 59. These assizes tried real-estate 
 questions. 
 
 315. patent signifies any letter open to public perusal, or 
 addressed to the public. A document conferring nobility is 
 called Letters-patent of Nobility. In this country a document 
 conveying full title to lands by the government, or granting an 
 exclusive right to an invention, is called a patent. Patent here 
 refers to his commission as serjeant; commission, to his appoint- 
 ment to the assize. 
 
 317. fees = money. This word originally signified cattle 
 (cf. Lat. pecunia from pecus) ; then, as cattle were used as a 
 medium of exchange, it signified money or the means of ex- 
 change; and as cattle generally constituted a person's property, 
 it also signified property in general, whether cattle or not. 
 Cattle being used in early times as a medium of exchange, it 
 would seem from a passage in ^Eschylus, Ag. 36, that the value 
 of coined money was at first regulated by the better known value 
 of cattle. 
 
13^ NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 "Moreover King Servius, at the firste, when he made brazen 
 coine, stamped the peeces with the portraiture of Sheepe, Kine and 
 Oxen." Holland's Plinie, I. 550. 
 
 318. ^//rc>^«5c?z^r = prosecutor. Probably refers to his acts as 
 king's counsel. 
 
 319. fee 5y;;?//^ = possession without restriction. Fee origin- 
 ally denoting property, — that to which one had the right of 
 possession, — naturally came to have the meaning of possession ; 
 simple (Lat. sine j)lica^ without a fold) means without any com- 
 plications : hence fee symj^le would mean possession or a title, 
 without any of the many complications to which real-estate titles 
 in England are often subject. These courts of assizes were held 
 for the purpose of trying landed questions, and the meaning here 
 is, "No title was to him more difficult of decision than a case in 
 fee-simple." 
 
 320. His fiirchasyng, 8zc. " His prosecutions might not be 
 tainted with any suspicion of collusion." M. enfecle, as a legal 
 phrase, means to contaminate with any illegality. . 
 
 323. lu tcnnes=^ai the sessions of the court. See note, 1. 258. 
 Caas and domes alle = He had full knowledge of all the cases 
 
 and decisions rendered in the courts from the time of King Wil- 
 liam ; i.e., William the Conqueror, a.d. 1066. 
 
 324. ifjcre falle = were fallen or happened. Intransitives 
 often form an aorist perfect with the auxiliary de. " When he 
 was set." Matt. v. 2 (A.V.). "When he hadde sete." lb.; 
 Wiclif. 
 
 fane = happened. " Sit still until thou know how the matter 
 will fall." Ruth iii. 18. 
 
 325. endive = tell a story. 
 
 make a i/ii}zg-=^\VY\ie a poem. "A poet is as much as to say 
 a maker. And our English name well conformes with tl.e Greeke 
 word; for of iroidv, to make, they call a maker poeta." Putten- 
 ham's Arte of Poesy, cap. i (Arber). Prof. Earle, Philology 
 of the English Tongue, p. 200, certainly against the weight of 
 authority, explains this line thus : " In such a sense it is said by 
 Chaucer that his Sergeaunt of Lawe could endite and make a 
 THYNG, meaning, he could make a good contract, was a good 
 conveyancer." Cf. Ger. dino-cn, to bargain. 
 
 327. ;pleyn by I'oote, plead from memory. 
 
 328. hooinly^ dressed plainly, in the manner one would be 
 dressed at home. The word implies the absence of ornament, 
 and is analogically applied to the features. 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 137 
 
 329. Gird=g\\-ded. Chaucer frequently contracts the preter- 
 ites of verbs ending in d or /. 
 
 330. telle I no leiiger tale = I make no further account. 
 " Litel tale hath he told Of eny drem." Nonne Preestes Tale, 
 298. Little account made he of any dream. Telle and tale are 
 from A.S. iellatiy to reckon, 
 
 331. Fra?ikeley?i ^=^ ^ wealthy freeholder; the only real dis- 
 tinction between him and others of his class being the largeness 
 of his estate. 
 
 332. dayeseye = d^\^y : literally ^rtj ''5 eye, Chaucer's favorite 
 flower; upon the etymology of which he dwells with a lover's 
 fondness. 
 
 "Now have I than eke this condicioun 
 That of alle the floures in the mede, 
 Than love I most those floures white and rede. 
 Such that men callen daisies in our toun." 
 
 Legende of Goode Women, 40. 
 "The longe day I shope me for to abide 
 For nothing elles, and I shall nat lie 
 But for to look upon the daisie 
 That wel by reason men it calle maie 
 The Daisie or els the eye of the day." 
 
 lb., iSo. 
 " Those who transferred the title to our little field flower 
 meant no doubt to liken its inner yellow disk or shield to the 
 great golden orb of the sun, and the white florets which encircle 
 this disk to the rays which the sun spreads on all sides round 
 him." Trench, St. of Words, 44. 
 
 334. Scan : Wel lov | ede h'in | the mor | w' a sop | in wyn. 
 sop 171 wyn, bread dipped in wine. Bacon says that sops in 
 
 wine inebriate, quantity for quantity, more than wine itself, 
 which probably accounts for the Frankeleyn's fondness. 
 
 335. To lyven in dclite=^\.o live in luxury. "The gratification 
 of the appetite for food is the most direct and universal of all 
 pleasures, and therefore the one most likely to be taken as the 
 type of delight in general." Wedgwood. 
 
 336. o-ixme is used to heighten the idea of personal relation. 
 The verbs to ovjn and to ozve are generally referred to the same 
 root. A.S. agan (cf. Gr. Ix^lv'). The original verb took diff"erent 
 forms to express different meanings, — the one denoting pecun- 
 iary liability, the other moral obligation. "It may sound odd 
 
138 NOTES TO TEE PROLOGUE. 
 
 to speak of a man as ozvnmg y^h^t he ozves ; jet, if we will think 
 of it, there are few things that can rightly be said to be more a 
 man's own than his debts : thej are emphatically ^ro^t^r to him, 
 or his proJ)criy, clinging to him, as they do, like a part of him- 
 self. Again, that which a man owns in this sense, or oives, is 
 that which it is proper for him, or which he has, to perform or 
 to discharge (as the case may be) ; hence the secondary mean- 
 ing of ought as applied to that which is one's duty, or which is 
 fitting." Craik, E. of S., p. 134. 
 
 337. pleyn delyt= perfect physical enjoyment. 
 
 339. afid that^ emphatic conjunction, — that particularizing 
 and thus emphasizing the added notion ; cf. Lat. cumque. See 
 note, 1. 43. 
 
 340. Sey/it jfulia?! ''' vf?is eminent for providing his votaries 
 with good lodgings and accommodations of all sorts. In the 
 title of his Legende, he is called 'St. Julian the gode herberjour' 
 (entertainer)." T. 
 
 341. rt/zy«>' ^//er <?(?;/ = always the same; i.e., that is always 
 equally good. 
 
 342. envyned= stored with wine. Vi7ic is from the French, 
 and whie from the A.S. It is instructive that all the words which 
 denote the culture of the vine are of French, while words refer- 
 ring to the product are of A.S. origin. 
 
 343. Scan : Without | e bake j mete was | never' [ his hous. 
 Bake^=^bake7i=hi)i\ied. The p.p. ending in n dropped. 
 
 345. Hit =^ it., — the old form of the neuter pronoun. 
 Snezvede, pr. of suee, Pro v. Eng., to abound. This is usually 
 
 explained as a pret. of s?i07v. 
 
 victe and drynke, gen. of means. 
 
 346. deyfitecs, toothsome rarities, delicacies. W. daint, a tooth. 
 
 347. ^y?er= according to. "Comfort us again now after 
 [in proportion to] the time that thou hast plagued us." Ps. xc. 
 15, Prayer-Book. 
 
 348. mete — soper. Mete refers to food in general. Sopcr to 
 delicacies or dessert. 
 
 350. brcm. 
 
 " Lazy as the bream 
 Whose only business is to head-up the stream, 
 (We call 'em punkin-seedj." Lowell. 
 stewe, a small pond in which fish were kept for the table. 
 
 351. Woo was his cook= wo was it to his cook, &c. " Woe is 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 139 
 
 me." Is. vi. 5. His cook must here be construed in the dative, 
 after an interjection. " Wa tham men." Wo to the man. Matt, 
 xviii. 7; cf. Lat. vae victis. See March, A.S. Gr., § 29S {b). 
 Morris explains, erroneously, as it seems to me, '• sad was his 
 cook."' This explanation is faulty, as it describes the cook, 
 while the other keeps before us the angry Frankeleyn. 
 
 but //=if-not; if being the true conjunction, the but used to 
 negative the whole sentence. 
 
 sauce. The Frankeleyn, being a high liver, would be fond 
 of a highly seasoned sauce. This item became so expensive 
 that, in the time of Edward III., a statute was passed prohibit- 
 ing {i?iter alia) the use of sauce unless it could be procured at a 
 moderate cost. 
 
 353. table dormant. " Previous to the fourteenth century a 
 pair of common wooden trestles and a rough plank was deemed 
 a table sufficient for the great hall. . . . Tables with a board 
 attached to a frame were introduced about the time of Chaucer, 
 and from remaining in the hall were regarded as indications of a 
 ready hospitality." Our Eng. Home, quoted by Morris. 
 
 table is the Lat. tabula^ a board; board is the A.S. word 
 (meaning an edge, a border)^ which is still in use to denote 
 rather the uses of the article than the article itself; e.g., " board 
 and lodging," " bed and board," " a hospitable board." The use 
 of the word derived fi-om the French to designate the article of 
 furniture indicates the origin of the table. 
 
 354. covered ; i.e., set with food. 
 
 355. sessiouns ; i.e., of the court. "The freeholders of the 
 county are the real judges in this' [county] court, and the sheriff 
 is the ministerial officer. ... In those times [Edward the 
 Elder] the countj' court was a court of great dignity and splen- 
 dour, the bishop and the earldorman (or earl) with the principal 
 men of the shire sitting therein to administer justice." Black- 
 stone, iii. 36. 
 
 356. knight of the schire = a representative of a county in Par- 
 liament. '-The knights of the shire shall be chosen of people 
 whereof every man shall have freehold to the value of forty shil- 
 lings by the year within the county. . . . The knights of shires 
 are the representatives of the landholders or landed interest of 
 the kingdom." Blackstone, i. 172. 
 
 " Shire is a district in England as it is separated from the rest; 
 a share is a portion of any thing thus divided off; shears are in« 
 
140 NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 struments effecting this process of separation; the shore is the 
 place where the continuity of land is interrupted or separated by 
 the sea [better perhaps shore refers to the sharing off or sloping 
 of the bank; a common provincial name for a gutter is a shore^ ; 
 2i shred is that which is sheared or shorn from the main piece; 
 a sherd, — as a potsherd (also pot-share, Spenser), — that which 
 is broken off and thus divided from the vessel." Trench on 
 Words, 218. Cf. also short, skirt, shirt. 
 
 359> sc/^/rrez'e = sheriff, i.e., reeve of the shire or county. 
 A.S. gerefa, Ger. Graf. " He [the sheriff] is the first man in 
 the county, and superior in rank to any nobleman therein dur- 
 ing his office." Blackstone, i. 343. 
 
 coimtoiir^=^^\x6\.\.o\', — one appointed to manage the fiscal 
 concerns of the county. The former office indicates his popu- 
 larity, this his reputation for honesty. 
 
 361. Haberdassher. " Haberdashers were of two kinds, — 
 haberdashers of small wares, sellers of needles, tapes, buttons, 
 &c., and haberdashers of hats. The first of these would be well 
 explained from O.N. hapurtask, trumpery, things of trifling 
 value. . . . The haberdasher of hats seems named from some 
 kind of stuff called hapertas, of which probably hats were made." 
 Wedgwood. 
 
 Carpetiter^=?i worker in wood. This word is from the Latin, 
 through the French. Lat. carpentarius irova carpentum., a wagon, 
 — literally, a wagon-maker, hence a worker in wood : so we 
 have house-carpenter, ship-carpenter, &c. 
 
 362. lVelfde=^ a weaver (masculine); %vebster would be the 
 feminine : there is, however, a confusion in the use of the termi- 
 nations, — either word being used to denote either sex. 
 
 363. /yz'^re' = livery. Livery denotes what was delivered by 
 the lord to his subordinates, whether it were money, food, or 
 clothing. As regards clothing, it hence easily came to denote 
 external marks of distinction, whether of servants, officers, or 
 tradesmen. As regards food, it came to denote an allowance of 
 food for horses, and thus a place where horses were kept. The 
 acctnt shows the word to be still considered as French. 
 
 Scan : Weren with | us eek ] clothed in | 00 lyv | er6. 
 
 364. yratemite ^= guild. Each trade had its guild (Dan. gilda, 
 feast, see note, 1. 370) supported by a tax levied upon the mem- 
 bers. These guilds were incorporated by the government and 
 exercised great influence. These mechanics v(^ere masters* 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 141 
 
 365. apiked='ke^t very neat. The word probably denotes 
 that nicety of cleansing indicated hy pickifig off particles with 
 the fingers. " Too \nwc\\ pi ckediiess is not manly." B. Jonson. 
 
 366. knyfes. As the gentleman had a dagger (1. 357) the 
 master-mechanics wore knives. 
 
 t'-c/iapcd= fitted with silver hooks to the scabbard. The noun 
 chape is used by Shakspeare. 
 
 367. silver' The fact that the scabbards, «S:c., worn by these 
 mechanics were trimmed with silver, indicates that they were of 
 a superior estate. 
 
 Wrought fill c/c«e = wrought very delicately; of fine work- 
 manship. 
 
 368. pouches. The French form {pocke) of an A.S. word 
 pocca, which we still use as poke ; cf. " Buy a pig in a poke,'' 
 i.e., pocket. Pocket is a French diminutive of poke. The verb 
 poach is from the French form ; e.g., " to poach eggs " = to cook 
 them in a small dish like a pocket; to poach, i.e., to rob game = 
 to put it in a pocket. The verb to poke, and the noun poke, de- 
 noting a contrivance worn by animals to prevent their breaking 
 out of an enclosure, is from another root, allied to Lat. pungcre, 
 to prick. 
 
 370. yeldehalle=?i. Guild-hall. "The primary meaning [of 
 guild] is a feast, then the company assembled; and the same 
 transference of signification will be observed in the word com- 
 pany itself, which, signifying in the first instance a number of 
 persons eating together, has come to be applied to an association 
 for any purpose." Wedgwood. 
 
 deys = dais. Dais denotes first a canopy placed over the heads 
 of persons of distinction, then the raised platform at the end of 
 the hall upon which sat persons of distinction. As the table 
 was usually placed upon this platform, the term dais soon came 
 to designate it; and, finally', the word included in its significa- 
 tion all the ornaments of such platform; as, hangings, &c. 
 
 371. Everych^^ Q.Q.ch. of them. Every is now used only as an 
 adjective. 
 
 that he can = that he knows, — is master of. 
 
 372. schaply = ^t. From the verb to shape, hence adapted. 
 
 373. c<7ife/= property. " Our English word cattle is derived 
 from the Low Latin catalla, a word of unknown etymology, sig- 
 nifying movable property generally, or what the English law 
 calls chattels." Marsh, Lect. E.L., 246. The origin of the word 
 
142 NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 is undoubtedly Lat. caf>italc, the principal sum in a loan, as dis- 
 tinguished from the interest, and hence denoting movable prop- 
 erty. See note, 1. 317; see also 1. 540. 
 
 /;/!C»«^'^ = enough. Go\.\\ gajiohs^ in which ^<7 is the intensive 
 particle, which leaves naich (Ger. tiocJi) stiil, yet, as the original 
 word, if this be not an emphatic form of na {jiaha7i^ to suffice) ; 
 cf. Gr. valu — hpu> valov uyyea^ the pails were filled with curd. Od. 
 ix. 222. 
 
 rettte = \ncovc\e from business or investments. See note, 1. 
 256. They had property enough to entitle them to hold the 
 office of alderman, 
 
 374. //, dative = to it. 
 
 375. T{;er<? = weren, dissyllable. Wright reads " hadde thei 
 ben to blame." 
 
 to blame^ blamable. This phrase seems to preserve the force of 
 the old gerund ; or it may be explained, with less reason, by the 
 identity of meaning of to and at ; thus, to blame = at blame, at 
 fault- But it is decidedly better to treat it as a gerund. 
 
 376. right fair = exceedingly pleasant. 
 
 inadame, the title used in addressing the wife of one who was 
 entitled to be called Sir. 
 
 377. And for to gon. In this line I have followed Tyrwhitt's 
 reading, with which Wright's substantially agrees. Morris omits 
 "for to." 
 
 f ^^//e5 = vigils : a religious service held on the evening pre- 
 ceding an ecclesiastical holiday. Speght says : "It was the man- 
 ner in times past upon festival evens, called vigils, for parishioners 
 to meet in their church -houses or church-yards, and there to have 
 a drinking fit for the time. Hither came the wives in comely 
 manner, and they that were of the better sort had their mantles 
 carried with them, as well as for show as to keep them from cold 
 at table." 
 
 al byfore = wholly before, before all ; in token of rank. 
 
 37S. riallyche /-(5c»r^ = borne royally, — in regal style. Royal 
 and regal are the same word, — the _^ being softened to y. Re- 
 gal comes directly from the Latin regalis, while roj'al is the 
 same derived through the French. The difference in meaning 
 between these two words illustrates the use we have made of our 
 mixed vocabulary. At present, use constantly narrows the 
 limits of a word, as language requires greater definiteness; 
 while in the early stages of a language the tendency seems 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 143 
 
 to be to enlarge rather than to restrict the signification of 
 words. 
 
 yjc). for the nones = {or the nonce; for the occasion. In this 
 instance, the sign of inflection « has escaped destruction by hid- 
 ing in the following word. The proper division of the words 
 would be " for then once," O.E. for than anes. Then (tha?i) is 
 for A.S. thain dative. In the following lines from Spenser, 
 F. Q^ vii. § 14, the force of once is retained : — 
 
 "Through all three bodies he him strooke attonce, 
 That all the three attonce fell on the plaine 
 Else should he thrise have needed for the nonce, 
 Them to have stricken, and thrise to have slaine." 
 So also we have atte nale for at then ale = at the ale. P. P., vi. 
 117. Atten cnde was also corrupted into at the fiende ; enys 
 kynnes into eny shynnes. The same tendency may be seen in 
 alone, atone, in which the idea of one is wholly lost- 
 
 3S0. Ci^j'/'«^5 = chickens. The usual sing, was chick, pi. chick- 
 eti, like ox, oxen; cow, kine: but we have taken the plural as a 
 singular, and brought the word into the regular declension form- 
 ing the plural in s. 
 
 3S2. Londone ale, ale of the best quality. 
 
 383. roste, sethe, broille,frie. Of these words scthe and roste 
 are Saxon; hroille 3.nd frie are French. The names, of course, 
 indicate the origin of the methods of cooking. These verbs are 
 infinitives depending upon cozvde, as is shown hy maken in the 
 next line. 
 
 384. mortreux^=vc\ox\xQ,\i&'s,. Lord Bacon mentions *' a mor- 
 tress made with the braun of capons stamped and strained." 
 The final e is not silent in bake, which is an inf. 
 
 38v it thouo-hte me=\i seemed to me, methought. There 
 were two forms of this verb in A.S. : thincati, the intransitive = 
 to seem; and thcncan, the transitive = to think. The intran- 
 sitive verb has become obsolete except in the expressions 7ne- 
 thinks, methought. in which case me is dative after the impersonal, 
 as also \% you in '• if you please." " The mone thingth the more 
 for heo so ney ous is." Pop., Tr. on Sc. 
 
 387. /^or=asto; considering. Lat. ^r<?. 
 
 Blankmanger=^ literally, white food. It seems to have beeir 
 a different dish in Chaucer's time from that which is now called 
 by the same name : capon minced was one of the ingredients. 
 
 with the bcste = as well as the best (cooks). 
 
144 NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 ■^^S- fer by ivesie =z^?[.r to the west (of London). By (primi- 
 tive meaning near) has sometimes the force oi nearly, or towards, 
 not implying accurate direction; cf. "west by north "^ west 
 towards the north. 
 
 389. ought, usually spelled aught. 
 jDertejnouth = Dart\nouth (at the mouth of the river Dart), a 
 seaport in Devonshire, on the south-west coast of England. 
 
 390. as he couthe = as best he might. A seaman does not ap- 
 pear well on horseback. As = according as. For this use, see 
 Abbott, Shak. Gr., § 109. 
 
 391. gozvne = gown, a blouse. To be pronounced go-une, 
 giving to the w a vowel sound. See Abbott's Shak. Gr., §§ 477- 
 489. 
 
 392. laas= a belt, which passed over one shoulder and under 
 the opposite arm. 
 
 394. The hoote sooner = the hot summer. As the time of the 
 pilgrimage was in the spring, this must refer to a previous 
 year. Wright says the summer of 135 1 was long known as the 
 hot dry summer. 
 
 395. y^/<7tfe = companion ; "a partner in goods; from _/^, 
 money, goods, and lag, order, society, community. 
 
 ' Here now make y the 
 
 Myn owne felow in al wise 
 
 Of worldly good and merchandise.' Lydgate." 
 Wedgwood. This word retains its original force in all com- 
 pounds, as fellow-sufferers ; but when used alone it conveys some- 
 thing of contempt, — perhaps as a natural outgrowth of intimacy. 
 "The notion originally involved in companionship would ap- 
 pear to have been rather that of inferiority than of equality." 
 Craik's E. of Sh., 345. In O.E. companion was used in this same 
 contemptuous sense. 
 
 396 "Very manj^ a draught of wine had he drawn (stolen 
 away, or carried off) from Bordeaux (cask and all) while the 
 chapman (merchant or supercargo to whom the wine belonged) 
 was asleep, for he paid no regard to any conscientious scruples." 
 M. Perhaps, however, better explained as alluding to a trick 
 even yet in vogue, of drawing off a certain quantity from casks 
 of wine or other spirits while on transit, and refilling them with 
 water. 
 
 397. From Bordcaux-zvard =^ on the trip from Bordeaux. 
 
 398. 7iyce = soft (foolish). Our word nice seems to be used as 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. I45 
 
 though two distinct words had coalesced, — one derived from the 
 Latin nescius, ignorant; and the other from the A.S hnesc, O-E. 
 nesk, tender, delicate; and the meaning of the word varies be- 
 tween these two significations. The original is probably, how- 
 ever, the Anglo-Saxon form. We speak of a nice sense of honor, 
 a nice discrimination. The blending of the notions of follj and 
 goodness is a little remarkable, but not without its analogies; cf. 
 silly, Gg^y. 5(?//'o- = blessed : cf. also, "Alia was not so nice" — 
 foolish. C. T. 550S ; to make it nice = to play the fool. Fr. niais. 
 took he no keep = he took no care of, — paid no attention to. 
 From the fact that a man cares for what he possesses, the word 
 has passed from the idea of care to that of possession. 
 
 399. If that = if so be that ; if it happened that. See note, 1. 
 144. 
 
 faughte ; i.e., with pirates. 
 
 400. By 'cvater he sente hem hoom ; i.e., he cast them into the 
 sea, from which they could find their way to every land. 
 
 hoom, ace. of place where motion ends; used adverbially. 
 Scan : By water ] he s^nte | &c. 
 
 401. But (adversative) notwithstanding these moral delin- 
 quencies. 
 
 ^:^ in regard to; cf. Shakspeare's "a valiant man of his 
 hands." We still use this idiom, — attributive gen., — as, " swift 
 of foot." 
 
 crrty^/ = calling. "The origin is seen in the notion of seizing, 
 expressed by the Italian graffiare. The term is then applied to 
 seizing with the mind." Wedgwood. 
 
 to rekjie ivel his tydcs = to calculate accurately the time of 
 the tides. We would say the instead of his; his restricts the 
 meaning to cases particularly affecting the mariner, while the 
 would be general in its application. 
 
 403. jno}2e = n\oox\\ as influencing the tides, as well as giving 
 light. 
 
 lodemetiage = \i\\oi^gQ., — a compound of A.S. and French. 
 
 404. Hulle = Hull, a seaport on the north-east of England. 
 " Hull — well'knowen bie reason of the assemblie marte of biers 
 and sellers." Pol. Virgil, i. 5. 
 
 Cartage. Probably Carthagena in Spain ; but possiblj^ Car- 
 thage. 
 
 406. tempest ^= ^toY]i\. The Lat. tempos means: (i) a portion 
 of any thing; (2) a portion of time; (3) a portion of a year, a 
 
 10 
 
146 NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 season ; (4) a time distinguished by favorable or unfavorable 
 circumstances, — opportunity or danger, — hence the periods to 
 be remembered by seamen, as times of storm ; and (5) the storm 
 itself. 
 
 407. as thei were = where (and what) they were. 
 Cf. " Here as I point my sword the sun arises." 
 
 J. C, ii. I, 106. 
 
 408. GoofIof2d= Gothland. Others read Scotland. 
 
 411. PJiisik. From a Greek word signifying that which is 
 natural : in this sense we use the Latin form of the word phys- 
 ical. As applied to science, it denotes a knowledge of the 
 material world, and hence of the human system, especially its 
 diseases and their remedies. 
 
 412. lie -was tJier 7ion him lyk = there was none equal to him. 
 Him is dative. In A.S. (as still in English) words denoting 
 nearness and likeness are followed by the dative. 
 
 413. To speke of= speaking of; that is to say, in regard to 
 physic, &c. 
 
 414. astronomye = astrology. The ancient notion, that the 
 sign in which the sun and other heavenly bodies happened to 
 be had a peculiar influence upon the human body, has furnished 
 the language with many words; such as, disaster, i>ijiue?ice, 
 jovial, &c. Trench says that " whenever the word influence 
 occurs in our English poetry, down to a comparatively modern 
 date, there is always more or less remote allusion to invisible 
 illapses, skyej', planetary effects, supposed to be exercised hy the 
 heavenly luminaries upon the lives of men." Eng. Past and 
 Pres., 240. The same thing may be familiarly illustrated by the 
 retention of the anatomical diagram and the column for the 
 moon's place still retaijied in most almanacs. 
 
 416. kcpte = watched, took care of 
 
 417. houres. "The houres are the astrological hours. He 
 carefully watched for a favorable star in the ascendant. A great 
 portion of the medical science of the Middle Ages depended upon 
 astrological and other superstitious observances." Wright. 
 
 Magic Naturel. These practices are alluded to in the " House 
 of Fame," iii. 175 : — 
 
 "And clerkes eke, which konne wel, 
 Alle this magike naturel. 
 That craftely doon her ententes 
 To maken in certeyn ascendentes 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 147 
 
 Images, lo ! ^hrugh which mngike 
 
 To maken a man ben hool or sike." 
 418. yinagcs. See previous quotation. 
 
 420. hoot, Szc, the four humors. Of denotes the gen. of 
 source. 
 
 423. i-htiotve = known. The prefix ge had in A.S an inten- 
 sive force, which may have caused its retention in certain 
 expressions. 
 
 His harm = his malady ; usually denotes a contagious disease. 
 
 424. Anon = in one (instant) = immediately. 
 
 " But ever in oon y-like sad and kynde." 
 
 C. T., 8478. 
 5oofe = remedy. From this sense it gradually passes to the 
 idea of compensation, — making good a loss, — as man-bot = t\\e 
 penalty for killing a man. We retain this force in the colloquial 
 expression to boot ; i.e., to compensate for the difference between 
 two things to be exchanged. 
 
 426. dragges = drugs. The original idea of drugs seems to 
 have been something powdered. The O. Fr. is dragee, which 
 had the meaning condiments or spices ; but I think it more likely 
 that this was a secondary meaning. Pepys in his Diary, Feb. 3, 
 1665-6, says, " did carry home a silver drtidger for my cupboard 
 of plate." That is, a box for spices. The dredger still in use in 
 our kitchen is a vessel with a perforated cover to scatter condi- 
 ments upon articles of food. 
 
 427. other ; we say the other. 
 
 425. Here, gen. pi., of them, their. A.S. heora. 
 429. Esculapius, the Greek patron of medicine. 
 
 430-434. The persons here mentioned were the medical 
 authorities of the Middle Ages. Rufus was a Greek physician 
 of Ephesus; Haly, Serapion, and Avicen were Arabian physi- 
 cians and astronomers; Rhasis was a Spanish Arab ; Averroes, 
 a Moor; Damascen, an Arabian; Constantyn, a native of Car- 
 thage: all these flourished from the ninth to the eleventh cen- 
 turies. Bernard Gordonius. professor of medicine at Montpellier, 
 lived about the time of Chaucer; Gatesden was a physician of 
 Oxford, in the early part of the fourteenth century; Gilbertvn is 
 Supposed by Warton to be the celebrated Gilbertus Anglicus. 
 Condensed from Wright's note. 
 
 436. of no SHperJluite. This must be construed as a genitive 
 
14^ NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 limiting a noun; the A.S. attributive gen. denoting quality. 
 Cf. " a man of means." 
 
 437- digestible. Accent third syllable as in French. The use 
 of this adjective indicates the qualitative force of the preceding 
 phrases with of. 
 
 438. This line affords a good illustration of the manner in 
 which Chaucer paints a character with a single stroke. 
 
 439. sangzvin and iti j)ers, cloth of deep red and bright blue 
 colors. 
 
 440. taffeta = a fine smooth stuff of silk with a wavy lustre. 
 sendal= a kind of thin rich silk. 
 
 " His stede with sa?idelle of Frise was trapput to the hele." 
 
 Anturs of Arthur, xxx. 9. 
 "There was mony gonfanoun [banner] 
 Of gold sendel and siclatoun." 
 
 Alexander, 1963. 
 The names of the cloths mentioned are French. 
 
 441. but esy of dispejice = hut moderate in his expenses. 
 
 442. /// Pestilence ; alluding to the great pestilence of 1348-9, 
 in which, of course, his services were in great demand. 
 
 443. gold in Phisik. Erastus, combating the prevailing 
 notion, says, " that gold makes the heart merry, but in no other 
 sense but as it is in a miser's chest." Burton, Anat. Mel., P. 2, 
 Sec. 4. Mem. i. Subs. 4. 
 
 444. Tkerfore^=ioY this reason: t/ier refers to the previous 
 statement, probably to be explained by the remark of Erastus 
 quoted above. 
 
 in special = especially. 
 
 445. of bvside Bathe = from a place near Bath. 
 
 446. skatke = misfortune. We still use the verb to scat/ie, 
 and the adj. scatheless. The noun is used by Spenser and Shak- 
 speare. In like manner we have lost the noun ruth., but we retain 
 the adj. ruthless. Cf. Ger. Schade. 
 
 447. cloth- making. "The west of England, and especially 
 the neighborhood of Bath, was for a long time celebrated for its 
 cloth. Ypres and Ghent were the great clothing marts of the 
 continent." From Wright. 
 
 she. Observe change in orthography. 
 
 449. parisshe = parish. Parish is from the French paroisse., 
 from the Greek 'napokta, dwelling near. Parishioners are liter- 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 149 
 
 ally persons dwelling near each other. We preserve the Greek 
 form \n parochial. 
 
 450. to the ofryiig. "An allusion to the offering on Relic 
 Sunday, when the congregation went up to the altar in succes- 
 sion to kiss the relics." M. 
 
 Schulde = ought = had a right to go. Schuldc is here used 
 in its original sense of propriety or moral obligation. 
 
 453. kevcrchefs^==Vc.\'cX\\Q.i%. Literally, coverings for the head. 
 Our handkerchief is therefore an incongruous word. 
 
 grounde = warp, foundation ; i.e., not of a cheap material in 
 the warp, covered with a more costly. Grund is used similarly 
 in German. Morris explains "of a fine texture." 
 
 ten poufide, probably with the ornaments added. 
 
 457. Fill streyt yteyd, very closely tied. 
 schoos fill moysie, soft, supple; cf. 1. 203. 
 
 458. reed of hezve = of ruddy complexion. 
 
 459. zuorthy =^0^ high social position, with no reference to 
 moral character. So worship (worthship) originally signified 
 honor. 
 
 460. Housebondes = husbands. A.S. hiisbanda, from hus, house, 
 and banda, one dwelling in {buan^, with the idea of ownership, 
 thus = house-master. By an easy transition, the word came to 
 signify a married man. The same word appears in husbandry^ 
 where the original force is preserved, — that of dwelling upon 
 the land for the purpose of cultivating it. The word boor is 
 from the root biean, and means one occupying the land. The 
 common derivation from house and bond is untenable. 
 
 at chirche dore. The priest married the couple at the church 
 porch. 
 
 Hadde = had had, plupf. 
 
 461. Withouten = besides; without taking into account. 
 
 462. needcth nought = there is no need. The subject of tieed- 
 eth is to speke. 
 
 463. It was considered an act of great merit to make a pil- 
 grimage to Jerusalem to the Holy Sepulchre. 
 
 466. Galice. The shrine of St. James at Compostella in Ga- 
 licia, whither the body of the saint was said to have been carried 
 by a ship without a rudder. 
 
 Coloyne = Cologne, where the bones of the three wise men 
 from the East were buried. 
 
 467. co'tvde = knew ; had experience in. 
 
I50 .VOri:.^ TO THE FBOlOGUE, 
 
 ^- : usually expuimed as = tt-trWt-rxjrjj". alluding to 
 the u .Uv......cs of making a pilgrimage in thoc>e da_v«, betbre the 
 
 great lines of travel u-ere established : but if I might haiard & 
 conjecture, it may = T.amdntm^, trouble, suffering; cf. rttrWrtrAl, 
 sorrow. But the word may be taken as ^ tr-sfts^yrssij'H in a moral 
 sense. See Wif of Bathes^ Frol. 655. " Women that . . . wol go oa pfl- 
 grimage more for sporte than for deuocion." Kt. La Tour- Landry, 54- 
 46S. Gii-ix-l^Jy with projecting teeth. " Some men there be that 
 put them [the lips] far out, by reason that they are gag-toothed.* 
 Holland's Plinie, L 336> L. 
 
 Sff/Miv f<>r tif sity*t = to speak truly, to tell the truth. 
 
 472. /v^i-mttJtUi =^ " a sort of riding-petticoat, such as is now 
 used by market women.** T. 
 
 474.. /I'i^'vscAi/^ = company. See notes, U. ^6, 395. 
 
 475- ^^^ n'mciivts . . . Ai.? ^«m" = she knew [the virtues] of 
 the remedies for love- A partitive geniti\-e. AVurar is followed 
 bv the ace. or gxni. : by the ace- when the action of the verb is 
 expressed without restriction : by the gen. when the verb is lim- 
 ited to a part of the object. 5i»f Jtm^nz' tji^ rttmt'Jits would assert 
 that she understood the nature and composition of the remedies ; 
 Ai*r ijf^TS" ofti^ tn^m^'dztts means she knew what \vere remedies for 
 love; cf. " I know the man*' and '*I know of the man."* The 
 verb with «»/'" appears to be equivalent to the verb and a substux- 
 tive ; i.e. = to have knowledge of. 
 
 ^irrej4tr««c^ = by experience. She was not a professional, but 
 had g-^lined her knowledge by experience, as she herself sa\-« in 
 her Prologue, II. i, i. 
 
 ** Experience, though non auctoritee 
 Were in this world, is right ynough for me.* 
 
 476» «ri refers to Ovid*s Art of Love, as rcm^tdy^ refers to his 
 Remedv of Love, — two standard works upon the subject. 
 
 ctj>«if.h' = Nvas master of. 
 
 tJkf ifiiia liaMMc^. **To know the old dance** is a proverb 
 meaning to know the old customs. 
 
 477' *if' t^ii;P'<^'tM =of a religious order, — iu ho^y orders. 
 
 47$. Am J a"tf5 = who was; and he was. The relative pro- 
 noun, bv virtue of the relation it expresses, serves as a conneo 
 ti\-e ; in this case «rW connects the two ^-erbs. and the subject is 
 omitted as usual in such cases. 
 
 It /«MirY Pfn^MM <>fu T<jimM = a poor parson (^priest") of a coun- 
 trv village; cf. the phrase *'a country-parson." Peirs^mm is from 
 the La.tin /^-rswraiv, to sound or speak through, and ori^inallr 
 
NOTES TO THE PliOLOGUE. 151 
 
 designated: (i) a mask worn by actors on the Roman stage, so 
 constructed as to increase their power of voice. As the use of 
 these masks enabled the same actor to play (^personate) ditlerent 
 characters, ^<v\<(?;/rt came to mean (2) character, as in the plirases 
 personam indiierc^ personam a^erc. The word in pure Latin 
 was never used to designate an individual. This use of the word 
 is still retained in Dramatis Perso?iac = the characters of the play. 
 By a very easy transition the word came to mean : (3) a dis- 
 tinguished character; from tliis we pass to {^^^ parson (i.e., fer- 
 sona ecclcsiae), which is an accommodation of the spelling of the 
 word to the pronunciation. Next we have the common change 
 of transferring the word from denoting attribute to denoting sub- 
 stance, and person no longer signifies character, but (5) an in- 
 dix'idiial, he who bears the character. So from mask the word 
 has come to mean tnan. 
 
 479. of holy thought and tvcrk. Gen. of plenty. We now sav 
 rich in. The use of the gen. is very expressive, as it turns the 
 attention to the source of the wealth; the dative (with /«) is 
 more subjective, and brings before the mind the person and the 
 possessions by which he is made rich. 
 
 4S1. ii'oldc preche=-\\\'i>\\G.di to preach. 
 
 482. parischens = parishioners. 
 
 devoutly wolde = he most earnestly (devotedly) wished to 
 teach. 
 
 455. such; i.e., benigne, diligent, and pacient. This presents 
 us a vivid picture of his parish, wherein was such frequent oppor- 
 tunities for the exercise of these virtues. 
 
 456. Pul loth xi'ere him = He was extremely unwilling. 
 
 to curse is the subject; loth is the predicate with ////« in the 
 dative; were, pret. subj. 
 
 to curse = to excommunicate. Curse is another form o{ cross, 
 and means to imprecate the displeasure of God by the sign of the 
 cross. He would not excommunicate those who failed through 
 misfortune to pay their tithes. 
 
 tythes. The tithe or tenth was that part of one's income in 
 kind set apart for the service of the church. "And behold I 
 have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an 
 inheritance." Num. xviii. 21. '-Thou shalt truly tithe all the 
 increase of thy seed that the field bringeth forth year by year." 
 Deut. xiv. 22. Hence tithe = any small portion. 
 
15^ ^OTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 ii>7. emi of d^aiie = witlioat doobt. In A.S. mi4i.m. governs the 
 
 geujij ȣ- 
 
 4Si9. Of his »0^ry'B£re = c(S has in^oine £rom contribations ; par- 
 
 smbsiamm€^= ihs -prcrp^Ttj he. had acqtaired, or the income of 
 
 h3* bcTjefice- 
 
 ^yi. //>>/ /i/if^^ ]5lije-, as opposed to abundance. Tiimg 
 {A-S. 3f. ; '_ is properfy tbat 'irlhach can be seen^ anj thing visi- 
 ble ; beinice substance, tbat which has weight. It is here used 
 coliectivel j^ and not distribiotiTel j, as is now^ the common usage- 
 Tkimg 3S renfenred bj sonne to timm^ to do- 
 
 ^91 . Scan : Wrd was \ his parisch \ and boos | es fier | ason- 
 der. 
 
 J.},; . But ig mt J/affe mot= he ceased Bot. 
 
 ^ for fear of; SJikrallj, in frcnl rf: ci.fcrf, 
 ' ^= -^ - ''■ A-S- r€g€H ; tJae ^ 3* first sojPtened to jr, then to 
 /, a' rDt; cf. i/a IT from dat;g. 
 
 ^ ' r ;] me Saft II e not | for T^rne ° r? Ihonder. 
 
 -1 - -^ lit€ = gieat and sms • '.. — : . _ rank and loir. 
 
 ^}--. ijj'-"'' '■■-' fi^^ = o^-fi>ot. He 'isras too poor to keep a 
 
 ± ■/ s^ierp, pi. AS. Beiiiteiv of the first declension fonn tibe 
 
 ^ . :■]- alike. 
 
 497. TIjI jfirsff, iuc Thai is tie seiatence articJe referring ie 
 -sstrorngki^ - mplc. After a general statement iJio/ introduces 
 
 ap:-- 
 
 ajzir laai. Th ~1 here reffr? to 1* s^roMgiU as to a noun. 
 
 501. ffful^^ s.ijjt. a SyW/, &Qitla.yirZ#- Tiae primitiTe mean- 
 ing seeiD? to bave bee^n fmirid. 
 
 302. A^i> -TTcnd^.r is. k.c~ = It is no wonder that an ignorant 
 man sboasld "k^fjoms fillhj. Tiff* rmsle is the subject of is; le^ed. 
 mam is the aoc snbrject Oi i& rmsie ; is'&vd'cr is the predicate. 
 
 leived=^ igijoraint- as opporsed to the clergy or educated per- 
 soBs; froTu A-S. I'fpdf. people, hence comimon people., and as an 
 adjectf ve : ' z tie jiDaBnejs of the common people : the same 
 
 idea id2t - --.iced im villain, boorish, heathen. "That leTvd, 
 •wh\ch Tneaint ai one tiiDe no njore than lay or uul^armrd^ should 
 come to - ' '^i, the ricious, is not a little worthj of 
 
 note. Hoiar j^rc-x-.j ^r are reiminded here di that sajing of the 
 Pharisees of old, ^ This people which knoweth not the law is 
 
NOTL'S TO Till': PROLOGUE. 153 
 
 cursed ! ' liow much of their spirit must liave been at work before 
 the word could liavc acquired this secondary- meaning! " Trencli. 
 From its jirimitive meaning, rjr;wr<i///, it passed to denote one 
 of the usual concomitants of ignorance, v/'ce ; and, lastly, this 
 general meaning was narrowed to express a predominant form 
 of vice. The above use of /-//.s'/y = lilthv is not jet entirely ob- 
 solete in colloquial language. 
 
 503. /'/ refers to the proverb given in the next line. 
 
 504. foul to be read as a dissyllable. The original word here 
 is rather forcible than elegant. 
 
 505. oug/itc. "The English defective verb oiti^/it is the old 
 preterite of the verb to ozvc, which was at an early period used as 
 a sort of auxiliary with the infmitix e, implying the sense of ne- 
 cessity, just as we, and many of the Continental nations, now 
 employ //az\- and its equivalents. . . . Afterwards, by a common 
 process in language, the general idea of necessity involved in 
 this use of the word ozve resolved itself into two distinct senses, 
 — the one of pecuniary or other liability in the nature of a debt, 
 or the return of an equivalent for property, services, or favors 
 received; the other that of moral obligation, or, at least of ex- 
 pediency. DilVerent forms from the same root were now appro- 
 priated to the two senses ; to ozve with a newly formed weak 
 preterite, owed, being exclusively limited to the notion of debt, 
 and the simple form ought being employed in all moods, tenses, 
 numbers and persons, to express moral obligation." Marsh. 
 Owe is from the A.S. agan, evidently from the same root as the 
 Gr. f,Vf"'> to have; so that the use of the auxiliary have, as above 
 mentioned, is based upon the same conception as the use of the 
 word ought. In this passage the meaning inclines towards 
 the common signification of o've : a priest owes it [to his pro- 
 fession] to give example to his flock. 
 
 506. hozv that^=^\x\ what way it should be that. — how. ILnv 
 is onl}- another form of tc7/»', the instrumental case of what. 
 That is added with an original reference to the noun, implied by 
 the interrogative; but as the pronominal force of how was lost, 
 that was nevertheless retained with the iiloa of securinir irreater 
 dollniteness by the use of the definitive. The true construction 
 is seen in since that — A.S. s/'ththau the, in which case that is 
 plainly relative, after the demonstrative involved in si'uee, sith- 
 thau. In all such cases, it is best to suppose an ellipsis of the 
 proper mode and tense of /t> be. 
 
154 NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 507. He sette not, &c. He did not let out his parochial duties 
 to some poor curate, and go up to London to seek a more lucra- 
 tive position. 
 
 sette, causative from sit, hence ^to cause to sit, to place; cf. 
 also lecgaji from licga7i^\^y, lie; drencan, from drincan = 
 drench, drink. 
 
 benefice, originally, a grant of land to a Roman veteran; an 
 ecclesiastical living below that of a bishop. 
 
 to hyre, a gerund ; cf. to let, to rent. 
 
 508. /ec/=let (pret.) = leave. Laetan (let) is often to be 
 construed with to be or to go, understood. " Laet thaer thine lac 
 beforan tham altare." jNIatt. v. 24. Leave there thy gift before 
 the altar. 
 
 509. seynte Ponies, sc. church, — the metropolitan cathedral 
 church of London, which the king and nobility attended. In 
 E.E. the diphthong an was sounded as in German, and the word 
 Paul is here spelled as it was pronounced. 
 
 510. hi'jn, dative of advantage. 
 
 chaujiterie for soules = an endowment for the payment of a 
 priest for saying masses for the soul of the founder. The orig- 
 inal pronunciation of soul (A.S. sawel) is here indicated by the 
 rhyme : — 
 
 " Persones and parisch prestes pleyned hem to the bischop, 
 That here parisches were pore sith the pestilence tyme, 
 To haue a lycence and a leue at London to dwelle 
 And syngen there for symonye, for siluer is swete." 
 
 P. P., Prol., 85. 
 Latimer (vii. Sermons) severely denounces the chauntery 
 Priests of his day. 
 
 513. myscarye = \.o misbehave, to carry one's self amiss. 
 
 514. w^^c<?«ar/e = hireling. " But he that is an hireling and 
 not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf 
 coming and leaveth the sheep and fleeth ; and the wolf catcheth 
 them, and scattereth the sheep." Jno. x. 12. 
 
 516. nought =^ no-xv hit =^ noi at all. Not is only a contracted 
 form. 
 
 £f/5//Vo/^5= pitiless, uncompassionate. '"Dispitous is he that 
 hath disdain of his neighebour; that is to sayn, of his even 
 cristen." Persones Tale. 
 
 517. dangerous =d\^c\x\i to gain. From the meaning of 
 penalty, the word passed "'to signify difficulties about giving 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 155 
 
 permission or complying with a request, or to absolute refusal." 
 WedgAvood. See note, line 663. 
 
 518. discret, discreet, — adapting one's self to circumstances. 
 "Rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Tim. ii. 15. 
 
 519. To draw people to heaven by the beauty [of a godly ex- 
 ample]. 
 
 521. But it tirr^^ except it were in the case of an obstinate 
 person. The strict construction is, " Except any person were 
 obstinate." //. however, refers to the general idea of the sen- 
 tence. So Isa., li. 9. •• Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab.?" 
 This use of but is A. S. '• Butan hwa beo edniwan gecenned." 
 Jno. iii. 3. " But a man be borun agen." Wiclif. 
 
 522. What so he zt'^re = whosoever he might be. What so 
 is used instead of -ivho so. as it is used in the preceding line in- 
 stead of he ; the reference being to the idea in the mind of the 
 writer, which is here the character of the man rather than the 
 person. In all such cases, so is a pronoun and not an adverb; 
 of. Ti'hoso with Lat. quisquis. 
 
 ^2\. ther no-juher non is = there nowhere is. JVon is the real 
 subject. 
 
 525. He zvaytcde a/ter= he looked for. 
 
 Scan : He wayt | ede aft'r | no pompe | and rev | erence. 
 Such contractions are common, especially with liquids. 
 
 526. him = for himself, dat. The direct object of makede is 
 conscience. 
 
 spiced conscience = 2i conscience exceedingly particular about 
 little things. '"The fourthe rule is of spice and of kynde; that 
 is, of part and of al the hool thing, of the whiche the part is." 
 Wiclif. Proleg. i, N. T. Spice is an abbreviation o^ species (Lat. 
 species), a class distinguished by the possession of particular 
 qualities. So Chaucer says (Persones Tale), '* The spices of 
 penance ben three." A spiced conscience would then be a con- 
 science differing from the usual conscience of men, and laying 
 great stress upon minor matters, w-hile neglecting weightier 
 matters. The adversative but with which the next line begins 
 indicates the opposition between the two ideas — '• spiced con- 
 science " and following '■' Cristes lore." A spiced conscience 
 would therefore be a peculiar (specific) conscience, — one de- 
 termined by personal whim or fancy, and not acting according 
 to general principles. The same expression occurs in the Wif 
 of Bathe's Tale : — 
 
156 NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 "Ye shulden be al patient and meke 
 And haue a swete spiced conscience." C. T., 6017. 
 But here spiced seems to belong with sivete, — swete spiced= 
 pleasant, easy. Drugs were called spices, — not drugs in gen- 
 eral, but specifics as we still say. 
 
 " May no synne be on him sene that useth that spise." 
 
 P. P. ProL, 147. 
 The Italian word for drugs is spezierie, that which is sold in 
 small quantities, as opposed to groceries {gross), articles which 
 are sold in large quantities. With an interpretation drawn from 
 this meaning, the expression would be equivalent to a conscience 
 spiritually drugged, and so acting unnaturally. Tyrwhitt quotes 
 from Beaumont and Fletcher (Mad Lover, Act 3) a passage in 
 which spiced seems, as here, to signify nice, scrupulous : — 
 " Fy ! no corruption . . . 
 Cle. Take it; it is yours : 
 
 Be not so spiced ; it is good gold; 
 
 And goodness is no gall to the conscience." 
 
 527. /lis apostles, gen., in same construction with Cristes. 
 Such an arrangement would be perfectly clear in an inflected 
 language, but is not allowable in modern English. 
 
 528. himselve = by himself, dative. " Himself is often an 
 abridgment of a prepositional expression used as an adverb: he 
 did it by himself, of himself, for himself; and being a quasi- 
 adverb does not receive the adjectival inflection. It follows that 
 my, thy, in myself and thyself, are not pronominal adjectives, 
 but represent inflected cases of the pronouns." Abbott, Shak. 
 Gr. § 20. We may explain this expression more simply. Him; 
 ;;^)/=me; //^j = the, are strict datives of possession after self 
 which is to be construed as the real subject; so that himself =1 
 the self to him ; myself^ the self to nie. Cf. al him one = him 
 all alone. Gower. Self is often used in E.E. for an emphatic 
 subject or object. 
 
 "And eke the ladie self he brought away." F. Q^ iv. i, 2. 
 " Such as the maker self could leest by art devize." lb. iv. 3, 38. 
 " Lo where the villaine self," &c. lb. iv. 7, 30. 
 In all these cases self is preceded by a possessive genitive, 
 which answers to the possessive dative in ^/;«-self. The posses- 
 sive dative was common in A.S. 
 
 529. tvas his brother = y^h.o ^N^% his brother. This omission 
 of the subject-relative is common in Shakspeare. " I have a 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 157 
 
 mind [which] presages." M. of V. i. i. 175. See Abbott, Shak. 
 Gr., § 244. We still use the same construction after nouns, 
 although the omission is awkward. See note, 1. 547. 
 
 530. t'-lad, drawn out, carried, p.p. of lead. 
 
 Fother^ properly a carriage load, and so used here; cf. Ger. 
 fiider. See K., 1050. 
 
 532. charitee (Fr. charitc, Lat. caritas) = love, good-will. 
 Charts originally signified loveliness, and was first applied to 
 denote physical grace; hence the Greeks called the Graces 
 charites. The transfer to spiritual perfections was easy; and 
 charity signified loveliness of character, prompted by good-will. 
 It is so used by St. Paul in i Cor. xiii. 4: " Charity suffereth 
 long," &c. From signifying moral virtue, the word easily came 
 to signify thoSe acts of benevolence which are the strongest 
 proof of its possession. 
 
 533. God^ placed first for emphasis. 
 
 534. though hhn gamede or smerte = though it pleased or 
 pained him. The subject is the previous sentence, God lovede 
 he. We usually find it referring to the sentence-subject. Hiin is 
 ace- after impersonals of feeling. Sttierte, impersonal subj. pret. 
 We still use this verb, but always in the sense of physical pain; 
 cf. " It smarts." 
 
 535. thatme = then; see note, 1. 12. 
 Himselve, ace. 
 
 536- dyke = ditch, though now restricted to making an em- 
 bankment. Dyke and ditch, originally the same word, have 
 become distinct ; one meaning the embankment made, and the 
 other the trench excavated in making a ditch. 
 
 537. For Cristes sake. See Matt. xxv. 40. 
 
 538. if it lay i)i his might = if it were in his power. 
 
 541. mere =^ ^ mare. To ride upon a mare was held to 
 be beneath the dignity of a man of distinction. The same 
 notion prevails among the North American Indians, among 
 whom the warriors ride upon stallions and the women upon 
 mares. 
 
 542. Reeve = an ujidersteward, whose dutj'- it was to super- 
 intend the estate of a gentleman. See 11. 5S7-622. Also an 
 officer. Mostly used in composition with a noun denoting the 
 extent of his jurisdiction; as, port-reeve, shire-reeve (sheriff"), 
 tozvu-reeve, &c. 
 
 543. Somf>nour = a su mmoner ; an officer employed to sum- 
 
158 NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 mon delinquents to appear in ecclesiastical courts, — now called 
 an apparitor. 
 
 Pa/'^<?;/e/' = a seller of pardons ; one licensed to sell indul- 
 gences. 
 
 545. fo/' the nones. See note on 1. 379. 
 
 547. That prevede w^'/ = that proved he well. Subject is 
 omitted. The same usage is frequent in Shakspeare. '* This 
 ellipsis of the nominative may perhaps be explained partly: 
 (1) by the lingering sense of inflections, which of themselves are 
 sometimes sufficient to indicate the person of the pronoun under- 
 stood, as in Milton : — 
 
 * Thou art my son beloved : in him am pleased ; ' 
 partly (2) by the influence of the Latin; partly (3) by the rapid- 
 ity of the Elizabethan pronunciation, which frequently changed 
 he into a (a change also common in E.E.), 'a must needs' 
 (2 Hen. VI. iv. 2, 59), and prepared the w^ay for dropping he 
 altogether." AbboLt, Shak. Gr., § 402. 
 
 overal = every where ; cf. Ger. tiberal. Overal ther may be 
 construed together = wherever. 
 
 548. a/zf^_y= alwaj'S. A.S. ealle tvega, all ways ; hence at all 
 times. 
 
 ram. A ram was the usual prize at wrestling matches. 
 " Of wrastling was ther non his pere, 
 Ther ony i'a)n shuld stonde." 
 
 Rime of Sir Thopas. 
 
 549. schort-schuldred : Ave would say short--Lvaisted. 
 
 A thikke knarre=2i thick-set stub of a fellow. Knar}-e=^\ix\Qt 
 (O.E. gnarr). A derivative of this word is still in colloquial 
 use, — gnarly (pronounced nurly). This figure is used because 
 of the >^;/o^^_v appearance of the muscles when largely developed. 
 
 550. heve of harre = lift off the hinges. Gower uses the 
 expression '■'■ out of herre" which Dr. Pauli leaves unexplained; 
 may it not be explained as "out of gear" or " oft" the hinges," as 
 the colloquial phrase expresses any disorder.? 
 
 heve; from this word we have ^ea^/ (A.S. heafod). the part 
 which is lifted up; heaven (A.S. heafon), that which is lifted up, 
 — the sky. 
 
 552. sozve or fox. The wild hog is of a tawnj' red color. 
 
 553. brood =^ broad, indicating a disregard of the prevailing 
 fashion. See line 270 and note. 
 
 554. Upon the cop right =:^ right n^onihQ top » We retain the 
 
♦ NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 159 
 
 word cof> in cob= a head, the receptacle of Indian corn; so also 
 in copings that portion of a wall which forms the top or finish. 
 
 hade = hadde = had. Tlie orthography and the pronunci- 
 ation are changed to accommodate the rhyme. 
 
 557. nose-thurles = nos-trils. (A.S. tkyrel, a hole). Spenser 
 uses intermediate forms : — 
 
 "That flames of fire he threw forth from his large nosethrill." 
 
 F. Q^ i. II, 22. 
 "Where proud Encelade whose wide nosthrils burnd." 
 
 lb., iii. 9, 22. 
 The modern orthography conceals the etymology of the word, 
 and could only have come into use when the real meaning of the 
 compound word was lost. 
 
 55S. sxverd and bocler. Seel. II2. 
 
 559. y(;r«^j'5 = furnace. See 1. 202. 
 
 560. jaiigler^= a great talker. From this word we h.'A.^Q. jangle 
 to quarrel, and perhaps /V//^/^?. 
 
 golycirdeys =^ ■a. buffoon (Skeat), a teller of ribald stories. 
 "The primary type of jollity is eating and drinking, an idea 
 expressed in caricature by a representation of the sound of liquor 
 pouring down the throat. . . . Fr. godailler, to guzzle, to tipple, 
 . . . faire gogaille, to make merry, to drink merrily. . . . The 
 latter half [of gogaille, Eng. coW. guggle'] seems to give rise to 
 the term gaillard, one making inerry, enjoj'ing himself, a good 
 fellow. The word is closely allied in form and meaning with 
 the O.E. goliard, a loose companion ; from Fr. gouliard, a greedy 
 feeder." Wedgwood. Tyrwhitt says : " This jovial sect seems 
 to have been so called from Gclias, the real or assumed name 
 of a man of wit, toward the end of the thirteenth century, who 
 wrote the Apocalypsis Goliae, and other pieces, in burlesque 
 Latin rhymes, some of which have been falsely attributed to 
 Walter Map." It is now gener.ally believed that Golias was a 
 fictitious character, invented hy the jolly father Map, who 
 named his imaginary bishop G'olias, as the hero of Gluttony, 
 with an allusion to Goliath the Philistine." See Skeat's note, 
 P.P., p. 98. 
 
 561. And thai was = and one who was. The antecedent of 
 the relative must be supplied froin the preceding line. 
 
 Alost = the greatest, a master. Master is from Lat. magnus, 
 and hence will aptlj' translate most as here used. 
 
 of syntie, Sic, genitives of specification. See 1. 83. 
 
l6o NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 563. a thomhe of gold. Tyrwhitt sajs : "If the allusion be, 
 as is most probable, to the old proverb, ' Every honest miller has 
 a thumb of gold,' this passage may mean that our miller, not- 
 withstanding his thefts, was an honest miller; i.e., as honest as 
 his brethren." The skill of the miller is shown by the fineness 
 and evenness of the flour, to secure which required constant test- 
 ing, which was secured by rubbing the flour with his thumb, so 
 that the line may more probably refer to the miller's skill and 
 not to his honesty, which would hardly bear any very flattering 
 notice. 
 
 565. bagge/pife., quadrisyllable. 
 
 566. Ther-iX'ithal= therewith (wholly with this). This use of 
 therewithal is now obsolete. In this class of words, al is added 
 simply for emphasis. 
 
 567. Gc«^// = well-bred. See 1. 72, where it rather means 
 well-born ; although with the further idea of good-breeding. 
 
 temple limits maunciple. The headquarters of the Knights 
 Templar were in London, and went by the name of " The Tem- 
 ple;" subsequently they were appropriated to the chambers of 
 the two Inns of Court, or Colleges in which students of Law 
 reside, and receive instruction, the chief of which are the Inner 
 Temple and the Middle Temple. 
 
 Scan : A gen | tie Maun | c'ple was [ &c. 
 
 568. Of zuhich = o^ whom; of. "Our Father which art in 
 Heaven." 
 
 569. For governs the infinitive clause following. Buyers 
 might take example i?i regard to buying victuals. 
 
 570. xvhetJicr /-^rt-/ = whether it were that; whether. As an 
 interrogative %vhether^=yN\nQh. of two ; from this meaning comes 
 its force as a so-called conjunction, used to introduce the first of 
 two alternative clauses. These uses of w^hether are unfortunately 
 becoming obsolete. " Whether of them twain did the will of hiS 
 father.?" Matt- xxi. 31. We now say iv/iich : we usually omit 
 the interrogative or alternative zvkether. 
 
 took by /«///(? = bought on credit. Taille = tally (Fr. tai'ller, 
 to cut). Before reading and writing were such common accom- 
 plishments, accounts were kept by notches cut into a stick. 
 Thus one meaning of tally is to count; to keep tally = to keep 
 count. When there was a running account with debts and 
 credits, each party kept a tally-stick, and as, if the accounts were 
 kept correctly, these sticks would be the same, to tally = to 
 
NOTES TO THE PEOLOOUE. l6l 
 
 agree. This method was in use as late as the Restoration, for 
 Pepys in his Diary frequently mentions borrowing money on 
 tallies. 
 
 571. waytede so = was so attentive to his business. 
 
 572. (J* //b /v/ ^= before (others). A.S. bcforan. We have cor- 
 rupted this bcfora7i into beforehand^ which again has been 
 altered to forehanded. 
 
 573. a fill fair grace = an exceedingly great gift. Grace has 
 acquired a theological meaning = the favor of God. 
 
 574. /eu'<?^= unlearned. See note, 1. 502. 
 
 w/V = judgment ; practical knowledge, derived from observa- 
 tion, as distinguished from -wisdom derived from study. It is 
 from the unstudied spontaneous character of this knowledge that 
 the later definitions of wit have arisen. 
 
 schal pace. We would say should surpass. Schal must be 
 construed as present subjunctive in a subordinate clause. We 
 do not now use schal with the pres. subj., although we use should 
 in the pret. (conditional). 
 
 ^rtrc^= surpass. " The grace of God, which passeth all under- 
 standing." Philip, iv. 7. 
 
 575. zvisdom, learning as contrasted with w/V, or common 
 sense. 
 
 keep =^ ■a. large number. This use of heap is still current in 
 the West and South, where many Old English idioms have been 
 preserved to be called Americanisms. 
 
 576. maystrcs = va^s.tQvs,. Lat. magisier, h'ovn magnus, great. 
 As here used it refers to the lawyers whom he served. 
 
 hadde he = had he had. 
 
 578. tc'///c^ = whom. 
 
 house here refers to the temple spoken of, 1. 567. 
 
 580. ^;/^r/f;/(f = Angel-lond, i.e., the land of the Angles, one 
 of the Teutonic tribes that settled the island of Great Britain. 
 The three leading tribes were the Jutes from Jutland, the Angles 
 from Anglen in Sleswick, and the Saxons from the mouth of the 
 Rhine. When the tribes fused together into one people, the 
 preponderance of the Angles gave the name England to the 
 country. 
 
 581. lyve., inf., second object of make. 
 
 propre good = own property. Propre = what is peculiar to 
 one's self; hence befitting one's character, station, &c. ; also 
 suited to what ought to be. The original meaning is preserved 
 
 II 
 
l62 NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 in the legal phrase, " in proper person." The noun froferty has 
 also the same meaning, and strictly signifies what is one's own; 
 in the case of moral good we use the form propriety. " I have 
 of mine own proper good." i Chron. xxix. 3. That is, private 
 property. 
 
 "And of comun h.\s propre made." Gower, ii. 128. 
 ^^c»(^= goods, property. 'L.ixt. bojia. Gr. ayada. This paral- 
 lelism is not a little remarkable. Men have always considered 
 wealth the highest earthly good, as virtue is the highest spiritual 
 possession. 
 
 582. /;/ honour ^^//g/^5 = honorably and yet without incurring 
 debt. Honour here means in a way to attract consideration : 
 froin this meaning the transition to that xvhich cjitt'tles one to 
 honor is quite easy : thus integrity is the honor oi a man, — " upon 
 my honor," — and virtue is the ho7ior of a woman. 
 
 but-if^^ except. The force of but is negative. 
 
 583. or lyve ; in same construction as lyve in 1. 581. 
 
 as hym list desire :^= a.?, it pleases him to desire. Wright reads 
 " as he can desire." 
 
 584. yl;/^ connects able to zvorthi, 1. 579. 
 F'or governs to helpen, used substantively. 
 helpen == to extricate from difficulty. 
 
 al a^=2L whole. Al must be construed as an adverb modify- 
 ing a considered as a numeral. 
 
 " Of al a wyke wirche nought." P.P. vi. 258. 
 
 586. maunciple, dissyllable. 
 
 sette here aller cc//^6' = would make fools of them all. 
 
 Aller is the gen. pi. o^ alle ; here (A.S. heora), gen. pi. o{ he ; 
 here aller = eorum omnium. " To set one's cap " is to put a fool's 
 cap on him, to overreach him. For all these lawyers were 
 so smart, the manciple by his native wit could outwit them 
 all. 
 
 587. colerik = irascible, bilious. The bile was supposed to 
 be the seat of irascibility. 
 
 585. neigh = close, nigh. We retain this orthography in 
 neighbor. 
 
 . he can : we would use could here, but ever implying a contin- 
 uous time (present) throws the verb quite naturally into the 
 present. We use the present after a future, but not after a 
 preterite. 
 
 589. round i-shorn. Short hair was a mark of inferior con- 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 163 
 
 dition. See 11. Si, 109. The long, lank, lean body of the reeve 
 is in admirable keepin*^ with his character. 
 
 590. docked = cut short. Wages are docked for loss of 
 time. 
 
 592. calf=^ the fleslij part of the leg. This word is only a 
 shortened form of collop^ a lump, especially of fat : the calf of the 
 leg is the collop of flesh belonging to it. 
 
 593. Wei cowde he kepc = he well knew how to take care of 
 (keep account of) a granary and a bin. 
 
 594. cozvde, relative subject xvko omitted. See note, 1. 529. 
 Ofi him = against him, of him. This use o{ ofi is still current 
 
 in colloquial language. *• Lest they should tell on us." i Sam. 
 xxvii. II. 
 
 wj/;/;?<? = gain the victory in case of disputed accounts; no 
 auditor could find an error in his accounts. 
 
 595. Wcl tviste he, &c. = well knew he by, &c., what would 
 be the yield of his crops. He could foretell the yield from the 
 circumstances of the weather. 
 
 596. Vieldyiiir = i\\Q, return (A.S. gyldan, to paj') : (i) That 
 which is paid or returned for something; (2) a giving way, — 
 a mental action analogous to paying; (3) the physical act con- 
 forming to this mental state. E.g., the yield of a field; a yield- 
 ing temper; yielding to opposition. 
 
 597. nect= cattle. A.S. neat a derivative of fiyt useful. Neat 
 cattle was not originallj^ a tautological expression, but was used 
 as we now use the word cattle. We still use the word in com- 
 pounds; e.g., neat-leather. 
 
 dayeri'e =^ dairy. "The dey was a servant in husbandry, 
 mostly a female, whose duty was to make cheese and butter, 
 attend to the calves and poultry, and other odds and ends of the 
 farm. . . . The milking of the cows and feeding the weanlings 
 by hand would naturally fall to the same attendant, and hence 
 the origin of the name as rightly pointed out by Jamieson. Dan, 
 daegge to feed with foreign milk." Wedgwood. 
 
 " For she was as it were a maner dey." 
 
 Nonne Preestes Tale, 26. 
 
 599. holly = \s\\o\\y. A.S. >^«/, whole, hale ; we thus distin- 
 guish the two significations by the orthography. 
 
 governy nge == contvo\. The literal meaning of ^c)r^c;'« is to 
 Bteer a ship ; Lat. giibernare., Gr. Kv^epvuv. It then denoted the 
 control of public aflfairs, — the ship of state, as we still say, 
 
164 NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 unconsciously maintaining the old figure; and finally it denotes 
 control in general. 
 
 601. /orcf = master, employer, A.S. klaford. This word is 
 usually derived from hlaf^ loaf, bread, and ord^ author, giver; 
 thus /or^= bread-giver. Others derive it from hlaf-tveard ^:= 
 the bread-warder. Lady is also derived from an assumed fem- 
 inine hlaf-weardige. But these etymologies are extremely 
 doubtful, if not untenable. " Thorkelin in his Glossary to 
 Beowulf, under the title Rex, refers the word Hlaford to an 
 Icelandic origin, considering it as a corruption of Ladvard, a 
 term denoting power and responsibility. His words are: Hlaf- 
 ord, rectius Ladvard, Icl. Lavardr, a Lad, terra, et vaurdr, 
 custos, adeo Hlaford est, revera, custos terrae, ie., patriae." 
 Pref. Ormulum. So also lady, Icl. lavdi, also written in A.S. 
 hlavedi. The older forms of the words are the simpler, which 
 would seem to indicate that the resemblance to Jilaf is only the 
 result of corruption. 
 
 605. ^c/^e = pestilence. Trevisa calls the Great Plague of 
 1349 " the grete deth." 
 
 607. flace, i.e. of residence, — used also to denote a collection 
 of dwellings, as a village; hence the collection of buildings for 
 the use of a family. 
 
 609. i-stored j)rively = full richly stored was he privately : 
 his private property was large. 
 
 610. 5/^3////y = craftily. The figure is that of a thread spun 
 to exceeding fineness, implying great skill and cunning. 
 
 611. To geve and lene = to give and lend. 
 of his ozvne good = partitive gen. 
 
 612. thank, now used only in the pi. From A.S. thencati, to 
 remember. 
 
 613. mester= trade. " The Greek /j.vaT7jpiov meant originally the 
 secret doctrines and ceremonies connected with the worship of 
 particular divinities. In the middle ages the most difficult and 
 delicate processes of many of the mechanical arts were kept 
 religiously secret, and hence in all the countries of Europe, 
 those arts were themselves called mysteries, as mechanical trades 
 still are in the dialect of the English law. Thus, when a boy is 
 apprenticed to a tanner or a shoemaker, the legal instrument or 
 indenture, by which he is bound, stipulates that he shall be 
 taught the art and mystery of tanning or shoemaking. After- 
 wards mystery came to designate, in common speech, any reg- 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 1 65 
 
 ular occupation, so that a man's mystery was his trade, his 
 employment, the profession by which he earned his bread; and 
 as men are most obviously classed and characterized by their 
 habitual occupations, the question which so often occurs in Old 
 English writers, 'what mester wight is that?' means what is 
 that man's employment, and, consequently, condition in life." 
 Marsh, Lect. Eng. Lang., 251. 
 
 "Artificers 
 Which usen craftes and mestiers 
 Whose art is cleped mechanique." 
 
 Gower, Con. Am. iii. 142. 
 See K., 1. 852. 
 
 This word must be distinguished from mai'sh-ie, Lat. viagis' 
 ieriu7n, craft, skill, power, and from mister., Lat. ininisterinm, 
 need, necessity. 
 
 " To put him out of all daungere 
 That he of mete hath no mistere" (need) R.R., 5614. 
 614. a xvcl good^=^2i very good : so also ful good. 
 616. kig/ite = \ii\.s called: properly a reduplicated passive 
 form of the verb. 
 
 618. a rusty blade, for show, — being rusty it was evident that 
 it had not been habitually carried ; a fine touch of humor, admi- 
 rably illustrating the character of the Reeve. 
 
 619. A'c/-////^//^ = Norfolk. The two kingdoms founded by 
 the Angles in England were called Northfolk and Suffolk, or 
 north and south folk or people. These names still survive in the 
 names of counties of England. 
 
 620. Byside = ne^\' to, by the side of. 
 
 men is here pi. of man, and not the indefinite pronoun. 
 
 621. Tukked, Sic. He was clothed [tucked about] as is a 
 friar; i.e., in a long blouse or frock. 
 
 622. hyiidreste = hindmost. Hiiidmost is a double superlative ; 
 est, the modern supl. termination, being added to the old supl. 
 term. ma. 
 
 623. Somp7iour. See note 1. 543. 
 in that place. See 1. 20. 
 
 624. cherubynes face, a round, full, ruddy face, such as paint- 
 ers give to cherubim. 
 
 625. sarvce_/iein==^2in indefinite skin disease. Tyrwhitt quotes 
 the following from the Thousand Notable Things: " A saws- 
 fleame or red pimpled face is helped with the medicine follow- 
 ing; " two of the ingredients are quicksilver and brimstone. 
 
lOO NOTES TO TEE FROLOQUE. 
 
 eyg-heji =eyes. Chaucer gives the following variations in 
 orthography : Ejen, Ejghen, Ejhen, Eghen. 
 
 627. skalled, having the seal! or scab; scurfy. "If a man or 
 woman have a plague upon the head or the beard; then the 
 priest shall see the plague; and behold if it be in sight deeper 
 than the skin; and there be in it a yellow thin hair; then the 
 priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a dry scall." Lev. 
 xiii. 29, 30. 
 
 blake, light-colored — j-ellowish (as from leprosy). See " yel- 
 low thin hair" above. A.S. blac, pale, pallid, blac-Zdeor, pale- 
 faced. Blue, pale, and blaec, black, are both from blica}i, to 
 shine, to dazzle. "The original \ne-^n\x\goi black seems to have 
 been exactly the reverse of the present sense ; viz. shining, white. 
 It is in fact radically identical with Fr. blajtc, white, blank. . . . 
 Then as white is contrasted with anj' special color, the word 
 came to signify pale, faded. . . . Again, as colors fade away, the 
 aspect of the object becomes indistinct and obscure, and thus 
 the idea of discoloration merges in that of dim, dusky, dark on 
 the one side, and in that of pale and white on the other. . . . 
 When the idea of dimness or obscurity is pushed to its limit it 
 becomes absolute darkness or blackness." Wed^vood. "'To 
 make his brows blake,' or turn pale, was a common poetical 
 phrase equivalent to to vanquish him.'' " Wright, Prov. Die. 
 "As blake as a marygold " is a proverbial simile in dialectical 
 English. 
 
 " Some on [pleaseth] for she is pale and bleche." 
 
 Gower, C. A. ii. 210. 
 Morris, however, explains blake as black. 
 
 piled berd = ■a. thin beard. See note, 1. 177. "And the man 
 whose hair is fallen off his head (margin 'head is pilled).'"^ 
 Lev. xiii. 40. 
 
 62S. <7/^re<^= afraid, frightened. "Be not afeard ; the isle 
 is full of noises." Tempest, iii. 2, 137. This pronunciation is 
 still common in some parts of this country. 
 
 630. oille of iartre = '^ preparation of white tartar, used as a 
 cosmetic. '• Oy\e of tartar is said ' to take away clene all spots, 
 freckles and filthy -wheales.' These last, I suppose, are what 
 Chaucer calls whelkes." T. 
 
 632. Of his whelkes = that could relieve him of his whelkes. 
 "She was healed of that plague." Mk. v. 29. So in A.S. with 
 the idea of separation, " alys us of yfele," deliver us from evil. 
 Morris explains "to help oft';" but hclf governs him in the 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 167 
 
 dative as in A.S., while help-off must be construed as a com- 
 pound verb governing whelkes. 
 
 633. 5////?/^ = staying — in spite of remedies. 
 
 635. Scan : And for | to drink | e strong | &c. 
 
 to drhike^ inf. to be construed as a noun after /b^. 
 
 636. as he -were = as if he vv^ere. The subjunctive, when indi- 
 cated by the termination, did not require the conjunction to 
 designate tlie mood. 
 
 637. ivhan ///<?/ = when; literally " at what [time] that." 
 hevjel dfonken hadde^ he had drunk a large quantity. " Every 
 
 man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men 
 have well drunk, then that which is worse." Jno. ii. 10. "And 
 when men be dronke." Tyndale. 
 
 638. Latyn = the language of the learned. 
 
 639. A fexve termcs. As a belongs only to singular nouns, 
 or nouns to be construed in the singular, it cannot limit termes ; 
 the real construction is " a few of terms." We find this partitive 
 construction regularly used after numerals ; e.g., a thousand men 
 (of men). 
 
 /er;«e5^ technical terms, — words used in a peculiar sense. 
 
 641. No ivojider /5 = it is no wonder; i.e., that he should 
 learn it, as he heard it all day in the courts. The Law writs all 
 followed a certain model, and hence each would be a repetition 
 of the other, except so far as change would be necessary to adapt 
 it to the particular circumstances of the case. The Summoner 
 is likened to a jay which learns to repeat words which it has 
 frequently heard. 
 
 642. ho'jo that ^\iO\\\ literally "in what way it is that; " hoxv 
 is the instrumental case of w>^/3:A "That thou mayest know how 
 that the earth is the Lord's.' Ex. ix. 29. 
 
 643. Can clepen Watte = can call Watt, just as parrots say 
 Poll. 
 
 644. so is the pronoun, added (cf. Lat. quis-quis) to render 
 the interrogative indefinite. 
 
 other thin^= other matters. 
 
 £-rope = try, test; literally', to feel with the hands. The orig- 
 inal force of this word is still maintained in the south-western 
 States; as, to " grabble potatoes," is to thrust the hand into the 
 hill, and select the largest, leaving the small ones to grow. 
 
 645. Thanne hadde he spent. All he knew was the phrases 
 which he had picked up. 
 
l68 NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 646. ^iiestio quid Juris. The question is, what is the law in 
 the case. "This kind of question occurs frequently in Ralph de 
 Hingham. After having stated a case, he adds ^iiid Juris, and 
 then proceeds to give the answer to it." T. 
 
 648. noght. Wright reads no'vher, — a better reading. 
 
 652. To pulle a fynch =to pluck (pill) a finch; i.e., to cheat 
 one out of his money. 
 
 654. Jiim^ — to hail. Double ace. after verbs of teaching, &c. 
 awe = dread. We use the word to denote that degree of fear 
 
 inspired by something great or sublime. 
 
 655. In such a caas. Morris reads '* in such caas." 
 Archedek/ies = archdeacon's, — an ecclesiastic next in rank 
 
 below a bishop, with authority to hold court and try and punish 
 ecclesiastical offences. It is worthy of note that the titles of 
 manj' of the officers of the church were assumed from words 
 meaning various grades of servants ; e.g., pastor, deacon, bishop, 
 &c. 
 
 656. But //"= except^ if his soul were not in his purse. 
 mannes ^= man's. The old full form of the genitive. We indi- 
 cate the elision by the (') apostrophe. 
 
 657. These four lines may be paraphrased thus : "He would, 
 in such a case, teach him to have no fear of the Archdeacon's 
 curse, unless his soul was in his purse, for he should be punished 
 only by a fine." 
 
 658. ^uod he = quoth he (pret.) Now used only in the ist 
 and 3d persons pret. to give an archaic effect; as, quoth /, quoth 
 he, sometimes corrupted into quotha. 
 
 659. right =^]\xst. Right IS still used colloquially to empha- 
 size the following Avord ; as, right away, right here, Just noxv 
 here. In dede => indeed, to be construed as an adverb, limited 
 by right. 
 
 660. Him drede = ^^ Each guilty man ought to be afraid for 
 himself of excommunication." Him, dative after o?/^7//f; evidently 
 here used with the sense of ozve, — a guilty man owes it to him- 
 self to be afraid, &c. Wright reads, " oweth ech gulty man." 
 
 661. curs used in the abstract = cursing. 
 
 662. And connects tvar and tcchen, \. 654, from whence xvolde 
 must be supplied. 
 
 VV^ar of him = war him of, — warn him against. 
 signijicavit = a writ of excommunication, which usually 
 began, " Significavit nobis venerabilis frater." 
 
NOTES TO TEE PROLOGUE. 169 
 
 663 Itt dau7iffcr =\\\t\-\\n his jurisdiction. The history of 
 the word dafisrer is most curious and instructive. " In Mid. Lat. 
 dam?iictn was used to signify a fine imposed bj legal authority. 
 The term was then elliptically applied to the limits over which 
 the right of a lord to the fines for territorial offences extended, 
 and then to the inclosed field of a proprietor. ... In this sense 
 the word was often rendered domage in French. Damage then 
 acquired the sense of trespass, intrusion into the close of another, 
 as in the legal phrase damage-feasant, whence Fr. dainager, to 
 distrain or seize cattle found in trespass. From this verb was 
 apparently formed the abstract domigerium^ signifying the power 
 of exacting a damnum or fine for trespass. Then as damage is 
 written damge in the laws of William the Conqueror, the fore- 
 going domigerium and the corresponding Fr. domagcr or dam- 
 ager would pass into damger, danger. . . . The term ^a;^^e;' was 
 equally applied to the right of exacting a fine for breach of terri- 
 torial rights, or to the fine or the rights themselves. . . . To be 
 in the danger of any one — esire en sou danger came to sig- 
 nify to be subjected to any one, to be in his power, or liable to a 
 penalty to be inflicted by him or at his suit, and hence the ordi- 
 nary acceptation of the word at the present day. As the penalty 
 might frequently be avoided by obtaining the license of the per- 
 son possessed of the right infringe.d, the word was applied to 
 such license or to exactions made as the price of permission." 
 Wedgwood. Littre derives danger from M. Lat. dominium. 
 
 assize = assize, court ; properly a court composed of a number 
 of judges. "The word assise is derived by Sir Edward Coke 
 from the Latin assideo, to sit together; and it signifies originally 
 the jury who try the cause, and sit together for that purpose. 
 By a figure it is now made to signify the court or jurisdiction 
 which summons this jury together." Blackstone, iii. 1S5. Tyr- 
 whitt reads "owen gise "=own way, pleasure. 
 
 664. g/i7'/es = young people of either sex. 
 "Grammar for gerlys I garte firste to write." P.P. 
 
 Cf. A.S. ccorl, a churl, a freeman of the lowest rank. These 
 two lines = he had the young people of the diocese within the 
 jurisdiction of his own court. 
 
 665. al here ;-<?(^= wholly their adviser; their adviser upon 
 all points; cf. "read me my riddle; " i.e., explain m^v riddle. 
 
 667. as it w<?;'e=as though it were. In all such cases, the 
 contingent conjunction is implied in the subjunctive mode of 
 the verb. 
 
170 NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 ale-stake, a stake hung with branches and leaves set up in 
 front of an ale-house for a sign. The custom of adorning the 
 front of ale-houses with live branches on festal occasions is still 
 kept up among us, particularly bj the Germans. 
 
 668. A bokeler, &c. Cakes wer#sold at the ale-houses; this 
 novel sort of a buckler was probably suggested to the poet by 
 the Sompnour's resemblance to an ale-stake. 
 
 " But firste, quod he, here at this ale-stake 
 I wol both drinke and biten ona cake." 
 
 C. T., 12,255. 
 
 669. Pardoner =^2i seller of indulgences, — a class of persons 
 who brought great scandal upon the church. 
 
 670. RoH7iceval. " Perhaps the name of some fraternity." T. 
 
 671. %vas comen = had come. Intransitive verbs in A.S. 
 formed the perfect and pluperfect with the auxiliary to be. Comen 
 is therefore the past participle, and the expression = that was 
 having recently come, &c. This periphrastic form describes the 
 actor rather than the act. 
 
 court of Rome =^ the. Papal court. Observe that Rome rhymes 
 with to me ; similarly, Gower rhymes th?ie with by me. 
 
 672. Fill iozvde^very loudly. The dative singular of any 
 adjective could be used as an adverb both in A.S. and in E.E. 
 From this fact we may easily explain the constant tendency, 
 particularly in colloquial language, to use adjectives instead of- 
 adverbs. 
 
 Come /li'der, &c. Probably the beginning or the refrain of a 
 well-known popular song. 
 
 Scan : Ful lowde | he sang | Com hid | er lov | e to me. 
 673. Burdoioi =^hass. Burdouu = a. staff or support; hence 
 in music denoting the fundamental part or bass upon which the 
 others rest or lean. 
 
 674. JVas^= there was. Such an omission must be explained, 
 as the omitted relative subject. 
 
 676. Hcng=^ hung. Strong verbs in A.S. changed the vowel 
 in the preterite, but also sometimes changed this vowel in the 
 different persons and numbers of the pret. ; whence arises the 
 confusion between saiig and sung, drank and drunk. A.S. sing. 
 sang, pi. sungon ; sing, dranc, pi. dru?ico?i. According to this 
 analogy we have hynge (hyngen) in the next line; although in 
 this verb there is no change in A.S. 
 
 677. By unces, &c., in separate portions hung the curls that 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 171 
 
 he had had, and therewith (i.e. with this dishevelled hair) he 
 covered his shoulders. The same idea is more clearly expressed 
 in 1. 679. 
 
 679. On and oon = one by one. The hair that had been curled 
 in ringlets hung in straight wisps- This sort of fashionable 
 carelessness admirably befits the character of the Pardoner. 
 
 6S0. i^(?;-y(?///^^ = because of his gayety. This use o{ for \^ 
 common in Shakspeare. See Abbott, Sh. Gr. § 150. Jolitce. 
 Some connect this with Eng. yiclcs Christmas, alluding to the 
 festivities of that occasion. 
 
 6S2. Him thoiighte = it seemed to him that he rode, &c. We 
 still say inethought without any apprehension of the construc- 
 tion, just as we say " if you please " without any recognition of 
 the dative j'o/^. 
 
 of the nezve get = Sifter the latest fashion, — the new style. 
 Of the 7ietve get is an adverbial element modifying rood ; al 
 modifies this adv. element. 
 
 6S5. Vernicle, diminutive ofVeronike or Veronica {vera-ico?t 
 = true image), a representation of the face of our Saviour, 
 printed upon a handkerchief, in imitation of the celebrated orig- 
 inal preserved with great veneration in St. Peter's church at 
 Rome. " Some believe that it [the original] is the same kerchief 
 which was put on Christ's face in the tomb, according to John, 
 XX. 7; others have persuaded themselves, but without proof, that 
 it is the kerchief with which a holy woman [St. Veronica] wiped 
 the Saviour's face when he went to INIount Calvary, bearing his 
 cross." See Encyc. Am. It was usual for persons returning 
 from pilgrimages to bring with them certain tokens of the several 
 places which they had visited, and therefore the Pardoner, who 
 is just arrived from Rome is represented with ' a vernicle sewed 
 upon his cappe.'" T. 
 
 *' A bolle and a bagge he bar by his syde 
 An hundred of ampulles on his hat seten, 
 Signes of Synay, and shells of Galice, 
 And many a crouche on his cloke and keyes of Rome 
 And the Vernicle bifore, for men sholde knowe 
 And se by hise signes whom he sought hadde." 
 
 P.P. v. 526. Skeat. 
 
 686. /r?//<? = lap. A.S. laeppa, a lap, border, hem. The 
 original meaning is retained in lapcl^ a fold of cloth like a hem, 
 
172 NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 used to hide a seam, &c. ; and in lappet sometimes called Jlap, 
 parts of a garment which hang loose; cf. Jiabby. 
 
 6S7. Brei-ful =:.\)x\xn-i\x\\\ full to the top. Tyrwhitt says the 
 meaning of this word is clearer than the etymology. O.E. brurd- 
 ful, A.S. brerd^ brink. See K. 1306. 
 
 " I bowed in blys bred ful my braynes." 
 
 E.E. Allit. Poems, A. 126. 
 " Er vche bothom wass brurd-ful to the bonkes egges." 
 
 lb. B. 383. 
 alhoot=^\ hot or fresh from Rome, — satirically compar- 
 ing the sellers of indulgences to the venders of eatables who thus 
 cry their wares. 
 
 " Cokes and here knaves crieden ' bote pies, bote! 
 Gode gris [pigs] and gees, gowe dyne gowe ! '" [come]. 
 
 P.P. Prol., 226. 
 688. voys . . . smal=^ a voice as weak. "A still small voice." 
 I Kg. xix. 12. 
 
 690. it refers to the part of the face usually covered with 
 beard. 
 
 692. Bertvyk, a seaport on the river Tweed, at the extreme 
 north of England, 
 
 Ware, a seaport on the channel. 
 
 693. suck another-. V^e no^ ?,?Ly a7iot/ier suck, oXihou^h suck a 
 is allowable. Another = « or an other; other (a-whether) = 
 any one [one of any two] ; suck another is therefore in strict 
 analogy with suck a. Many of these words which have the ter- 
 mination of the comparative retain the distributive idea involved 
 in the notion of comparison : thus vjketker = which one of two, 
 anotker = one of two. " Love one another " = love one of two 
 = one the other. As the force of the article in another is lost, 
 such will become the word of closer definition. Other is also 
 used in the plural as one is in A-S. and E.E. 
 
 694. ;;m/e= portmanteau. Literally a bag made of leather. 
 Because such bags are used in transporting matter sent by post, 
 such matter is called mail, and the bags by a reduplication are 
 called mail-bags. So also a " coat of mail " was originally a 
 coat of leather; cf. cuirass, Lat. corium, leather. 
 
 695. Whick tkat = \wh\c\i\ which as. Which being originally 
 an interrogative, that may have been added to give it a relatival 
 force. Abbott, Shak. Gr. § 250. But tkut may here have the 
 force of (75. 
 
 v 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 17 
 
 o 
 
 %vas onre lady veyl, literally = was the veil of the lady of us. 
 J^ady gen. for ladye. See note, 1. 88. 
 
 696. Gobet = ■0. small piece. "And they gadered up of the 
 gobbetes thatt remained." Matt. xiv. 20. (Tyndale). 
 
 697. 6"/. Peter ^ «&c. See Matt. xiv. 22-33. 
 ivkan that. See note, 1. i. 
 
 Scan : That sey | 'nt Pet [ er hadde | &c. 
 
 700. piggcs bones. Pretending that they were the bones of 
 some saint. This trade in relics is still kept up at Rome in spite 
 of all the efforts of the church to suppress it. 
 
 701. Bu/ = a.nd yet. Notice the adversative force of but, 
 implying a false pretence. 
 
 702. d-velly7ig upp07i /£);/(^= a parson living in the country. 
 So used frequently: "Land of Nod." Gen. iv. 16. Cf. landscape. 
 
 703. a day =^ one day. 
 ki7n^ dative of advantage. 
 
 moneye^f^xnon&y, Lat. mo^ieta, a surname of Juno, in whose 
 temple money was originally coined. Others derive the word 
 from monere^ to advise; that is, gold or silver so marked as to 
 advise one of its value. 
 
 704. Than t/iai^==^ than that which. Abbott (Shak. Gr. § 244) 
 suggests that the omission of the relative arose from the identitv 
 of the demonstrative l/iat and the relative (hat ; but it seems 
 more natural to suppose that the relative that grew out of the 
 demonstrative that, so that the construction without the relative 
 would be the original construction. 
 
 705. ivith^^hy or through. With and by both originally 
 signified juxtaposition, and thus easily catne to denote the rela- 
 tion of cause and effect. .^ 
 
 __^rt'/^;'/c = flattery : connected with the root of 7?^/ = origi- 
 nally to rub with the hand, or to lick the hand as a dog does. 
 In like manner, from the wagging of a dog's tail we have our 
 word ivhcedle. 
 
 706. Scan : the peopl' | his apes. 
 
 707. trewely to tellcn = to speak truly; to speak the truth. 
 atte laste= at the last. See note, 1. 29. 
 
 70S. chnrche= (i) a building dedicated to the Lord; (2) the 
 body of worshippers occupying the same; (3) those who agree 
 in certain points of doctrine ; (4) all who believe in the Christian 
 faith. " Church is from the Greek KvptaKT], and signifies that 
 
174 NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE, 
 
 which pertains to the Lord, or the house which is the Lord's." 
 Trench. This etymology is questioned by some. 
 
 a noble ecclestaste ^^ ■a.n ecclesiastic of high standing, having 
 the same rank among ecclesiastics that a noble has in society. 
 
 709. slorye^a story (abbreviated from /n'slory), here evidently 
 alludes to passages from the lives of saints which were read 
 in divine service. Story (history) originally denoted matters 
 learned by inquiry, and from the incredible narrations so fre- 
 quently told by travellers, the word came easily to signify a false 
 account, as well as an entertaining narrative. 
 
 710. al^/ierbes^ =^hest of all. A.S. aller, gen. pi., sometimes 
 strengthened to alder or alther. See note on here aller^ 1. 586; 
 also 11. 799, 823. 
 
 sang an offertorie ^^= intoned the sentences said or sung while 
 the offerings (alms) were being collected. A fine satire upon 
 his avarice. 
 
 713. To wy7tne^=io gain,- inf. of purpose. 
 
 as he right ivel coxvde refers to affyle. 
 
 71^. Therefore ^^ior this reason; i.e., that he might win 
 silver. 
 
 715. clause: a portion of a book or document separated from 
 the rest; hence a "book" of a poem, a chapter or a paragraph, 
 a sentence, or even a part of a sentence, separated by punc- 
 tuation. 
 
 716. Thestai, fhar ray = the estate, the array. This synco- 
 pation is.very common in E.E. 
 
 717. Why tliat= why (it was) that. 
 
 719. highte = is called : active in form but passive in meaning. 
 
 faste. The original meaning of this word seems to be that of 
 fixedness, strength, e.g., 2i fastness ; hence it denotes that which 
 is immovable, either physically or mentally. From this idea of 
 strength comes the idea of contiguity : " Siloa's brook that flowed 
 fast by the oracle of God." The idea of closeness naturally passes 
 into that of rapidity; hence vigorous action. 
 
 faste by^= near to. By= near, which faste simply emphasizes 
 by repetition ; c^. fast asleep. "Abide here fast by my maidens." 
 Ruth ii. 8. Hard is used in the same way for emphasis, with 
 the idea of proximity; e.g., "Whose house joined hard to the 
 synagogue." Acts xviii. 7. " My soul foUoweth hard after thee." 
 Ps. Ixiii. 8. 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. I75 
 
 720. is tyme = it is the proper time. Tyme is the subject = the 
 proper time is now. 
 
 to telle = to narrate. Tell= to speak, takes the dative of the 
 indirect object. 
 
 721. Hotv that= in what way it was that; how. 
 
 bare ?^5 = conducted, behaved ourselves; cf. bearing" =dQ- 
 portment. 
 
 722. alight = ^.W^hied. Verbs ending in i, preceded by a 
 consonant, drop the ^ of the pret., as caste for casted; so also in 
 the p.p. 
 
 723. <7/?er = hereafter, afterwards. After is the comparative 
 oi aft, behind. 
 
 725. of your curtesie ; an adverbial element, modifying re//^. 
 Pray takes two ace, — one of the person, you; and one of the 
 thing, that ye ne rette it. Sic. 
 
 726. that ye, &c. = that ye do not ascribe it to my ill- 
 breeding. 
 
 727. Though />^(7/ = though it be that, although. 
 
 «/ ^/e>7z^ plainly. Plain literally is level (^flane)', hence 
 without obstructions : " Lead me in a plain path." Ps. xxvii. 11. 
 Clear, without obstruction to the sense: -'They (words) are all 
 plain." Prov. viii. 9. Easy of approach, without formalities: 
 "Jacob was a plain man" (Gen. xxv. 27), here means without 
 being checked by the proprieties of societj'. 
 
 729. properly^ according as each spoke them. Sec note, 1. 581. 
 
 731. schal is the oldest future auxiliary, and is always used 
 except where it would be ambiguous, implying constraint as well 
 as futurity. In the authorized version of the Bible we often find 
 shall where usually will would be more idiomatic, while will is 
 quite generally used in the sense of willing or wishing. " If thou 
 wilt thou canst make me clean." " I will, be thou clean." Mark 
 i. 40, 41. In the languages derived from the Latin, the future is 
 formed by means of habeo (have), implying the same idea of 
 necessity. The Gothic uses have in this sense, while in our 
 present idiom, as, an auxiliary, it implies constraint. The 
 original force of shall was that of obligation, in which sense the 
 preterite is still used. It implies duty, and henceynecessity of a 
 moral kind, equivalent to to o've, ought. Will denotes simple 
 volition, and thus simple futurity. It is worthy of notice, that 
 one class of languages have formed the notion of futurity from 
 the idea of compulsion, and the other from that of choice. 
 
176 NOTES TO TEE PROLOGUE. 
 
 " The assertion of will, or of duty, seems to have been considered 
 as implying, to a certain extent, the power to will or to impose 
 a duty. As a man has power to will for himself only, it was 
 only in the first person that the verb ivill could be used with this 
 signification. Again : the power which overrides the will, to 
 impose a duty, must proceed from external agency, and conse- 
 quently 5//«// could not be employed to denote such power in the 
 person." Dr. Guest, quoted in Craik, E. of S., 218, "I shall, 
 yon ivill, and he -will, are generally simply future predictions; 
 and 7vill and shall are true auxiliaries. I -will, you shall, and he 
 shall-, are expressions of determination; and will and shall are 
 not true auxiliaries. No very satisfactory explanation of a dis- 
 tinction apparently so arbitrary has been given, though some 
 ingenious suggestions as to the origin of it have been offered; 
 but, whatever foundation may once have existed for this nicety, 
 it now answers no intellectual purpose. There is little risk in 
 predicting that, at no very distant day, this verbal quibble will 
 disappear, and that one of the auxiliaries will be employed with 
 all persons of the nominative exclusively as the sign of the future, 
 and the other only as an expression of purpose or authority." 
 Marsh, Lect. Eng. Lang., 659. 
 
 732. rehercc^ rehearse. "To rehcrcer, to go over again like 
 a harrow (Fr. hcrce) over a ploughed field." Morris. Webster's 
 Diet, says, "Probably from prefix re and hearsay.'^ 
 
 as evere he can. Ever (A.S. aefer from «) denotes continuity 
 in time; but in such colloquial expressions the word rather 
 denotes continued endeavor. The expression = as he may be 
 able to at all times. Ca7i is not an auxiliary here. 
 
 733. charge ^='a.n undertaking. l^^.i. carrus, a car; whence 
 cargo, a load, and Fr. charger, to load ; also carricare, to load 
 (whence caricature). From this root come car, cart, chariot, 
 carry, &c. A charge is therefore something to be carried, — 
 a burden, a commission, a solemn injunction; also cost, debt, 
 &c. ; also an accusation of crime, the disgrace of which one car- 
 ries like a burden. 
 
 734. Al speke ^^ = although he may speak. The verb being 
 subj. needed no conjunction. 
 
 nevere so. Having abandoned the profusion of negatives, 
 we usually write " ever so." 
 
 large = coarse, vulgar. Compare the similar meanings of 
 gross. 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 177 
 
 736. tvordes «ewe = unfamiliar words. 
 
 737- spare = refrain ; i.e., from rehearsing as nigh as ever he 
 can. 
 
 ke were his brother. He here refers to the original teller of 
 the storj. 
 
 738. He moot, &c. = He must as well say a word that is im- 
 polite as one that is refined. 
 
 739. Crist s_/>ak himself. This arrangement is still used for 
 emphasis as, " He told me so himself." 
 
 /ul broode = sivoiding the niceties of speech. ISIany of the 
 words used to denote vulgarity originally signified greatness of 
 size, e.g., gross, coarse, large, broad; while words denoting 
 neatness on the contrary were taken from those implying little- 
 ness ; cf. clean, Ger. hlein, little. 
 
 wr/V= writing, that wliich is written; used at present only 
 in the expression "Holy Writ;" and to denote a legal instru- 
 ment, as a "writ of error." 
 
 740. ye, nom. ; dat. and ace. yoii. See 1. 743. The use of you 
 in the nominative is comparatively recent. 
 
 Vileiuye = depraved discourse, which breaks the rules of good 
 breeding. "In our modern language it [depraved discourse] is 
 termed villainy, as being proper for rustic boors, or men of 
 coarsest education and employment, who having their minds 
 debased by being conversant in meanest affairs do vent their 
 sorry passions in such strains." Dr. Barrow. 
 
 741. whoso that can him rede = if that any one can read him. 
 Who and whoso are used indefinitely. "As who should say." 
 Rich. H. V. 4. 
 
 "And am as who saith loves knave." Gower ii. 131. 
 "After the flood fro which Noe 
 Was sauf, the worlde in his degre 
 Was made as who saith new agein." lb. ii. iSi. 
 
 742. cosyn=related to, in keeping with. 
 
 743. foryeve it me. Me dat. of indirect object. In A.S. the 
 usual construction after gifan, forgifan was the dative of the 
 person with the accusative of the thing. "And forgyf us ure 
 gyltas, swa swa we forgyfath urum gyltendum." Matt. vi. 12. 
 
 744. Al have I nat^= although I may not have set, &c. 
 
 745. as that ^:=vi\\e\-e that, how that. The pronominal force 
 of as allows of its use instead of which and where, as even now 
 in some dialects. 
 
 12 
 
178 NOTES TO THE PROLOQUE. 
 
 >» 
 
 " That gentleness . . asl was wont to have.' 
 
 Jul. C. i. 2. 
 tJiei schulde stonde = they ought to stand. Chaucer forms all 
 the oblique cases of the plural of the personal pronouns from the 
 Southern form /ii ; while the nominative, as here, is formed 
 from the Northern ^/lai: We have extended the use of the demon- 
 strative, and write ^/lem instead of /lem, which we still use in col- 
 loquial speech, — pronounced em. 
 
 746. 5c-//(?;'/ = deficient, wanting. Still used in this sense, as 
 " short of funds." 
 
 747. us evericJion = each one of us, — dative of indirect object. 
 ^Z't^/'zV://(?« = ever-each-one, gives us a distributive force. 
 
 749. atte des^e = in the best manner. See note, 1. 29. 
 
 750. afid ivel to drynke us leste = and to drink pleased us well ; 
 i.e., it pleased us well to drink. Lcste takes to drmke as its 
 subject, and u^ as its accusative object. 
 
 751. our-e koost he, redundant pronoun. After a subject which 
 has been introduced some time before its verb, or after a subject 
 with appositive clauses, or (as in this instance) when both predi- 
 cate and subject precede the verb, the subject pronoun is often 
 introduced immediately preceding the verb. See Abbott, Shak. 
 Gr. §§ 242, 243, for illustrations of this usage in Shakspeare. 
 
 Our host was withal a man suitable to have been, &c. 
 
 752. marsc/ial =^ marshal of the hall, — whose duty it was at 
 public festivals to place each person according to his rank. We 
 still use the word in this sense when we speak of the marshal of 
 a procession, and to marshal an army, a host, &c. 
 
 753. eyghen stepe. See 1. 201 and note. 
 
 754. fairere bHrgeys^=2^ more respectable citizen. 
 
 C>^g^g = Cheapside in London. To cheapcti meant to buy, 
 Pepys in his Diary speaks of cheapening goods in the market; 
 cheap-side^ literally = the market place. 
 
 756. ma7jhede = va2i.n\\oo6.. Hede (hood, head) denotes charac- 
 ter or condition; e.g., childhood, knighthood, godhead. 
 
 him lakhede^ there lacked to him right nothing. Tl/fn is 
 dative after verbs ofwatit. 
 
 757. right a mery man = just one merry man, — a right merry 
 man. 
 
 758. playe?t = to make sport; inf. after bygan. 
 
 759. a;;zo«^t'5 ^ amongst, among. A.S. on mang, from meu' 
 gian (Ger. mengcn^, to mix; on mang would therefore literally 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 179 
 
 = /;/ a mzxttcre. The superlative termination seems to have been 
 added for the sake of emphasis. It is worth while to note the 
 termmations of the prepositions, and observe whether they are 
 comparative or superlative; as, primarily, the comparative degree 
 expresses relation between two onlj', while the superlative ex- 
 presses the widest possible relation ; we may observe the appli- 
 cation of this rule in all relational words. E.g. comp. ovey, 
 after, tinder, for, fore, before. Sic : supl. amidst, amongst, alo7igst^ 
 also from (old supl. ?na) : also words derived from the pronouns ; 
 e.g., other, either, xvhether, hither, thither, &c. 
 
 760. hadde maad our rekenynges = had made our reckonings ; 
 i.e., had paid our accounts. " Howbeit there was no reckoning 
 made with them." 2 Kg. xxii. 7; i.e., there was no formal set- 
 tlement. 
 
 761. Lo, an exclamation to call attention, usually ho, A.S. la. 
 Halloo is probably a combination oi ho and la, or it may be k-la- 
 la, eala ! 
 
 762. Te ben. The plural form aron (^earoji) is rare in A.S. 
 It seems to have arisen from a stem ar instead of is, whence we 
 get in the plural aroti in place of sindou. The influence of the 
 Danes, in whose language r is quite frequently substituted for 5, 
 would naturally fix this plural in use. 
 
 right welcome hertely ^ right heartily welcome. 
 
 763. if that I schal Jiot lie=^\i so be that I must not lie. Schal 
 is here used with its primary meaning of obligation. 
 
 764 this yeer^=di\xr\ng this year, ace. of time. 
 
 766. ivolde I don you^\ would wish to cause to you. To 
 cause is the common meaning o{ do in A.S. and E.E., and is still 
 retained in certain phrases : " I do you to wit "^I cause you to 
 know. 
 
 "Which some hath put to shame and many done be dead." 
 
 Spenser, F. Qj, v. 4, § 29. 
 That is, hath caused many to be dead. 
 
 don (inf.) takes mirthe, direct object in ace, and you indirect 
 in dative. 
 
 xviste I hoxu =^d\d I know how = if I knew how. IViste is 
 subjunctive. We still use the subjunctive in such constructions 
 without a conjunction. " O had I the Avings of a dove." " Hadst 
 thou been here my brother had not died." Jno. xi. 32. 
 
 767. by thought = hethought, reminded. The prefix be gives 
 an active signification to many verbs otherwise intransitive. 
 
l8o NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 768. To dooii you eese. Gerundial infinitive phrase depend- 
 ing upon jnirtke. * 
 
 769. God you speede = m^y God prosper you. "Speed the 
 plough." 
 
 770. qnyte you youre mcede=^may the blessed martyr grant 
 you your reward. 
 
 martyr, literally = a witness : early applied to those who gave 
 testimony to their religion by their death. 
 
 771. by the 2veye = on the way. "Did not our heart burn 
 within us, while he talked with us by the way.?" Luke 
 xxiv. 32. 
 
 772. 2c5c^^/^;?j'^?x'= you get yourselves in readiness to tell 
 stories, &c. 
 
 773. Scan : For trew | ely | comfort | ne mirthe ] is noon. 
 For indeed there is no comfort or mirth in riding, &c. 
 
 774. Scan : To ry | de by | the weye | Sic. 
 To rydc, inf. subject of /5. 
 
 775. vjol I make7i=^\ am willing (wish) to make some sport 
 for you. 
 
 776. <fcj'<?// = cause to you. 
 
 777. if you liketh alle = \{ it please you all. The subject of 
 liketh is the idea contained in the next two lines, rather than any 
 particular words, although to standen and to iverken can be so 
 construed. 
 
 ^^S. for to sta7ide7i^=^\.o stand. In A.S. to was never used 
 with the infinitive, but was used with the dative gerund ; when 
 inflection was lost, this dative was denoted by the preposition 
 for; and when the gerund had merged into the infinitive for to 
 (often written together y<?r/<?, forte) was adopted as the regular 
 sign of the infinitive. " Is the leouere vorte beon Judases feolawe 
 then Jesu Cristes fere.?" An. R. 284. Do you prefer to /5<? Judas's 
 fellow than Jesus Christ's companion.? 
 
 779. for to werke?i = to act, to do. 
 
 I schal you seye=^\ shall say to you, — direct 3'ou. 
 
 7S0. To-mortve=^\.o-vc\oxxo\N (the morrow). To in such in- 
 stances has grown out of the demonstrative pronoun, e.g., to-day^ 
 to-night; i.e., this (the) day; the (this) night. 
 
 781. By the soul of my father, who is dead. That refers to 
 fadres. Such reference of the relative is not uncommon in E.E. 
 "Cain's jawbone that did the first murder." Ilamlet. "And 
 this is the Fatlier's will, which hath sent me." Jno. vi. 39. 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. l8l 
 
 soulc = ?,o\x\ : pronounced so'vl. A.S. sa'^vl from satvan to 
 sow; hence the principle or germ of life. 
 
 782. But^=\( not, except. 
 
 sjnytetk of^ smite off. The usual termination of the impera- 
 tive pi. was elk. A.S. aik. See 1. 788- 
 
 of^=o&. We have discriminated between these two meanings 
 by the spelling, — the priinary meaning being that of separation, 
 which is retained in off; while of denotes the logical separation 
 implied in cause and effect or origin. 
 
 myn gen. of 7c. 
 
 783. yourc hond = your hands. Strictly speaking, we have 
 no true possessive pronouns; what we use as possessives are 
 really genitives. "My book" is not liber 7neus, hut liber mei : 
 hence the noun need not be in agreement with the pronoun. 
 Toure is here used with a distributive force = each of you. 
 
 sfeche. We say " without any further words." 
 
 784. Oure couiiseil, consilitcm nostri. 
 
 for to sec/ie = to be sought, — a gerund, depending upon longe; 
 as, " the ship is ready to sail," " the house is ready to be let." 
 
 785. Us thoughte = it seemed to us. 
 
 it xvas nat worth = it was not worth whil-e. 
 
 to make it tvys^to make it a matter of wisdom or delibera- 
 tion; of. " He made it strange " = he made it a matter of diffi- 
 culty." 
 
 786. gramitede. The object is omitted; supply " his propo- 
 sition ; " him is dative after verbs of giving, &c. 
 
 7S7. bad= desired. To seize is the direct object, him dative 
 of indirect. The original signification of bid is to pray, hence 
 bead= -prayer. From this meaning it passes to that of com- 
 mand; when offered by an inferior it is a prayer, when by a 
 superior it is a command. The subjunctive is used in Greek as 
 an imperative, according to this principle. 
 
 As hi)}t liste = iis it might seem good to him. 
 
 788. herkneth, imperative; so also taketh in next line. 
 for the beste = finally ; as we say " for good." 
 
 789. Scan : But tak'th | it not | I praye | &c. 
 it refers to the suppressed object of herkyieth. 
 
 790. to spekcji, an independent clause, — to be construed like 
 a dative absolute. 
 
 791. to schorte= to shorten ; infinitive of purpose after telle. 
 ^/M = therewith, withal. The object of the preposition is 
 
l82 NOTES TO THE PROLOOUE. 
 
 omitted, but can easily be supplied from the context. "And he 
 took a potsherd to scrape himself withal." Job ii. 8; i.e., with 
 which to scrape himself. 
 
 792. tales tiveye. Only one was told. Either these lines are 
 corrupt or the plan of the work was left incomplete. If we read 
 other too (an other too) for other tzvo, so that the lines would 
 mean " each shall tell two tales, — one going to Canterbury and 
 another coming," — we would perhaps have an easy explanation 
 of the difficulty. Other was regularly used for sccotid in A.S- 
 This view seems to be sustained by " I mene it so," 1. 793. 
 
 793. ward — a suffix denoting situation, direction, either 
 physical or (figuratively) intellectual ; often used with to as a 
 strengthened form. " Thy thoughts which are to us ward." Ps. 
 xl. 5. " His works have been to thee ward very good." i Sam. 
 xix. 4. " The grace of God . . . to you ward." Eph. iii. 2. "To 
 the mercy seat ward." Ex. xxxvii. 9 ; cf. toward^ forward^ up- 
 ivard, Sic. 
 
 I me?ie it so = th2Lt is to say. It is redundant. Shakspeare 
 has "foot it," "queen it," Milton "trip it as you go." This use 
 is now confined to colloquial language. 
 
 795. han bifalle = have happened. " It fell on a day." When 
 followed by an object this verb takes the dative ; it is therefore 
 usually called transitive. 
 
 796* which of you that = whoever, with something of a de- 
 monstrative force added, as though == " that one of you which." 
 This construction is common in Chaucer. As which was orig- 
 inally an interrogative, that may have been added to give a 
 relatival force. 
 
 >^/w == himself. The A.S. had — and consequently the Eng- 
 lish has — no reflexive pronoun. We change the personal pro- 
 nouns into reflectives by the addition of self, which was origi- 
 nally an emphatic but not a reflexive form. 
 
 797. That is to seyn. That refers to the previous sentence ; 
 to seyn is predicate. 
 
 in this caas = under these circumstances. 
 
 798. sentence and most solas =^t\\Q most instructive and the 
 most amusing. Sentence here refers to the ideas, or thought of 
 the story. A grammatical sentence is so called because it ex- 
 presses a complete thought. 
 
 779. at youre alther cost = at the cost of you all. Toure, gen. 
 pi. of you J alther gen. pi. of a//. 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 183 
 
 800. Here in this j)lace ; i.e., at his hostelry: the idea is re- 
 peated for emphasis. 
 
 j)ost. See note 1. 214. The doorpost of his inn, or perhaps 
 the post in front of his house. Dealers chalked the debts of their 
 customers upon the doorposts; hence the phrase "to post ac- 
 counts." Sheriffs had posts before their doors upon whicli proc- 
 lamations were affixed; hence the phrase "to post a person as 
 a coward." 
 
 801. ive come = v^e. shall come. The A.S. has no inflected 
 future tense, but regularly used the present instead. 
 
 802. the more mcry. The is here the instrumental case of the 
 demonstrative, and corresponds to how ; it is usually called an 
 adverb. It is equivalent to the Lat. co, by that, by so much. It 
 is hardly necessary to say that this the must be carefully distin- 
 guished from the article. 
 
 803. /Tf<?/= I wish. " I will that thou give me . . . the head 
 of John the Baptist." Mk. vi. 25. 
 
 myselven = for myself, dative sometimes called ethical. 
 
 805. xvithseie = gainsay, oppose. With originally signifies 
 juxtaposition, which of course may imply opposition, which 
 sense it usually retains in compounds, as -zvithstajid. 
 
 809. therefore = for this — there being the dative of the de- 
 monstrative. 
 
 ?ne = myself. See note 1. 796. 
 
 810. cure othes szvore ^=\\Q. swore our oaths. The subject is 
 omitted; it must be supplied here and with prayeden in the next 
 line. As the inflections of the second and third persons singular 
 are retained, they most readily drop the nominative ; the other 
 persons, ending alike, become indistinguishable if the pronouns 
 or subjects are omitted, and hence sufter the omission less fre- 
 quently. 
 
 stuore. From the meaning (i) to affirm, srvear passes to mean 
 (2) affirming solemnly, or under oath, and (3) to appealing to 
 God as a witness of the truth of the statement; and (4) to such 
 appeals in a blasphemous manner. 
 
 812. After the pres. indie, we use the present infinitive objec- 
 tively; e.g. "We pray you to vouchsafe us;" in narration of 
 past events, the pres. indie, becomes a preterite, and, instead 
 of the past infinitive, we may use a subjunctive sentence after 
 that ; if the prayer was refused, we would still use the present 
 inf. ; e.g., "We prayed him to vouchsafe," — but he refused. 
 
184 NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 813. oure, plural as shown bj final e, and cannot agree with 
 gov em our ; it is, therefore, genitive. 
 
 815. sette^ prepare; cf. '*set the table." 
 
 At a certeyn prys = at a fixed price, ■ — at a price determined 
 oeforehand. This precaution maj have been suggested bj the 
 payment of their bills. 
 
 816. rexulcd =^ ruled. The peculiar sound of u in rule is indi- 
 cated by the vowel w. The word was formerly spelled riwle ; 
 so Jews, Ghvs. 
 
 817. In JieigJt and loxve = in all things. Such expressions are 
 common in E.E. to denote completeness. 
 
 " Don we hit wolleth 
 Lude and stille 
 
 Al the kinges wille." Layamon, i. 156. 
 By oon assejti = with one consent, unanimouslj'. 
 819. i/ierupon, literally = up on this (either place or time). 
 i/ie vjyji ivas fct = the wine was brought. Drinking upon the 
 conclusion of a contract is still a custom in many places ; cf. 
 drink-penny = earnest-money. 
 
 S23. oure alt/ier = of us all, gen. pi. 
 
 coA' = leader, — gathering his company as a cock gathers and 
 leads his hens. 
 
 824. togidre^ together. To has an intensive force, as in verbs 
 to-break, Sic. 
 
 al/e, in apposition with t(s. 
 
 Scan : and gad | rede us | to-gidr' | alle in | a flok. 
 
 825. paas = foot pace. " A/«5 with Chaucer means always, 
 I believe, a foot pace." T. A little more than pace = a little 
 faster than a walk. 
 
 826. f//e zvaterynge of sei)it T/iomas, — "a place for watering 
 horses, I suppose, a little out of the borough of Southwark, on 
 the road to Canterbury." T. 
 
 827. bigan — «/'e5/e = halted. Bigan, literally = began, but 
 is here used, as it is quite commonly in E.E., as an auxiliary = 
 did; usually abbreviated to gan. 
 
 "And thanne gan alle the comune crye in vers of Latin." 
 
 P.P. Pro. 143. 
 *' His blisse gan he tyne ; " i.e., did he lose. 
 
 lb. i. 112. 
 As the strict meaning of do = to cause, the construction with 
 this auxiliary would be the same. 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 185 
 
 829. / it you recorde = I remind you of it, — double ace. 
 ^'eccr^^, actively = to remind ; reflexively = to call to mind, 
 
 to remember. Hence also to place facts where they can be called 
 to mind; i.e., on record. 
 
 830. even-song- a?id mortve-song-= evening song and morning 
 song; i.e., vespers and matins, — evidently a proverb. 
 
 831. L,at se= let us see ; literally, permit us to see, — tis being 
 dative. Le^ is one of the few verbs which retain the old con- 
 struction with the infinitive without the preposition to. 
 
 iv/io scAal telle = who must tell, — whose place it is to tell. 
 If will were used here the sense would be quite dift'erent. 
 
 832. I moot =1 may. A.S. Icmot, A burlesque imprecation 
 well suited to the host's calling. 
 
 833. IV/ioso de = whoever may he, — shall be: we would per- 
 haps say "whoever is." The subj. makes this = if any one shall 
 be rebel ^e shall pay. 
 
 834. is spent = is to be spent, — shall be spent. 
 
 835. y(?;'//^<?/'= further ; from the root /ore. 
 tivynne^^to proceed in different directions. 
 
 " Yet can I make other folk to twinne 
 From avarice." C.T. 12,364. 
 *' Leoue ureond beoth sorie hwon heo schulen twinnen." An. R. 
 396. Dear friends are sad when they must part. 
 
 836. Which />^a^ = which ; whoever it may be that. 
 
 83S. ner for nerre^= nearer. Near is strictly the comparative 
 of A.S. neah, nigh, as next is the superlative. We have taken 
 this comparative as a new base, and compare it as though it were 
 a positive ; so that nearer {neah-er-er) is really a double compar- 
 ative, while next (A.S. neahst) has lost all conscious relation 
 with near. 
 
 840. lat he, &c. = cease your shamfastness ; cf. the colloquial 
 expression " let me be." 
 
 schainfastnesse= modesty. It is to be regretted that we have 
 given a false idea to this beautiful word by a vicious orthography, 
 — shamefacedness. The termination \s fast, fixed, as in stead- 
 fast =^ fixed in place, ya5^ asleep = fixed in sleep. The Old Eng- 
 lish soothfast, truthful, is also unfortunately obsolete. Shajue- 
 fast = fixed in modesty. 
 
 841. iVe = and not, like Lat. ne. 
 
 ley to. In modern English when verbs and prepositions are 
 compounded, the preposition usually stands last, like the sepa 
 
l86 NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 rable prepositions in German, unless the two have coalesced into 
 a new idea, so that the force of the preposition is no longer dis- 
 tinctly recognized. Such prepositions are usually erroneously 
 classed as adverbs. Inattention to the true construction of the 
 preposition has occasioned this error, and not infrequently an 
 entire misconception of certain expressions, as " and all to-brake 
 his skull." Judges ix. 53. Here all (properly alle, adverbial 
 dative) is an adverb emphasizing the verb. To adds the idea of 
 completeness in this case. In other cases it has its true prepo- 
 sitional force; e.g., " He that hath received his testimony hath 
 set to (set-to) his seal that God is true." John iii. 33. Set-to 
 = affixed. Ley-to is here the A.S. to-lecgati, and is used pre- 
 cisely as set-to in the passage quoted. 
 
 There is here a fine touch of humor in the implied fact that 
 all except the Knight, the Prioress, and the Clerk, pressed for- 
 ward to "draw cuts," while these three hung back through a 
 native modesty. 
 
 846. ivkich refers to the fact stated in the former sentence, 
 and not to any particular word. 
 
 847. as tvas resou7i = as was reasonable. 
 
 848. By = according to. 
 composicioun = agreement. 
 
 " I crave our composition may be written." Shak. 
 Resoiin and Composicioun are still French words to Chaucer, 
 as is shown by the accent. 
 
 849. ivhat needeth xvordes moo = w\\:ii need is there of more 
 words.? literally, as to what (why) does it [to show this] need 
 more words.'' 
 
 tv/iat, ace, used adverbially like Lat. quid. 
 
 needeth, impersonal. *' The impersonal needs [needeth] 
 (which must be distinguished from the adverbial genitive needs') 
 ... is often found with xvhat, where it is sometimes hard to say 
 whether what is an adverb and need a verb, or ivhat an adjective 
 and need a noun." Abbott, Shak- Gr. § 297. In this case the 
 termination (changed in Shakspeare to 5 and dropped) indicates 
 the verbal character oi needeth, and the construction is clear. 
 
 851. As he that zvys xvas ; i.e., as he who was wise and ready 
 to keep his promise of his own free will would say, so he said. 
 
 854. TF-^a// an exclamation. P^F>^j/ is used similarly. 
 a Goddes name = in God's name ; a = in. 
 
 855. herkneth tvhat^^- listen to what. This use of hearken as 
 
NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. 187 
 
 a transitive verb, although frequent in Milton and Shakspeare, 
 is now obsolete. 
 
 856. rviih has here nearly its original force of immediate jux- 
 taposition. 
 
 riden-for/h, to be taken together. Cf. forth-going. 
 lueye, ace., of cognate signification. Cf. " to go a journej," 
 " to dream a dream." 
 
 857. right a inerie chere^^'x'C^ a right merry countenance. 
 " This usage [inserting a] is found in the earlier text of Lay- 
 amon (a.d. 1200), 'long a time (longe ane stunde),' ii. 290, 
 where the adjective appears merely to be emphasized and not 
 used adverbially. In the later text the adjective is placed here 
 and in other passages in its ordinary position." Abbott, Shak. 
 Gr., § 85. 
 
NOTES TO THE KNIGHTES TALE. 
 
NOTES TO THE KNIGHTES TALE. 
 
 2. duk^=duke, king; literally, leader. Titles of rank were 
 nearly all of military origin. 
 
 5. That grettere, &c. =that there was none greater. 
 
 6. Contre. See note, p. 216. Accented here on the first 
 syllable; in 1. 11, on the last. 
 
 7. That refers to swi'c/i, 1. 4. 
 
 9. C/V^ca = Scythia. 
 
 10. /ic. Subject inserted, although the sentence is connected 
 to the preceding by and. When a proper name is separated from 
 the verb, or when from the number of conjunctional sentences 
 the connection would be obscure, the redundant pronoun sub- 
 ject is often inserted. See Abbott, Shak. Gr. §§ 242, 243. 
 
 12. 7noc/ic glori'e^^^ great glory. Muck when used alone has 
 now rather a collective sense, a great number, a great amount. 
 14. Scan : And thus | with vie | tor' i'and 1 &c. 
 
 16. ^05/ = army. Lat. j^^5//5, an enemy. 
 
 «;'w^5 = weapons. "As the arm itself is the natural weapon 
 of offence, it is possible that the word arm in the sense of weapon 
 may be simply an application of the same word." Wedgwood. 
 See note P., iii. 
 
 17. A^<? re = ne were ^^ were not. 
 
 /£> = too, in addition. To and too are differences in spelling 
 the same word. From the idea of «^-dition implied in to., we 
 gain the idea oi too. 
 
 To heere. Gerundial inf. 
 
 21. for the vo7ies. See note P., 379. 
 
 26. Tempest, a time specially to be remembered. See note 
 P., 406. Tyrwhitt reads temple. 
 
 hoom comyjige. Can be construed as a comp'ound noun. 
 
 27. as now = for the present, however; cf. Lat. utcunquc. 
 
192 NOTES TO THE KNIQETES TALE. 
 
 28. God -wot = God "knows] a mild form of asseveration. 
 
 e/-e = plough. Earth is from this root. "I have a rough 
 valley which is neither eared nor sown." Deut. xxi. 4. "I have 
 an half acre to erje." P.P. vi. 4. 
 
 29. hi my ^plough = attached to mj plough. We use on in 
 similar constructions. 
 
 31. I ivol not lettc, &c. = I desire not to hinder any one of all 
 this company. 
 
 Lette, inf. after wol. 
 
 eek nan = none at all : literally, " also no one." 
 
 32. aboute = in his turn. 
 
 33. lat see = \Qt us see. Pronoun omitted, or coalesced with 
 verb, as though lat s'see. 
 
 34. ther I lafte = where I left off. 
 
 37. moste ^ryde =^ greatest pride. 
 
 38. He was war = he was aware. War denotes those habits 
 implying caution, as looking around, also the results of such 
 circumspection, knowledge ; cf. aivare, beware, wary. 
 
 caste, pret. Verbs ending in t are often thus abbreviated. 
 
 39. /lye weye = highway. High refers not to altitude, but to 
 prominence, — opposed to hy-y^ay. So A.S. heah synn = a great 
 sin, and English high sea. 
 
 40. tweye and tzveye = two and two ; by twos. 
 
 41. Ech after other = (each) one after another. Other is not 
 now used in such constructions without the article. Other is in 
 form comparative and strictly means the second of two, and 
 thus in A.S. is frequently used where we use second; cf. Lat. 
 alter = secutidus. 
 
 43. creature, trissj'llable. 
 
 44. That herde = that ever heard. 
 
 such another = another such. We say such a, but not such 
 another, because of the duality implied in another; if the dis- 
 tributive force of another had been retained, the old form would 
 be more correct; cf. many a. See note, P. 168. 
 
 48. Pertourben — disturb. We have retained the noun J>er- 
 turbation, but the verb is obsolete. 
 
 50. that thus = that ye thus, &c. That correlates with so in 
 the preceding line. 
 
 52. telleth, imp. And tell me (what is the matter) if it is 
 any thing that may be amended. 
 
 53. And xuhy — tell me why. 
 
NOTES TO THE KNIQHTES TALE. 193 
 
 al in blak = wholly in black. 
 
 56. I?ou^//e = sorrowful; UteraUy sofrozi/. I^u^/i/ess is current, 
 but rii//i is obsolete. 
 
 Jbr to seeft or heere, gerundial inf. triste visit, audiiuque. 
 
 57. Fortune. Personified as the goddess of Fortune. 
 59. Nought =^ 710 tu/iit =^ in no respect, ace. of measure, 
 
 62. thurg =^ through. 
 
 63. xvrecchede = wretched. A.S. ivraec, banished, ivraecca., 
 an exile. What an intense patriotism is summed up in this 
 designation of the exile as the wretch ! As these women had 
 been banished, the word retains its original force. 
 
 65. That sche = who ; cf. that he, P. 43-45 ; that his = whose, 
 K. 1852. This use of the demonstrative with that is common in 
 A.S. ; e.g., ///c we? = we; thu the = \\\\o\ the ^^ = who; the his = 
 whose; the him, to whom, &c. See March, A.S. Gram. § 380, 2. 
 
 66. it is vjel scene = it is easily seen, — it is easy to see. 
 
 67. Wheel. The -wheel of Fortune alludes to the mutability 
 of her favor. 
 
 68. Who assures no condition to continue prosperous. 
 
 69. <7^/^<?;^ = await. The active force of the prefix is lost; 
 bide is now active, as " bide one's time," while abide is usually 
 neuter. 
 
 70. Scan : Here in | the tempi' | of the | goddesse | Clemence. 
 
 71. al this fourtenight — fully this fortnight. The A.S. reck- 
 oned time by nights and winters. 
 
 72. syth = since. " Sith thou hast not hated blood." Ezek. 
 XXXV. 6. 
 
 73. I zurecche = I the wretch. 
 "juhich that = who. 
 
 75. cursed. See note, P. 6<,i,. 
 
 78. We lostcn alle^^we all lost. " In many things we ofl:end 
 all." Jas. iii. 2. 
 
 79. ther aboute = thereabout; literally, about this. 
 
 80. A/id yet. notwithstanding what we have already suflfered. 
 
 81. Who is now lord of the city Thebes. 
 
 83. for despyt^ because of his malice. 
 
 84. To do vilei?ive = to cause disgrace to. Do is here used 
 causativelv, — " do vou to wit." 
 
 vileinye = the act of a villain ; that which marks a villain, 
 disgrace. 
 
 85. Of alle oure lordcs, limits bodies, in next line. 
 
 13 
 
194 NOTES TO THE KNIGHTES TALE. 
 
 90. ivitkoute more respite^ without further delay. 
 
 91. T/iey Jillcn g->'uf=i\-\ey ie.\\ flat on the ground. Gruf^= 
 on the ground. "On the grofte" = flat on the ground. We 
 find also grubblings = with the face downward. The root is 
 probably to be found in the Danish grabbeleji, to crawl, Eng. 
 grovel. 
 
 94. courser ^= horse; literally, a runner; hence, a fleet horse; 
 also a horse used in hunting. " Un cheval coursi'er, c'est a dire un 
 cheval reserve a la course, par opposition aux chevaux de trait." 
 Brachet, 165. 
 
 96. Him t/iougkt = it seemed to him. See note P., 37. 
 
 99, he hem alle up hente = he took them all up. 
 
 100. in fill good e7itente = with very kind intention. 
 
 102. He ix'olde don = he would endeavor. Do is here used 
 causatively. 
 
 ferforthly his might = according to his might. Might must 
 be construed as dative after the implied comparative. 
 
 104. That, correlative o^ so, 1. 102. 
 
 106. As he that = as one who. He that = who. For this in- 
 definite use oi who see note P., 741. 
 
 108. bancr = banner. " The origin is in all probability Goth. 
 bafidvo, bandva, a sign, token, an intimation made by bending 
 the head or hand. The original object of a standard is to serve 
 as a mark or sign for the troop to rally round, and it was accord- 
 ingly very generally known by a name having that signification." 
 Wedgwood. 
 
 desplayeth = displays. Displaying the banner was the signal 
 for the troops to assemble for military service. 
 
 109. byside = nesir ; with him. Here used adverbially, unless 
 we supply the pronoun. 
 
 111. Nor take his ease a whole half da^^ 7^////y qualifies half 
 used adjectively. 
 
 112. But onward =hut at a distance on his way. 
 
 117. Scan : The reed | e stat | u'of Mars | &c. 
 
 118. his; i.e., Theseus's. 
 
 119. Jecldes = the fields or open spaces of the banner. Some 
 take the word to mean /bids. 
 
 120. pynoun = pennon. The banner was the standard of the 
 army; the pennon was the personal signal of the leader. 
 
 121. Of gold fill riche. A.S. gen. of material; modifies i-bete. 
 In which there was forged of gold full rich the Minotaur. 
 
NOTES TO THE KNIGHTES TALE. 195 
 
 ?-^^^5 = beaten. "Probably stamped; that operation being 
 anciently, I suppose, performed by the hammer." Tyrwhitt. 
 124. And the flower of chivalry (rides) in his host. 
 //^fl5/=host. Lat. hosiis, an enemy. 
 
 126. he t/ionghte Jigkie = \\Q. purposed to fight. Thought is 
 from A.S. the?ican ; the intransitive thought, followed by the 
 dative, is from thincan. 
 
 127. But, to speak briefly, he fought with Creon, who was 
 king of Thebes. 
 
 129. as a knight =^ like a knight. As is a contraction o^ all-so, 
 with the sense oi just as, Just so. 
 
 130. In pleyn battaille = in open battle. 
 Putte, p. of put. 
 
 135. To don exequies ^=^io perform funeral rites. 
 
 136. al to longe= too tedious. 
 
 139. hodyes. A.S. bodig generally means stature, and is but 
 rarely used to designate the body. "The primary sense of body 
 is the thick round part of the living frame, as distinguished from 
 the limbs or lesser divisions; then the whole material fraine as 
 distinguished from the sentient principle by which it is ani- 
 mated." Wedgwood. 
 
 146. as him leste^= as it pleased him. 
 
 148. streepe^io strip. A.S. be-strypan ; cf. stripe, strip, 
 strap, strop. The original idea of the verb is to pull off" strips; 
 hence applied to plundering the dead by taking oflf their cloth- 
 ing; also figuratively to a stripping of the living, which leaves 
 them equally bare. 
 
 he rneys = iivmor. See note P., 114. 
 
 we^e = clothing. Still retained in "widows' weeds," and 
 from this restriction to mourning attire, noting also an emblein 
 of mourning worn upon a man's hat. Weed, a noxious plant, 
 is probably from the Dutch ivieden, to cleanse, although Trench 
 says, " 'Weeds' were w^hatever covered the earth or the person." 
 Eng. Past and Pres., 253. 
 
 149. pilours. See notes P., 177, 627. 
 
 diden busi?iess and c«r^ = exercised diligence and care. To 
 ransake, 1. 147, depends upon this verb. 
 
 151. And so byjil=2n\d so it happened. 
 
 152. Thurgh-girt = ^\ei'CQd through. An ox is said to gird 
 with his horns. 
 
 153. by-and-by= close to each other, — one after the other. 
 
196 
 
 NOTES TO THE KNIGRTES TALE, 
 
 " Of that the planetes by and by 
 How that tliey stonde upon the sky." 
 
 Gower iii. 116. 
 "By and by he is offended;" i.e., immediately. Matt. xiii. 21. 
 Morris explains by mid by = separately, which seems to me erro- 
 neous, as the original force of by is near. 
 
 154. iji oon armes = with the same armorial device. Anns 
 in the plural denoting a singular idea is construed in the sin- 
 gular. 
 
 155. that oon = the one ; in which case the retains its original 
 demonstrative force : so that other = the other. 
 
 157. Nat fully quyke = not fully alive. " Let them go down 
 quick (alive) into hell." Ps. Iv. 15. 
 
 Ne fully deede= nor fully dead. Neither dead nor alive. 
 
 159. Hcraudes = \\eYii\d's>. An officer whose duty it was to 
 record the arms of the nobility. From heri, an army, and wal- 
 ten, to manage. 
 
 771 special = especially. 
 
 161. 5/5/re« = sisters ; still sometimes heard in vulgar use; of, 
 brethren, an analogous plural in en. 
 
 162. torn implies rapid rather than violent action. 
 164. fill so7ie = very soon, at once. 
 
 166. he 7iolde = he would not (take) any ransom. Nolde = 
 
 ne ivolde = wished not. 
 
 171. Terme of his lyf= to the end of his life. Lat. ter7m?ius, 
 ■what 7ieedeth wordes moo = what need is there of more words. 
 
 Literally, "As to what does it need more words.?" 
 
 176. Til it fel oo7ies = till it happened on a time. 
 In a morzvc = on a morning. 
 
 177. to scene = to see. 
 
 180. with the rose colour = -with, the colour of the rose. J^ose 
 is genitive ; cf. Ladye grace. P., 88. 
 
 Sirof hire heive^^ vied her complexion. 
 
 181. I not = 1 7ie ivot = I know not. 
 
 183. redy. A.S. rad, quick, ready; comp. rather. So E.E. 
 rathe, &7vc\y. " The rathe primrose." Milton. 
 
 185. The sesoun friketh ; cf. P., 11. 
 
 186. hitn, grammatically, refers to herte ; logically, to the per- 
 son figuratively designated by herte. 
 
 187. do their observance = perform religious rites. Here 
 spoken of as performed in honour of May. 
 
NOTES TO TEE KNIQHTES TALE. 197 
 
 1S8. "This caused Emilj to have remembrance (to remem- 
 ber) to do honor to Maj." This circumlocution is frequent in 
 the Bible. 
 
 190. for to devyse = to describe (her). The different descrip- 
 tive clauses depend upon to devyse. Morris points — I-clothed 
 was sche fresshe for to devyse. 
 
 192. yerde = a yard long. See note P., 149. 
 
 193. Sonne tipriste = the sun's uprising. Sonne is gen. 
 
 194. as hire liste=Q.?> it may please her. Liste is here used 
 impersonally. See note P., 102. 
 
 195. ^ar/y = partly. Yv. en ;partie ; z{. particolored. 
 
 196. 6'c/// = subtle. The Latin, subtilis, dQnoted Jine xvoveti; 
 hence delicately constructed, or denoting ingenuity, which is 
 the meaning here. Metaphorically, it is used in a good sense 
 «= acute ; in a bad sense = sly. 
 
 g-erland = garland, a crown or wreath. 
 
 199. dongeouti — not noting a dark subterranean place of con- 
 finement, as now, but simply a place of security. The origin of 
 the word is the Lat. doninio for domi7iio. Sometiines spelled 
 donjon; cf. the Celtic dun^ a fortress. 
 
 200. Ther as = where. 
 
 201. Of -which t &c. = of whom I have already told you, and 
 shall tell more. 
 
 202. evene joynyng=^Q.yi2iQ.Wy joining, — so that the prison 
 joined the garden wall. 
 
 gardeyn ival. The genitive force of the first of the two nouns 
 joined is shown by the reference of as to gardey?i — to the wall 
 of the garden where, &c. 
 
 203. hadde hire pleyynge = had her play-ground, — was accus- 
 tomed to take her exercise. 
 
 205. zvoful = full of wo, or sorrow. 
 
 206. dy leve of his gayler = by permission of his jailer. 
 
 leve = \ea.ve, permission. A.S. leaf which is still the collo- 
 quial pronunciation. 
 
 , 207. romede = roamed. This word has a curious history : it 
 /is derived from the name of the city Rome, and probably first 
 I came into use as a noun, — Romar being one who was a pilgrim 
 I to that Holy City. So in Pier's PI. iv. 120. we find : " And relig- 
 ! ious romares recordare in here cloistres." The habits of these 
 ) pilgrims were not generally very creditable, and hence the verb 
 /o r(?a;» came to mean aimless and indefinite wandering. Saunter 
 
198 NOTES TO THE KNIGHTES TALE. 
 
 has a similar origin : it is from sainte terre, the holj land. Beg- 
 gars roved about the country, and asked alms under the pretence 
 of going a la saitite terre. Hence a saiinterer became the name 
 of an idler, and to saiuiter^ to walk idly. Cf. also rummage^ 
 spelled also romage. 
 
 20S. In zvkich = froin which ; being in which, he could see. 
 
 211. 'ivalk=o. going to and fro. A.S. ivealc, literally a 
 revolving. The welkin denotes the sky, or more properly the 
 clouds, which are in continual motion. The A.S. verb -wealcati 
 = to roll, to return often ; hence, to walk. 
 
 213. romede ^= walked aimlessly. 
 
 215. He said full oft, alas ! that he was born ! 
 
 2i6. By avetiture or cas= by adventure or chance. See notes 
 P., 25, 844. 
 
 217. thikke of many a barre = thickly (set) with many a bar. 
 thikke denotes close together rather than the opposite of 
 
 broad : of many a barre is an adjunct genitive, denoting the 
 relation of the quality. 
 
 218. 5^//<7r = square ; i.e., as large square: here denoting size 
 as well as shape. The bars were as large as a spar or light tiin- 
 ber. 
 
 219. Caste, pret. 
 
 Scan : He caste | his eyen | upon | Emil | y-a | 
 
 220. therzvitkal ^ at that instant. T/ier here = at that time 
 rather than in that place. There is used by Shakspeare for then. 
 This is simply an intensive fonn oi there. 
 
 Bleynte, pr. of blenche, to start back. Blitik is another form 
 of the word, meaning a rapid movement of the eyelids ; hence 
 any rapid movement, sometimes for the purpose of deceiving. 
 The figure here is that the beauty of Emily blinded Palamon like 
 a sudden light. 
 
 222. ?/^ 5/^r/e = started up. We use the noun formed from 
 this compound, up-start. 
 
 223. Cosyji WJ7/ = cousin of me, my cousin, il/ivz is genitive. 
 eyleth the =■ ?i.\\e\)i\ thee. The difference in spelling between 
 
 the and thee is an orthographic expedient for distinguishing these 
 words. 
 
 224. That art = that thou art. When the subject of the verb 
 is a pronoun, particularly of the second person, which is the 
 most easily distinguished because of its inflection, it is quite often 
 omitted in questions. The same rule holds good in Shakspeare. 
 
NOTES TO THE KNIGHTES TALE. 199 
 
 on to see=to look on. to behold. A.S. on-seon. We do not 
 compound see with on, but we still saj see through, see into. 
 
 225. cr)Y/(?5/^iv = criedst thou. This contraction of the second 
 person pronoun with the verb is common; and is interesting as 
 illustrating the mannep of forming the inflectional terminations 
 by the coalescence of the pronominal element. In most inflected 
 languages the pronominal force of the termination was so 
 strongly i-emembered that when the subject of the verb was a 
 pronoun, no repetition of it Avas necessary; and when^ the pro- 
 nominal subject was used, it was understood as an emphatic 
 repetition. 
 
 the^Xhce, dative. 
 
 226. Goddcs = God''s. The apostrophe in our possessive case 
 singular marks the elision o^ e ; in the plural, it regularly marks 
 the elision of final a ; but often it is not significant, but is used 
 analogically with the singular. 
 
 227. non other =^x\Q otherwise. Other 'm used adverbially = 
 in other way. 
 
 229. ivikke aspect =^ malign aspect. In the time of astrology, 
 the position (aspect) of the planets at the time of one's birth, 
 was supposed to have a controlling influence upon his destiny. 
 Some of these astrological terms have passed into common use, 
 2i^ jovial, from Jupiter; saturnine, from Saturn, who was sup- 
 posed to presage a hapless lot to one born under his influence; 
 mercurial, from Mercury; lunatic from the moon: so also the 
 word injluejice seems to allude to the same notion. 
 •' The highest and aboven alle 
 
 Stant that planete which men calle 
 
 Saturnus, whose complexioun 
 
 Is colde, and his condicioun 
 
 Causeth malice and cruelte 
 
 To him the whose nativity 
 
 Is set under his governaunce. 
 
 For all his werkes ben grievaunce. 
 
 And enemy to mannes hele 
 
 In what degre that he shall dele. 
 
 Gower, Con. Am. iii. 116. 
 
 231. although ZL'e hadde it sworn = although we had sworn it 
 
 otherwise, we must endure it. ^Morris punctuates this clause in 
 
 connection with what precedes; it seems to me to make a 
 
 better reading to connect it with the next line but one. Although 
 
200 NOTES TO THE KNIGHTES TALE. 
 
 must then be taken as an emphatic form of thoit-gh = though by all 
 means, the emphasis implying a negative. See 1. 312, where though 
 = though otherwise. Hadde is subj. 
 
 " And walk I wold, as I hadde don biforn 
 Fro lious to hous, although he had it sworn." Wif of B. 639. 
 
 232. So stood the heven=^^\xz\\ was our horoscope. 
 
 233. the schort afid pley7i = the short and plain fact, — as we 
 say "the long and short of it." 
 
 234. ageyii^ in reply. Agaiii and agaiiist are from the A.S. 
 gean, Ger. gegen, opposite. Gean is usually compounded with 
 prepositions as on, to, &c. It gets the meaning " at another 
 time" from the idea of juxtaposition in space. Cf. there = then; 
 where = when. 
 
 235. for sothe = in truth ; forsooth. 
 
 iT^i. ymagi7iacioun = conception. "To imagine certainly 
 meant, in its original conception, to make pictures, to picture to 
 ourselves ; but even to picture is far too mixed an idea to have 
 been expressed by a simple root. Imago, picture, stands for 
 mimago, as imitor for miinitor, the Greek inimeomai, all from a 
 root ma, to measure again and again, to copy, to imitate." M. 
 Miiller, Sc. of Lang. 358. 
 
 237. This prisouji = this imprisonment, — cause put for effect. 
 
 239. that refers to the idea of the antecedent sentence, — the 
 hurt. 
 
 241. rome, infinitive. We would say roatnijig. 
 
 243. I iiot^^ I ne -ivot = I know not. 
 
 Scan : I not | wheth'r sche | be wom | man or | goddesse. 
 ivhether was sometimes pronounced and spelled like where. 
 
 244. Venus is it ; cf. it is I. It is used wdien the subject is 
 indefinite or unknown. 
 
 245. o?i knees, equivalent to an adverb. We say aback, A.S. 
 07ibaec ; ahead, for on-head ; afoot, for on-foot, and why not a- 
 knee for on-knees .'' 
 
 247. Thus to transfigure yourself in this garden. 
 
 Y01V. There is no simple reflexive pronoun in English ; it is 
 generally, but not always, formed by adding self, selves to the 
 personals. 
 
 249. The usual construction in modern English would be, 
 " Help us to escape," &c. The construction in the text is an 
 imitation of the Latin. 
 
 5ca/e = escape. The original of this word is probably allied 
 
NOTES TO THE KNIGHTES TALE. 20I 
 
 to A.S. camp, battle; so that escape would originally mean to 
 escape from battle. 
 
 250. if so be = if it so be. 
 
 schape = shapen, shaped, fixed. " There's a divinity that 
 shapes our ends." Shak. 
 
 252. lyna^'e = linea.ge, race. Fr. lignage, Lat. linea, a line. 
 Lyniage is here in the genitive after have compassioun = pity. 
 
 254. gan espye = did see, saw, looked. See note P., 827. 
 
 256. httrte = wounded. The original meaning seems to be 
 ivoicnded by something throxvfi, cf. hurtle. 
 
 237. if that = if it be that, if. 
 
 262. mercy = Y>\^y. Fr. merci, literally ^aj, Lat. merces. 
 
 263. atte leste xveye = at least; cf. colloquial least-ways. 
 
 264. I nam but deed = I am dead; literally, I am not except 
 dead, — I am only dead. No but was frequently used in E.E. for 
 except. " No but a man schal be born agen." John iii. 3 
 (Wiclif). 
 
 ther nys no more to 5c>'e = there is no more to say; there is 
 nothing else to say. 
 
 268. byjny fey =^hy my faith. 
 
 269. God hcipe me 50 = may God so help me. The verb is 
 Bubj. ; cf. "God do so to me and more also." Bible. 
 
 me lust ful evele pleye = it pleases me full ill to play. I^ul 
 svele modifies lust. 
 
 270. gan knytte =^ knitted, knit. 
 
 271. It nere, &c. = It were no great honor to thee. 
 
 272. For to be fals. The infinitive is here construed as a 
 substantive after the preposition. 
 
 274. i-swore ful deepe = very firmly sworn. Deepe, deeply 
 seems to allude to the practice of binding a compact by drinking 
 together. 
 
 Eche of us to other = each of us to the other. We prefix the 
 article to other. "Let each esteem other." Phil. ii. 3. 
 
 275. "That never for (fear of ) dying by torture," &c. That 
 is here the sentence-article which in modern English is not used 
 with the infinitive. For originally means /;/ front of ; hence it 
 may be, as here, nearly equivalent to to prevent ; cf. : 
 
 " And over that an habergeon for percing of his hert." 
 
 Rime of Sir Thopas. 
 The payne = torture ; to deyen in the payne = to die by tor- 
 ture. 
 
202 NOTES TO THE KNIOHTES TALE. 
 
 ** It nedeth nought to pyne you with the corde." K., 888. 
 " Me were lever die in the paineJ''' R.R., 3326. 
 Morris renders this verse: "That never, even though it cost us 
 a miserable death." 
 
 276. The decth = death. The article by its demonstrative 
 force adds emphasis ; we can only use it w^ith an intervening 
 adjective, as, " the inevitable death." 
 
 Defarte = separate. De here is from di or dis, denoting sep- 
 aration. The old reading of the marriage service was, "Til death 
 us depart," which becoming unintelligible was corrupted into 
 do part. " That he depart with me the eritage." Luke xii. 13 
 (Wiclif). 
 
 277. To hyndre7i^ to be construed with i-swore, 1. 274. 
 
 282. Thou durst it nat zvithsay?i = thou durst it not deny. 
 With has here its primitive force, denoting opposition. 
 
 283. Thus ; i.e., by thine oath. Thus is the A.S. instrumental 
 thys = by this. 
 
 Of my coujiscil=^ my adviser. Cf. the legal phrase "to be of 
 " counsel." 
 
 284. hen a3oute = ready to. The first meaning of about is 
 around ; hence, metaphorically, to compass a matter in the mind, 
 to intend; cf. "compassing the king's death." 
 
 2S6. ujito my7i herte sterve = until my heart shall die. 
 
 unto = until. Now generally denotes space rather than time. 
 
 sterve^^ die. Here used in subj. Notice that this subj. form 
 takes, in modern English, the auxiliary shall. The idea of con- 
 tingency involved in the subjunctive readily implies futurity, as 
 futurity may also imply contingency. 
 
 287. thou schalt not so = thou oughtest not (to say) so. Schal, 
 in Chaucer, often implies obligation, and must be construed as 
 a leading verb. 
 
 288. the = thee: dative. 
 
 289. As to my counsei'l == as to my adviser : one bound in honor 
 to assist me. Morris renders counsei'l by advice, which hardly 
 seems admissible. The figure seems to be taken from the rela- 
 tion of a legal adviser to a client. 
 
 my brother szuorji to forthre me, in the same construction as 
 counseil, and an elaboration of the same idea. Covmsel would 
 be bound in honor to assist him; a brother would still further be 
 bound by affection : to which he also adds his obligation as a 
 knight. 
 
NOTES TO THE KNIGHTES TALE, 203 
 
 293. / dar ivel sayn = I dare with reason to say. 
 
 294. agayn = in reply. 
 
 295. T/ioii schalt be rather fals, &c. Thou art sure to be 
 false before me, — sooner than I. On this use of sc/ial, cf. 1. 287. 
 
 296. itttcrly = wholly . Gower (iii. 230) writes oultrely^ as from 
 Lrat. ultra. 
 
 297. par amoiir= with (human) love. See 1. 301. 
 er t/iozv = hefove thou didst. 
 
 298 What xvolt thou sayn. Arcite here assumes the character 
 of a special pleader (counseil), and goes into legal subtleties. It 
 is worthy of note, how the poet has prepared the way for this 
 scene by the use of the word coujiseil, 1. 283. 
 
 300. "Thine is the affection one may have for a saint." 
 
 304. I pose = 1 put the case; I suppose. Ci. poser, a puzzling 
 question, such as are asked by lawyers in a cross-examination. 
 
 305. the olde clerkes sawe = ihe old writer's saying. The old 
 clerk is Boethius, from whom Chaucer has borrowed largely. 
 
 306. 77/«/ refers to the saying quoted; cf. "Did he %^y that 
 he would come .-* " 
 
 307. Ziy ;«j//«;/ = by my head. 
 
 308. be yeve to any, &c. = be given to any. Tyrwhitt reads 
 of any=hy an v. 
 
 309. posityf lawe ^= QyiY>re?>?, enactment; statute law. 
 such decre = such stipvilation. 
 
 310. in ech degree = in every rank of life. 
 
 311. «<?^^(?5 = needs, necessarily. "And he must needs go 
 through Samaria." John iv. 4. 
 
 Maugre his heed = in spite of his head. 
 
 " And God wot that is malgre min " [in spite of me]. 
 
 Gower, Con. Am. ii. 3. 
 
 312. though he schulde be deed = though (if he does not flee it) 
 he must die. On though, see note 1. 231. 
 
 313. a/ = although, albeit that; cf. 1. 1617. 
 
 314. And eek it is, &c. = besides, to stand in her favor is not 
 likelv all thy life. It refers to to stojiden. 
 
 318. us gayneth tio raunsoic7i = no ransom avails to us. 
 320- here part =^ W\^\x share was nothing: neither received 
 any part. 
 
 324. " Let each man look out for himself; there is no other 
 way." 
 
 325. if the list = if it pleases thee. 
 
204 NOTES TO THE KNIGHTES TALE. 
 
 327. endure = to remain. " His mercy endureth for ever." 
 
 328. everych of us ^= each one of us. 
 330. " If I only had leisure to tell it." 
 
 335. Syjt thilke day ^ since that day. T'/nlke = that same. 
 337. to pleye=io enjoy himself. His visit was partly for 
 recreation. 
 
 341. i/iat oon = the one, one of them. 
 
 sothly to telle = to speak trulv, — to tell the story as it is. 
 
 342. /lelle == hell, — the unseen world. A.S. /lelan, to conceal. 
 Cf. Greek, Hades. 
 
 343. "But to write of that story is not my intention," — 
 pleases me not. 
 
 345. hadde him kfiowe = had known hiin. 
 
 yeer by yeer = year after year ; continually. " Day by day we 
 magnify thee." See K., 175. 
 
 350. /;/ such a g-yse=^ in such a manner; i.e., upon such con- 
 ditions. 
 
 352. hi)n Arcite = \\\\^ Arcite. The third personal pronoun 
 was originally a demonstrative, and hence was declined in the 
 three genders. See 1. 355, "this Theseus." 
 
 353. if so ivere=^\i so it were; if so it should happen. The 
 omission of the subject pronoun in impersonal constructions is 
 common in Chaucer. "And so byfel," K., 151,216; "as hire 
 liste," 194; "if so be," 250; " lyst me," 343. 
 
 356. and = if. The contingency is expressed by the subj., 
 and being the connective. When the contingent force of the 
 verb was lost, zf was added, so that we find and if: but is used 
 precisely in the same way, where later we find but if. " And they 
 shall say to you, See here, or See there." Luke xvii. 23. 
 
 vjere caught connected by and to were yfounde, 1. 353. We 
 would omit he or repeat if. 
 
 359. But took his leave = but he took his leave. Subject 
 omitted. Tj'rwhitt reads taketh. 
 
 360. be war= be cautious. Usually written beware, 
 lith to rvedde= lieth in pledge. 
 
 362. The deth = he feeleth death smite through his heart. 
 See note, 1. 276. 
 
 364. " He watcheth for an opportunity to slay himself 
 secretly." 
 
 365. Alias the day, &c. T>ay is ace. ; cf Lat. heu me miserum. 
 367. Notv is me sc/iape= now is it appointed for me. 
 
NOTES TO THE KNIGHTES TALE. 205 
 
 to d-ivelle is the subject of /5; me is dative. 
 
 368. Scan : Nought | in pur | gato | rie but | in helle. 
 
 373. Oojily qualifies sighte as a verbal = the seeing. 
 
 378. il/a/5/ozy = majest thou. See note, 1. 225. 
 
 379. paradys, to be pronounced par'dys. 
 
 380. ytorned the = turned for thee. 
 
 382. for possible /5 = for it is possible. The sentence begin- 
 ning 1. 384, is the subject of is. 
 
 388. erthe^ water, fyr, ne eyr. Earth, water, fire, and air 
 were called the four elements, as from them all things were 
 supposed to have been made. Cicero sajs, " Omnia elementa 
 sunt quatuor." 
 
 " Of this four elements ech quik thing y-maked is, 
 Of urthe, of water, and of eyr, and of fier, i-wis." 
 
 Pop. Treat, on Science, p. 138. Wright. 
 
 389. creature, trissyllable. 
 
 390. 7ne helpe. Me is dative after helpe, as in A.S. 
 
 .dooii cou/brt =^ afford me comfort. The termination here 
 shows that doon is infinitive ; the final e in helpe indicates the 
 same construction. 
 
 391. Wei oicghte /= I must indeed. See note P., 505. " Wei 
 oughte we to don." 2d Nonnes Tale, 6. So also as an imper- 
 sonal : " Wei oughte us werke." lb. 14. 
 
 wrt;/>^ci^^ = despair. A beautiful old Saxon word, which is 
 unfortunately obsolete. " Wanhope, — hope that has wholly 
 waned." Trench. 
 
 396. ^cwz^t'/^^ themselves. Hem is here dative pi. = the self 
 to them : so himself retains the dative form, which is now gen- 
 erally used as an accusative, and = the self to him. 
 
 397. So7n man = one man. Som . . . som = one . . . another. 
 Used indefinitely like Lat. ^uis. 
 
 richesse — riches. This word is singular, although from the 
 termination it appears to be plural. 
 
 398. "That is (proves to be) the cause of his murder." 
 ■morthre = murder. Still a vulgar pronunciation. 
 
 399. "And another man would fain (be) out of his prison." 
 After -would the dependent verb is frequently omitted. 
 
 400. That — /5 = who . . . after his wish is granted is slain by 
 his servants. 
 
 401. /;//f;//Vg = unnumbered, — usually restricted to measure 
 of wholes, and followed by a singular noun. 
 
2o6 NOTES TO THE KNIQHTES TALE. 
 
 402. " We know not what it is that we pray for here." 
 pi-ayen = pray for, ask. We pray /<? a person _/or a thing. 
 
 In A.S. the construction was either the ace. with the gen. or the 
 dative with the gen. 
 
 403. ^;o;/>^^ = drunk : literally p.p. of dritik. 
 
 as a mows, alluding probably to the motions of a mouse when 
 caught by a cat. The bite of the cat is said to partially benumb 
 or stupefy the mouse. 
 
 405. " But he knows not which is the right way thither." 
 
 410. ive seyen alle. The natural order would seem to be all 
 we ; e.g., "All we like sheep have gone astray," Is. liii. 6; but 
 " the unemphatic nature of the nominatives ive and they prevents 
 us from saying 'all we.'" Abbott, § 240. "We offend all." 
 Tames iii. 2. 
 
 namelycke = especially, — mentioned by name, and hence 
 prominent. So Lat. nominatim. 
 
 411. gret o;pinioun = ■a. strong conviction; cf. "the opinion 
 (i.e. decision) of a judge." 
 
 413. Than hadde I ben = then had I been : had is subj. and 
 we may read : " then would I have been." 
 
 414. Ther has here a double force = there where ; or, more 
 fully, "who thought that I would be in perfect well-being /;/ that 
 condition in -which I am indeed exiled from my weal." 
 
 415. I may not sen ^= I am not able to see. 
 
 416. nam — nys = ne am — ne is. 
 
 417. that other syde = the other side. We say " on the other 
 hand." Either expression denotes opposition or contrast. 
 
 421. The pure fettres = the very fetters. So in the Duchess, 
 1. 5S2, " the pure deth." The Greeks used Kadapog, and the Latin 
 purus in a similar manner. 
 
 423. myn of me, gen. 
 
 "And God wot that is malgre min." Gower, Con. Am. ii. 3. 
 
 424. " In all our strife, God knows, the advantage is thine." 
 
 425. at thi large '^ at large, free. Large is here used as a 
 noun; cf. " at his large," 1. 469; cf. French, au large. 
 
 426. And of my tvoo, &c. Thou givest little heed to my wo. 
 
 431. to lady and to ^vyf=^ for a lady and for a wife. This con- 
 struction is an imitation of the A.S. and is common in E E. 
 "We have Abraham to our father." Matt. iii. 9. "We habbath 
 A. us to faeder," A.S. This construction with the double dative 
 is also frequent in Latin. 
 
NOTES TO THE KNIGHTES TALE. 207 
 
 lady here means lover or mistress, as distinguished from wife. 
 The root of this word seems to be the Icel. lavdi, written in A.S. 
 klavedi, domina. The usual derivation from an assumed hlaf- 
 ivardige is probably untenable. 
 
 432. ivhom that = whom. 
 
 I mot fieedes leese my lyf; i.e., through the ardor of my affec- 
 tion. 
 
 433. as by tvey of possibilitc = as being in the way to take 
 advantage of circumstances. Your advantage is great as com- 
 pared with mine, as there is a possibility of your success. 
 
 by ivey of = because of. 
 
 444. box-tree; i.e., in color yellow, denoting jealousy. 
 
 445. O cruel Goddes, &c. Goddes here is plural. 
 
 447. Tvritett, past plural of write. The past singular is wrat, 
 or -wrote. The past plural of most A. S. verbs had a different 
 vowel from the past singular: e.g , sing, past singular satig^ 
 past plural stingon. Hence the confusion in such verbs between 
 the forms in a and u., — sang ox sung; drank or drunk. 
 
 448. parlement = decree, determination ; agent for act. I 
 punctuate with an exclamation point here; Morris has a comma. 
 The exclamation begins, " O cruel Goddes." What follows should 
 be pointed as an interrogation. 
 
 450. rouketh = huddle, lie close. 
 
 "But now they rucken in her nest." Gower, Con. Am. ii. 57. 
 
 451. right as another beest =^ iusi as though he were another 
 beast. 
 
 - 455. " What control (advantage) is there in this foreknowl- 
 edge that tormenteth guiltless innocence.''" 
 
 456. torme?iteth Lat. tormenturn {torquere, to twist) an instru- 
 ment for hurling missiles by the recoil of a twisted rope; hence 
 an instrument of torture where the force is applied in a similar 
 manner : as a verb, to cause severe pain. 
 
 458. to his observaicnce = to his religious duty. Observantia 
 had in Latin the meaning religion. See 1. 187 and note. 
 
 459. to letten of his xville = to refrain from his will. 
 
 460. Ther as = where : in that case where. 
 
 463. >^«z'e= may have. Subj. 
 
 464. it may stonde so = it must be (remain) so. Afay some- 
 times denotes moral possibility, when it is nearly equivalent to 
 must. 
 
2o8 NOTES TO THE KNIGETES TALE. 
 
 465. answer of this = the solution of this (problem). An- 
 swer is usually followed by to. 
 
 Ilete=zl leave. Allied to late ; as the slower of two bodies 
 is left by the other, let comes to have this meaning. See 1. 459. 
 
 Scan : Th' answer | of this | I let | e to | divinis. 
 
 468. tre'ive ?na?i = an upright man. Dative after doon, to 
 cause. This use of </o is common. 
 
 469. Gon — turne, infinitives after 5e. When a clause is the 
 object of a verb, the verb in the clause must be in the infinitive; 
 e.g., " I heard him say." 
 
 -wher hijn lust jnay =^ y\h.ere it may please him. "To go at 
 his pleasure and turn withersoever it may please him." 
 at kis large. See 1. 425 and note. 
 
 470. thtirg Saturne. See 1. 230, and note 1. 229. 
 
 471. Juno was the goddess w^ho presided over marriage. She 
 is represented as " jalous and wood " and hindering his mar- 
 riage with his beloved. 
 
 472. %vel neyk =^ \Qry nearly: "my steps had well nigh 
 slipped." Ps. Ixxiii. 2. 
 
 473. " With its widely ruined walls." 
 
 474. 07i thai other syde = on the other hand. See 1. 417. 
 
 475. fere of him Arcite == fear of (that) Arcite. See note, 1. 
 
 352. 
 
 477. stille dwelle = quietly remain. 
 
 47S. forth — telle = I will continue the story of Arcite. 
 
 480. double w/5e = in a duplicate manner; i.e., similarly to 
 each. 
 
 4S2. /;;j'5/er = mode of life ; literally, occupation. Perhaps 
 better here rendered by need., necessity, as Morris gives it. See 
 note P., 1. 613. 
 
 483. schortly for to seyn = to be brief. 
 
 484. dampned = doomed, condemned. Damned is now a 
 stronger expression than the formal intensive conde?nned. 
 
 486. exiled iifon his heed = exiled, upon the penalty of jleath 
 if he returned. 
 
 487. as out of that contre, to be construed with exiled. 
 
 488. axe — ask. The vulgar pronunciation of this w^ord, which 
 we find here in Chaucer, is as old as the A.S. 
 
 491. That on^= the one; correlates with that other, 1. 493. 
 day by day = continually, day after day. See 1. 345. 
 493. -wher him lust — where it pleases him. 
 
NOTES TO THE KXIGHTES TALE. 209 
 
 495. as you luste = as it may please jou : luste is subj. 
 
 7'ou — ye. In E.E. ye is the nominative form, while you was 
 used in the ace. and dat. Te is obsolete. 
 
 that can — that know how to decide such questions. 
 
 496. telle forth = tell on, — continue my story. 
 
 497. comcn zvas = was come, had come. Comen is p.p. 
 
 49S. Ful ofte a day = many times a day. A day must here be 
 construed as an adverbial element = in one day. A.S. anes 
 daeges. See note P., 16S. This may be the A.S. on, as "on 
 daeg seofon sithum syngath," seven times a day. Luke xvii. 4. 
 
 he sxuelte = he sighed. This word has passed to the meaning 
 of severely suffering with heat; e.g., "sweltering in the sun," as 
 starve has acquired the specific meaning of dying of hunger. 
 
 502. schal = shall be. 
 
 503. him byraft = taken from him. Him is dative. 
 
 506. ya/xvg = pale ; yellow. Cf. " fallow ground," so called 
 from the yellowish color of the soil. 
 
 508. zvalllyng. Some read -wakyjig. 
 
 511. splrltes = spirits; i.e., " animal spirits," — a spirit sup- 
 posed to circulate through the body, as the essence of life. 
 "Spirits is a most subtile vapour, which is expressed from the 
 blood. Of these spirits there be three kinds, — natural, vital, 
 animal. The natural are begotten in the liver, and thence dis- 
 persed through the veins to perform those natural actions. The 
 vital spirits are made in the heart of the natural, which by the 
 arteries are transported to all the other parts ; if the spirits cease, 
 then life ceaseth, as in a syncope. The animal spirits are formed 
 of the vital, brought up to the brain and diffused by the nerves 
 to the subordinate members, give sense and motion to them all." 
 Burton, Anat. Mel., 96. 
 
 513. herde = though one should hear it; subj. 
 
 514. ^^^^-g = demeanor. A.S. gearzva, clothing; hence the 
 external appearance, or acts which indicate any particular state 
 of mind. 
 
 for all the world =^ {ore. all the world, — a statement to be 
 maintained before (or, in spite of) all the world. 
 
 515. "And in his manner, for all the world, he acted not only 
 like [one ai^icted with] the Lovers' malady of Eros, but rather 
 like [one afflicted with the] mania engendred of 'humor melan- 
 cholic' in the 'cell fantastic' before [in the fore part of the 
 head]." The " maladj of Eros" is that " heroical love which is 
 
 14 
 
2IO ^ NOTES TO THE KNIGHTES TALE. 
 
 proper to men and women." The "mania " is a sort of melan- 
 choly or monomania. "The part affected, as Arnoldus sup- 
 poseth, is the former part of the head, for want of moisture." 
 Burton, Anat. Mel. "All [authors] make leanness, want of ap- 
 petite, want of sleep, ordinary symptoms, and by that means they 
 [the subjects] are brought often so low, so- much altered and 
 changed that, as he [Terence Eun.] jested in the comedy, one 
 scarce knew them to be the same men." lb. Burton quotes this 
 passage, saying " So he describes it — love-melancholy — aright." 
 
 517. wz«?/)'c = mania; dat. after ///-e. 
 
 518. selle faniastyk. "Inner senses are three, . . . common 
 sense, phantasy, memory. . . . His [phantasy's] organ is in the 
 middle cell of the brain." Burton. 
 
 519. up-so-doiui = upsidedown. So is the old relative, cor- 
 rupted into side. 
 
 522. <7/^<7y=all day ; used adverbially. 
 
 526. Upon a night. On with the dative in A.S. denoted time 
 when "On tham thriddan daege." John ii. i. 
 
 As he him leyde ^= K?, he laid him (down) in sleep. 
 
 527. Him thoughte=^ it seemed to him. 
 
 529. His slepy yerde ^=^h\s sleep-producing wand. 
 
 " Tum virgam capit; hac animas ille evocat Oreo 
 Palentis, alias sub Tartara tristia mittit, 
 Dat somnos, adiniitque, et lumina morte resignat." 
 
 Virgil, Aen. iv. 242. 
 "Adjectives signifying effect were often used to signify the 
 cause." Abbott, § 4. 
 
 530. heres= hairs. "We use the singular in a collective sense 
 to denote the mass of hair covering the head, and the plural to 
 denote a collection of single hairs. 
 
 531. as he took keepe=^ as he observed. 
 
 533. seyde him=^%^\d to him. 
 
 534. Ther is the schapen = there is determined (prepared) for 
 thee. 
 
 535. 5/cr/(? = started, arose quickly. 
 
 536. that me smerte = ih3.t pained me. 
 
 540. Irecche nat tosterve = l reck not to die ; I care not if I die. 
 543. in another kynde=^ in another nature. 
 " It is all one to say unkinde 
 As thing which done is ayein kinde" [nature]. 
 
 Gower, Con. Am. ii. 292. 
 
NOTES TO THE KXIGHTES TALE. 211 
 
 544. a ran him into inyiide = it occurred to him ; literally, 
 •' it ran into the mind to him." Cf. " to call to mind." 
 
 546. Of maladie = by the inalady. Gen. of cause. 
 
 547. if that he bar him lozve = if he conducted himself in a 
 Jowly manner; i.e., like one of low birth. 
 
 549. zvel ncih day by day ^= almost every day. 
 
 550. right a7ion = immediatelj'. 
 
 552. aloue = alle one, — alio being used adverbially. Al alone 
 is therefore alle alle one. The A.S. an = (1) one; (2) single, 
 sole. The prefix al had originally precisely the force which all 
 now has in all alone. 
 
 " But for he may not all him ont 
 In sondry places do justice." 
 
 Govver, Con. Am. iii. 178. 
 '• The king which made him muchel mone 
 
 Tho stood as who saith all him otie.'"' lb. iii. 285. 
 " And taer he ledde him ane his lif." Orm. 3204. 
 the use of him in these extracts illustrates also the construction 
 of hiiyi in himself. 
 
 554. disg-ysed povrely as he zvas = clothed poorly like his 
 master for the sake of concealment. 
 
 555. /he nexte 'May = the nearest way. The x is due to the 
 coalescence of guttural h with 5. A.S. neah, near; neahst^ nearest, 
 next. Way in A.S. would be in the gen. ; it must here be con- 
 strued as ace. 
 
 558. -ivhat so men vjol devyse — (to do) whatever one would 
 direct. 
 
 men = one; the indefinite pronoun, as shown by tvoI, which 
 is singular, the pi. being -wolden. 
 
 560. fel in office — he entered service ; cf. military order " fall 
 in." 
 
 561. The xvhich that = who, the one that, — the zvhich = a 
 demonstrative. 
 
 562. For explains the reason why he had been selected as 
 chamberlain for Emil3^ 
 
 couthe sone aspye — could soon discover (the character) of 
 every servant. 
 
 564. he now refers to Arcite. 
 
 566. strong- *' A strong man means no more than one whose 
 sinews are firmly strung." Trench, 
 
 567. that = that that. Abbott (Shak. Gr. § 244) suggests that 
 
212 NOTES TO THE KNIGHTES TALE. 
 
 the omission of the relative maj be explained by the fact that 
 the relative and demonstrative have the same form. 
 Jiim, dative. 
 
 568. yeer, ace. of time. 
 
 569. Page^ a servant, especially a youth. Cf. Gr. ixatdiov. 
 572. of his degree, refers to mati, 1. 571. 
 
 576. enhaimse his degree = elevate his station. " He that shal 
 meeke hym self shal ben enhaunsid." Matt, xxiii. 12 (Wiclif). 
 
 577. xvorschiJ)/ul = honorable; cf. "worshipful master," 
 "worshipful society." Shak. "Worship thi fader and thi 
 moder." Luke xviii. 20 (Wiclif). 
 
 57S. vertu = ability. See note P., 515. "Jesus knowing that 
 virtue had gone out of him." Mark v. 30. 
 
 579. vjithinne a while = within a (little) while. 
 
 spronge = sprang up, became known. 
 
 5S0. of his dedesi «&c., gen. of cause Vi^ter sfronge. 
 
 581. taken him so neer = become so intimate with him ; cf. 
 " to take to one." 
 
 582. sqtiyer ^= squire, knight of his chamber; literally, shield- 
 bearer, hence, servant. 
 
 556. honestly = becoming one of his station. " Provide things 
 honest [honorable] in the sight of all men." Rom. xii. 17. 
 
 5/^/^^ />'= prudently. "The O.E. sleigh, sly = wise, know- 
 ing; and sleight = wisdom, knowledge. For change of meaning 
 compare ciuining, originally knowledge, and craft, originally 
 power." Morris. 
 
 557. That = so that. 
 
 Hoxv that = how it was that ; from whence. Hoxv is properly 
 the instrumental case of the interrogative. 
 
 588. j'^cr = years. Still vulgarly used. A.S. sing, and pi. 
 gear. 
 
 589. bar him so = so conducted himself. The personal pro- 
 nouns are often used as reflexives, without self. 
 
 591. lete = leave. A.S. laeta?i. Let, to hinder, is from A.S. 
 let tan. 
 
 594. This sevcfi yeer. A period considered as a definite portion 
 of time was construed in the singular; e.g., "a fortnight," "an 
 eight days after." Luke ix. 28. 
 
 scten p.p. of sitie — remained. Set, causative, A.S. settan, 
 has p. sette, p.p. geset. Eng. set, set, set. 
 
 595. Tvhatfor woo, &c. = partly for wo and partly for restraint. 
 
NOTES TO TUE KNIOIITES TALE. 213 
 
 The following lines elaborate this idea. Supply w/iai with for 
 distresse. Woo refers to his passion. 
 "Till \vhat by sleight and what by strength." Gower ii. 388. 
 
 <f/5/re55£; = restraint, confinement; cf. "distress of goods." 
 Chaucer uses the verb destreyji in this sense. 
 
 596. double ; i.e., through love and imprisonment. 
 
 601. ryme = tell in poetr^^ A.S. rim^ number: so rim- 
 craeft= arithmetic; rtjn-stafas= number letters, the A.S. poetry 
 being alliterative. R/iyme, therefore, means lines with num- 
 bered syllables. The word has no connection with rhythm. 
 Trench saj'S : " Rhyme with a j is ;i modern misspelling; and 
 would never have been but for the undue inlluence which the 
 Greek ' rhythm ' has exercised upon it. Spenser and his con- 
 temporaries spelt it ' rime.'" E. Past and Pres., 308. 
 
 602. martirdam = martyrdom. The A.S. adopted ecclesias- 
 tical terms from the Greek, and thus formed a series of mongrel 
 words. 
 
 zV a7n nat /=it is not I. This is the regular construction in 
 E.E. Am is used because it is seen to be a mere substitute for /. 
 We require relatives to agree grammatically with their antece- 
 dents. 
 
 605. the thridde night =^ the night of the third of Maj'. 
 
 608. schal = must. A.S. sce(il=l owe, I must. ^^ Shal, 
 therefore, meant ' I have killed,' ' I must pay penance, wergeld ; ' 
 hence, 'I am under an obligation,' 'I am obliged,' ' I must.'" 
 Helfenstein, Com. Gr., 515. 
 
 609. the mydiiyght. We would omit the article here and sup- 
 ply it with helpi?ig in the next line. The exigencies of the metre 
 to a certain degree determine the presence or absence of the 
 article, but its demonstrative force was felt much stronger in 
 Chaucer's time than at present. The midnight = the midnight 
 of the night mentioned above. 
 
 611. Jleeth the cite. Fleeth is here used transitively. 
 
 612. soo correlates with that, 1. 615. 
 
 614. opye of Thebes fyyi = pure opium of Thebes. Burton 
 alludes to "opium from Thebes" as the best known. 
 
 615. men ivolde=owQ. should. Wolde is subj. in which case 
 we generally use 5^i?«^/^, C(?«/^. "It is a natural and common 
 mistake to say ivould is used for should by Elizabethan writers." 
 Abbott, § 329. 
 
 616. mighte nought ^^^ could not, was unable to. 
 
214 NOTES TO THE KNIGHTES TALE. 
 
 617. as faste as evere he may:=^a.s fast as he possibly can. 
 This use of ever for the sake of emphasis is still retained in col- 
 loquial language. 
 
 fnay= is able. A.S. inagaii. " Wherof schal a man mowe 
 fille hem." Mark viii. 4 (Wiclif ). We mowen not. C. T. 16, 149. 
 
 61S. faste <^j=the day close bj. Faste is used for emphasis 
 like right, just, full, all; cf. ''fast asleep." 
 
 619. iieedes-cost =^ v\.Q.Q.diQ% ways, necessarily. Cost may per- 
 haps be A.S. cyst^ froin ceosan, to choose. Tyrwhitt says that the 
 sense of this passage is so obscure that he is inclined to adopt 
 Urry's proposed amendment, " that needes cast " = that he must 
 needs cast about or contrive. Morris says needes-cost seems to 
 be equivalent to O.E. needes-xvyse. 
 
 620. ///=to. So in A.S. and Norsk. This use oi till is now 
 a common vulgarism. 
 
 grove. A.S. graef from grafa?i, to carve, to dig; hence, a 
 grove, a grave: Webster's Diet, says "because an avenue or 
 grove is cut or hollowed out of a thicket of trees." This word is 
 used in the Bible to denote a carved image or idol. The changes 
 in meaning may have been soinewhat like this : (i) that which 
 is cut; (2) wood which has been cut; (3) wood in general; (4) 
 wood, collectively ; forests are still called xvoods. Similar changes 
 have taken place in the word timber, from A.S. timbrian, to build : 
 (i) building material ; (2) wood to be used in the construction 
 of an edifice ; (3) the edifice (Ger. zimmer) ; (4) trees that may 
 be made into building material : " the timber "= the forest. 
 
 ther is here used with its pronominal force, in the dative after 
 besyde. 
 
 625. " To pray his friends to help him to make war on The- 
 seus." 
 
 627. or — or = \\e would either — or. Oris, a contraction of 
 either. " Either he schal hate the toon and love the tother, 
 either he schal susteyne the toon and despise the tother." Matt, 
 vi. 24 (Wiclif). 
 
 628. utito his rvyf. See 1. 431 and note. 
 
 629. e?ite7ite ;playn^:=e\\dent intention. 
 
 631. care^= sorrow, one who would cause him sorrow. Nam- 
 ing an object by the emotion it inspires, is a common figure of 
 speech; e.g., my love, my aversion. 
 
 636. of the light := because of the light. Of originallj' =from., 
 naturally passes into the meaning " in consequence of." This 
 
NOTES TO THE KNIGHTES TALE. 215 
 
 whole passaL,'e is full of great descriptive beauty: the lark, rising 
 in the early dawn, the brightening east, the rising sun, the spark- 
 ling dew-drops on the leaves, all combine to present a rare pic- 
 ture to the imagination. 
 
 637. greves= proves. Refers rather to the branches of the 
 trees or bushes, — i.e., that which is green. See 1. 649, and 
 note. 
 
 640. Squyer principal. The adjective is placed after the noun 
 in imitation of the French. 
 
 643. Remembeyyng on = meditating on. Remember ^^to think 
 on : meminisse is so used in Latin. 
 
 poynt of his desir=^ the object of his desire. 
 
 645. Him to pleye ^^io plav by himself, to amuse himself. 
 Him IS dative; cf. " pla}' me a tune;" "play him "=^ play for 
 himself or by himself. 
 
 646. %uere it it might be ; subj. 
 
 64S. gan to /iolde = hold, hQg^n to hold. Gan frequently is 
 equivalent to the auxiliary do. See bigan, P., 827 and note. 
 
 649. greves = hr^nc\\eii. See Gloss. Percy's Rel. 
 
 650. Were it^^'xt m'xghihe:, subj. 
 
 ivoodebynde =^v{oodh\nQ. The earlier orthography indicates 
 the derivation of the word. 
 
 651. ageus. as he was riding eastward. 
 
 652. Scan : Maj' | with alle | thy flow | res and | thy greene. 
 
 654. som grene gete may = may be able to get some prosper- 
 ity. Gete is ifif. 
 
 655. lusty herte^^2i heart full of desire, longing. 
 659. t/iat = \n order that, so that; cf. Lat. qzio. 
 
 662. " God knows he would have believed it full little." 
 
 663. "But the truth was said many years ago." Is said = 
 has been said : a passive perfect formed like the Latin amatus est, 
 dictus est. 
 
 goon., &c., literally, gone since are many years. 
 
 664. The old proverb : " Veld haueth hege, and wude haueth 
 heare." In the open country a man may easily be seen; in the 
 forest he may be heard. 
 
 66v a man = for a man : dative after the adjective. 
 666. at unset stevene ^=^ \\\\\\o\\\. previous appointment. 
 stevene, literally = voice, a message; hence, a meeting agreed 
 upon by a message. 
 
 "And then they setten Steven for to mete." Cokes Tale, 19. 
 
2l6 NOTES TO THE KNIGHTES TALE. 
 
 668. to herken al his sazve= to listen to all his sayings. In 
 A.S. heorcnian is followed by the dative. 
 
 d'^o. al his fille^=-X.o his satisfaction. Fille is here used ad- 
 verbially. " Then mayst thou eat grapes thy fill." Deut. xxiii. 
 24. 
 
 673. here ^iieynie £-eeres= their strange customs. 
 
 qiieynte = quaint, odd. Fr. coint (Lat. cognitus^ known. 
 From known, zvell-knotvn, comes the idea of being old, anti- 
 quated. We give a peculiar meaning to the word, making it 
 denote a pleasant oddity, not pronounced enough to be intrusive. 
 
 676. Friday, here alluded to as a day of unreliable weather, 
 — partaking of the fickleness of its patron Friga, the northern 
 Venus. 
 
 677. Scan : Now | it schyn | eth, &c. 
 
 678. ca7i. Tyrwhitt. Morris reads ga^i overcaste. 
 
 679. ^/reyt>//t = her followers. 
 
 681. " A writer in Notes and Qiieries quotes the following 
 Devonshire proverb : 
 
 ' Fridays in the week 
 Are never aleek.' " Morris. 
 
 683. xvithouteji eny more = without anything further, imme- 
 diately. 
 
 684. that day must be construed as ace. after the interjection, 
 or for must be supplied. 
 
 686. Wiltoxv = wilt thou. The inflectional endings of the 
 verb were originally formed from appended pron6uns, precisely 
 in this manner. 
 
 687. ibrought is = is brought, has been brought. 
 
 691. kyng. "The Teutonic nations used the name konig, or 
 king, and this corresponds to the Sanskrit janaka. What did it 
 mean ? It simply meant father, the father of a family, ' the king 
 of his own kifi,' the father of a clan, the father of a people." M. 
 Miiller, Sc. of L. 272. 
 
 693. verray lyne = true line, direct descent. 
 
 as = and. As is a contraction of also and here has its 
 usual force when uncontracted. 
 
 694. ///;'<?/=: enslaved. Literally = I am such a captive and 
 a slave : such (so) correlating with that. 
 
 695. he thai =^ who. The clauses are inverted. Read, "I 
 serve him as his squire humbly, who is my mortal enemy." The 
 inversion serves the purpose of emphasis. 
 
NOTES TO THE KNIQHTES TALE, 217 
 
 699. titer as =^\here2iS,\ not where. Z'/^^r is frequently used 
 where we use -where, the derivatives of w/io, -what, being still 
 interrogative. 
 
 704. wrt;'/yr^/,^ = tortureth. Martyr originally signified a 
 witness, and was early used to denote those who had borne wit- 
 ness to the truth of Christianity by suffering death; and as such 
 persons were usually put to death by torture, to martyr acquires 
 the meaning of putting to a painful death. 
 
 707. c«;'(7/"«/= full of care. "We are not careful to answer 
 thee." Dan. iii. 16. 
 
 708. erst than my schertc = sooner than (before) my shirt; 
 i.e., before his birth. 
 
 712. mountaunce of a tare =^ the least possible amount. Tare 
 is the vetch ; so also Chaucer frequently, " I care not a bean." 
 
 713. " So that I could do aught that would cause you 
 pleasure." 
 
 715. he . . . this Palamon. He is here used with somewhat 
 of a demonstrative force (Lat. ille'), referring to the former of 
 two persons mentioned. This is the usual A.S. construction. 
 
 716. that thoughte = who thought that he felt. 
 
 719. tale = story. A.S. tal, a fable, a slander, from taelan, 
 to speak ill of: hence originally a false tale; (2) a tale told cir- 
 cumstantially. Cf. history and story; also tale-bearer, tell-tale. 
 This word must be distinguished from tale, a number, a reckon- 
 ing : the first forming the verb taelan, and the latter tellan. 
 They are undoubtedly allied : they are confused in Morris's 
 Glossary. 
 
 721. He sterte him^^he started. After verbs of motion we 
 frequently find the personal pronoun used reflexively, forming a 
 iniddle voice. 
 
 724. whom that ^=^or whom (it is) that; whom, i.e., my lady. 
 
 725. ^/o<?</= relative ; a connection hy blood. See 1. 273. 
 
 726. heere byforn =^he^ore this. Heere is not an adverb, but 
 a pronoun ; cf. the O.E. not for then^= nevertheless, where theti 
 is a pronoun. 
 
 728. " And hast thus falsely changed thy name." 
 
 730. schalt is here used as expressing strong determination, 
 and not simply futurity. 
 
 731. " But only I (I alone) and no other will love her." 
 oonly= ViXone. So Spenser, "That th' onely breath him 
 
 daunts." F. Q^. i. 7, § 13- 
 
2.l8 NOTES TO THE KNIOHTES TALE, 
 
 733. we_pcn ^= weapon : one syllable. 
 
 734- y-sterte = escaped. Tvrwhitt reads astert. 
 
 grace ■= good fortune. So harde grace= misfortune. 
 
 735. I drede jiot = I have no doubt. 
 
 t>/^g;'== either, correlates with or in next line. 
 
 740. lyoun. The article was omitted in comparative sen- 
 tences, after as, like, than, as in our compounds; e.g., lion- 
 like. 
 
 742. Ncre^=ne tvere^were it not. 
 
 745. of myn ko?id= by my hand. 
 
 748. verrayfool= fool indeed. " My very son Esau." Gen. 
 xxvii. 26. 
 
 //^/«yi' 7y^//=^ remember well. A.S. t/ieitcan, to think, to re- 
 member ; the active form of ihincan, to seem : hence, to cause to 
 come to mind. Think still = remember in colloquial language; 
 e.g., "I did not think." The noun thank, which is from this 
 verb, means " that given in remembrance of a favor." 
 
 750. for as w«Cy^e^ forasmuch as, since. For= in consider- 
 ation of As }nuche=^?>o great (a fact), now generally followed 
 by as. Tyrwhitt reads : 
 
 "But for thou art a worthi gentil knight." 
 
 751. ^/>g = forher: dative. 
 
 753. Scan : En y'oth | er knight. 
 
 754. as a k7iight ; i.e., armed. 
 
 759. if so be = \^ it so be. "That thou my lady wj^nne " is 
 the real subject of be. 
 
 760. ther I am /;/;2c = wherein I am. 
 
 761. as for we = so far as I am concerned; cf. the colloquial 
 expression "for all me." 
 
 763. de_parted=^ separated. 
 
 765. out of = without. A.S. «/«;/ = without. 
 
 766. regne^^ king: literally, a kingdom, used by metonomy 
 for king. 
 
 767. is seyd = is it said. The following sentence is the 
 subject. 
 
 768. his thonkes = wi\Ung\y. The gen. was used in A.S. as 
 an adverb; cf. «ee(^e5= necessarily. 
 
 " For haveles (poor) 
 His thonkes is no man alive." 
 
 Gower, Con. Am. ii. 2ii. 
 771* ^^^ ^^^ morwe ; cf. a-morxve, 1. 763. 
 
NOTES TO THE KNIOHTES TALE. 219 
 
 Dayes light = the light of day. In compound nouns the first 
 has the force .of a genitive or dative. 
 
 779. Tho cJi an gen gan = \.\\Q.n z\i-xr\^&di- G<7«^did. 
 
 kereface= their faces : literally " in the face of them." The 
 modern construction uses the plural, we having changed the 
 genitive of the pronoun into a possessive. 
 
 782. ^c;'c = bear. A.S. bera^ probably from heran, to excel, 
 the bear being the largest wild animal known in the northern 
 regions. Bere, barley (cf. beer), seems to have the same deri- 
 vation, denoting the grain which surpassed. The six-rowed 
 barley is called in Scotland big, while the four-rowed is called 
 bear. 
 
 784. brekcth. The subject is ''bowes and the leves." See 
 1. 18S5. Tyrwhitt reads brehing, and says: "The MSS. all read 
 breketh ; but it is more likely, I think, that the first transcriber 
 should have made a mistake in that word, than that Chaucer 
 should have offended so unnecessarily against grammar." If we 
 construe and as equivalent to as, the difficulty is avoided. " And 
 heareth him come rushing through the underbrush, as the boughs 
 and leaves break before him." 
 
 788. me myskappe^^=\i it go ill with me. Mishap is now used 
 only as a noun. 
 
 790. As fcr as=^ as soon as : literally, when they were as far 
 as, &c. ; or, as we would say, "when they were so near that each 
 knew the other." 
 
 791. good day, the usual friendly salutation. 
 
 794. as he ruere^as though he were. "As it had been the 
 face of an angel." Acts vi. 15. In which case had been is subj. 
 798. tvood lyoicn=^ixn enraged lion. 
 
 803. / lete hem = I leave them fighting : literally, I allow them 
 to continue fighting. Fightyng dzvelle is an infinitive phrase, 
 which must be construed as a noun used in the ace. like an 
 adverb. 
 
 804. forth is here used with the idea of motion, — the advance 
 of the story, like henceforth. 
 
 805. The destynd. Article used to correlate with that; cf. 
 Lat. id . . . quod. 
 
 mynistre ^c;/era/= minister-general, general nianager. In 
 most instances in which the noun precedes the adjective, Chaucer 
 follows the French idiom. 
 
 809. by ye or nay. "Yea and nay were originally the answers 
 
220 NOTES TO THE KNIGHTES TALE. 
 
 to questions framed in the affirmative; yes and no, the answers 
 to questions framedin the negative." Bible Word-Book. Thus 
 jea and naj acquire the force of certainty. " But let your com- 
 munication be yea, yea, nay, nay" (Matt. v. 37) ; that is, definite. 
 A.S. hyt ys, hytys; hyt ttys, hyt nys. "The promises of God are 
 yea" (2 Cor. i. 20) ; that is, certain. 
 
 Sio. It — ///rt'/=that — which; cf. "Art thou not it that (he 
 who) hath cut Rahab.''" Is. li. 9. 
 
 815. "This say I now with reference to mighty Theseus." 
 818. " No day dawneth to him in bed ; " i.e., day-light never 
 finds him in bed. 
 
 823. (5rt«c = destruction, death; cf. Goth, banja, U blow. 
 
 824. Mars, the god of war; Diane, Dia?ia, the goddess of 
 hunting. After does not refer to time : his first choice was war; 
 his second, hunting. 
 
 828. clothed refers to the whole party. "And I warne you 
 that there be none of 3'ou but that he be well horsed, and that ye 
 all be clothed in greene, either in silke or in cloth." Qiieene 
 Guenever's orders for a Maying party in the Hist, of K. Arthur, 
 iii. c. 129. 
 
 829. 0}i honthig. 0?i explains the force of « in similar con- 
 structions, — a being an abbreviation of on, as a, the article, is 
 an abbreviation of an- Chaucer uses both forms : aloft, o?i loft, 
 abed, on bed, apart, on part, alive, on live. So in the Bible, 
 a dying, a fishing. Earle, in his Philology of the English 
 Tongue (p. 376), says, "I derive this a from the French 
 prepositions, thus afoot represents apied,'' — a view which is 
 refuted by nearly every instance in which it occurs in Early 
 English. 
 
 833. lawide. " Lande : a Land, or Laund, a wild, untilled, shrub 
 bie or bushie Plaine." Cotgr. 
 
 " Whan they come to the laund on hight, 
 The quenys pavylon there was pight 
 That she myght se of the best 
 All the game [sport] of the forest." 
 
 Ipomydon, 383, Weber ii. 295. 
 " Then went they doune into a launde 
 These noble archeres all three ; 
 Eche of them slew a hart of greece \_prize'\ 
 -^ The best that they could se." 
 
 Adam Bell, Percy's Rel. 
 
NOTES TO THE KNIOHTES TALE. 221 
 
 "For through this laund anon the deer will come." 
 
 Shak. 3 Hen. VI. iii. i. 
 In the first quotation latmd seems to denote a cleared hill ; in 
 the second a cleared valley; in the third, an open space between 
 two forests, — so that the leading idea of the word is a cleared 
 space. 
 
 /it'm. After verbs of motion the pronoun is often used reflex- 
 ively, forming a middle voice. 
 
 834. t/iider^= thither, — the proper form with a verb of motion. 
 Modern English incorrectly uses there, where, here, for thither, 
 whither, hither. 
 
 won^ have = wont to have. 
 
 835. Scan : And ov'r ] a brook | &c. 
 
 837. him lust comauude=^ it pleased him to order. 
 839. .i7«^^r = towards. Looking towards the sun, they would 
 be distinguishable from a greater distance. 
 
 841. breeme = furiously. For an interesting note on this 
 word see M. Muller, Sc. of Lang. ii. 232. 
 
 *' And breres brimme for to pricke." R. R. 1836. 
 "Neither bragger ne boster ffor no bremme wordis." 
 
 Dep. Ric. IL p. 11. 
 as it -were = as though it were ; as though they were. It 
 refers to boorcs two ; the verb is plural to agree with the noun 
 following; cf. "it nam nat I," 602. "ItamI,"87S. " It ben the 
 schirrefes men." 
 
 844. " It seemed that the lightest stroke of either would fell 
 an oak." 
 
 as it ivolde = as though it would. // refers to strooh. 
 
 845. w//a/'=what sort of persons; who. What refers rather 
 to rank, calling, or nationality. 
 
 iiothing=^ in no respect. " For every creature [thing created] 
 of God is good, and nothi7ig [by no means] to be refused." i Tim. 
 iv. 4. 
 
 848. Hoo, an exclamation used by Heralds to stop the fight; 
 used now to stop horses, whoa. 
 
 849. leesyng^ a verbal noun, hence followed hy of. 
 
 852. tvhat mestcy ;«£?« = what sortjof_men. See note P., 613. 
 855. (>^'?7"<'5 = lists. See note P., 63. 
 
 857. vjhat needeth = in what respect (why) does it need. 
 
 858. the deth. Death would imply a natural death, while the 
 death — the noun being emphasized by the demonstrative — im- 
 
222 NOTES TO THE KNIOHTES TALE, 
 
 plies the death fixed by law, death as a punishment; ike death is 
 also used to denote any remarkable mortality. 
 
 bothe txvo. With pronouns both is usually construed sub- 
 stantively; e.g., both of us: with nouns adjectively; e.g., both 
 men. 
 
 862. " give us neither mercy nor protection.'* 
 
 865. y^^czre = may know ; subj. 
 
 lj'te = not; literally, little ; cf. Lat. minus, minime, not, by no 
 means. 
 
 867. <^«;/>'5c^2' = banished. Ban, banish, bandit, abandon, are 
 all from the root bati, common to all Teutonic languages, which 
 means a proclamation, an announcement. We have the word 
 still in use in " the banns of marriage." In French bati became 
 batidon with the notion of authority ; hence abandon is to bring 
 under the control of any one, to subdue; and as bringing a per- 
 son under the absolute control of one, necessarily destroys the 
 previous authority, it acquired a secondary meaning of the sur- 
 render of control. An "abandoned character" is a character 
 which has thrown off moral control ; an '* abandoned tenement" 
 is a tenement over which the owner has surrendered his author- 
 ity. From ban^ bando, we have a Mid. Lat. banire, bandire, to 
 proclaim, to denounce, to publicly order out of the realm, to 
 banish ; bajidit, one so banished ; and, because thus put out of 
 the pale of law, a robber, an oictla-v. 
 
 876. W(?/}i?/:^ unfortunate, full of wo. 
 
 877. ivikkedly^=^Q,x2SW\y,\iy using deception, — not implying 
 any moral wrong. 
 
 881. y^w£5e_= judgment, condemnation. 
 
 " Ther nas . . . 
 Ne juge, ne justice, that jewis durste hem deme." 
 
 Dep. Ric. II. 26, 10. 
 883. bothe we = we both; cf. 1. 858. 
 
 885. schort coticlusioun = a brief argument, a conclusion briefly 
 reached. 
 
 887. r^cor^f? = record it, as the decision of the judge. 
 
 888. to -p yne yoiv vjith the corde, to put you to the torture, to 
 extort a confession of the truth. " 
 
 8S9. schul be deed ^= ye vaxx^t die. Schul, ^\.\ sing, schal. 
 890. verray ivoinmujihede = simply because of her woman- 
 hood. 
 
 893. as it thoughte hem alle^^ as it seemed to them all. 
 
NOTES TO THE KNIGETES TALE. 223 
 
 894. "That ever such an event should happen." 
 
 896. nothings adv. = for notliing. See note 1. 845. 
 
 897. And 5«Tfe=and when they saw. When the subject is 
 readily supplied from the context, it is frequently omitted. Shak- 
 speare takes the same liberty. 
 
 5or(? = severe ; cf. "It was a sore trial." 
 
 898. lesse and more ^^ho\.\\ low and high (in rank). Zr^55 and 
 jnore are comparatives. The Early English was far stricter than 
 the modern in requiring the comparative degree when there was 
 even an implied comparison between two terms. So we have 
 'whither for where, ^vhether for which, either for or, &c. 
 
 905. in a clause ^= '\n one view; literally, in one enclosure. 
 He considers not only the trespass, but the occasion as well. 
 The word, in this sense, is sometimes spelled close, Fr. clause, 
 Lat. claicsiis, from claudere to shut; hence an enclosed place; a 
 sentence enclosed in another; that which closes an argument, 
 a conclusion ; that which decides an argument. 
 
 906. /r^5jz^«5 = trespass. O. Fr. trans-passer ; cf. transgress. 
 The idea of moral wrong is generally expressed by words sig- 
 nifying a going over or beyond. 
 
 908. resouji = reflection, opposed to the hasty decisions of 
 anger. 
 
 913. Of vjommen. Strictly genitive of origin of the feeling. 
 The modern construction is " had compassion on women." 
 
 Evere in oon = evQT: anon ; literally, ever in one (moment). 
 
 915. Fy, an exclamation implying disapprobation or disgust, 
 — faugh. Fr.^f, Ger. pfui, Gr. <pev. 
 
 921. discrecioun, literally, ability to separate; the word seems 
 to be used in a sense stricter than the modern. 
 
 922. caTtJ UJ-dluLsimin = knows no djstmction. 
 
 923. after oon = in the same manner. 
 
 926. in highte^on high, aloud. From the idea of height 
 the transition to greatness is easy. " He lifted up his voice and 
 wept." " That sabbath was an high day." John xix. 31. 
 
 929. gayneth^='a.\^\\, pK See 1. 318. 
 
 930. _/br = because of. Lat. fro. 
 
 931. at his oxvnc gyse =in his own way, at his pleasure. 
 
 932. "As it may please him to devise." 
 
 936. ■zviten = who know; subject to be supplied. 
 
 940. loketh = look I imperative. 
 
 941. ty that he love = if so be that he love. 
 
224 NOTES TO THE KNIOHTES TALE. 
 
 942. 5/V = sits. This whole passage is ironical. 
 
 946. Nothing that can happen to those who serve Love can 
 make them think that thej have not acted wisely. 
 
 947. for ought, &c., correlates with yet. 
 
 950. " Is as much (and no more) obliged to them as to me." 
 C«;^ /-^a;//^ = acknowledge an obligation. Ger. dank -wtssen. 
 "Thej will never con you thanke." K. Arthur iii. 301. 
 
 952. " But altogether it (Love) must be experienced, hot or 
 cold; " i.e., young or old. 
 
 953. Or — c>r= either — or. 
 
 955. by myself =^- by my own experience. 
 fill yore agoii=^ long time ago. 
 
 956. servant -was I on=^l was a servant (of Love). 
 
 966. may = am able. 
 
 967. del =pa.rt, deal; cf. "a great deal ; " "a tenth deal of 
 flour." Kx7 xxix. 40. 
 
 968. " And they swore to him fairly and well what he 
 asked," 
 
 969. " And prayed him for lordship and for good will.'' 
 
 of Lordschipe^ Sic, genitives after verb of asking; the acct 
 would be gift, understood. They acknowledged fealty to him, 
 which would prevent their levying an offensive war under cover 
 of the tournament. 
 
 974. tyme = the proper time. "A time to every purpose." 
 Eccl. iii. I. 
 
 975. as for = \v'ith regard to. Literally, all so in regard to; 
 an emphatic form of for. 
 
 Cf'jg. al be., &c. = although it be pleasant or unpleasant to him. 
 
 9S0. A proverb, denoting a useless occupation ; cf. " Let him 
 whistle for it." 
 
 985. As him is schaf>e = 2^.% it has been determined for him. 
 The ordeal of battle was a common method of appeal to the 
 Deitv. 
 
 989. If that you liketh = if this pleases you, 
 
 990. w>^fr = whither. In E.E. whether and whither are fre- 
 quently abbreviated into ivhere. The origin of our use of where 
 for tvhither may be thus explained. 
 
 991. dauftger = fine. See note P., 663. 
 
 992. fyfty ivykes = a year. 
 
 fer ne neer = further nor nearer, ^more or less; syncopated 
 comparatives. 
 
NOTES TO THE KNIGHTES TALE. 225 
 
 994. Arjned — ?<;/ = uparmed, completely armed; cf. "used 
 up." 
 
 995. See 1. 751. 
 
 998. ^vhcther^=^\\n(i\\. (of two). "Whether of them twain 
 .did the will of his father." Matt. xxi. 31. 
 1000. spak of= mentioned. 
 
 1002. to ivyve=to wife. Wyve is dative. See note, 1. 431. 
 
 1003. ivhojn = to him, to whom. 
 
 that^= it shall be that. That after conjunctions may usually 
 be construed with this ellipsis. 
 
 1005. re-iVe = may God have pity. Cf. " me reweth" = I am 
 sorry. 
 
 1009. ty you thi7iketh = if this seem to you. Ton is dative ; 
 the nominative is always ye. " This is wel isayd " is the subject 
 of thinketh. 
 
 1016. don — grace =^ diOno. (wrought) so fair a favor. 
 
 1017. on knees ^= on his knees. The old idiom which allowed 
 the omission of the demonstrative or possessive pronoun, in 
 cases when such omission would occasion no ambiguity, is 
 preferable to the modern. 
 
 inaner w/g/ii^^hind of man. Of is omitted after manner, 
 as though used adjectively. 
 
 1019. namely = especiiiWy, worthy of mention by name. 
 102 1, gonne they ryde = did they ride ; they rode. 
 1023. men = one, the indefinite pronoun = the reader. 
 
 1025. go//i = goeth, goes. The termination et/i in Chaucer's 
 time was passing into 5; in the northern dialects the pi. ef/i had 
 passed into s. We use s only in place of the singular et/i, our pi. 
 having come from the plural in en. 
 
 1026. to maken up = to prepare. Up must be construed with 
 the verb as a separable preposition. From the idea high it 
 readily acquires an intensive force. 
 
 1027. that, correlative of so, 1. 1025. 
 
 1031. i7i maner of compaas ^ in the form of a circle. Article 
 omitted. 
 
 1032. degrees = steps rising one above another. " This maner 
 of stage in half-circle the Greekes called theatrum, as much to 
 say as a beholding place, which was also in such sort contriued 
 by benches and greeces to stand or set upon, as no man should 
 empeach anothers sight." Puttenham, 52. Arber. 
 
 the height = to the height of. Accusative of measure. 
 
 15 
 
226 NOTES TO TEE KNIGHTES TALE, 
 
 1034. Iette = 'he should not hinder, subj. 
 
 1035. Here begins a description of this circular theatre. On 
 the north was the turret of Diana, with the oratory; on the east 
 the marble gate, above which was the altar and oratory of Venus ; 
 the south side was open ; on the west another marble gate, above 
 which was the altar and oratory of Mars. 
 
 Estward ; i.e., to one within. 
 
 1037. con-clud-e. infinitive. 
 
 1038. as = thus. " There was no such place in earth, that is 
 to say, in so little space." The uses of as in E.E. are many of 
 them difficult of explanation, but can generally be understood 
 by a reference to the original meaning all-so. Tyrwhitt omits 
 as, but according to the canon that the most difficult reading is 
 probably the correct one, we have retained it. 
 
 1040. Who hiatus (was acquainted with) geometry or arith- 
 metic. 
 
 ■Mrsmetrike = arithmetic, derived by a false etymology from 
 ars-meirica. Gr. uptO/iTjTiKT/. Gower writes arsmetique. 
 
 1043. dev^'se =^ \.o embellish. Devise means to contrive; 
 hence to make that which requires skill. To make evidently 
 refers to the construction of the building; while devyse refers to 
 the more elaborate parts of the same. " To devise curious 
 works." Ex. XXXV. 32. 
 
 1045. hath to be construed with don make, 1. 1047. 
 
 1047. Don make = caused (them) to make, caused to be made. 
 Don pp., make inf. 
 
 oratorye== a place of prayer. 
 
 1050. coste, pret. 
 
 105 1, on the ivall. The three oratories were built on the wall, 
 so as to be in full view from all parts of the theatre. 
 
 1055. don TV rotight=vf Yowght, c?i.\\s>ed (to be) made. "This 
 should rather be doji -work. The participle of the past time is 
 improperly put for the infinitive mode. But the same inaccuracy 
 occurs again : " These marchants have don fraught here schippes 
 newe." Tyrwhitt. See 1. 1047. It would perhaps be better to 
 consider wrought as the infinitive, with an ellipsis of to be. 
 Cf. " He has ordered a house built," i.e. to be built. 
 
 i7i noble tvise = in splendid style. 
 
 1056. forgeten = neglected. In modern English the expres- 
 sion would be, " I have forgotten." Had forgotten refers rather 
 to the time of the neglect than to the fact. 
 
NOTES TO TEE KNIGHTES TALE. 227 
 
 1058. sckap refers to the carving; contenaunce, to the paint- 
 ings ; figures^ to the composition of the works of art. 
 
 1061. -wrought 071 the wal ; i.e., on the wall of the oratory. 
 Morris says, "viz., over the gate and wall, i.e., over a sort of 
 barbican;" but Chaucer is not describing the position of the 
 oratory, but of the paintings, «&c., within the temple; of. 11. 
 mo, nil. 
 
 1062. colde = sad. An epithet, descriptive of the effect, 
 applied to the cause. 
 
 1063. sacred = devoted. Cf. Fr. sacre. 
 
 " To destruction sacred and devote." 
 
 Par. Lost, iii. 208. 
 
 " The coming of their sacred foe" [i.e., Satan]. 
 
 lb., iv. 7. 
 ieeres = tears. From a root signifying to bite ; hence bitter. 
 
 1064. desiryfig = desire: a verbal noun. 
 1067. fool-hardynesse = the boldness of a fool. 
 
 1069. lesyyiges^r^YxQ,^^ falsehood. "Thou shalt destroy them 
 that speak leasing." Ps. v. 6. 
 
 1070. 5«5>'«e55e= anxiety. "Martha, thou art bisy and art 
 troublid aboute ful many thingis." Luke x. 41 (Wiclif ). 
 
 1071. guides = marigolds : so called from their yellow color, 
 the color denoting jealousy. 
 
 107^'!'^ Scan : And | a cuk | kow, &c. 
 
 1074. Z,«5/ = pleasure, in no odious sense. 
 Array. See P., 330. 
 
 circumstaunces = things appertaining to. We use the word 
 surroundings in this sense. 
 
 1075. / rekned have atid schal = I have recounted and shall 
 recount. Tyrwhitt reads : " Which that I reken and reken 
 shall." 
 
 1076. by ordre = in proper arrangement. Lat. ex ordine. 
 We also find the A.S. equivalent arexve. 
 
 1077. make of menciou7i = make mention of. 
 
 loSi. lustynesse = pleasure ; here denotes that which occasions 
 pleasure. 
 
 1092. " For when it pleases her, then may she turn the 
 world." 
 
 as^= when. Cf. " What manner of communications are these 
 that ye have one to another, as ye walk." Luke xxiv. 17. Tyr- 
 whitt omits thati, and reads liste, subj. 
 
228 NOTES TO THE KNIQHTES TALE. 
 
 1097. Scan : The stat ] u of Ve | nus, &c. 
 
 iioi. right kond. The right hand (Lat. rectus.^ from regere)^ 
 means the controlling hand. So the left hand has nothing to do 
 with leave, but is rather O.E. left. O.S. Icf, weak. 
 
 1 104. dowves =^ do\e%. "Perhaps from its habit of ducking 
 the head." Wedgwood. It is strange that Wedgwood should 
 have departed from his favorite theory here : it seems more prob- 
 able that this is a true onomatopoetic word, — \ht Gqt. taube, 
 A.S. duva, being quite an exact imitation of their note. 
 
 1 107. as it is often seen. It refers to the fact stated, and not 
 to any particular word. 
 
 1 1 12. in lengthe a7id breede = in length and breadth, — on the 
 sides and ends. 
 
 \i\-T^. estres. " Les estres d'un maison. The inward conveyances, 
 private windings or turnings within, entries into, issues out of, a 
 house." Cotgr. 
 
 1121. swough. "And what soun is it [swough] lyke quod he 
 Peter ! betynge of the see 
 Quod Y, ajen the roches holowe." H. of F., ii. 523. 
 
 1122. sc hulde berstett =^ vfouXd burst; i.e., break by bending. 
 S/iall, originally denoting obligation, easily passes into the 
 notion of futurity, especially with the added idea of compulsion. 
 The past tense implies an antecedent obligation, and in like 
 manner passes into the idea of present or future action,*^epend- 
 ing upon some previous obligation, or as the result of some 
 previous compulsion. In this verse the sounds before mentioned 
 indicate an accumulation of forces which will speedily destroy 
 the forest. Strictly speaking, -would refers to an antecedent 
 desire, should to an antecedent obligation. 
 
 1 123. downward ; i.e., below on the wall. 
 
 under a bente = below a slope, — on a hill amidst the forests. 
 
 1125. ^/i!r«^(/^= burnished ; cf. A.S. byrtte, a coat of mail, as 
 though from byrnan^ wrought in the fire, forged ; cf. also bran- 
 uew, for which we find in E.E. fire-new. 
 
 1 129. northen light. Some suppose that this refers to the 
 aurora borealis, but probably it denotes only the dim light re- 
 ceived by a narrow opening to the north. This temple being 
 situated on the west side of the theatre, — the south side being 
 open, — the only access to it from the wall would be on the north 
 side, which may have suggested this description. 
 
 1 133. y-c/<?//c^e</= strengthened by bars of iron. The orig- 
 
NOTES TO THE KNIGHTES TALE. 229 
 
 inal idea of the word seems to be a lump or mass; acli»c/iedna.\\, 
 is a nail with a lump hammered upon the point. We cletich the 
 fist when we make the hand into a ball. In this verse icle7tchcd 
 must refer to the protuberant bars of iron riveted upon the doors 
 to strenfjthen them. 
 
 ovcrtkzvart and endelofig" ^= acros?, and endwise. "But Sir 
 Launcelot rode overthwart and endlong in a wild forest." K. 
 Arthur, iii. 81. 
 
 1134. /r^;/ = iron. A.S. t'ren, tsen, from ar (rhotacism for as, 
 Lat. aes) ore, copper, properly ike metal ; hence used to denote 
 different metals as each became prominent. 
 
 1 135. Every -pile y ; cf. : 
 
 " The building was a spacious theatre 
 
 Half-round, on two main pillars vaulted high, 
 With seats." Samson Ag. 1605. 
 
 1 137. First correlates \v\W\ yet 11. 1147, ii53' i^SQ? dividing the 
 description into sections, corresponding to the sections of the 
 painting. In the first scene the leading subject is Felony; in 
 the second. Suicide; in the third, War, with its attendant out- 
 rages, and consequent evils; and lastly. Conquest. 
 
 Tmagmy72g = conception ; opposed to compas$yng. 
 
 113S. felonye. According to Spelman, from/ee, goods, estate, 
 and loti wlitCTTsignifies price or value. See Blackstone, Com. iv. 
 95. K felon is thus one whose property or estate has been confis- 
 cated as a punishment for crime. Because death was the usual 
 punishment of such crimes as w^orked a forfeiture of estate. y"^/c;;/y 
 frequently denotes a capital crime. 
 
 compassyng. " Compassing or imagining the death of the 
 king are sj-nonymous tenns : the word compass signifying the pur- 
 pose or design of the mind or will, and fiot as i?i cotnmon speech 
 the carrying such design into effect." Blackstone iv. 78. Mor- 
 ris explains the word as contrivance. 
 
 1140. drede ^or\e who causes dread: perhaps here to be ex- 
 plained from its connection with pike-purse as a house-breaker. 
 The original notion of dread is that of trembling through fear. 
 Milton calls Satan "our Dread." 
 
 114T. smyler = one who hides cruel purpose under a cloak of 
 good-will ;^~*' The treacherous smile, a mask for secret hate." 
 Cowper. Wharton in his Hist. Eng. Poetry reads smiter. 
 "I speak of peace, while covert enmity 
 Under the smile of safety, wounds the world." 
 
 2 Kg. Hen. IV., Ind 
 
230 NOTES TO THE KNIGHTES TALE. 
 
 1 142. schepne = stables. A.S. scypai ; Tj^rwhitt reads shepen 
 
 1 143. /r6'5o/(f« = treachery ; here contrasted with open iverre. 
 
 1144. bi-bled=^hQ-\At<\\ <^e = the transitive prefix. 
 
 1 149. a-nyght=^?Ci night. Alluding, as Morris suggests, to 
 the death of Sisera, the Canaanitish general, whom Jael slew. 
 Tjrwhitt reads 07i hight. 
 
 1 150. colde deth = cold dead body. 
 
 1151. meschaimce. " Desconfort and sory countenaunce " 
 qualify meschaunce. 
 
 1154. Armed complaint = x\ot. An idea caught by the poet 
 probably from the troviblous times of Wat Tyler's rebellion. It 
 here means the presentation of a complaint by an armed body 
 of men, 
 
 outhees = outcry. " From hutesium, a term well known in 
 our law." T. 
 
 outrage = excess. This word has no connection with rage, 
 but is a form assumed from Low Latin, ultragium, from ultra. 
 Gower writes oulirage. 
 
 1157. y-raft =:^ seized, plundered. Reave is now nearly obso- 
 lete, and bereave has so far lost its original meaning, as to lose 
 the idea of injustice; so that the death of a friend is called a 
 bereavement. 
 
 1 159. hoppesteres. Tyrwhitt explains by dancing, from hop- 
 pia?t, to dance; hoppestre, a female dancer. Speght explains it 
 hy pilots. Others with greater probability explain it as = o^- 
 posteres, opposing, hostile. This explanation is supported by 
 Boccacio's Version of Statins, which reads "navi bellatrici." 
 
 1 160. with = hy ; cf. " killed with kindness." Seel. 1164. 
 
 1161. freten = to devour; to be construed with saugh. 
 
 1 162. Probably a proverbial expression for one sufiering mis- 
 fortune in spite of every precaution ; cf. Sq. Tale, 256. 
 
 "Therfore behoveth him a ful long spone 
 That shal ete with a fend." 
 
 1163. i5ij/ = concerning. By originally means near; cf. "I 
 know nothing by myself;" i.e., concerning (against) myself. 
 I Cor. iv. 4. 
 
 Of Marte. Alluding to the supposed malign influence of 
 the planet Mars in one's horoscope. 
 
 1167. smyth = oviO. ^\\o forges with a hammer. "The smith 
 has his name from the sturdy blows that he smites upon the 
 anvil." Trench. 
 
NOTES TO TEE KNIGHTES TALE. 231 
 
 1171. Scan: With | the scharp | e swerd | &c. 
 
 1172. soit'l i-wtne = fi.ne.\y &Tpun. 2"xi'///e = twined. 
 
 1173. ^«///« = Julius Caesar, slain bj Brutus and the con- 
 spirators. 
 
 1 174. Nero^ the Roman Emperor, who was slain by the popu- 
 lace. 
 
 A7ithonius, Mark Antony, slain in Egypt. 
 
 1176. i/ier byfo y /I ^=he.iore it happened. Observe that i/ier is 
 a pronoun in the dative. 
 
 1 177. ;/zrt;/«5;7/^ = threatening; that is, by the aspect of Mars 
 in their horologe. 
 
 figure = a representation of the position of the planets at 
 their birth. An astrologer was called a " figure-flinger.'' 
 
 1 181. Sufiicei/i=^\ei one example suffice. 
 
 11S3. statue, trisyllable. "It is certain that statue was fre- 
 quently written statua in Shakspeare's age; Bacon, for example, 
 always, I believe, so writes it; and it is not impossible that its 
 full pronunciation may have always been trisyllabic, and that it 
 became a dissyllable only by the two short vowels, as in other 
 cases, being run together so as to count prosodically only for 
 one." Craik's E. of Shak. 246. The usual pronunciation in 
 Chaucer is trisyllabic. 
 
 carte = chariot, car. Cart is an abbreviation of c/iari'ot, and 
 is properly a diminutive oi^ car. We use car in an elevated sense, 
 — cart always in an inferior, making the distinction in office 
 chiefly. Chariot, which now is used to denote a costly and stately 
 vehicle, in E.E. was used synonymously with cart. "There came 
 by a chariot, the which came thither for to fetch wood. 'Tell me, 
 carter,' said Sir Launcelot, 'what I shall give thee for to suffer 
 me \p leape into the chariot.'"" K. Arthur iii. 251. 
 
 11S4 as = as if. The if is implied by the subjunctive -were. 
 
 1186. ben clewed = ^VQ called. Are is a comparatively late 
 word in English. 
 
 scriptures = writings. Now restricted to the Holy Scriptures, 
 as the Bible is to t/ie book, by way of eminence. 
 
 1 187. Scan : That oon | Puella | &c. 
 
 Puella and Rubeus = " the names of two figures in geomancy, 
 representing two constellations in heaven ; Puella, signifieth 
 Mars retrograde, and Rubeus, Mars direct." Speght's Gloss. 
 
 1 188. arayed =^set out with ornamental surroundings; to put 
 in order for the sake of ornament, usually applied to dress ; but 
 
232 NOTES TO TEE KNIGHTES TALE. 
 
 sometimes, as here, denoting the adjustment of parts, as in a 
 painting, of troops in an army, "in battle array;" to array a 
 jury, that is to call them man by man. 
 
 1191. Scan: With sot 1 yl pence'l | depeynt | ed was | this 
 storie. 
 
 Tyrwhitt reads peyjited, which corrects the metre. 
 
 1197. of hunty7ig ; i.e., with scenes descriptive of. 
 
 1 198. CalystoJ)e= Callisto, a daughter of Lycaon ; she was a 
 companion of Diana. 
 
 1202. / ca7i say no fcrre = I can say no more = I do not vouch 
 for the truth of the story. 
 
 1204. ^^a«c = Daphne, who was changed into a laurel, that 
 she might escape the violent suit of Apollo. 
 
 1207. A^/ieon = Acteon, who was changed by Diana into a 
 stag, and torn in pieces by his own dogs, for his irreverence. 
 
 1212. Ai/ialaun^e = Atalanta, a famous huntress. 
 
 1213. iJ/c/r(7^;'^ = Meleager, a famous Calydonian hunter. 
 many anof/icr nio = mar\y another besides. A.S. ma is, used 
 
 in this sense. 
 
 1215. xvonder = won^ grfu l. Wonder-storye is properly a com- 
 pound noun. When two nouns are joined, the first being used 
 adjectively, it would be more philosophical to consider the two 
 as one compound. 
 
 1216. "The which I do not care to call to mind." 
 m^Jistn.Qi^\\. pleases me not. Dratve (to drawen) is the 
 
 subject of list. 
 
 1220. Just coming to the full, and therefore best suited for 
 hunting. 
 
 schiilde = would. 
 
 1 221. g-aude greene = light green, the favorite color of 
 hunters. 
 
 1224. Zli^cr = where. In such case the word formed from the 
 demonstrative is more strictly correct than the usual word formed 
 from the interrogative. 
 
 1229. " Well could he who wrought it paint life-like." 
 
 1231. Theseus dative after likcde, 1. 1234. 
 
 1234. hym li'kede=\t pleased him; it was pleasing to him. 
 Hym refers to Theseus. When the sentence is long, and the verb 
 at quite a distance from the subject, a pronoun referring to the 
 subject is inserted just before the verb ; in this case the verb 
 being impersonal, the leading subject of the sentence is thrown 
 
NOTES TO THE KNIGHTES TALE. 233 
 
 into the dative, and thus the pronoun which is inserted is thrown 
 into that case. "And hit licode Herode." "And pleside to 
 Eroude." Matt. xiv. 6 (Wiclif). 
 
 1238. schulde here denotes obligation. 
 
 1240. Scan : And til | Athenes | here cov | enant | to hold. 
 
 1243. *' And trulj many a man thei*e thought that never since 
 thew^orld began was there to be seen, to speak of the knighthood 
 of either party, as wide as God has made sea or land, so noble a 
 company, and yet so few; " that is, so many nobles in so small a 
 company. 
 
 1245. As, namely, that is. See Abbott, Shak. Gr. § 113. As 
 is here used restrictively = for instance; it does not serve to 
 introduce an example, but to limit the extent oi the preceding 
 statement. 
 
 1249. J>assq nt = surpassing; a name passing from mouth to 
 mouth; \.q., re-tioivned. 
 
 1250. q£^ that game ; i.e., one of, a sharer of that game; par- 
 titive. 
 
 1251. ivel ivas him = weal was to him, well was it for him. 
 ther to = to it. There in composition with prepositions re- 
 tains its pronominal force. 
 
 1252. if ther felle such a caas = if such an opportunity should 
 happen. 
 
 1253. lusty ;= vigorous; that state of body which gives pleas- 
 ure. 
 
 1254. paramours = gallantry, gallant actions. Literally, 
 " with loves." See 1. 297. What at first was a descr.ptive epi- 
 thet came in time to be used as a noun, designating tl»e thing so 
 described; thus par amour passed into the noun paramour, de- 
 noting (ist) gallantry, (2d) lover, or the person inspiring gal 
 lantry or love. Either meaning will suit here. 
 
 hath his might ; i.e., is not sick or wounded. 
 
 1255. it, i.e., the opportimity. 
 
 1256. ivolde 7vilne^= would wish. 
 
 1257. To Jighte, infinitive, used substantively. 
 
 1258. were = would be. 
 
 to see = to be seen. Gerundial ; cf. " a house to let." 
 
 1259. right so ; i.e., inspired by similar feelings. 
 1261. Sojn = one; cf. somme, pi. I. 126;?. 
 
 Tvol = prefer. 
 
 1263. somme, pi. of sofn. 
 
234 NOTES TO THE KNIGHTES TALE. 
 
 ^eyre flatcs = armor for the breast and back; double plates, 
 contrasted with breastplates, 
 
 1267. "There is no new contrivance that was not known of 
 old," — as though defending himself from the charge of anach- 
 ronism in arming his knights in the armor of his day. 
 
 1269. after his of)iniou7i = according to his choice. 
 
 1270. Ther tnaistoxv sen = there mayst thou see. 
 1274. T/icy, redundant. 
 
 1276. kenipe = coarse, shaggj. Kemps = hair among wool. 
 From A.S. cemhan to comb; hence that which is combed, as 
 hair; also that which is combed out, snarled or knotted hair. 
 
 1277. braivnes — the muscular parts of the body, particularly 
 (as here) the calf of the leg, and the fleshy parts of the arms. 
 
 1283. nayles yehve ^= yeWow buttons, resembling the heads 
 of nails. 
 
 1284. foy-old= very old. Morris. Tyrwhitt reads " for old" 
 = for age. The former is preferable. 
 
 1287. w^6'/^^ = wreath. The A.S. verb has two forms, — 
 wret/iian and -writ/nan^ — both of which are preserved in modern 
 English, but with a divergence of meaning. 
 
 1289. rubies = 0. precious stone of red color. Lat. rubeus. 
 ^V'«;;zrtz^«/fz = diamonds, — a corruption of adamant. We here 
 
 see the word in a transitional state. 
 
 1290. alauntz=^?i species of dog. '■'■ Alajio is the Spanish 
 name of a species of dog which the dictionaries call a mas- 
 tiff." T. 
 
 1294. Colers, supply ivitk. 
 fyled rounde, — so as to turn easily. 
 
 1300. clotk of gold ^^ cXo\h. with gold threads inwoven. 
 
 ^0/^/'^^= wrought in flourishes, ornamented. 
 
 "And it [the bow] was painted well and thwitten [carved] 
 And over all diapred and written." Rom. R., 934. 
 This word is from the Latin Jaspis, a jasper stone, — the colors 
 of which are often in stripes and figures, whence it was much 
 used in ornamental jewelry. The verb, derived from the noun, 
 soon came to denote a species of ornamentation resembling the 
 natural marks of the jasper; and from this verb, we have again 
 derived a noun denoting cloth with a pattern inwoven, — diaper. 
 Fr. diaspre. 
 
 1302. cloth of Tars= a kind of silk. " Tartarian cloths are so 
 skilfully woven that no painter with his brush could equal, much 
 
NOTES TO THE KNIGHTES TALE. 235 
 
 less surpasSj them." Quoted from Boccaccio in Longfellow's Dante, 
 
 I. 283. 
 
 1307. ironne = arranged. Morris explains by " clotted." 
 
 ** cheveicx annelez. Haire frizzled, curled, or twirled round, or 
 
 into round knots." Cot. 
 
 131 1. y>e>^;/£?5= freckles. Probably another form o? Jiecken, 
 
 spots. 
 
 1313. cas/e = threw around. 
 
 1314. ca5/e = should judge. There was no objection in 
 Chaucer's day to using the same words as rhymes if their signi- 
 fication was different. Gower frequently uses a noun and a verb 
 from the same root 
 
 13 15. sprynge = to spring up, to grow. So spring is the sea- 
 son in which vegetation sprouts. The original idea seems to be 
 to rise up. 
 
 1320. tame. A tame animal is literally one subdued, one that 
 will obey man. 
 
 1323. 171 alle jna7zer thinges ^= in all manner of things ; i.e., in 
 all kinds of armor. 
 
 1327. 071 every part = on every side. 
 
 1328. lepart = leopard. " The leopard was not for the Greek 
 and Latin zoologists a species by itself, but a mongrel birth of 
 the male panther or pard and the lioness; and in its name 
 'leopard' (or lion-pard) this, its assumed double descent, is ex- 
 pressed." Trench. 
 
 1329. alle a7id so7ne = one and all; literally, " all and one." 
 For this use of so7)ze, cf. 11. 397, 1261-1265. " Summe other alle." 
 An. R., 28. 
 
 1330. ^ee7i co7?ze = are come ; intransitive perfect. 
 
 t/ie So7iday. Palamon escaped May 3d (1. 605) and meets 
 Arcite : this day was Fridav, 11.676,681. Their duel was the 
 next day, — Saturday, May 5th. They were to meet that day 
 fifty weeks, which must be taken as meaning a year. May 5th 
 the next year would be Sunday. 
 
 1331. pri7ne = six o'clock in the morning. " The first quarter 
 of the artificial day." T. In the Catholic Church, the next ser- 
 vice after matins, and hence the usual hour of such service. 
 
 alight, to be construed with beeTi. 
 
 1334. everych at his degre = each according to his rank. 
 1336. T<Kese7i he77t = to entertain^them. See P., 29 and note; 
 P., 768 and note. 
 
 1338. Of 710)1 cstat qualifies ;«««, to be understood from 
 
236 NOTES TO THE KNIQHTES TALE. 
 
 1340. mosie and leste = greatest and least ; highest and lowest 
 We generally use more and mo^t distributivelj. 
 
 1341. paleys = palace. '' A palace is now the abode of a royal 
 family; but if we look at the history of the name, we are soon 
 carried back to the shepherds of the Seven Hills. There, on the 
 Tiber, one of the seven hills was called the Collis Palatinus^ and 
 the hill was called Palattfius, from Pales, a pastoral deity whose 
 festival was celebrated every year on the 21st of April, as the 
 birth-day of Rome. It was to commemorate the day on which 
 Romulus, the wolf-child, was supposed to have drawn the first 
 furrow on the foot of that hill, and thus to have laid the foun- 
 dation of the most ancient part of Rome, the Roma ^uadyata. 
 On this hill the Collis Palatinus stood ; in later times, the 
 houses of Cicero, and of his neighbor and enemy Cataline. 
 Augustus built his mansion on the same hill, and his example 
 was followed by Tiberius and Nero. Under Nero all private 
 houses had to be pulled down on the Collis Palati?iHs, to make 
 room for the Emperor's residence, the Domus Aurea, as it was 
 called, the Golden House. This house of Nero's was henceforth 
 called the Palatinus, and it became the type of all the palaces 
 of the kings and emperors of Europe." M. Miiller, Sc. of Lang, 
 ii. 267. 
 
 1343. ^e«= might be, were. 
 
 best daunsynge ^==he^t at dancing. The retention of final « 
 indicates an inflection; the construction in A.S. would be a 
 genitive, limiting the scope of the adjective. We are obliged to 
 supply the loss of inflection with a preposition having the same 
 force. 
 
 1344. daunce — singe, infinitives. 
 
 ^345- felyngly^=\x\ a manner indicating the possession of the 
 feeling. The word means, actively, touchingly; passively, in a 
 manner indicating sensibility. 
 
 1351. T/ie So}iday night. The feast lasted all day Sunday. 
 
 To sprynge=^\.o dawn; cf. "The day spring from on high." 
 Luke i. 78. 
 
 1353. nere nought = Jie zvere nought ^=^nq.x& not. 
 
 1355- ^^oly here refers not so much to state as to temporary 
 purpose. 
 
 1359. hire hour^^hev hour. The hours of the day and night 
 were allotted to the planets according to the following rule : 
 The first hour of each day belongs to the planet for which the 
 
NOTES TO THE KXIGETES TALE. 237 
 
 day is named; then the succeeding hours to the planets in the 
 following order: Saturn. Jupiter, Mars, Sol, Venus, Mercury, 
 Luna. The twenty- third hour of Sunday (reckoning froin dawn) 
 would therefore belong to Venus. 
 
 1363. lady myn = lady of me. Myn is genitive, not pos- 
 sessive. 
 
 1365. g-ladere ^= one who makes glad. 
 
 1366. Adeoicn = Adonis. 
 
 1367. Have pile of=^ have pity (on me) because of. Pity is 
 here followed by a gen. of source. 
 
 1370. Thefcctes = the forces, the power. 
 
 1373. ;w^;'cy = grant mercy. 
 
 1374. "'^^c«^>^/= anxiety, melancholy. So used in the Bible 
 and in Shakspeare. *' Take no thought for the morrow." Matt, 
 vi. 25. "Take thought and die for Caesar." J. C. ii. i. The 
 verb to think is also used in the same meanings. 
 
 "i-Z*!! ''^■~.^2!}foxih = to the extent of, according to ; literally, 
 even forth. Em in composition denotes even, equal. 
 
 1379. 50 = provided that, if so be that. Sometimes that fol- 
 lows as used in this sense. 
 
 i^So.^yg/ ^g = bo ast. The meanings are: (i) to cry like a 
 dog, (2) to talk loudly, (3) to boast. 
 
 1381. Scan : N' I n' aske | nat to | morwe [ to have | victorie. 
 
 1383. ^;V5 = victory in arms. 
 
 blow en ; i.e., by the trump of fame ; by the heralds announc- 
 ing the victor. 
 
 1386. ho-M = in what way. 
 
 1387. but it may better (^c = unless it may be better. "I care 
 not whether I win the victory or he, unless as one or the other 
 may be better for my suit." 
 
 1390. though so ^e = though it so be; in which case it refers 
 to the sentence, " Mars is god of armes." 
 
 1407. Scan : But at | te laste | the stat | u of Ve | nus schook. 
 
 140S. iooy^ = conjectured, deduced. Still used thus in collo- 
 quial language. '' You take me right." Bacon. There seems 
 to be a connection between the words take and teach, — A.S. 
 tacan, taecan, Gr. 6exo/mi, deiKvvut, — so that this colloquial use 
 may be only a relic of a former well-recognized meaning. 
 
 1412. we;z/« = turned : pret. of tvende. Cf. " To wend one's 
 way." 
 
 1413. thridde hour that = the third hour after that; i.e., the 
 
238 NOTES TO THE KNIGHTES TALE, 
 
 first hour of Monday, and hence sacred to Diana or Luna. See 
 note, \. 1359. 
 
 ■\niej^uaL " In the astrological system, the day (from sunrise 
 to sunset) and the night (from sunset to sunrise) being each 
 divided into twelve hours, it is plain that the hours of the day 
 and night were never equal, except just at the equinoxes. The 
 hours attributed to the planets were of this unequal sort." T. 
 By the use of this term Chaucer calls attention to the astrological 
 hour, and indicates, without saying so, that this hour was sacred 
 to Diana. 
 
 1418. Ful redily^= all ready for use. 
 
 1420. longen schal=^ ought to belong, properly belong. Schal 
 is here used in its original sense of obligation. 
 
 1421. //or«<?5 = drinking horns. The fact that drinking cups 
 were originally made out of horns, so that thej^ could not be put 
 down unless emptied, is preserved in the colloquial use of the 
 word, to denote a drink. 
 
 1423. Smokyng the temple = while the temple was smoking 
 (with the incense). An imitation of the A.S. dative absolute. 
 
 1425. tce//c:^ spring. We speak of the " welling up" of water. 
 Hence a source^ as Chaucer is called " a well of English unde- 
 filed ; " finally its meaning has become restricted to the most 
 common source of obtaining water, — a pit sunk into the ground. 
 
 1427. "Except it be something in general terms." 
 
 1429. Cf. "To the pure all things are pure." 
 
 1430. "It is good that a man be free;" that is, from the 
 temptation hinted at in the preceding line. It refers to the 
 infinitive phrase. 
 
 1434. Tiio fyres. — one for each of her lovers. 
 
 1435. ////V/^c,'« = important duties. "The primitive meaning 
 seems to be discourse, then solemn discussion, judicial consider- 
 ation, council, court of justice, lawsuit, cause, sake, matter, or 
 subject of discourse." Wedgwood. Hence, also, any matter of 
 importance. 
 
 1444. yl5= namely. ^^5 = all-so, — all merely emphasizing 
 so: its precise force here is " so by all means." 
 
 1445. aboughte ^^^Vi'S.tx^di for, paid for; y^rtt. oi ahye. The 
 original sense is to buy, with the stress laid upon the price paid, 
 rather than on the fact of purchase. 
 
 1446. Scan : Chaste | goddess ] e wel | wost thou | that I. 
 1454. ye may and kan = ye are able and know how to. 
 
NOTES TO TEE KNIGHTES TALE. 239 
 
 1455. t/ire formes, alluding to the fabled three forms of Diana, 
 • — on earth Diana, in heaven Luna, in hell Proserpina, — 
 denoting the three marked forms of the moon, full, horned, and 
 dark. 
 
 145S. witJiouten more = without asking anj thing further. 
 
 1467. As — in that case. 
 
 147 1, maydeiihode = maidenhood. The termination hood 
 {A.S. /lad) denotes state, condition; it is sometimes written 
 head; e.g., godhead, 
 
 1477. quyked^^ji:&\\\Q.di. "And jou hath he quickened." 
 Eph. ii. I. 
 
 1450. his = its. Its is not found in Chaucer, nor did it come 
 into use until more than two hundred years later. Tlie neuter 
 pronoun was original!}' hit^ of which the genitive was his. 
 
 1451. out-ran = ran out. When a preposition is compounded 
 with a verb, and the proper force of both is retained, we place 
 the preposition after the verb; but if the sense of either is modi- 
 fied by the composition, the preposition is placed first, and the 
 two words coalesce. Out-run now means to surpass in running. 
 
 1452. many oon = many a one. See note, P. 168. 
 1484. and gan to crie, — a fine touch of nature. 
 1495. 7nay 7iat = am not able, cannot. 
 
 1502. 7nade a va?iysschynge = \Q.n\^h&d; cf. "And the wynd 
 
 ceeside, and greet pesiblenesse is maad." Mark iv. 39 (Wiclif ). 
 
 1504. aynounteth = to what does this amount.'* 
 
 1507. nexte = nearest. JVext is the regular superlative of neah, 
 
 near; but we, having lost its connection with near, have formed 
 
 a new superlative. 
 
 1509. The nexte houre of Mars would be the fourth hour of 
 the day. See note, 1. 1359. 
 
 1510. ivalked is ^ has walked. 
 
 1^12. _payen w/5^ = pagan custom. Pagan, Lat. paganus, 
 a villager, has reached its modern meaning thus : (i) villager, 
 (2) heathen villager, (3) heathen. See note P., 70. 
 
 1518. " Hast complete control of the issue of all contests in 
 arms." 
 
 1519. as the lust devyse = as it pleases thee to ordain. 
 
 1523. godhede = godhead. The termination hood, head, de- 
 notes stj,te or officcj and is thus adapted to the euphemism of 
 using the abstract for the concrete noun. 
 
 thai = so that, to that degree that. 
 
240 NOTES TO THE KNIQETES TALE. 
 
 1537. lyves = alive, living, — an adverb formed from the gen- 
 itive, like needes, thankcs. 
 
 1538. doth — endure = causes me to endure. 
 
 1539. vjhcr I synke or Jleete = whether I may sink or float. 
 These verbs are subjunctive. 
 
 1546. " As severely as this fire now burneth me." Tyrwhitt 
 reads : " as wel as that this fyr," &c. 
 
 1548. travaile = labor, toil. Travel is another orthography 
 of the same word. It originally denoted any uncommon or 
 painful effort, and before the modern conveniences was not 
 inaptly used to denote making a journey. In like manner the 
 German Arbeit has passed from labor to travel. 
 
 1551. In thy plesaiuice = in that which affords thee pleasure; 
 i.e., war. 
 
 1552. I ivol my baiter honge ; i.e., as a trophy: cf. "Our 
 bruised arms hung up for monuments." Rich. III. i. i. 
 
 1557. berd. Among the ancients, particularly the Eastern 
 nations, the beard was held sacred as a pledge of manhood. 
 Consecrating the beard was therefore a consecration of his 
 manhood. 
 
 1559. sckere = shears, — now used only in the plural. 
 
 1563. The ^reyere stynte, — the absolute construction. 
 
 1566. "At which Arcita was somewhat terrified." 
 
 Oftvhich, genitive of the source of the feeling. 
 
 Hy?n ag-aste, — an imitation of the French idiom, — forming 
 a sort of middle voice. 
 
 1573- bigan his hauberk rynge = rattled his armor in token 
 of assent. 
 
 1575. dym = indistinct. Properly applied to objects of sight; 
 dumb is, however, allied, and denotes rather inarticulate sounds 
 than total inability to speak. Wedgwood allies dim to dam^ 
 with the original signification to stop. 
 
 " He herde a vols which criede dimme." 
 
 Gower, Con. Am. ii. 293. 
 
 1577. vjel to fare = to succeed, to fare well. 
 
 1579. " -^s glad (at his success) as is the bird of the bright sun.*? 
 
 1585. pale Sattcrnus the colde, — alluding to the supposed 
 astrological influence of the planet, which idea we have retained 
 in the adjective saturnine^ gloomy, stern. For further remnants 
 of these astrological ideas, cf. jovial., from Jupiter; mercurial^ 
 from Mercury; martial., from Mars, (&c. "' 
 
NOTES TO THE KNIGUTES TALE. 241 
 
 1586. Saturn was fabled to be the oldest god. 
 
 Ma?iye of avejitures. We saj "many adventures," — as also 
 " a thousand men," in which case the singular article shows that 
 men is used in the genitive = of men. 
 
 1591. " One may outrun the old, but not outwit them." 
 
 1593. Al-be-it = although. 
 
 kynde = nature. '• For kindnesse [i.e., feeling of kinship] 
 he wept ful tenderly." K. Arthur iii. 221. In O.E. unkind ^= 
 unnatural. "The kindly fruits of the earth." The idea of rela- 
 tionship or community of nature underlies all these words. 
 
 1596. In the time of Chaucer, Saturn was the outermost of 
 the known planets, and thus had the -widest orbit. 
 
 1597. The following lines specify the astrological influences 
 of this malign planet. 
 
 1598. drenchyng ^ drowning. Many intransitive verbs be- 
 come transitive in A.S. bv a change of the vowel. We have 
 retained a few, as sit, set ; lie, lay: drench is from drcncan, the 
 causative form of drincan, to drink; so ihencan, to think, from 
 thincan, to seem. 
 
 1599. prisoun in the derke cote = imprisonment in the dark 
 cell; i.e., as a lunatic. See Burton Anat. Mel., pt. i, sec. 2, 
 memb. i, subs. 4. 
 
 1600. strangle = choking. " Our Saxon ancestors compelled 
 the adulteress to strangle herself." Morris's Gloss, refers the 
 definition strongly to this line, — probably a misprint. 
 
 1601. 7«?/r;;z«re = murmuring; i.e., the complaint preceding 
 a rebellion. 
 
 cherles = Q\\\xr\%. A.S. c^(?r/, a man. We similarly use the 
 word men, to denote laborers or servants ; cf. " Like master, 
 like man." 
 
 1602. groyriing ==_%X?iQh\ng (Morris) as though from the noun 
 groin, a point. Tyrwhitt explains, " to hang the lip in dis- 
 content." 
 
 1603. f>leyn correctioun = full punishment. 
 
 1604. signe of the lyoiin = the constellation Leo. 
 
 1609. maladies colde = deadly distempers. 
 
 1610. castes olde = old contrivances; contrivances of old, — 
 long in use, thus proving their efficiency. 
 
 161 1. Myn loky?ig^=xny look. 
 1618. 7"//<7/^ which fact. 
 
 1629. Hit=i\.. The third personal pronoun in A.S. was 
 
 16 
 
242 NOTES TO THE KNIQHTES TALE. 
 
 he, heOi hit, pi. ht ; the gen. his, hire, hz's. In the course of time 
 the h dropped, and an anomalous gen. its was formed. 
 
 Venus, possessive case. 
 
 1630. by the ca?(f5e = because. 
 
 5c^«/<^t' = must. The pret. implies an engagement already 
 made. 
 
 1632. at night =^ as soon as it was night. 
 
 1640. brozvdyng=-Qvo}oxo\(\Q.xy. From braid^ hence worked 
 with braid. 
 
 1642. Go/<f-<5^/'c;z = ornamented with gold. 
 
 1646. G/^^'«^= making ready; literally, rapidly moving. 
 Morris explains as clattering. Tyrwhitt reads grinding, rub- 
 bing. The interpretation given above, if tenable, comports 
 better with the rest of the passage. The word gig in E.E. was 
 used to denote any rapid motion, or a motion to and fro, as the 
 vehicle so named from the motion communicated to the rider. 
 
 "That for the swough and for the twigges 
 This house was also full of gigges." H. of F. iii. 852. 
 Cf. Ger. Gcige, a fiddle. 
 
 1647. Ther as need /5= about what was necessary. 
 
 1652. .<</rtz;'<?5= staffs, bludgeons. We distinguish between the 
 two plurals, — staffs being the pi. of staff, and staves denoting 
 weapons. 
 
 thikke refers to comrmines. 
 
 1654. bloody soivnes, sounds inciting to bloody deeds. 
 
 1655. ^c^/f?5 = groups of people. 
 
 1656. holdyng here questioun = holding their discussion. 
 
 1659. him ~i.vith the blake berd ; i.e., " Ligurge himself, the 
 grete kyng of Trace," 1. 1271, 1272. 
 
 1660. the balled=^ the, light hairej; i.e., Emetrius, '' the king 
 of Ynde," 1. 1307, 1308. 
 
 the thikke herd := the thick haired; i.e., Arcite ; cf. " myn 
 heer that hangeth longe adoun," 1. 1557-59. 
 
 ft 
 
 1661. he lokede grym ; i.e., Palamon. 
 1665. of his sleep ^=o\\t of his sleep. 
 aivaked, Tja-whitt reads "is waked." 
 1675. made an hoo == cried oyez, hear ye. 
 1678. dukes = duke's, gen. sing. 
 
 1685. up peyne = upon pain or penalty. 
 
 1657. sende, subj. used for iinperative. 
 
 i688. with point bytyjtge = with sharp point, as in battle. 
 
NOTES TO THE KNIGHTES TALE. 243 
 
 1691. But one course with a deadly weapon was allowed on 
 horseback. See 1. 174S. 
 
 1692. "Let him fence on foot, if it please him, to defend 
 himself." 
 
 1693. at mesc/iief^ uniovtuniiiQ, \n the combat. 
 
 1696. ke schal= but thither shall he be taken. 
 
 1697. if so fallen \i it may so happen. 
 1700. ley on. Properly a compound. 
 
 1707. Up g07i = begin to sound, — a compound. 
 
 1715. oou and ot/ier= one and another. 
 
 1717. dy tyme = hetimes, in due season. 
 
 1723. west-ward — under Marte = from the west, under the 
 temple of Mars. See 1. 1049. "And clipyd hym taylard." R. Coeur 
 de L. 724. 
 
 1727. Is under Vemis est'Zvard^=^ Under the temple of Venus 
 from the east has entered. 
 
 1733. «;/y = either one. So A.S. ae«/^= any one. 
 
 1735. So evenly had they been chosen, as one would suppose. 
 
 1738. " That there might be no deceit in the number." 
 
 1739. cried was. The next line is the subject. 
 
 1747. Observe the alliteration in the lines following, — the 
 spirit of the old Saxon overmastering the culture of the courtier. 
 
 1748. //d = one. He — ^e=:one — another. See below used 
 as a demonstrative. 
 
 Herte-spoji^= n?i\e\. "Spoon" in Yorkshire denotes the 
 navel. 
 
 1749. up springen. Observe the emphatic position of the 
 prepositions; so, out goo7i, out bresi. These are all compounds. 
 
 yijc»^=gen. pi. of feet. A.S. fota. The common idiom of 
 using this form with numerals indicates the persistence with 
 which the coinmon speech clings to the old forms. 
 
 1751. to-kezven and to-schrede. To in composition, has an 
 intensive force. 
 
 1754. He — ^g = one — another: this one — that one. 
 
 1758 "And one hurls another with his horse adown." 
 
 1762. "Another is brought (to the stake) from the other 
 side." 
 
 1763. doth hem = causes them. 
 
 1767. " Each has unhorsed the other of them two." Other in 
 E.E. is generally used without the article. 
 
 1779. the r<?5/e = his rest. So in Greek the article is used for 
 the possessive. 
 
244 yOTES TO THE KXIGETES TALE. 
 
 17" J == seized. 
 
 17^7- j^r ju JL.: , *:5 = in spite of his strength. 
 
 17S9. So = in i^ - - -er, so hard. 
 
 1799. t^'^'^ = P-~'. ^ "' the suit = partfa!. 
 
 1S02. Amooiu, ^Suc, =^ _:i_z. _ r.oise i> be^n bv i:i± z-.'.z .=z. 
 
 Of tie f>e«rple ; gen. of source. 
 
 1809. aschur: 1 = 7 _: td shame. 
 
 iSiol 1W<i/ ' = ^-7 iiuet: lefirain frotn saijii^ aaj 
 
 thing; cf. "K, r = : ; 'rom violent action. 
 
 iSi6w herkmetk mtez -v. : e " is the aoc erf" dire:: 
 
 object, and *^ me " is dative 
 
 iSiS. Of — ^daam = f : z : 1 ; i.e. _~ So also <2^« = 
 
 do- on. 
 
 1S22. -^-- - ^:'- = r:— iris h:ni. 
 
 1525. *' And she was wholly his - /- ;: :er -:" e 
 was his in her heart; " Le-, she did 7 - : 
 express^ them bj her jojfial cot t 
 construed as in the dative, and her «-_ - - T 
 
 •* And was all his in cheie as his in . . — : _ : 
 
 abetter reading. 
 
 1526. fyr = fire. T vrwhitt Tssud&fmry, which is i md o ulii Bdly 
 cofrect. 
 
 1S2S. Fitr -z^kicl =1: ~hich: before which. 
 
 iSjol *• And beibre A was able to recover him." 
 
 1SJ3. to-kr*siem, — : 'rll upon him and the profecting 
 
 saddle-bow crashed ~ 
 
 iS|Ol im mewm^ry £nj . » . >'^-: = i^ .riii^ ~f ~ ~es and aliv& 
 
 Chancer uses infy^e^ alir^ s ' ^ ' ' 
 
 1S45. ** Although this aod - - "^ - " 
 
 1&I7. «c4«/ is here used pec. J . I: .: 
 
 he will not die, because, from tiie cira::: - : - r - — .. - _ ; _ . 7 
 
 won his ladv — he onght not to lose the 
 
 1551. Al srere : 'r : , = although thev : 7 
 amd m^tmdy ^m- = i one especiallv. 
 
 1552. T: :.- — = r iKeastfaoiie. 
 
 1853* ^*' ^^ -'-'- ■ -'- —'-'■ •- -' 
 
 1S55. i«-^ = ^2re. — : :. -7 •' *"-'-"-= ren:efj. as its L;-."3 
 
NOTES TO THE KXIGHTES TALE. 245 
 
 1S61 '-But there was held to be no defeat (as in battle) but 
 as in a (friendly) joust or tournament; for, indeed, there was no 
 defeat." 
 
 1S67. O persone allone = one person by himself. 
 •• Bat for he may nought all him one 
 In sondry places do justice." 
 
 Gower, Con, Am. iii. 17S. 
 1S4S. ^«7r/Vf/ = roughly dragged. The origin seems to be 
 shown in Fr. harer. to set on a dog. 
 
 1572. co-vardye = cowardice. Wedgwood refers to Fr. couard 
 from Lat. cauda. tail : hence, one who turns tail. It may, how- 
 ever, be from covjer, to hide. Ger, kauern ; cf. '"cowans and 
 evedroppers."' 
 
 '•Thanne cometh ther a cougioun with a grey cote 
 As not of his nolle, as he the nest made. 
 Another proud partriche, and precyth to the nest, 
 And prevyh'che pirith, till the dame passe. 
 
 And leveth the lurker that hem er ladde," 
 
 Dep. Ric. ii. 16. 10. 
 
 1573. /^^^ cr/V = ordered (the heralds) to cry: let strictly = 
 permit; here used by euphemism. 
 
 1875. The gree = tlie prize (to be) as well of one party as of 
 the other. 
 
 1S7S. J'lilly modifies three. 
 
 1S79. " -^"^nd honorably accompanied the kings fully a day's 
 journey out of his town. Worthily = for the sake of honor. 
 
 iSSi. the righte -vay — by the straight road. 
 
 18S2. have good day ^^TS\2iy you have good day. Abbreviated 
 into •• good-day." 
 
 1892. For thilke vertti, &c., by aid of that virtue. "The 
 expulsive or animal virtue (power) cannot, for want of the aid 
 of the natural power, expel or void the venom; " that is, neither 
 bv the aid of medicines nor by the force of nature can he free 
 himself of the poison. 
 
 1S97. '• Neither is vomit nor laxative of any avail to him." 
 
 1902. to chirche : i.e.. to his funeral. 
 
 1903. This al and sam = this is the end of the matter. 
 
 1904. For tahich = for which reason, wherefore. 
 1920. A^ow — now = at one moment — at the next. 
 
 1928. "And may Jupiter guide my soul so truly to speak." 
 
246 
 
 NOTES TO THE KNIGETES TALE. 
 
 1933. ar^= the art or profession of knighthood. 
 
 1934. " So may Jupiter take the part of my soul; " i.e., favor 
 me. 
 
 1945. "The intellect that dwelt in his sick and sore heart 
 failed without any delay, only when the heart felt death; " that 
 is, his affection for Emily ceased only with death. 
 
 1952. cam nevere, supply thence^ as indicated by ther = 
 thither. 
 
 1954. registre = rezoxdi\ i.e., the " olde stories." 
 
 1955. "Nor does it please me to tell the opinions of others, 
 though they may write where they dwelle," — alluding to Boc- 
 caccio, who, in his version of the tale, conveys Arcite's soul to 
 heaven. I 
 
 1956. ^c;«==them, those persons, others. 
 
 1957. //Jcr = therefore, may Mars take charge of his soul. 
 " O that Mars would." Morris. Tyrwhitt thinks that ther has a 
 peculiar force in this passage. Ther is here equivalent to for 
 this, being the dative. So also Merch. Tale, 31. 
 
 "This sentence and a hundred thinges worse 
 Writeth this man, ther God his bones curse." 
 
 7'^^;' is here plainly equivalent to for this ; therefore, in the 
 line under consideration, ther refers to what immediately pre- 
 cedes, — " Arcite is cold." ^ 
 
 1962. to taryen forth the day = to stop for the rest of the day. 
 forth after a verb of motion indicates direction or limit. 
 
 1966. For the more fart = generally. Grief must either find 
 vent in lamentation or else they die. 
 
 1977. " Why wouldst thou die, when thou hadst gold enough 
 and Emily .?" — a beautiful touch of nature. 
 
 1982. torjien, infinitive, after seen. 
 
 1984. likefzesse, similar instances. To be construed as a 
 collective noun, as though from the French like richesse. 
 
 1992. And over al this = and besides this. 
 
 1999. he took conclusioun = he reached the conclusion. 
 
 2000. That ther as = that there where. 
 2003. he hadde^= he had had, had suffered. 
 
 2007. hakke and hewe = cut down and cut up. These two 
 words are nearly synonymous, in accordance with the tendency 
 of the language to strengthen an expression by duplicating 
 similar words; cf. "time and tide." 
 
 2009. ivel arrayed = well arranged. 
 
NOTES TO THE KNIGHTES TALE. 247 
 
 2010. they, redundant. 
 
 2015. the same sute\ i.e., of the cloth of gold. 
 
 2019. bare the visage, absolute construction in imitation of 
 the A.S. dative absolute. 
 
 2020. ptte = pity. The use of nouns for adjectives in such 
 cases must be explained by an ellipsis ; e.g., it occasioned pitj to 
 hear. 
 
 2021. people — «//(?= all the people, the people altogether- 
 Cf. " In many things we offend all ; " i.e., we all offend. 
 
 2023. Thai roreth of^^ that resoundeth with, &c. 
 
 2027. " And Emily surpassing others in weeping." 
 
 2029. I7i as moche = in order that the service might be. 
 
 2046. The street was spread with black, and the buildings on 
 either side were hung with the same. 
 
 2053. With fyr itt hond. It was the custom for the nearest 
 friend to light the funeral pile. See 1. 2083. 
 
 3055. " Severe labor and very great preparation was put 
 forth at the funeral service and the making of the funeral 
 pyre." 
 
 2057. That — 7^/5 = whose; refers \.o fyr \s\\.\i the meaning 
 funeral pile. 
 
 2066. for me — so far as I am concerned. 
 
 2069. vjoneden = used to dwell. 
 
 ..." the wild beast, where he wons 
 
 In forest wild." Par. L. vii. 457. 
 
 2076. a three = in three parts; i.e., finely split; cf. in two. 
 
 20S0. al so — the uncontracted form, of as, — '"the incense 
 with as strong an odor as myrrh." 
 
 2087. jc-wels. From the same root as joy (Lat. gaiiditan), 
 hence denoting what occasion or indicate joy. The putting off 
 of jewels was a sign of mourning. 
 
 20S9. summe = some, plural, of som, one. 
 
 2090. were = wore. A.S. iverian is regular; this is one of 
 the few instances in which we have, because of analogy, changed 
 a weak into a strong verb. 
 
 2095. Keeping the fire on the left hand. 
 
 2100. liche-xvake = \.\\Q watch (wake) held over the remains 
 of the dead. This custom is very ancient. 
 
 2102. -rt'rt'/^^-//(?ye5 = games plaved while watching the re- 
 mains of the dead, —funeral games. The custom of making 
 this an occasion of merriment is not entirely obsolete. 
 
248 NOTES TO THE KNIGHTES TALE. 
 
 2104. t'ji no disjoint = with no disadvantage. 
 
 2107. "But I will come from this point i^then') briefly to the 
 conclusion." 
 
 2109. of certeyn yeres = by lapse and length of time. 
 
 21 13. poynt ; cf. "speak to the point." 
 
 cas = a circumstance. Circumstances had brought up a cer- 
 tain point for discussion; in the discussion that ensued, the 
 matter of alliance with other nations — and particularly the rela- 
 tions of Thebes, which state Theseus proposed more closely to 
 attach to Athens by intermarriage — was brought up for con- 
 sideration. 
 
 2119. Untvist of him — he being ignorant: absolute con- 
 struction. 
 
 2121. in hye = in haste, hastily. 
 
 2126. "He fixed his eyes where it was his pleasure to fix 
 them," — probably on his sister. 
 
 2131. theffect = the thing to be accomplished. We find this 
 word used in two senses : ist, that which is to be done : 2d, that 
 which has been done. 
 
 2141. "Although they may nevertheless easily abridge these 
 days." 
 
 2142. "I need not cite anthorities, for it is proven by experi- 
 ence, except that it pleases me to declare my conclusion." 
 
 2147. it be a fool = he be a fool. It is neuter to agree with 
 fool. 
 
 2155. spices = species. "The spices of penaunce ben three." 
 Persones Tale. 
 
 2157. lye = destruction. Fate. A.S. Ic^, or lae^. Tyrwhitt 
 reads "withouten any lie," — an inferior reading. 
 
 215S. sen at eye = see at once. 
 
 2164. £-oon = walk. Go in E.E. means to walk, as to ride 
 usually means to ride on horseback. 
 
 "And some gone and some ride. 
 And some prick here horse aside." 
 
 Gower, Con. Am. i. no. 
 
 2165. />5/5 /^/«^= such things ; plural. 
 
 2170. nedes = of necessity. Morris reads Jiedeth. I have 
 adopted Tyrwhitt s reading. The sense is : we also see plainly 
 that, in regard to man and woman, that of necessity he must 
 die. With fiedeth, we must read : " that it must be that." 
 
 2173. So}?i — som = one — another. 
 
NOTES TO THE KNIGHTES TALE. 249 
 
 2174. larg-e field ^='\n the open country, where one would 
 apparently be the safest. 
 
 2175. Thcr heljbeth naught — Nothing is of any avail. 
 2177. What = what power, who. 
 
 2181. here agayns = against this. Here is dative. 
 
 2155. it — that = that which : like he that for who. 
 
 2156. namelyche that = especially that which. 
 2199- 77/^? rf;//r(7;'j'^ = the opposite opinion. 
 
 2207. " And yet they are not able to amend their desires that 
 offend both his spirit and themselves." 
 
 2211. of al his grace = iov all his kindness. An imitation 
 of the A.S. construction of dat. and gen. with verbs of granting, 
 refusing, and thanking. See March, § 297, d. 
 
 2215. tvher ^^ in whom, in what person. Wher is here used 
 with an evident consciousness of its pronominal force. "And 
 see now to whom is most sorrow in this matter." 
 
 2221. Scan : and ev'r' | hath doon j &c. 
 
 2225. " Let I , now see a proof of your womanly pity." Par- 
 titive gen. 
 
 2231. "For gentle mercy ought to surpass mere justice." 
 
 2242. Sejide = ma}^ God send; subj. 
 
 Hath it deere abought = hath paid dearly for it. 
 
 2249. "Thus endeth (the story of) Palamon and Emelye." 
 
GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 
 
GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 
 
 ABBREVIATIONS. 
 
 A.S Anglo-Saxon. 
 
 cf. compare. 
 
 E.E Early English. 
 
 Fr F'rench. 
 
 Gael Gaelic. 
 
 Ger German. 
 
 Goth Gothic. 
 
 Gr Greek. 
 
 imp imperative. 
 
 K Ivuightes Tale. 
 
 A. 
 
 A, one, P. 24. A.S. an, Ger. ein; 
 indefinite article an, a. 
 
 A- (prefix), in, on, P. 822; a-morwe, 
 a-dat/,.K. 1765. A.S. an, on. 
 
 Abbot, father. Hebrew abba, 
 father, — a title given in the 
 Syriac churches to bishops. 
 
 Abide, Abiden (pr. abod, abood; 
 p.p. abiden, abyden), to await, to 
 wait, K. 69, 2124. A.'^. abidan. 
 
 Able, capable. Lat. habilis. 
 
 Abood, delay ( See Abide), K. 107. 
 
 Aboughte (pr. of abye), suffered 
 for, paid for, K. 1445. Aboughte 
 treiveli/, K. 1445; deere aboiir/ht, 
 K. 2242, paid dearly for. Some- 
 times corrupted into abide. A.S. 
 abicf/an. 
 
 Aboute, in turn, in a circle ; cf. 
 "round about," K. 32. 
 
 Aboven, above. O.E. aboon, A.S. 
 abufan. 
 
 Abregge, to abridge, shorten, K. 
 2141. Fr. abreyer, Lat. abbrevi- 
 are. 
 
 Accomplice, to accomplish, K. 
 2006. 
 
 Accordant, according to, P. 37. 
 
 Lat Latin. 
 
 O.E Old English. 
 
 O.Fr Old French. 
 
 O.N Old Norse. 
 
 O.S Old Saxon. 
 
 P Prologue. 
 
 pr preterite. 
 
 p.p past participle. 
 
 W Welsh. 
 
 Accorde, Acord, agreement, de. 
 
 cision, P. 837. 
 Accorde, Acorde, to agree, har- 
 monize, please, decide, P. 244, 
 
 830. Lat. ad-cor. 
 Achate, purchase, P. 571. Fr. 
 
 acheter, Lat. acceptare, Eng. 
 
 cater. 
 Achatour, purchaser, P. 568. 
 Acquaintaunce, Aqueyntaunce, 
 
 one known. Lat. ad-cognitus, 
 
 Fr. accointance. 
 Adamauntz, adamant, probably 
 
 steel, K. 1132. Diamond is a 
 
 corruption of this word. 
 A-day, by day, K. 1765. A.S. an. 
 Adown, downwards, adown, P. 
 
 393, K. 245. A.S. of-dune, a-dun. 
 Adrad, afraid, P. 605. A.S. on- 
 
 dniedan. See A, prefix. 
 Afered, Aferd, afraid, P. 628, K. 
 
 660. A.S. afaeran, to terrify. 
 Affyle, to file, sharpen, P. 712. 
 
 Fr. Jil, thread, an edge. 
 After, according to, P. 347, K. 
 
 1877 ; for, P. 525 ; afterwards, 
 
 K. 1201. Now usually restricted 
 
 to time and space. 
 Agast, terrified, aghast, K. 1483. 
 
 Goth, geisan, to terrify. 
 
254 
 
 GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 
 
 Agaste, p.p. of agaze, to be terri- 
 fied, K. 1566. 
 
 Agayn, Agayns, Ageyn, Agens, 
 again, F. 801, K. 3-1 ; against, 
 P. 66, K. 929 ; towards, facing, 
 K. 651. A.S. on-gean, a-gen, 
 gen = again. Ger. gegen. Orig- 
 inal force that of opposition ; 
 hence also addition ; cf ge, pre- 
 fix, with cumulative ettect, 
 ge-brothru. 
 
 Ago, Agon, Agoo, Agoon, gone 
 away, gone out, agone, K. 418, 
 1478. A.S. agan, gone, agangan, 
 to go from. 
 
 Al, wholly, all, P. 76, 150; alto- 
 gether, K. 226 ; although, K. 
 1406 ; al he, al speke, al have, &c., 
 P. 297, 734; K. 979 ; very (em- 
 phatic), K. 183. 
 
 Alauntz, Alauns, a species of dog, 
 K. 1290. 
 
 Al be, although, albeit, P. 297. 
 The full form would be although 
 it may be. 
 
 Al day, every day, always, K. 
 310, 1618. A.S. ealle daege. 
 
 Alderman, an officer in a city next 
 in rank to the mayor, and often 
 charged with judicial functions, 
 P. 372. A.S. ealdor-man = Lat. 
 senatov , 
 
 Ale, ale," P. 341, 832. A.S. eale, 
 ealo, from a root signifying to 
 drink. 
 
 Ale-stake, a stake wreathed with 
 green and set up as a tavern- 
 sign, P. 667. 
 
 Algate, always, P. 571. A.S. 
 geat a way ; thus = always. 
 
 Aiighte, pr. alighte, p.p. alight, to 
 ahght, P. 722, K. 125. A.S. 
 allhtan. 
 
 AUe, all (plural), K. 54. 
 
 AUer, Alther, Alder, of all (gen. 
 pi.) : with oure = of us ; Itcre = 
 of them ; youre = of you, P. 
 586, 799, 823. 
 
 AUone, Alone, only, alone ; per- 
 sone allone, K. 552, 1867. Prom 
 alle-one. Ger. allein. 
 
 Al-redy, very quickly, K. 
 A.S. hrathe. 
 
 183. 
 
 Also, Als, as, P. 780 ; al-so, al 
 
 simply emphasizing so. A.S. 
 
 alswa, contracted also, als, as. 
 
 Ger. als. The Ormulum gives 
 
 all all swa. See As. 
 Altherbest, best of all, P. 710. 
 
 See Alther. 
 Although, tl)ough {al emphatic 
 
 prefix), P. 230. 
 Alway, Alwey, in all ways, at all 
 ' times. A.S. ealle ivega. 
 Amblere, an ambling or pacing 
 
 horse, P. 469. Fr. ambler. 
 Amonges, amongst, P. 759. A.S. 
 
 on mang, mengian, to mix; Ger. 
 
 mengen. 
 Amorwe, on the morrow, P. 822, 
 
 K. 763. a ^^ in, on; cf. abed. 
 Amounte, to signify, to amount 
 
 to, K. 1504. Fr. monter. 
 Amyable, pleasing, lovable, P. 
 
 138. Lat. amahilis. 
 Amyddes, amidst, in the middle ; 
 
 a = in. 
 And, and if, K. 356. Sometimes 
 
 written an, an if. 
 Angwische, anguish, extreme 
 
 grief. Fr. angoisse, Lat. angere, 
 
 to strangle ; cf. anger, so termed 
 
 from its choking effect ; cf also 
 
 Lat. anguis, serpent, literally, 
 
 the choker. 
 Anight, at night, K. 184. 
 Anlas, a knife or dagger usually 
 
 worn at the girdle, P. 357. 
 
 "Low Lat. a«e/«c/its, either from 
 
 Lat. anellus or anulus, a ring, 
 
 from one fastened to the belt 
 
 by which it was carried, or from 
 
 Old High Ger. laz, Lat. latas, 
 
 side." Webster. 
 Anon, Anoon, in one (moment), 
 
 anon, P. 32,424 ;an=in,o?i=one. 
 Apayd, satisfied, pleased. Fr. 
 
 payer, Lat. pacare, Eng. pay. 
 Ape, fool (metaphorical), P. 706. 
 Apiked, adorned, trimmed, P. 365, 
 
 — a neatness denoted by pick- 
 ing ofi^ particles. 
 Apotecarie, apothecary, P. 425. 
 
 Fr. from Gr. 
 Appalled, made feeble, K. 2195. 
 
 So pall (as to pall on the taste), 
 
QLOSSARIAL INDEX. 
 
 255 
 
 to lose energy, — not connected 
 
 with pale. 
 Apparailyng, preparation. Fr. 
 
 appareiller, Lat. par, hence to 
 
 join like to like, to lit. 
 Appetite, Appetyt, desire, ap- 
 petite, K. 812, 822. 
 Aray, Arraye, dress, outfit, 
 
 equipage, appearance, P. 73, 
 
 330, K. 680. The root is A.S. 
 
 raed, Ger. bereit, O.E. graijthe, 
 
 ready. 
 Araye, Arraye, to make ready, 
 
 to set out with ornaments, K. 
 
 1188, 2009. A.S. geraedian, to 
 
 make ready. 
 Archdeken, gen. Archdtknes, 
 
 Archdeacon or dean, an eccle- 
 siastic next in rank below a 
 
 bishop, P. 655. 
 Arest, a support for the spear 
 
 when couched for the attack, 
 
 K, 1744. Named probably from 
 
 the adverb == in-rest. 
 Areste, to stop, to check, P. 827. 
 
 Fr. areste, Lat, ad-restare. 
 Aretted, imputed, K. 1871. Fr. 
 
 arret er, to decree. 
 Aright, indeed (on-right), P. 189; 
 
 cf. a similar use of downright: 
 
 exceedingly, very, P. 267 ; cf. 
 
 right Honorable, right Rev- 
 erend. 
 Arive, landing, attack, P. 60. 
 Arm, the arm, P. 111. A.S. carm, 
 
 arm; the limb fitted or joined 
 
 on ; cf. Lat. armiis the shoulder, 
 
 ramus a branch. 
 Arm-gret, as great as one's arm, 
 
 K. 1287. 
 Armypotent, powerful in arms, 
 
 K. 1124. Lat. armipotens. 
 Arreest, restraint, custody, K. 
 
 452 ; cf. arest. 
 Arrerage, arrears, P. 602. Fr. 
 
 arrerages. 
 Arsmetrike, arithmetic, K. 1040. 
 Art, a contrivance, K. 1587. So 
 
 Lat. ars. 
 Arwe, arrow, P. 104. A.S. oreive. 
 As, accordiufi- as, P. 890 ; where, 
 
 P. 407; as^if, P. 636, K. 1184; 
 
 namely, K. 1245, 1499 ; as for, 
 
 with regard to, K. 975 ; as noiv, 
 for the present, K. 27. All the 
 meanings are explained by a 
 reference to the uncontracted 
 form, a/l-so. 
 
 Ascendent, that degree of the 
 ecliptic which is rising at the 
 moment of one's birth, and by 
 which his fortune was astrolog- 
 ically determined, P. 417. 
 
 Aschamed, defeated, put to 
 shame, K. 1809. A.S. ascam- 
 ian. 
 
 Aseged, besieged, K. 23. See 
 Siege. 
 
 Aslake, to appease, K. 902. A.S. 
 aslacian, to slacken, to give way ; 
 cf. slack, slack-lime. 
 
 As nouthe. As now, at present, 
 for the present, P. 462, K. 1406. 
 A.S. 7111 tha, just now. 
 
 Asonder, asunder. A.S. from 
 sundrian, to sunder. 
 
 Aspect, the position of the planets 
 at one's birth, K. 229. 
 
 Aspye, to discover, K. 562. Fr. 
 cspicr, Ger, spdhen, Eng. spy. 
 
 Assaut, assault, K. 131. Fr. from 
 Lat. adsaltiiin, opposed to siege, 
 that is a sitting. 
 
 Assayed, tried, K. 952. Fr, es- 
 sai/er, Lat. exagere, to drive. 
 
 Asschen, ashes, K. 444. A.S, 
 asce, ashes, dust ; Ger. asche. 
 
 Assent, consent, agreement. Lat. 
 assentire. 
 
 Assise, assize, a court held by a 
 number of judges. Originally 
 an assembly of Knights, with a 
 justice, for the transaction of 
 public business, which is prob- 
 ably the meaning in P. 314. 
 
 Assoillyng, absolution, P. 661. 
 Lat. absolntio. 
 
 Asterte, to escape, K. 737. Allied 
 to A.S. astyrian. 
 
 Astoneyd, astonished. Fr. e'ton- 
 iier, Ger. erstaunen, Eng. stun. 
 
 Astronomy, astrology, P, 414. 
 
 At, according to, P, 816 ; after, K, 
 1292. Lat. ad. 
 
 Athamaunte, adamant, K, 447. 
 See Adamauntz. 
 
256 
 
 GLOSS ABIAL INDEX. 
 
 A- three, in three, K. 2076 ; a = in; 
 cf. in two. 
 
 fiX oones, at once, — gen. used 
 adverbially, K. 978. 
 
 At-rede, to surpass in counsel, 
 out-wit, K. 1591. A.^.atraedan; 
 cf. t-wit. 
 
 M-renne, outrun, K. 1591. 
 
 A-tte, at the, P. 20, 193 ; atte bests 
 = at the best, P. 29, 749 ; atte 
 laste = at the last, at last, K. 
 902. O.E. at than. 
 
 A-tteyne, to attain, K. 385. Fr. 
 atteindre, Lat. ntlingere. 
 
 Auctorite, authority, a quotation 
 from some standard author, K. 
 2142. 
 
 A-udit>our, auditor, a person ap- 
 pohited to audit or examine ac- 
 counts, — of course referring 
 originally to tlie verbal state- 
 ments of men who usually could 
 not write, P. 594. Lat. audi- 
 tor. 
 
 A-ughte (pr. of to owe), ought, K. 
 2281. A.S. agan, pr. ahte. 
 
 Aungel, angel, K. 197. Gr. uy- 
 ysTiOQ, a messenger. 
 
 Auter, altar, K. 1047. Lat. altus, 
 a high place. Fr. autel. 
 
 Avantage, opportunity, advan- 
 tage, K. 435. Fr. avant, Lat. 
 ah ante. 
 
 Avaunce, advance, P. 246. 
 
 Avaunt, a boast, to make avaitnt, 
 to feel confident, to boast, P. 
 227. Lat. vanus. 
 
 Avayle, to avail, to be able, K. 
 1543, 2182. Lat. ad valere. 
 
 Aventure, chance, destiny, ad- 
 venture, P. 25, 795, 844 ; an ac- 
 cident causing death (a law 
 term), K. 302. 
 
 Avow, vow, promise, K. 1379. 
 Fr. aveu, Lat. advocare. 
 
 Avys, Avis, consideration, advice, 
 P. 786; opinion, K. 1010. Fr. 
 avis, Lat. ad videre. 
 
 Awe, fear, dread, P. 654. A.S. 
 ege, Gotii. agan, ogan, to fear. 
 
 Axe, to ask, K. 488. A.S. acsian. 
 
 Axyng, demand, asking, K. 968. 
 A.S. acsung. 
 
 Ay, ever, always, P. 63, 572. A.S 
 a awa, Gr. atl, Lat. aevum. 
 
 Ayens, towards, against, K. 651. 
 
 Ayel, a grandfather, K. 1619. Fr- 
 a'ieul, Lat. {avolus) avus. 
 
 B. 
 
 Baar, Bar, pr. (of here) bore, car- 
 ried, P. 116, 158, 558, 618. 
 
 Bacheler, a young man, one not 
 yet attained to knighthood, one 
 not yet married, P. 80. From 
 a Celtic root. 
 
 Bad (pr. of hidde), ordered, P. 
 787. A.S. biddan, pr. haed. 
 
 Baggepipe, a set of pipes blown 
 by a bellows shaped like a bag, 
 P. 565. 
 
 BaiUfiF, bailiff, P. 603. Fr. haillir, 
 to govern. O.E. baili. 
 
 Bak, back, K. 192. A.S. baec ; cf. 
 Lat. tergiim, as though Gr. ripipo^ 
 for OTspipog, from aTpi(pcj, to turn. 
 
 Bake, -p.p. baked, haken. This verb 
 was originally conjugated like 
 take. *A.S. bacan, hoc, bacen. 
 
 BaUed, bald, P. 198 (see note), 
 light liaired, K. 1660. 
 
 Bane, destruction, K. 239. A.S. 
 bana, literally, a death-blow. 
 
 Baner, banner, K. 108 (see note). 
 Goth, bandwo, a sign. 
 
 Banysche, to put under ban, to 
 banish, K. 867 ; cf. abandon. 
 
 Bar (pi. hare), bore, conducted, 
 P. 105, 673, 721. A.S. heran, 
 haer, horen. 
 
 Barbour, barber, one who dresses 
 the beard. Fr. barbier. 
 
 Bare, bare, uncovered, K. 900 ; 
 bare-headed, P. 683. A.S. haer, 
 Ger. baar. 
 
 Bareyn (e), barren, deprived of, 
 K. 386, 1119. O.Fr. baraigne. 
 
 Bargayns, traffic, P. 282 (see 
 note). O.Fr. bargnigner, to 
 traffic ; literally, to wrangle. 
 
 Barge, bark, a small ship, P. 410. 
 
 Baronage, an assembly of barons^ 
 the barons as a body, K. 2238. 
 Fr. baron, originally, man, hus- 
 band ; cf. A.S. wer, Lat. vir. 
 
GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 
 
 257 
 
 Barre, a bar, bolt, K. 217. The 
 same root appears in sijar with 
 an initial s; of. O.N. barr, a 
 tree. 
 
 Barres,the usual ornaments of the 
 girdle, perforated to allow the 
 passage of the buckle. They 
 were frequently of the riciiest 
 description, P. 829. 
 
 Batayle, Bataile, Battaille, bat- 
 tle, P. 61, K. 751. From the 
 root bat, blow ; cf. beat, Fr. battre ; 
 cf. bed, a club, batten/, assault. 
 
 Baudery, license, K. 10G8. 
 
 Bawdrik, baldrick, a belt worn 
 over one shoulder passing under 
 tlie other arm, P. 110. A.S. 
 belt. 
 
 Bay, bay color, K. 1299. Lat. 
 badius, brown. 
 
 Be, (1) to be, K. 1377; (2) been, 
 P. 56, 60. 
 
 Bade, pi. beJes, a bead, pi. a 
 rosary, P. 159. See note. 
 
 Been, Ben, to be, P. 1-10 ; are, 
 P. 178, K. 317 ; been, P. 199. 
 Chaucer uses three forms for 
 the plural, been,aren, are. 
 
 Beer (e), a bier, K. 2013. A.S. 
 beran, cf. barrow, Ger. bahre. 
 
 Beest, Best, a beast, K. 451, 1118. 
 Lat. bestia. Perhaps from beon, 
 to be ; cf. ammal from anima. 
 
 Beete, to kindle, or make a fire, 
 K. 1395. Literally, to make 
 better. A.S. betan from bet. 
 
 Begger (e), a beggar, P. 252. 
 Literally, a man with a bag, the 
 universal characteristic of a 
 beggar. 
 
 Beggestere, a female beggar, P. 
 242. 
 
 BeUe, a bell, P. 171. A.S. from 
 bellan, to make a loud noise. 
 
 Belt, a belt. A.S. belt, Lat. balteus. 
 
 Ben, see Been. 
 
 Benedicite, ble«s him, K. 927, 
 Lat. 
 
 Benigne, kind, P. 483. Lat. be- 
 nifjniis. 
 
 Bent, a slope (a concave), a plain 
 or level place at the foot of a 
 hill, K. 1123. A.S. bendan. 
 
 Berd (e), the beard, P. 270, K. 
 1557. Ger. bart, Lat. Imrba. 
 
 Bere, a bear, K. 782. A.S. bera, 
 hterally, "the great beast;" 
 O.N. hiurn. 
 
 Bere, to pierce, to bore, subj. bere, 
 may pierce, K. 1398. A.S. bo- 
 rian. 
 
 Bersten, to burst, to break by 
 bending, K. 1122. A.S.berstan. 
 
 Berstles, bristles, K. 556. A.S. 
 bi/rst, Ger. borste. 
 
 Berye, a berry, P. 207. A.S. 
 beria. From a root = to eat. 
 The literal signification is there- 
 fore food. 
 
 Beseken, to beseech, K. 60. A.S. 
 secan ; be intensive prefix. 
 
 Best. See Beest. 
 
 Besy, busy, P. 321. A.S. bisig. 
 
 Bet, contracted form of better, P. 
 242. A.S. bet. 
 
 Bete, (p.p. bete), to beat. 
 
 Bettre, better, P. 524. A.S. betra, 
 Goth, bats ; cf. boot, bote, advan- 
 tage "what boots ItT' "to 
 boot." 
 
 Betwixe, betwixt, P. 277. A.S. 
 beticjjx. From root tao ; cf. be- 
 ticcen. 
 
 Bever hat, a hat made of beaver 
 fur, P. 272. 
 
 Bewreye, to betray, disclose, K. 
 1371. Literally, to accuse, 
 hence to point out. A.S. be- 
 wregan. " Thy speech bewray- 
 etli thee," Matt. xxvi. 73. 
 
 Beyying, buying, K. 569. O.E. 
 ber/ge. A.S. bijcgan. 
 
 Bibie, a book ; by way of em- 
 inence applied to the Sacred 
 Scriptures, P. 438. 
 
 Bi-bled, be-bled, covered with 
 blood, K. 1144. Be intensive 
 prefix. 
 
 Bifalle (p-p. bifalh, bi fallen), to 
 happen, befall, P. 795, K. 947. 
 A.S. bffrallan. 
 
 Biforn, before, P. 572. A.S. be- 
 far an. 
 
 Bigan (v. aux.), did, bigan areste, 
 arrested, P. 827. 
 
 Bihold (pr. biheld, pp. biholde, 
 
 17 
 
258 
 
 GLOSS ABIAL INDEX. 
 
 beholden), to behold, K. 1435. 
 
 Literally, to hold one's attention 
 
 to. 
 Biloved, beloved, p. 215. 
 Bisette (pr. bisette, p.p. biset), to 
 
 employ, P. 279 ; to arrange, K. 
 
 2154. 
 Biside,near, beside (gov. dative), 
 
 P. 402, K. 16. 
 Bisy, busy, active, fierce, K. 1462. 
 
 A.S. bisig. 
 Bite, to act as a caustic, to bite, 
 
 P. 631. 
 Bittre, bitter, scalding, K. 422, 
 
 1367. A.S. bitter from bitmi, to 
 
 bite ; hence any thing pungent. 
 Blak (def. and pi. blake), black, 
 
 P. 557, K. 41. See note, P. 
 
 627. 
 Blake, pale, P. 627. See note. 
 
 A.S. Uac, pale. 
 Blame, to blame, blamable, P. 375. 
 
 O.Fr. blasmer, Gr. (3?iaG(j)7]/Liea). 
 Blankmanger, a compound of 
 
 capon minced with other in- 
 gredients, P. 387. 
 Bleynte, blenched, started back, 
 
 K. 220 ; cf. blink. 
 BUs, BUsse, bliss, K. 372. A.S. 
 
 blis, from blithe, glad. 
 Blisful, full of bliss, blessed, P. 
 
 17, 770. 
 Blithe, glad, P. 846. See note. 
 BUve, Blyve, quickly, K. 1839. 
 
 O.E. bi-life ; cf. lively, quick. 
 
 See note," P. 846. 
 Blood, lineage, family, K. 472. 
 
 A.S. blod ; cf. Ger. blUhen, bliithe. 
 Bocher, a butcher, K. 1167. Fr. 
 
 boHcher, from bone, a goat ; hence, 
 
 literally, a goat-killer. 
 Bocler, Bokler, a buckler, a shield 
 
 with a boss, P. 112. Pr. boucle, 
 
 Eng. buckle. 
 Bodye, abody, K. 139. See note. 
 Bok, pi. bokes, a book. 
 Bokelyng, buckling, K. 1645. 
 Boket, a bucket, K. 675. Fr. 
 
 baquet, a pail. 
 Bold, ready, prompt, P. 755. A.S. 
 
 bald, bold ; cf . Ger. bald. 
 Bole, a bull, K. 1281. A.S. bellan, 
 
 to bellow. 
 
 Bond, a bond, that which binds ; 
 in law a sealed written agree- 
 ment, K. 746. A.S. banda. 
 
 Bond, pr. of binde, bound, K. 2133. 
 
 Bone, Boon, a bone, K. 144, 319. 
 A.S. ban. The word originally 
 denotes support ; cf . Ger. bein. 
 
 Book, a book, P. 185. A.S. boc, 
 Goth, boka, letter, writing, usu- 
 ally derived from A.S. boce, 
 beech, as beechen boards were 
 used instead of parchment ; cf. 
 Lat. liber. 
 
 Boon (e), a prayer, boon, K. 1411. 
 A.S. ben. 
 
 Boor (e), a boar, K. 800. A.S.&or. 
 
 Boot (e), remedy, P. 424. A.S. 
 bot ; cf. beete, to mend. 
 
 Boot (e), a boot, P. 203. Fr. botte; 
 literally, a bag of leather. See 
 note ; cf . bottle. 
 
 Boowes, boughs, K. 2059. A.S. 
 biu/an, to bend, bow. 
 
 Boras, borax, perhaps saltpetre, 
 P. 630. 
 
 Bord, table, P. 52. To begin the 
 bord = to sit at the head of the 
 table; see note. A.S. bord; cf. 
 border. 
 
 Bore, p.p. (for boren) born, K. 684. 
 
 Born, p.p. (for bo7-en), carried, 
 borne, K. 120; conducted him- 
 self, P. 87. 
 
 Borwe, pledge ; to borwe, in pledge, 
 K. 764. A.S. borh : cf. borrow. 
 A.S. borgian, to lend upon secu- 
 rity. Ger. borqen. 
 
 Bothe, both, K. 858. A.S. batwa : 
 ba = both, twa = two. 
 
 Bouk, body, — the same as bidky 
 K. 1888 ; cf. hdge, bilge. 
 
 Bracer, armor for the arms (tro.s), 
 P. Ill, — in this case to protect 
 from the recoil of the bow- 
 string ; cf. bracelet. 
 
 Brak, pr. of breke, broke, K. 610. 
 A.S. brecan, pr. braec. 
 
 Braun, Brawn, muscle, brawn, 
 P. 546 ; cf braicni/. 
 
 Bravinche, a brancii, K. 209. Fr. 
 branche. Tlie root denotes a 
 support ; cf . bi-ace ; hence an 
 ana, bras ; also figuratively, the 
 
GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 
 
 259 
 
 arm of a tree, — a Umh as it is 
 colloquially called. 
 
 Breed, Bred, bread, P. 147. Ger. 
 hrot. 
 
 Breede, Brede, breadth, K. 1112. 
 Fiom x\.S. brad, broad. 
 
 Breeme, furiously, K. 841. A.S. 
 breme, from bremman, to rage. 
 Sanskrit bhram, to whirl vio- 
 lently. See note ; cf. Lat. 
 premere. 
 
 Breeth, breath, P. 5. A.S. braefh, 
 originally probably denoting 
 steam. ^ 
 
 Breke (pr. braJc, hroh, p.p. broh, 
 ibroken), to break, P. 551. 
 
 Brem, a bream, a fresh-water 
 fish, P. 350. 
 
 Bremstoon, brimstone, sulphur ; 
 literally, the buriiltxj stone, P. 029. 
 A.S. bri/ne. 
 
 Brend, burnished, K. 1304. A.S. 
 btjni'in, to burn : either from its 
 shining, or because newly forged 
 metal is bright ; so bratul de- 
 notes a sword, because forged ; 
 cf . brand-new. 
 
 Brende, pr. of brenne, burned, K. 
 1567. 
 
 Brenne (pr. brend, brent ; p.p. h^ent), 
 to burn, K. 1473. A.S. baernan, 
 pr. haernde, p.p. bnerned. 
 
 Brennyngly, ardently, burn- 
 ingly, K. 706. 
 
 Breres, briars, K. 674. A.S. braer. 
 
 Brest, breast, P. 115. A.S. breost 
 (berstan), what swells or bursts 
 beyond the surface. 
 
 Breste (pr. brast; p.p. bursten, 
 borsten), to burst, K. 1752. 
 
 Brettul, brimful, P. 687, K. 1306. 
 
 Bretherhede, brotherhood, broth- 
 ers in a monastic order, P. 511. 
 
 Bridel, bridle, P. 169. Wedg- 
 wood suggests that the word is 
 from bit, with r inserted ; hence 
 that part of the harness hoMing 
 the bit. 
 
 Bright, bright, P. 104. A S. 
 briht. Formerly also applied to 
 sounds. 
 
 Brocli, a brooch, P. 160. Yv.bro'-^e. 
 This word means : (1) a pin ; {'2) 
 
 a buckle or clasp; (3) an orna- 
 ment fastened with a pin or 
 buckle. 
 
 Erode, broad, K. 2166. 
 
 Broke, p.p. broken. 
 
 Brond, brand, K. 1480. A.S. 6aer- 
 nnn. 
 
 Brood (e), Brode, broad, P. 155, 
 471, 549. 
 
 Broode, plainly, P. 739. Ful 
 hroode, verv plainly. 
 
 Brother, brother's (gen.),K 2226. 
 In A.S. this word took no in- 
 flection in the gen. 
 
 Brought, pr. ot'briiifje, conducted, 
 accompanied, P. 566. 
 
 Broun, brown, P. 109. A.S. brun. 
 Fi'om brenmin, to burn. 
 
 Browded, l)raided, K. 191. A.S. 
 bredan, to weave. See note K. 
 1640. 
 
 Browdyng, embroidery, K. 1640. 
 
 Browes, evebrovvs, P. 627, K. 
 270. A.S. braew. 
 
 Bulde, builded, K. 690. A.S. 
 hi// dan. 
 
 Burdoun, bass (in music), P. 673. 
 See note. 
 
 Burgeys, a citizen, a freeman in 
 a city, P. 369. A.S. burg, Eng. 
 boroiu/h. 
 
 Burned, burnished, polished, K. 
 1125. Fr. brunir, to polish. 
 
 Busche, Bussh, a thicket, K. 659, 
 1155 ; cf. bosk, boscage, Bushman. 
 Fr. bois, Ger. Busch. The word 
 now denotes a shrub with thick 
 branches. 
 
 Busily, attentively, P. 301. 
 
 Busynesse, Bysynesse, occupa- 
 tion, employment, care, P. 520, 
 K. 149; anxiety, K. 1070. A.S. 
 bysgian, to employ. 
 
 But, besides, further, P. 142 and 
 P. 154; except, P. 521, K. 262. 
 This use is common in Chaucer 
 and in Wiclif, and is the preva- 
 .ent meaning in A.S. But, 
 O.Sax. bi-utan (by-out), is 
 formed exactly like with-out, 
 and is parallel io' except (O.E. 
 ■^r 'ke), by which its meanings 
 A' y be explained. It grad- 
 
26o 
 
 GLOSSARIAL INDEX, 
 
 ually loses its adversative force, 
 and becomes a conjunction, 
 like besides, excluding all except 
 the point under consideration, 
 from whicli fact it gains a neg- 
 ative force. 
 
 But if, urtless, if not, P. 351, 582. 
 
 By, according to, P. 600. A.S. 
 bi, near. 
 
 By-and-by, close to each other, 
 one after the other, K. 153 ; im- 
 mediately. " By and by he is 
 offended," Matt. xiii. 21. 
 
 Bycause, because, P. 174. See 
 note. 
 
 Byde, remain, abide, wait, K. 718. 
 A.S. bidan. 
 
 ByfaUe, BifaUe (pr. bifel, byfel, 
 byfil, impers.), to befall or 
 happen, P. 19, K. 151. 
 
 Byforn, byfore, before, P. 100, 
 
 oil. 
 
 Bygynne fpr. byrjan, bigan, p.p. 
 byr/onne), to begin, P. 42, 52, 758, 
 K. 690. A.S. beginnan. 
 
 Bygge, big, large, K. 566. Ice- 
 landic bolcja, a swelling ; cf. 
 bulge, bilge, the bellij of a ship. 
 
 Byholde, to behold, K. 505. A.S. 
 behealden, literally to hold one 
 to ; hence to hold or fix the 
 attention, to see : " I am be- 
 holden to you," ''behold and 
 see." 
 
 Byhote, promise, K. 996. A.S. 
 be hat an. 
 
 Byhynde, behind, K. 192. 
 
 Byjaped, deceived, fooled, K. 727. 
 " O.E./oyje, joke, lie; Fr.japper, 
 to yelp. The root jap is con- 
 nected with gab, jab, as in gab- 
 ble, jabber," Morris. 
 
 Byknowe, to acknowledge, K. 
 698. A.S. be-cnawan. 
 
 By-loved, beloved, K. 571. 
 
 Byndyng, control, K. 446. A.S. 
 bindan, whence, bind, hand, bun- 
 dle ; cf tlie "binding force of 
 an obligation." 
 
 Bynne, bin, K. 593. A.S. hinne, 
 a bin, manger, — that into which 
 something is put ; technically, 
 an apartment in a granary 
 
 in composition any receptacle , 
 e.g., a coal bin ; cf. binnan, with- 
 in ; inn, a tavern. 
 
 Byquethe, to bequeath, K. 1910. 
 A.S. quethan, to say ; cf. guoth. 
 
 Byraft, p.p. of bt/reave, bereft, K. 
 503. A.S. bereajian, to deprive 
 of; cf. reave. 
 
 Byside, beside, near, by the side 
 of, K. 109. Of by side, from 
 near, P. 445. 
 
 Bysmctered, smutted, stained, P. 
 76. A.S. besmitan, to defile ; cf. 
 S}7iut, smudge. 
 
 Byt, 3d sing. pres. of bidde, bids, 
 P. 187, — an abbreviation of 
 biddeth ; cf ryt = rideth. 
 
 Bytwixe, Bytwoxen, between, 
 K. 22. From the radical tiro, 
 twain, hence the idea of sepa- 
 ration ; cf. twynne, P. 835. 
 
 c. 
 
 Caas, Cas, a state of things, what 
 happens or falls, an accident, 
 chance, P. 585, 844; circum- 
 stances, K. 2113. Lat. casus, 
 from cadere, to fall ; a law term 
 = cases, P. 323, Lat. causa. 
 
 Caas, a case, quiver, K. 1222. Fr. 
 caisse, Lat. capsa ; cf. caisson. 
 
 Cacche (pr. caughte), to catch, 
 select, P. 498. 
 
 Calf (of leg), the fleshy part of 
 the leg, P. 592. Collop is an- 
 other form of the word. 
 
 Cam, came, P. 547. 
 
 Can, (1) to know, P. 210, K. 922; 
 (2) to acknowledge, as in the 
 phrase "can thank," K.^50. 
 Ger. danh wissen. A S. cunnan, 
 to know ; whence cunniyiq, ken. 
 
 Cantel, a corner, K. 2150. " O.Fr. 
 chantel, Ger. kante. 
 
 Cape, a headland, cape, P. 408. 
 Fr. cap, Lat. caput. 
 
 Cappe, a cap, hood, a priest's 
 skull-cap, P. 683. 
 
 Care, sorrow, K. 631, 1214. A.S. 
 caru. 
 
 Carf, pr. of hei've, carved, P. 100. 
 A.S. ceorjan, pr. cear'f. 
 
G LOS SARI AL IXDEX. 
 
 261 
 
 Careful, full of care or sorrow, 
 anxious, K. 707. 
 
 Carie, to carry, P. 130. Fr. carier ; 
 cf. car, cart, chair, chariot. 
 
 Carl, a churl, a man, particularly 
 of the lower orders of society, 
 P. 545. A.S. ccorl, a man. 
 
 Caroigne, a corpse, K. 1155. Lat. 
 cai'o, flesh. 
 
 Carol, a song accompanied with 
 dancing, K. 1073. Fr. carole. 
 So ballad, from ballire, to dance. 
 
 Carpe, to talk, P. 47-4. Allied 
 to chirp. 
 
 Carpenter^ a worker in wood, a 
 carpenter, P. 361. See note. 
 
 Carte, a chariot, car, K. 1183; 
 cart, K. 1104. Fr. char, dim. 
 charette. From same root with 
 carri/. 
 
 Cartere, carter, K. 1164. 
 
 Cas. See Caas. 
 
 Caste, device, K. 1610. From 
 caste, to contrive. 
 
 Caste, to judge, plan, calculate, 
 K. 1314. A.S. costian, —perhaps 
 alluding to the primitive method 
 of calculation by pebbles. 
 
 Catel, property, chattels, P. 373, 
 540, — the same word witli cat- 
 tle. Lat. capitale ; cf. Lat. pecu- 
 nia, from pecns. See note, P. 373. 
 
 Caughte, took, P. 498. See 
 Cacche. 
 
 Cause, case, P. 423. This use of 
 cause is now restricted to legal 
 language. Lat. causa. 
 
 Caytif, captive, wretcli, Avretched, 
 K. 66,694. Fr. chetif, Lat. cap- 
 tivus. As an adjective it de- 
 notes that condition of body or 
 of mind induced by captivity. 
 
 Cercles, circles, of his eyen = eye- 
 balls, K. 1273. A.S. eaganltrin- 
 f/as, eye-rings. 
 
 Cerial, a species of oak, cerriis, K. 
 1432. 
 
 Certes, certainly, forsooth, K 
 17. Fr. certes, Lat. ceriiis. 
 
 Certeyn, fixed, determined, P. 
 815. Fr. rcrfain. 
 
 Certeynly, Certeyn (adv.), cer- 
 tainly, indeed, P. 204, 375, 451. 
 
 Ceruce, wliite lead, — used as a 
 cosmetic, P. 630. 
 
 Chamberleyn, a chamberlain, 
 one having charge of the apart- 
 ments in tlie royal residence, K. 
 560 ; cf . Ger. kdmitierling. 
 
 Chambre, a room, P. 28. Lat. 
 cairiera, Ger. karnmer. 
 
 Champartye, partnership in 
 power : literally, partnership in 
 land, K. 1091. Fr. champ-parti. 
 
 Champioun, champion, P. 239. 
 A.S. cainpian, to fight; cf. Lat. 
 campus. A.S. camp. 
 
 Chapel, a shrine, chapel, P. 171. 
 See note, Lat. capella. 
 
 Chapellyn, a chaplain, a clergy- 
 man in charge of a chapel or 
 shrine, P. 164. See note. 
 
 Chapman, a merchant, P. 397. 
 
 A.S. ceapman, Ger. haufman; 
 
 cf. cheap, chaffer (O.E. ciiap- 
 
 fcire), and the proper name 
 
 Chapman. 
 
 Char, car, chariot. See note, K. 
 1183. 
 
 Charge, care, any thing under- 
 taken, P. 733, see note ; K. 
 426, harm, K. 1429. Literally : 
 (1) a burden; hence, (2) busi- 
 ness of importance, weighty 
 matters ; (3) whatever op- 
 presses the mind ; (4), what 
 burdens the reputation ; cf. 
 can/o, caricature. 
 
 Charitable, kind, P. 143, — not 
 restricted to alms-giving. 
 
 Charite, charity, love, good-will, 
 an act of kindness, P. 532, K. 
 575. Fr. charite, Lat. caritas. 
 
 Charme, charm, K. 1854. Lat. 
 carmen, a song, a magic incan- 
 tation in verse. 
 
 Chaunce, event, chance, K. 894. 
 O.Fr. che'ance, from eheoir, Lat. 
 cadere, to fall, alluding to the 
 throw of dice. 
 
 Chaunterie, an endowment for 
 paying a priest to sing masses 
 for the soul of the founder, P. 
 510. 
 
 Cheef, chief, K. 199. Fr. chef, 
 Lat. caput. 
 
262 
 
 GLOSSABIAL INDEX. 
 
 Cheeke, cheek, P. 633. A.S. 
 ceaca, a jaw from ceoivan, to 
 chew; cf. chaw, jaw. 
 
 Cheer (e), Chere, countenance, 
 air, manner, appearance, en- 
 tertainment, P. 139, 728, 857, 
 K. 1361, 1825. Fr. chere, the 
 face: (1) the countenance ; (2) 
 states of mind or body, — par- 
 ticuhirly pleasant states, — as 
 indicated by the face; (3) that 
 which causes cheer, as good 
 cheer; (4) outward demon- 
 strations of such feelings, as 
 " the clieers of the audience." 
 
 Chepe, Cheapside in London, — 
 the market, — P. 754. A.S. cea- 
 pan, to buy. 
 
 Cherl, a churl, K. 1601, See Carl. 
 
 Chese, imperative, ches, cliesetli, 
 to choose, K. 737. A.S. ceo.sa/?. 
 
 Chesteyn, a chestnut-tree, K. 
 20Gi. Lat. castanea. 
 
 Cheventein, chieftain, captain, 
 K. 16'J7. O. Fr. chevetain; N.Fr. 
 capitaine, from chef, head ; Lat. 
 caput. 
 
 Chevysaunce, a loan, an agree- 
 ment or bond given to secure a 
 loan of money, P. 282 Fr. 
 achever, to bring to an end, to 
 accomplish. 
 
 Cheyne, a chain, K. 2130. Fr. 
 chei/ne, Lat. ca-tena ; cf. tenere, 
 to hold. 
 
 Children, pi. of child, P. 628. 
 A.S. ci/d, pi. ci/dra, from cennan, 
 to beget, — an instance of mod- 
 ern adoption of a plural in n ; 
 cf. kin, kind, kin;;. 
 
 Chirkyng, shrieking, K. 1146. 
 A.S. cearcian, to croak; cf. chirp. 
 In E.E. denotes the noise made 
 by birds. 
 
 Chivachie, military service, P. 
 85. Fr. cheval, a horse. 
 
 Chivalrie, Chyvalrie, the pro- 
 fession of a kniglit, knighthood, 
 P. 45, knightly exploits, K. 7. 
 Fr. cheralier, a horseman. 
 
 Christendom, Christian countries, 
 P. 49. Doni {deman, to deem), 
 originally denoted belief, so that 
 
 Christendom meant the body of 
 Christian faith ; also the coun- 
 tries within wliich such faith 
 was held : from the second 
 meaning of deman, to judge, 
 the termination dom indicates 
 jurisdiction, as king-dom. 
 
 Churche, Chirche, a building 
 devoted to divine service, P. 
 708, K. 1902. I see no reason 
 to doubt the usual derivation 
 from Gr. KvpiuKij. 
 
 Chyken, gen. cht/knes, a chicken, 
 P. 380. A.S. cicen, pi. cicenu. 
 
 Cireumstaunces, things apper- 
 taining to, K. 1074 ; attendant 
 rites, K. 1405 ; matters which 
 indicate one's station in life, 
 K. 1930; cf "in poor circum- 
 stances." Lat. circum-stantia ; 
 cf. Ger. umstand. 
 
 Cite (e), a city, K. 81. Fr. cite, 
 Lat. civitas. 
 
 Citole, a dulcimer, K. 1101. 
 
 Clad (p.p. of clothe), clothed, clad, 
 P. 103. 27i in the present is 
 for dh. A.S. cladhian, Ger. 
 kleiden. 
 
 elapsed, clasped, P. 273. Ger. 
 klappsen ; cf . clip, to embrace. 
 
 Clarioun, clarion, K. 1653. Fr. 
 clair, clear. 
 
 Clarre, wine mixed with honey 
 and spices and strained until it 
 is clear, whence the name, K. 
 613. 
 
 Clatere (n), to clatter, rattle, K. 
 1501. An imitative word. 
 
 Clause — in a clause = in conclu- 
 sion, K. 905. Lat. clausus, 
 claudere, to shut ; cf close. 
 
 Clear (e), c'ear, clearly, P. 170. 
 Fr. clair, Ger. klar, Lat. clarus. 
 
 Clemence, pity, K. 70. Lat. de- 
 mentia. 
 
 Clene, clean, cleanly, P. 138, 367. 
 A.S. claene; cf. Ger. klein, small ; 
 hence, neat. 
 
 Clennesse, cleanness, purity, P. 
 506. 
 
 Clense, to cleanse, P. 631. A.S. 
 claensian. 
 
 Clepen (p.p. cleped), to call, P 
 
GLOSSABIAL INDEX. 
 
 263 
 
 121, G43, K. 930. A.S. chjpian. 
 Still used as an archaic partici- 
 ple, yclept ; cf. clap, clapper. 
 
 Clerk, an educated person, a 
 scholar, a clergyman, F. 285, 
 480. See note. 
 
 Cloke, a cloak, 1\ 157. Gael, cloc, 
 a mantle. 
 
 Clothred, clotted, K. 1887. From 
 tlie root clot or clod, a thick 
 mass; cloud is from the same 
 root, denoting vapor drawn into 
 masses. A.S. dot, Ger. Uoss. 
 
 Cloysterer, one belonging to a 
 cloister, and hence not accus- 
 tomed to appearing in public, 1\ 
 259. 
 
 Cloystre, a cloister, P. 185. Lat. 
 claadere, to shut. 
 
 Cofre, a coffer, chest, receptacle, 
 P. 298. A.S. co/, a cave; Fr. 
 cajfre ; cf. coffin. 
 
 Cok, a cock, a leader, P. 823. 
 A.S. coc, whence chick. 
 
 Col, coal, K. 1834. A.S. col, Ger. 
 fcohle ; cf. Lat. calere, to be hot. 
 
 Col-blak, as black as a coal, coal- 
 V)lack, K. 1284. 
 
 Colde, cold, K. 444, sad, K. 1062, 
 fatal (\vl Kit makes cold), K. 1609. 
 A.S. cald, Ger. Icalt, Lat. gelu. 
 
 Colerik, irascible, bilious, P. 587. 
 Gr. X^^^V, bile ; cf. nulan-clioli/. 
 
 Colers, collars, K. 1294. Lat. 
 colliun, the neck. 
 
 Come (pr. com, p.p. comen), to 
 come, P. 671, 672, K. 497. A.S. 
 cuman, com, cumen. 
 
 Communes, commoners, K. 1651. 
 Fr. commune. 
 
 Compaas, a circle, K. 1031. Fr. 
 com pas. 
 
 Companye, company, P. 24. Fr. 
 compii(/)ion ; Low Lat. conpanium, 
 — panis = bread, — a messmate, 
 hence an associate. 
 
 Compassyng, means taken to ac- 
 complish any thing, K. 1138. 
 
 Comper, an associate intimate, 
 compeer, P. 670. O.Fr. compair, 
 Lat. con-par. 
 
 Complexioun, complexion, P. 
 333 ; temperament, natural dis- 
 
 position, K. 1617. Lat. com- 
 ])lexio, a combination ; hence 
 applied to the color of the skin, 
 &c., as revealing health or 
 mental characteristics. 
 
 Compleynt, Complaint, com- 
 plaint, K. 2004; armed complaint 
 — riot, K. 1154. 
 
 Compleyne, to complain, K. 50. 
 Fr. complaindre, Lat. con-plan- 
 gore, literally to beat the breast 
 or hands in token of sorrow. 
 
 Composicioun, mutual agree- 
 ment, P. 848. Lat. compositio. 
 
 Conith, Cometh. 
 
 Comune — in comune, commonly, 
 K. 393. 
 
 Conclusioun, a legal term denot- 
 ing the close of a ])leadinir, K. 
 987. 
 
 Condicioun, condition, P. 88. 
 l>at. conditio, putting together. 
 
 Confort, comfort, P". 776. Fr. 
 confort, Lat. con-fortis. 
 
 Conforte, to comfort, to make 
 strong or brave, K. 858. 
 
 Conlus, confused, K. 1372. Lat. 
 confusns. 
 
 Coniusioun, ruin, K. 687. Lat. 
 confundere. So used in " The 
 city of confusion.'' Is. xxiv. 
 10. 
 
 Conne, to know, to be able. See 
 Can; cf. to " con a lesson." 
 
 Conquerour, conqueror, K. 4. 
 Fr. conqueiir, Lat. conquiri-re, to 
 seek, to obtain by seeking, 
 hence to get the victory. 
 
 Conscience, feeling, tender-heart- 
 edness, P. 142, 1-50 ; conscience, 
 P. 526. Lat. conscientia (con- 
 scire), what one knows with 
 another : (1) joint knowledge ; 
 (2) self-consciousness, — "no 
 more conscience of sin," Heb. 
 X. 10 ; (3) conscience, a recogni- 
 tion of the obligation ; (4) the 
 faculty by which such recogni- 
 tion is had. In E.E. the first 
 meaning is common = sym- 
 pathy, — as though to know of 
 affliction was to sympathize 
 with it. 
 
264 
 
 OLOSSARIAL INDEX, 
 
 Conseil, Conseyl, secret counsel, 
 F. 605 ; cf. " to keep one's 
 counsel," an adviser, K. 283, 
 289; cf. "of counsel.'' Lat. 
 cojisiilere. 
 
 Conserve, to preserve, K. 1471. 
 Lat. conservare. 
 
 ConsteUacioun, a conjunction of 
 stars as atiecting the destinies 
 of men, K. 230, — not here used 
 in the ordinary astronomical 
 sense. Lat. con-stel/atio. 
 
 Contek, strife, K. 1115. O.Fr. con- 
 tencer, to strive. 
 
 Contenaunee, countenance, ap- 
 pearance, K. 1058. Lat. con- 
 tlnere, to hold together. 
 
 Contrarye, an opponent, K. 1001. 
 Lat. contra. 
 
 Contra Contrie, country, K. 6, 
 355, P. 216 ; see note. Fr. con- 
 tree ; cf. Ger. ger/end. 
 
 Conveye, to accompany, to con- 
 vey, K. 1879. Fr. convoi/e?-, Lat. 
 con-via ; the later use — to carry 
 — seems to be from Lat. con- 
 vehere, as when we call a wagon 
 a conveifance ; cf. convoy. 
 
 Coote, a coat, tunic, P. 103. The 
 primary meaning is a matted 
 lock of wool ; (2) a matted or 
 felted piece ; (3) a garment 
 made of similar material, and 
 covering the whole body. 
 
 Coote-armure, Cote-a., a coat 
 worn over the armor, upon 
 which the armorial devices of 
 the wearer were embroidered, 
 K. 158, 1282. 
 
 Cop, the top, P. 554. A.S. copp, 
 Ger. ko]\f, Gr. Kt^-a\ri j Lat. cap- 
 ut. See note. 
 
 Cope, a priest's gown which 
 reached to the feet, P. 260; 
 semi-cope, a short cape, P. 26 2. 
 
 Corage, heart, spirit, courage, P. 
 11. Fr. courage, Lat. cor. 
 
 Cordial, an invigorating potion, 
 P. 443. Lat. cor. 
 
 Corona, Corowne, a crown, K. 
 964. Fr. couronne, Lat. corona. 
 
 Corrumpable, corruptible, K. 
 2152. 
 
 Corrumpe, to corrupt, K. 1888. 
 Lat. cor r ampere. 
 
 Corven (p.p. of kerce), cut, K. 
 1838. 
 
 Cosin, Cosyn, a cousin, kinsman, 
 K. 272. Fr. from Lat. consobri- 
 nus. 
 
 Cost, cost, P. 213, 799 ; for no cost, 
 on no account, for no reason, 
 P. 192, Ger. kosten, Lat. constare. 
 
 Cosyn, allied to, P. 742. 
 
 Cota, a cell, cottage ; thence: (1) 
 a place in which animals are 
 confined, e.g. sheepcot; (2) a 
 place in which men are con- 
 lined, a cell, or, in sickness, a 
 bed, K. 1599. A.S. cote, a cot- 
 tage, bed, den. 
 
 Cota, a coat, P. 612. 
 
 Couched, Cowehed, trimmed, K. 
 1303; laid, K. 2075. Fr. cou- 
 cher, to lay, Lat. collocare, to ar- 
 range. 
 
 Counsail, counsel, advice, P. 784 ; 
 adviser, K. 283, of mij counseil, 
 as in legal phrase " of counsel." 
 
 Countour, auditor, one who man- 
 aged or reviewed the fiscal 
 concerns of a country, — now 
 usually called a comptroller, 
 P. 359. Fr. comptour. 
 
 Countrafata, to imitate, P. 139. 
 In E.E. the idea of fraud is 
 wanting ; counterfeit often de- 
 notes a painting. Fr. contre- 
 faire. 
 
 Cours, course, P. 8, a run ; K. 
 836. Fr. cours, Lat. cursus. 
 
 Courser, a horse ; literally, a run- 
 ner, hence a fleet horse, one 
 used in hunting or on the road, 
 K. 94. 
 
 Court, court, P. 140. See note. 
 
 Courtepy, a short cloak of coarse 
 cloth, P. 290. 
 
 Courtasia. See Curtasee. 
 
 Coutha, Cowtha, Cowde, (1) 
 could, P. 236, 326 ; (2) knew, P. 
 467 ; (3) p.p. known, renowned, 
 P. 14, See Can. 
 
 Covenaunt, a written agreement, 
 
 P. 600. 
 venire. 
 
 Fr. covenant, Lat. con- 
 
GLOSSAEIAL INDEX. 
 
 265 
 
 Covyne, deceit ; literally, a plot 
 between two persons to injure 
 a third, F. 604. Lat. convenire. 
 
 Cowardye, cowardice, K. 1872. 
 See note. 
 
 Cowde (pr. of can), could, P. 94, 
 106 ; knew how, was acquainted 
 with, P. 110. 
 
 Coy, shy, P. 119. Fr. coy, colt, 
 Lat. quietus. 
 
 Cracchyng, scratching^, K. 1976. 
 We have added the intensive s. 
 
 Cradel, cradle, K. 1161. A.S. 
 cradol. Tlie original is found 
 in crate, an open wicker case : 
 hence, (1) any thing made of 
 wicker-work, and (2) any thing 
 made in imitation of it ; e.g. 
 grate ; cf. cradle, a tool for cut- 
 ting grain, so called from its 
 interlaced frame. 
 
 Craft, craft, calUng, occupation, 
 P. 110, 401. A.S. craeft. (1) 
 power, strength ; (2) that to 
 which one devotes his strength, 
 — his occupation. 
 
 Crafty, skilled, KJ 1039. Able to 
 use one's craft. 
 
 Crispe, curled, K. 1307. A.S. 
 cirpsian, to curl, Lat. crispus. 
 
 Croppe, crop, P. 7, top, K. 674. 
 A.S. crop, top, hence an ear of 
 corn, a harvest ; cf. tlie " crop- 
 ping out of the strata; " to crop, 
 to bite off the top. Some derive 
 crop from ge-rip, that which is 
 reaped. 
 
 Crowe, a crow, K. 1834. A.S. 
 a^aiv, named from its note ; cf. 
 ci'oaJc. 
 
 Cruel, blood-thirsty, cruel, K. 
 799. Lat. crudelis, from cruor, 
 blood. 
 
 Crulle, curled, curly, P. 81. Ger. 
 krUlJen, to curl ; cf. cruller, a 
 curled or twisted cake. 
 
 Crydestow, criedst thou, K. 225. 
 
 Crye (pr. oy/de), to cry aloud, to 
 shout, P. 636 ; cf. A.S. graedan 
 [(je-raedan), Goth, ga-raidjan, to 
 command ; Scotch, greet, to cry. 
 
 Cryke, a creek, harbor, P. 409. 
 Fr. crique, a little bay. 
 
 Culpons, Culpouns, shreds, small 
 bundles, P. 679, K. 2009. Fr. 
 coupon, from couper, to cut. 
 
 Cuntre, Contra, country, P. 216. 
 See note, Fr. contree. 
 
 Cuppe, a cup, P. 134. A.S. cup- 
 pa ; cf. coop. 
 
 Curat, a curate, P. 219. Lat. 
 caratus, from curare, to care for. 
 
 Cure, care, K. 149. Lat. euro. 
 Still used in " the cure of 
 souls." 
 
 Curious, (1) careful; (2) wrought 
 with care ; e.g., " curious 
 works," Ex. XXXV. 32; (3), 
 exercising care ; (4) careful to 
 learn; (5) that requiring care 
 to understand, P. 196, 577. Fr. 
 curieux, Lat. curiosus. 
 
 Curs, a curse, an imprecation, P. 
 655. An imprecation of evil in 
 the name of religion, — the 
 cross ; hence, any imprecation 
 of evil. A.S. curs. 
 
 Curteis, Curteys, courteous, P. 
 249. 
 
 Curtesie, courtesy, favor, indul- 
 gence, P. 46, 725. Fr. courtoisie, 
 the manners of the court ; cf. 
 Ger, hof-Uch ; boorish, from bauer, 
 a peasant. 
 
 Cuts, lots ; draiceth cuts, draw cuts 
 or lots, P. 835 ; alluding to the 
 practice of determining the lot 
 by drawing straws from the 
 thatch, or by drawing from the 
 hand straws cut different 
 lengths. The name and the 
 act are common. 
 
 Cytryn, a lemon-yellow color, K. 
 1309. 
 
 D. 
 
 Daggere, a dagger, P. 113; cf. 
 dig, did}. 
 
 Daliaunce, play, gossip, P. 211. 
 Ger. dahlen. " From Lat. talus, 
 the ankle-bone of animals, then 
 a die to play with, came ap- 
 parently the O.E. daly, a die, 
 plaything." Wedgwood. Hence 
 play, spending tmie idly. 
 
266 
 
 OLOSSARIAL INDEX. 
 
 Dampned, condemned, doomed, 
 K. 317, 887. Lat. damnare, to 
 cause to suffer loss. 
 
 Dar (2d sing. pres. darst ; pr. 
 dorste, durste), to dare, K. 293, 
 282, F. 454. A.S. dt/rran, 2d 
 pres. dearst, pr. dorste. 
 
 Darreyne. See Dereyne. 
 
 Daun, Dan, lord, a title of respect, 
 used as we use sir, K. 521. Lat. 
 doinimis. 
 
 Daunce, a dance, the olde daunce, 
 the old game, P. 476. 
 
 Daunce, to dance, K. 1344. Orig- 
 inal meaning to stamp. 
 
 Daunger, a dangerous situation, 
 P. 402 ; jurisdiction, P. 663, 
 see note; fine, K, 991. Lat. 
 damnum, a fine. 
 
 Daungerous, arrogant, sparing 
 through arrogance, P. 517. 
 
 Daunsynge, dancing, K. 1343. 
 
 Dawen, to dawn, 3d sing, daweth, 
 K. 818. A.S. dcujkin. 
 
 Dayerie, dairy, P. 597. O.E. deye, 
 a dairymaid. 
 
 Dayeseye, a daisy, P. 332. The 
 eye-of-day. 
 
 Dayeslight, dayhght, K. 771. 
 Light-of-day. 
 
 Debate, fight, K. 896. Fr. debattre, 
 to contend. From the root bat 
 (beat) ; now restricted to wordy 
 battles. 
 
 Debonaire, gentle, K. 1424. Fr. 
 de-bon-air. 
 
 Decree, a law writ, P. 640. Lat. 
 decretiim. 
 
 Dede, a deed, P. 742. A.S. daed, 
 a tiling done. 
 
 Dede (pr. oidon), did, K. 891. 
 
 Dede, Deed (e), dead, P. 145, 781, 
 K. 147 ; death-like, K. 720. 
 
 Dedly, Deedly, deathdike, deadly, 
 K. 55, 224. 
 
 Deduyt, pleasure, K. 1319. O.Fr. 
 dedut. 
 
 Deef, deaf, P. 446. " The mean- 
 ing of the Gothic daubs, daufs, 
 Ger. taub, Eng. deaf, seems 
 founded in the notion of stop- 
 ping an orifice," Wedgwood. 
 
 Deemeth. See Deme. 
 
 Deepe, Depe, deeply, K. 1782. 
 
 Allied to dtp, dig. 
 Deer, a deer, K. 1292, A.S. deor, 
 
 a wild animal ; Ger. thier. 
 Deere, dearly, K. 2242. GaeHc 
 
 daor, bound, precious. 
 Deeth, death, P. 605. A.S. death, 
 
 allied to deaf; cf. " a deaf nut." 
 Defye, renoimce, K. 746. Fr. 
 
 defer, Lat. dis fidere. 
 Degre (e), degree, rank, P. 40 
 
 (see note), P. 744 ; position, con- 
 dition, K. 983 ; steps, seats 
 
 rising one above another, K. 
 
 1032, 1721. Fr. dejjre, L-dt. gra- 
 
 das ; cf . degrade. 
 Del, part, portion, deal, K. 967, 
 
 1233 ; never a del, none at all ; 
 
 som del, somewhat. A.S. dael, 
 
 Ger. theil; cf. "a good deal," 
 
 in which good has its original 
 
 force of great. 
 Delen, to share, to divide, to have 
 
 dealings with, P. 247 ; see note. 
 
 A.S. daelan. 
 Delite, Delyt, pleasure, luxury, 
 
 P. 335, K. 821. Lat. delectare. 
 Delve (pr. delf, dalf, p.p. dolven), 
 
 to chg, to toil, P. 536. A.S. 
 
 delfan, to dig, hence any hard 
 
 labor. 
 Delyvere, active, P. 84. Fr. de- 
 
 livre, Lat. liber. 
 Deme, Deeme, 2d imperative 
 
 deemeth, to judge, decide, K. 
 
 495, 1023. A.S. deman ; cf. 
 
 doom, dooms-day. 
 Departe, to separate, K. 276. Fr. 
 
 de'partir ; cf. department. 
 Departyng, separating, K. 1916. 
 
 Lat. dis partire. 
 Depeynted, depicted, painted, K. 
 
 1169. 
 Dere, dear, K. 376. Gaelic daor, 
 
 bound, held closely, hence pre- 
 cious. 
 Dere, to hurtj injure, K. 964. 
 
 A.S. derian. 
 Dereyne, Darreyne, to decide by 
 
 battle, to contest, K. 751, 773. 
 
 A Norman term, desrener, from 
 
 Low Lat. derationare ; of. a/'- 
 
 raign. 
 
GLOSSABIAL INDEX. 
 
 267 
 
 Dereyved, derived, K. 2180. 
 Lat. denrere, to turn water from 
 its main channel. 
 
 Derk(e), dark, K. 1137. A.S. 
 dectrc. 
 
 Derknesse, darkness, K. 593. 
 
 Derre (comp.), dearer, K. 5U0. 
 
 Deryve (od sing, derivcth), is de- 
 rived, proceeds, K. 2148 (Lat. 
 de and rivus, a brook) : (1) 
 (transitively), to divert streams 
 of water into side ciiannels ; (2) 
 (intr.), to flow into side chan- 
 nels; hence, (3) to draw from, 
 or aside. 
 
 Deserve, to earn by service, to 
 earn, K. 374. Lat. servire. 
 
 Desir, Desyr, desire, K. 385. 
 Lat. desiderium, a feeling of 
 want of something. 
 
 Desiryng, desire, K. 1064. 
 
 Despitous, Dispitous, pitiless, 
 severe, P. 516, K. 738. Lat. 
 ^/,s pi etas. 
 
 Despleye, to display, unfold, K. 
 108. O.Fr. desployer ; cf. deploi/, 
 Fr. de'ployer. 
 
 Despyt, maUce, spite, K. 83. O.Fr. 
 d('spit, Lat. desjiicere. 
 
 DestreinCj Destreyne, to oppress, 
 K. 597. Fr. distraindre ; cf. dis- 
 tress. 
 
 Destraye, to destroy, K. 472. 
 O.Fr. destruire, Lat. destruere, to 
 scatter. 
 
 Deth (e), pestilence, P. 605, a 
 corpse, K. 1150. Goth, diwan, 
 to die; hence, (1) the act of 
 dying; (2) that which causes 
 death ; (3) the result of death. 
 
 Dette, debt, P. 280. Lat. debitum. 
 
 Detteles, free from debt or obli- 
 gation, P. 582. 
 
 Devise, Devyse, to speak of, to 
 relate, P. 34, K. 136, 100; to 
 order, direct, K. 558 ; to em- 
 belUsh (to contrive), K. 1043. 
 O.Fr. deviser, to plan ; Lat. di- 
 videre. 
 
 Devoir, duty, K. 1740. Fr. de- 
 voir, Lat. debere. 
 
 Devoutly, earnestly, devotedly, P. 
 482. Lat. decotus, held by a vow. 
 
 Devynynge, divination, K. 1668. 
 
 Devys, direction, advice, P. 816. 
 Lat. divisus. 
 
 Devysyng, ad j ustment, arrang- 
 ing, K. 1638. 
 
 Dewe, due, what is due, K. 2186. 
 Fr. dd from devoir. 
 
 Deye (n) (pr. deide, dei/de), to die, 
 K. 251. Goth, diican. 
 
 Deyere, a dyer, P. 362. A.S. 
 deuf/an, to die ; cf. dag, dag- 
 gled. 
 
 Deynte, dainty, excellent, P. 168. 
 Welsh, dant, a tooth. 
 
 Deyntee, a dainty, a pleasant 
 rarity, P. 346. 
 
 Deys, a dais, a raised platform at 
 the end of the hail upon which 
 persons of distinction were 
 placed, P. 370, K. 1342. Fr. 
 dais; cf. Ger. tisch. 
 
 Diete, food, manner of living — 
 not restricted as now to food, 
 P. 435. 
 
 Dight, dressed, arrayed, K. 183. 
 A.S. dihfan, to set in order. 
 
 Digne, -worthy, P. 141 ; proud, 
 disdainful, P. 517 ; noble, K. 
 1358. Fr. digne, Lat. digitus. 
 Primary meaning is ivortlu/; then 
 being applied to great or noble 
 men, it came naturally to sig- 
 nify that which was peculiar in 
 their bearing, — too often pride 
 or haughtiness. 
 
 Diocese, the jurisdiction of a 
 bishop, P, 664. Gr. dLoiKelv, to 
 keep house, to manage. 
 
 Dischevele, with unbounded hair. 
 P. 683. Fr. de'cheveler. 
 
 Disconfiture, Disconfytyng, de- 
 feat, discomfiture, K. 150, 1861. 
 
 Disconfort, discomfort, K. 1152. 
 Lat. dis conjojiis. ' 
 
 Disconforten, to sadden, K. 1846. 
 
 Discrecioun, discretion, K. 921. 
 See note. 
 
 Discret, discreet, able to distin- 
 guish matters upon examina- 
 tion, P. 312. Fr. discret, Lat. 
 discernere, to separate. 
 
 Disdayn, disdain. Fr. de'dain, 
 Lat. dis dignari. 
 
268 
 
 GLOSSABIAL INDEX. 
 
 Dislieryt, disinherited, K. 2068. 
 Lat. haeres, an heir. 
 
 Disjoynt, disadvantage, K. 2104. 
 Lat. disjunctus. 
 
 Dispence, expense, profusion, P. 
 441, K. 1024. Fr. depense, Lat. 
 dispensare.. 
 
 Dispitous, j)itiless, P. 516. Lat. 
 dis pietas. 
 
 Dispitously, pitilessly, sternly, 
 K. 266. 
 
 Disport, gayety, sportiveness, P. 
 137 ; sport, diversion, P. 775. 
 O.Fr. desport. 
 
 Disposicioun, arrangement with 
 regard to others, K. 22y ; men- 
 tal traits, K. 520. Lat. disponere, 
 to arrange. 
 
 Distress, restraint, confinement, 
 K. 595. Fr. detresse, Lat. dis- 
 tringere, to bind fast ; cf . dis- 
 train. This is the usual force 
 of the term in law. 
 
 Divinis, divines, doctors of divin- 
 ity, K. 465. Lat. divinus, ap- 
 pertaining to the deity. 
 
 Divisioun, distinction, K. 922. 
 
 Do (n), Doon (pr. dide, dede, p.p. 
 do {n), doon, 3 pi. pres. don), to 
 do, to perform, to do to, P. 78, 
 268, K. 141; to cause (aux.), 
 P. 766, 768, K. 84, 697, 1047. 
 A.S. don, Ger. ihun. 
 
 Docked, cut short, P. 590. W. 
 toe, that which is short or abrupt. 
 
 Doctour, a teacher, a learned per- 
 son, a doctor of medicine, P. 
 411. Fr. docteur, Lat. doctus, 
 learned. Literally a teacher, 
 or one qualified to teach ; re- 
 stricted in common use to hon- 
 orary titles and to those licensed 
 to practise medicine. 
 
 Domb(e), dumb, P. 774. A.S. 
 duiab, foolish, mute ; Ger. dumm, 
 stupid; cf. A.S. d/jni. 
 
 Dome, decision, doom, P. 323. 
 A.S. deman, to judge ; cf. deem. 
 
 Dominacioun, control, K. 1900. 
 Lat. doniinus. 
 
 Dong, dung, manure, P. 530. 
 Originally denoting that which 
 is wet, — allied to dag, daggle. 
 
 Dongeoun, the principal tower in 
 a castle, — a dungeon or strong- 
 hold, K. 199. Lat. doininus ; cf. 
 Gael, dun, a fortress ; also don- 
 jon. 
 
 Dormant, fixed, ready, P. 353. 
 Fr. dormir, Lat. dormire, to sleep, 
 
 — hence dormant = in the sleep- 
 ing j)osture. 
 
 Dorste (pr. oidar), durst, P. 227. 
 A.S. durran, pr. dorste. 
 
 Doseyn, a dozen, P. 578. Fr. 
 douzaine, Lat. daodecim. 
 
 Double-wise, duplicate, similar, 
 K. 480. Wise = manner. 
 
 Doute, doubt, fear, P. 487. Out 
 ofdoute = without doubt, doubt- 
 less, K. 283, Lat. dubitum, from 
 duo, two. 
 
 Douteles, doubtless, without 
 doubt, K. 973, 1809. 
 
 Dowves, doves, K. 1104. A.S. 
 duva, Ger. taube. Wedgwood 
 suggests from its habit of duck- 
 ing the head (dufan, to dive), 
 but more probably formed in 
 imitation of its note — as is so 
 common in the case of animals 
 
 — which the Ger. taube exactly 
 represents. 
 
 Dragges, drugs, P. 426, O.Fr. 
 dragee, spices ; A.S. drijge, any 
 thing dried or aromatic. 
 
 Draughte, what is drawn, what 
 is drunk at once, a swallow, P. 
 135, 382. A.S. droht, from 
 dragan, to draw. 
 
 Drawe (imp. draweth), to draw, 
 P. 835, K. 1689; to bear bur- 
 dens, K. 558. A.S. dragan ; cf. 
 drag, dray ; Lat. trahere. 
 
 Drede, one who causes dread, P. 
 1140. 
 
 Drede (n), to fear, P. 660; to 
 doubt, K. 735; (actively) to 
 inspire dread. A.S. draedan. 
 
 Dredful, full of dread, stealthy, 
 K. 621 ; used actively. 
 
 Drenchyng, drowning, K. 1598. 
 A.S. drencan, causative of drin- 
 can, to drink. 
 
 Dresse, to put in order, arrange, 
 P. 106, K. 1736. "And the 
 
GLOSSABIAL INDEX. 
 
 269 
 
 Lord God took the man and put 
 
 him into the garden of Eden to 
 
 dress it," Gen. ii. 15. Fr. dres- 
 
 ser, Lat. dirigere. 
 Dreye, dry, K. 21G6. A.S. drir/. 
 Dronke (n) (p.p. ot'drinke), drmik, 
 
 P. 135, K. 403 ; (pret. pi.) drank, 
 
 P. 820. A.S. drincan, dranc, 
 
 druncen. 
 Drope, a drop, P. 131. A.S. dropa; 
 
 cf. drip, dribble, droop. 
 DrougM, drought, P. 2, 595. A.S. 
 
 drugath, from dnjgan, to dry up, 
 Drowpede, drooped, P. 107. A.S. 
 
 dropian, to drop. 
 Drugge, to drudge, to drag, K. 558. 
 Duchesse, feminine of duke, K. 
 
 65. Fr. duchesse. 
 Duete*, reverence, K. 2202 ; cf. Fr. 
 
 devoir. 
 Duk, a duke, leader, king, K. 2. 
 
 Lat. dux, from ducere, to lead ; 
 
 now denotes the highest order 
 
 of nobility. 
 Dure, endure, remain, K. 378, 
 
 1912. Lat. durare, from durus, 
 
 hard, therefore lasthig. 
 Dusken, to grow dark, to become 
 
 shaded, K. 1948. 
 Dwelle (pr. and p.p. dwehl), to tar- 
 ry, to remain, K. 115, 370, 1496 ; 
 
 cf. A.S. dwelian, from the root 
 
 dol, dull (immobile) ; so also 
 
 dwelling = delay. 
 Dyamauntz, diamonds, K. 1289. 
 
 See Adamauntz. 
 Dyapred, wrought in flourishes, 
 
 ornamented, K. 1300 ; see note. 
 
 O.Fr. diaspre, Lat. jaspis, a 
 
 jasper. 
 Dyched, surmotinted by a dike or 
 
 rampart, K. 1030. 
 Dyke, to ditch, to throw up a dike, 
 
 P. 536; see note. A.S. dician; 
 
 cf. Gr. rnxoQ. 
 Dym, indistinct ; used with refer- 
 ence to sight and hearing, K. 
 
 1575; see note. A.S. dim; cf. 
 
 Icel. dumba, darkness. 
 Dys, dice, K. 380. 
 Dyvynistre, a diviner, K. 1953. 
 Dyvynyng, predicting, K. 1657. 
 
 Lat. diviaatio. 
 
 B. 
 
 Ecclesiaste, an ecclesiastic, P. 
 708. Gr. eKK?ijjaia, an assembly 
 of citizens called out by the 
 crier, — used to denote the 
 church as being composed of 
 the called — the elect. 
 
 Ecli(e), each, P. 39, 369. AS. 
 aelc, ylc. Formed from the 
 weak demonstrative, as O.E. 
 thilke, from the strong, whilk 
 (which), from the interrogative, 
 and swilc (such), from the rel- 
 ative, by adding the sufiix lie 
 (body). 
 
 Echon, Echoon, each one, P. 820. 
 
 Eek, also, besides, eke, P. 5, 41, 
 K. 314. A.S. eac, eacan, to add, 
 Ger. auch. 
 
 Eelde, Eld, age, eld, K. 1 589, 1590. 
 A.S. eald, yld. 
 
 Eeres, Eras, ears, P. 556, K. 664. 
 A.S. eare, allied to the verb to 
 hear. 
 
 Eese, Ese, pleasure, ease, P. 768. 
 Fr. aise, Lat. otium, leisure. 
 
 Eet, Et, ate, K. 1190. A.S. elan, 
 pr. aet, p.p. eten ; Lat. ed-ere; 
 cf. oat. 
 
 Effect, result, K. 1624 ; in effecte, 
 in fact, in substance, P. 319. 
 
 Eft, again, afterwards, nought eft, 
 not again, K. 811. A.S. aeft. 
 
 Egle, an eagle, K. 1320. Fr. aigle, 
 Lat. aquila. 
 
 Elles, else, otherwise, P. 375, 735. 
 A.S. elks, Lat. alius. El in A.S. 
 means foreign ; e.g. el-land, for- 
 eign land. 
 
 Embrowded, embroidered, P. 89. 
 A.S. bredan, to braid. Original- 
 ly denoting a rapid movement, 
 as of the hands in braiding. 
 
 Emforth, to the extent of, accord- 
 ing to, K. 1377. Literally even- 
 forth, — em in composition sig- 
 nifying equal, as em-cristen, a 
 fellow-christian. 
 
 Empoisonyng, poisoning, K. 1602. 
 Lat. potio ; cf. Ger. gif. 
 
 Emprise, enterprise, undertaking, 
 Iv. 1682, Fr. entre-prise. 
 
270 
 
 OLOSSARIAL INDEX. 
 
 Encens, incense, K. 1571. Lat. 
 
 incendere, to burn. 
 Encombred, troubled, P. 508; 
 
 tired (by a burden), K. 860. 
 
 Er. encomhrer, Ger. kummer, 
 
 trouble. 
 Encrece, to increase, K. 457. 
 
 Lat. crescere. 
 Encres, increase, K. 1326. 
 Ende, extremity, P. 1 5 ; portion, 
 
 what pertains to one, K. 986 ; 
 
 conclusion, arrangement, K. 
 
 1007. A.S. ende, a part. 
 Endelong, endwise, lengthwise, 
 
 K. 1133. 
 Endite, to narrate, relate, P. 95 ; 
 
 K. 522. Fr. enditer, Lat. in- 
 
 dicere ; cf. indict. 
 Endure, to remain, K. 327. See 
 
 Dure. 
 Enfecte, infected, rendered void 
 
 by bribery, or collusion, P. 320. 
 Engelond, England, P. 580. Lit- 
 erally Angel-land, — the land of 
 
 tlie Angles. 
 Engendred, engendered, pro- 
 duced, P. 5. Lat. in-gen-erare ; 
 
 cf. kin. 
 Enhaunse, to elevate, K. 576. 
 
 O.Er. enhauncer, Lat. alte. 
 Enhorte, to enhearten, encourage, 
 
 K. 1993 ; cf. dishearten. 
 Enoynt, anointed, K. 2103. 
 Ensample, example, P. 496. Lat. 
 
 exemplum. Sample retains the 
 
 old form. 
 Enspired, breathed into, inspired, 
 
 P. 6. Lat. inspirare. 
 Entente, intent, purpose, K. 142. 
 Entuned, intoned, P. 123. Lat. 
 
 tonus; cf. tune, tone. 
 Envye, envy, K. 49. Lat. invidia. 
 Envyned, furnished Avith wine, 
 
 P. 342. line is from the Fr. 
 
 vigne ; wine is A.S. win. 
 Eny, any. A.S. aenig, — the ad- 
 jective form of one. 
 Er, before, ere, K. 182. A.S. aer. 
 Erchedeknes, (gen.) archdea- 
 con's, P. 658. 
 Ere, to plough, K. 28. A.S. earian ; 
 
 cf. Lat. arare. 
 Erles, earls, K. 1324. A.S. eorl, 
 
 man, noble ; originally a title 
 
 of honor, afterwards denoting 
 
 an office, and now again a title 
 
 of nobility. 
 Erly, Erely, early, P, 33, 809, K. 
 
 163. A.S. aerltce. 
 Erst, first, before, P. 776. Erst 
 
 than, sooner than, before, K. 
 
 708. Supl. of A.S. ae/-. 
 Erthe, earth, K. 388. A.S. eorthe, 
 
 eard, as though from erian, to 
 
 till. Ger. erde. 
 Eschaunge, exchange, P. 278. 
 
 O Fr. exchange. 
 Esen (p.p. eseil), to entertain, put 
 
 at ease, P. 29, K. 1336. 
 Esily, easily, P. 469. Fr. ais€; 
 
 cf A.S. eathe, easily. 
 Espye, to see, to spy out, K. 
 
 254 ; cf. Ger. spdhen. A.S. 
 
 spi/rian, to track (cf. spur), to 
 
 seek out. O.E. speer, to ask, is 
 
 undoubtedly allied to spy, al- 
 though espy is immediately from 
 
 the Er. 
 Est, east. Literally the icy region, 
 
 according to Wedgwood. 
 Estat, condition, state, P. 522; 
 
 great estate, high condition, P. 
 
 203. State and its derivatives 
 
 are abbreviated forms. 
 Estatlich, stately, P. 140, 281. 
 
 O.Er. estat. 
 Estres, the interior parts of a 
 
 building, K. 1113. Fr. estre, 
 
 state, plan. 
 Estward, towards the east, on the 
 
 east side, K. 1045, 1727. 
 Esy, easy, easy to deal with, P. 
 
 223 ; moderate, P. 441. 
 Eterne, eternal, determined, K. 
 
 251. Lat. aevum. 
 Evele, badly, evilly, K. 269 ; ful 
 
 evele, very badly. Goth, ubils, 
 
 Ger. uhel. 
 Evene, medium ; evene lengths, 
 
 medium height, P. 83; (adv.) 
 
 in a self-possessed manner, 
 
 evenly, K. 665. A.S. ae/en. 
 Evensong, vespers, evening ser- 
 vice. P. 830. 
 Evere, ever, at any time, P. 732. 
 
 A.S. aefer, from a, always. 
 
OLOSSARIAL INDEX. 
 
 271 
 
 fiiveremo, for ever, evermore, K. 
 
 174. 
 Everich, Everyche, Every, 
 
 every, P. 2, 2il ; each of tlieiu, 
 
 P. 371 ; eoerifch a {on), each one, 
 
 every one, P. 31, 733, 747 ; ht- 
 
 erally, ever-each-one. 
 Everydel, Everidel, every part, 
 
 completely, P. 368. A.S. duel, 
 
 part. 
 Ewe, a yew-tree, K. 20G5. ^ 
 Exequies, funeral rites, K. 135. 
 
 Lat. exeqniae. 
 Exiled, exiled; K 386. Lat. ev 
 
 and solum, away from one's 
 
 native land. 
 Expert, skilled, experienced, P. 
 
 577. Lat. expertns. 
 Eyhe (n), Eyen, Ey^hen, ye, the 
 
 eye, eyes, P. 10, 152, 201, K. 
 
 38. A.S. eaje, pi. eagen, Ger. 
 
 aiirie, Lat. oc-idus, allied to edge ; 
 
 cf Lat. acies. 
 Eyle, to ail, K. 223. A.S. egJian. 
 Eyr, air, K. 388. Fr. air, Lat. 
 
 aer, perhaps from aether. 
 
 F. 
 
 Faculte, dignity, ability, K. 244. 
 
 Lat. facattas, ability to do ; 
 
 hence also the character or 
 
 bearing of an able man. 
 Fader (gen. sing, fader, fadres), 
 
 father, P. 100, 78i. A.S.faeder. 
 
 Allied to feed. 
 Fadma, fathoms. K. 2058. A.S. 
 
 J'adhin, an embrace, a fathom ; 
 
 literally, tlie space measured by 
 
 the extended arms. 
 Fain, Fayn, glad, K. 1579, gladly, 
 
 1^. 766. A.S. fiiefjn. 
 Fair, comp. fiirere, upright, good, 
 
 P. 754. A.S. faeger. 
 Faire, fairly, well, P. 94, 124, 273 ; 
 
 openly, K. 126. 
 Fairnesse, uprightness, P. 519 ; 
 
 beauty, K. 240. 
 Faldyng, coarse woollen cloth, P. 
 
 391 ; cf ^f'k. 
 Falle (pr. /?/(/), p.p. falle), to hap- 
 pen, P. ■ 324, K. 810 ; betall, P. 
 
 585, to fall, P. 131, 845, K. 1808. 
 A.ii.Jeallan, pr. /eo/ ; (Jer. fallen. 
 
 Falwe, pale, yellow, sallow, K. 
 606. A.S. fealuoe, yellow, Ger. 
 falb ; cf. fallow. 
 
 Famvilier, familiar, intimate, P. 
 215. Yt. familier, Lat. famulus, a 
 servant ; famiUa, a retinue of 
 servants. 
 
 Fare, affair, K. 951. A.S. faer] 
 literally a journey, from faran, 
 to go; cf. jjioceeding, and Ger. 
 ver-fahren. 
 
 Fare (n) (pres. pi. faren, p.p. 
 fare {n), to fare, to go, K. 403, 
 637, 1578. A.S. Jaran, Ger. 
 fahren; cf. welfare, farewell. 
 
 Farsed, stuffed, P. 233. Fr./ar- 
 cir, Lat. farclre ; cf. forced meat. 
 
 Farwel, farewell, K. 392, 1496. 
 A.S. /(?ra/i, an imperative. 
 
 Faste, used for emphasis, /c^sfe hy, 
 close by, near, P. 719; see note, 
 K. 618. 
 
 Fayn. See Fain. 
 
 Feble, unstrung, weak, K. 511. 
 O.Fr. feble, Fr. faible. 
 
 Fee, money, reward, P. 317 ; see 
 note, K. 945. A.S.fooh, cattle, 
 Ger. vieh ; cf. Lat. pecunia, from 
 pecus. Fee si/mple, full possession, 
 P. 319 ; see note. The develop- 
 ment of meanings may have 
 been as follows : (1) cattle ; (2) 
 property (proy9/-/(f»j) ; hence, (3) 
 possession, or the right of pos- 
 session ; cf. also peculium, pecu- 
 latio. 
 
 Feeld. Feld, field, country, (op- 
 posed to town), K. 28, 664. In 
 heraldry, the surface of a shield 
 upon which armorial designs 
 were blazoned ; that part of a 
 banner upon which the peculiar 
 device is wrought, K. 119. A.S. 
 feld. 
 
 Feere,fear,K. 1486. Allied to A.S. 
 faran ; cf. Ger. ijefahr, O.E. ferly. 
 
 Feith, faith, P. 62. Fr. fol, Lat 
 fdes. 
 
 Fel, Felle, cruel, fell, fierce, K. 
 701, 1772. A.S../;//. 
 
 Felawe, companion, 395, 648. 
 
272 
 
 OLOSSAEIAL INDEX. 
 
 From/e", money, goods, and lar/, 
 
 order, society, community ; cf. 
 
 A.S. geferratden, O.E. Jeol aw red- 
 den. 
 Felawschipe, fellowship,?. 26, 32. 
 Feld. See Feeld. 
 Felicite, happiness, P. 337. Lat. 
 
 fe/ix. 
 Felle (p.p. fdd), to cut down, to 
 
 fell timber, K. 844, 2066. A.S. 
 
 fellan, causative of feallan, to 
 
 fall ; Ger. J alien. 
 Feile, fierce, K. 701. See Fel. 
 Felonye, high crime ; literally a 
 
 crime punishable with forfeiture 
 
 of goods {fee), K. 1138. 
 Femynye, the Amazons, K. 8. 
 
 J^^t.femina, A.S. faemne. 
 Fer (comp. ferre. fer ,^\x^\. ferreste) , 
 
 far, P. 388, 491 (comp.) further, 
 
 more, K. 992. A.S. fer as, as 
 
 soon as, K. 790. 
 Ferde (pi. ferden), proceeded, 
 
 acted, K. 514, 789. A.S.feran, 
 
 to go. 
 Fere, fear, K. 475. A.S. fner. 
 Ferforthly, according to, K. 102 ; 
 
 liternWy, far forth-like. 
 Fermacye, a medicine, K. 1855. 
 Ferne, distant, P. 14. O.li.ferren, 
 
 A.S. fearn, from, fer, far; Ger. 
 fern. 
 Ferre, Fer, further, more, P. 48, 
 
 K. 1202. 
 Ferreste, furthest, P. 494. 
 Fers, fierce, K. 740. Lat. ferox, 
 
 ferns, a wild beast. 
 Farthing, a fourth part, a small 
 
 portion, P. 134, 255. Literally, 
 
 a fourfh-inr/ ; cf. fir-kin. 
 Fast (a), a feast, a festival, K. 25, 
 
 1625. Fr.fete, Lat. festum. 
 Fasta, to feast, K. 1335. 
 Fastne, to fasten, P. 195. To 
 
 make fast ; cf. Ger. fassen. 
 Fat (pr. of fecche, brought, 
 
 fetched), P. 8l9, K. 1669. A.S. 
 
 fetian, pr. fette. 
 Father, a feather, P. 107. A.S. 
 fether, Ger. feder, allied to Gr. 
 
 TTTspov, akin to fli/. 
 Fettras, fetters, K. 421. From 
 
 foot. ; cf . Gr. TTsdr]. 
 Fatys, elegant, neat, P. 157. Fr. 
 
 fait, Lat. factus ; cf Eng. feat, 
 a noun. 
 
 Fetysly, properly, neatly, P. 124. 
 
 Fay, laith, K. 268. Fr. foi, Lat. 
 Jides. 
 
 Feyne (pr. p.p. fej/nede), to feign, 
 to pretend, P. 705, 736. Lat. 
 fnvjere. 
 
 Fiers, fierce, K. 1087. J^:it. ferox. 
 
 Figure, a conception represented 
 in material form ; a method of 
 speech thus representing a con- 
 ception, P. 499. In astrology 
 a representation or chart show- 
 ing the position of the planets 
 at one's birth, K. 1177. Lat. 
 Jingere, to give form to. 
 
 Fil, Filla (pi. fiJien, pr. of falle), 
 fell. 
 
 Fir, Fyr, fire, K. 644, 2093. A.S. 
 fijr, Ger. feaer, Gr. T:vp. 
 
 Fithel, a fiddle, P. 296 ; cf Ger. 
 fitsctielu, to move to and fro. 
 
 Fleeta, Fleta, to float, swim, K. 
 1539. A.S.feotan; cf. fleet, float. 
 
 Flaisscha, Flaissh, meat, flesh, P. 
 147, 344. A.S.flaesc, Ger. fleisch. 
 
 Flan, to flee, to escape, K. 312. 
 A.S. feon. 
 
 Flatyng, swimming, floating, K. 
 1098. 
 
 Flikeryng, fluttering, K. 1104. 
 A.S. fiiccerian. 
 
 Flok, a flock, P. 824. A.S. floe. 
 Perhaps by metathesis for folc. 
 
 Floren, a florin, K. 1230. A coin 
 so named from the city Flor- 
 ence ; cf . bezant from Byzan- 
 tium. 
 
 Fiotery, slovenly, fluttered, K. 
 2025 ; cf . Ger. fagende haare, 
 dishevelled hair. 
 
 Flour, a flower, P. 4, 90, K. 124. 
 Fr. flenr, Lat. flos. 
 
 Floytynga, playing on a flute, 
 whistling, P. 91. Lint. flatus. 
 
 Folde: (1) an enclosure; (2) that 
 which is enclosed, P. 512. A.S. 
 fealdan, to fold up, to wrap. 
 
 Folk, people, P. 25. A.S. folc, 
 Ger. volk, Lat. vulgus ; cf . flock. 
 
 Folwa (pr. p.p. folwede), to follow, 
 P. 528, K. 1824. A.S. fohfian, 
 Ger. fohjen. 
 
GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 
 
 273 
 
 Folwynge, following, K. 1509. 
 
 Folye, folly, K. 940. Fr. folie. 
 Allied to fail. 
 
 Feme, foam, K. 801. A.S. fnoni, 
 /(tin; cf. Ger. fldum, what will 
 Jlodt ; cf. fowl, from fljj. 
 
 Fo (o), a foe, an enemy, P. 63, 
 K. 732. A.S. fogan, fan, to 
 hate ; cf. fend = one hated. 
 
 For, as regards, as to, P. 142, 
 387; because, because of, P. 
 2G4, 443, K. 5G2, 930 ; for al, 
 notwithstanding, K. 11G2; for 
 al the world, in spite of, K. 514 ; 
 for emj tldnge, by all means, P. 
 27G, for fear of. The original 
 meaning of /or is in front of {he- 
 fore, fore, Lat. pro), hence the 
 ideas of (1) opposition; (2) pro- 
 tection; (3) comparison; (4) 
 attention. Also intensive and 
 negative prefix. Ger. ver. 
 
 Forbere, to forbear, K. 27. A.S. 
 forheran. For = negative prefix, 
 Ger. ver ; cf. forqive, forqet. 
 
 For blak, very black, K. 1286. 
 
 Fordo (p.p. /o/t/o), to ruin, to undo, 
 K. 702. A.S.fordon, Ger. verthun. 
 
 Forest, unsettled country, forest, 
 
 K. 1117. O.Fr. forest, Ger. 
 
 forst, Lat. foris, out of doors, 
 
 denoting tb.e country without 
 
 the enclosure of towns. 
 
 Forgete (p.p. forqetin), to forget, 
 K. 2196. A.S. forfitan, Ger. 
 verqesisen. 
 
 Forgive, to forgive, P. 743. A.S. 
 for f fan, Ger. vergehen ; cf. Low. 
 Lat. pei'-donare, Fr. pardunner. 
 
 Forheed, forehead, P. 151. A.S. 
 fore-heafod. 
 
 Forme, form, proper form, in 
 forme, properlj', formally, P. 305. 
 
 Forneys, a furnace, P. 202. Lat. 
 fo7iiax. 
 
 For old, very old, K. 1284 ; cf. 
 Ger. vendten. 
 
 Forpyned, wasted away, P. 205. 
 A.S. piiKin, to pine, from pin 
 pain. For is here intensive. 
 Pain is from Fr. peine, Lat. 
 poena ; though A.S. pinan is no 
 doubt allied. 
 
 Fors, force, K. 1865. Lat. foi-tis. 
 
 Forster, a forester, P. 117. 
 
 Forth, henceforth ; with verbs of 
 motion, on ; K. 804. 
 
 Forther, comp. of fore, further, 
 P. 36, 835. A.S. farthra. 
 
 Forthermoor, further on, further- 
 more, K. 1211 ; ct fortherlij , for- 
 wards. 
 
 Forthren, to aid, to further, K, 
 279. A.S. fijrthrian, Ger. fordern. 
 
 Forth telle, to tell on, to con- 
 tinue a story, K. 478. 
 
 Forthi, for this, therefore, K. 983. 
 Thi is instrumental of that ; cf. 
 O.E. for-why. 
 
 Fortunen, to make fortunate, to 
 determine one's fortune, P. 417. 
 Lat. fors. 
 
 Forward, a promise, an agree- 
 ment, P. 33, 829, K. 351, 1761. 
 A.S.foreicord, a word given be- 
 forehand. 
 
 Fother, a wagon load, P. 630 ; a 
 large mass or sum, K. 1050. 
 A.S. fother, Ger. fader. 
 
 Foughten (pr. and p.p.) fought, 
 K. 841, P. 62. A.S. feohtan, 
 feaht, fohten. 
 
 Foul, P. 501. A.S.ful, Goi\\. fids, 
 Ger. faul ; cf. flth. The prim- 
 itive meaning seems to have 
 been putrid. 
 
 Founden, p.p. found, K. 754. 
 
 Foundre, to fall down, K. 1829. 
 O.Fr. fondrer, to sink. 
 
 Fourtenight, a fortnight, K. 71. 
 Fourteen-nights. 
 
 Fowel (pi. fowles), a bird, a fowl, 
 P. 9, 106. A.S. fiigol (ftigol, 
 from fleogan, to fly), Ger. vogel, 
 Fr. volaille. 
 
 Foyne (n), to make a stroke with 
 a sword or spear, K. 796, 1692. 
 O.Fr. foigner. 
 
 Frankelyn, a free-holder, country 
 gentleman, P. 216. Properly 
 tlie son of a vilein who has be- 
 come rich and purcliased his 
 fi'eedom. Frank = free. 
 
 Fre, free, P. 852. A.S. freoh, 
 Goth, frija; cf. Goth, frijon, to 
 love, Ger. frei. 
 
 iS 
 
274 
 
 OLOSSARIAL INDEX. 
 
 Fredom, liberality, freerlom, P. 
 46. A.S. doin = condition, Gf"* 
 thuyji. 
 
 Freknes, freckles, K. 1311 ; cf. 
 Ger.Jieck; a spot. 
 
 Frend, Freend, a friend, P. 299, 
 670, K. 610. A.S. freond, from 
 freon; Ger.freuud, Goth. J'rijuii, 
 to love. Free is allied. 
 
 Frere, a friar, P. 208. Pr. fiere, 
 Lat. frafer. 
 
 Fresslie, Freissh, Freisch, fresh, 
 P. 90 ; see note ; freslily, newly, 
 K. 190. A.S. fersc; cf brisk, 
 frisk, Ger. frisch, Fr. frais. 
 
 Frete (n) (p!p. />e/e/<), to devour, 
 to eat up, K. 1169. A.S.fretan, 
 En a;, fret, Ger. fressen. 
 
 Fro, from, P. 324, K. 213. A.S. 
 fra ; cf. " to and fro," for- 
 irard. 
 
 Frothsn, to froth, foam, K. 801. 
 A.^. frcothan, to Yuh, — ellectfor 
 cause. 
 
 Fruyt, advantage, enjoyment, 
 fruit, K. 424. Lat. fractus, from 
 frui, to enjoy. 
 
 Ful, fullv, completely, very, P. 
 22, 47, "130. From,////. 
 
 Fulfille, p.p. fiilfihl, to fill full, to 
 gratify, to 'satiate, K. 82, 460. 
 A.^.fiil-flllldn. 
 
 Funeral, burial, funeral service, 
 K. 2006. Lat. fnneralia, rites 
 appertaining to the burial of 
 the dead. 
 
 Fusty an, a coarse clotli, P. 75. 
 So called from Fostat or Fossat 
 (Cairo), the place of its man- 
 ufacture ; now used to denote 
 pretentious speech ; cf. bombast, 
 from bombazine, cotton cloth. 
 
 Fyfe, five, P. 460. A.S ff, Ger. 
 Junf, Lat. penfe, Gr. Trh'Te. 
 
 Fyled, cut, filed, K. 1294. 
 
 Fynde, to invent, 1^. 736, to pro- 
 vide, Ko 1555. A.S. Jiudan, Ger. 
 Jinden. 
 
 Fynger (pi. Jinrjrcs), a finger, P. 
 129. A.S. finger, from famjan, 
 to seize ; d. fang. 
 
 Fyr, a funeral fire, a pyre, K. 
 2056 ; fire, K. 2084. 
 
 Fyr-reed, red as fire, P. 624. 
 
 Gader (p.p gadrede), to gather, P. 
 824. A.S. (/aderian. 
 
 Gaf (pr. of gi re), gave, P. 227. 
 
 Galyngale, sweet cyperus, P. 38L 
 
 Game, sport, pleasure, K. 948, 
 1250. A.S. game ; cf. gamester. 
 
 Gamede (impersonal), pleased, 
 P. 534. A.S. gamenian, to sport. 
 The noun retains its original 
 signification, while the verb de- 
 notes plai/ in the sense of gam- 
 b/i)ig. 
 
 Gan (v. aux ), did ; gan preye, did 
 pray, prayed, P. 301 ; gan espye, 
 did espy, K. 254 ; gan km/tte, 
 knitted, K.270; began, K. 682. 
 See Bigan. 
 
 Gappe, an opening, a gap, K. 
 781. A.S. geapan, to gape, to 
 open. An opening in a range 
 of mountains, or in a fence, is 
 colloquially called a gap. 
 
 Gapyng, gapmg, Avith the mouth 
 wide open, Iv. 1150. 
 
 Gardeyn, a garden, an enclosed 
 place, a yard, K. 193. AS. 
 griird; see note, P. 149; cf.ijard. 
 
 Garleek, garlic, P. 634. "A.S. 
 gar, a spear, leac, a plant ; cf. 
 gar-\vAs.e, hemlock. 
 
 Gastly, terrible, K. 1126; cf. 
 aghast. Goth, geisan, to terrify, 
 gaze. So also gaste, to terrify. 
 
 Gat (pr. of get), obtained, gat, P. 
 703. A.S. gitan, pr. geat^if 
 
 Gate, a gate, a passage-way, K. 
 557. A.S. qeat, probably from 
 geotan, to pour out ; cf . Hell- 
 gate. 
 
 Gat-tothed, having teeth wide 
 apart, P. 468. 
 
 Gauded, ornamented, fitted with 
 gandes or large beads, P. 159, 
 see note; cf. gaudy, Lat. gaudi- 
 iim. 
 
 Gaude-greene, light green, K. 
 1221. 
 
 Gavides, large beads on a rosary 
 indicating a pater nostcr, P. 159. 
 
 Gay, fast, active, P. 74 ; cf Ger. 
 jcthe, hasty ; ornamented, P. 
 111. Fr. qai. 
 
OLOSSARIAL INDEX. 
 
 275 
 
 Gayler, jailer, gaoler, K. 206. 
 Irish (/((h/ia'il, to take prisoner. 
 
 Gayne (n), to avail, K. 818. AS. 
 fjegn ; of. gijiKin, to gain. From 
 the idea of opposition comes 
 tlip idea of juxtaposition, and 
 hence the idea of addition. So 
 also with. 
 
 Geere, Ger (e), articles for use, 
 — particularly clothing and 
 weapons, P. 352, 865, K. 158, 
 1322 ; external appearance, de- 
 meanor, K. 514. A.S. r/earwa, 
 clothing, preparation, from //ear- 
 ician, to make ready; cf. JE.E. 
 yare, ready, 
 
 Gentil, noble, well-bred, P. 72, 
 567, 669, K. 1681; affable, lib- 
 eral, P. 617. Lat. (jenfi/is, from 
 (JP71S. The following may have 
 been the order of development: 
 (1) high-born; (2) with the 
 manners of those high-born, 
 genteel ; (3) with the mental 
 qualities of the high-born, gen- 
 tle ; (i) by analogy applied to 
 things. 
 
 Gentilnesse, nobility ; hence also 
 the mental traits which should 
 distinguish the well-bred, gen- 
 tleness, gentilit}^ K. 62. 
 
 Ger (e). See Geere. 
 
 Gerdel, a girdle, P. 358. Ger. 
 giirfel, Goth, gairda, allied to 
 ij(ird, an inclosure. 
 
 Gerful, changeful, K. 680. Lat. 
 gi/rare. 
 
 Garland, a garland, K. 196. 
 Primitive meaning = an orna- 
 ment ; allied to gallant ; Fr. guir- 
 lunde. 
 
 Garner, a garner, granary, P. 593. 
 Fr. grenier, Lat. granarium. 
 
 Gary, changeable, K. 678. Fr. 
 girer, Lat. ggrare. 
 
 Gasse, to think, suppose, P. 82, 
 118. A frequentative from 
 O.N. qeta, to get. 
 
 Get, fashion, P. 682. O.Fr. get, 
 contrivance. We use get-up in 
 this sense. 
 
 Gate (n) (pr. //a/, p p. geten), to 
 get, acquire, P. 291 ; to keep 
 
 possession of (cf. Lat. obtinere), 
 
 K. 1897. A.S.gitan, geat, geten. 
 Giggyng, making ready, moving 
 
 quickly, K. 1646. 
 Gila, guile, deceit, K. 1738. A.S. 
 
 idle, Eng. wiles, wilij. Where 
 
 the same word is spelled with w ' 
 
 and gii. it indicates a Teutonic 
 
 word which has come to us 
 
 through both the A.S. and the 
 
 Fr. 
 Giltales, free from blame, guilt- 
 less, K. 454. 9 
 Gipoun, a short frock or cassock, 
 
 P. 75. Fr. gipon ; cf . jumper, a 
 
 jacket. 
 Gipser, a purse, P. 357. Fr. gib- 
 
 heciere, a pouch, gihhe, a bunch. 
 Gird, p.p. girded, P. 329. 
 Girt, pierced ; thurg-girt, pierced 
 
 through, K. 152. From the 
 
 notion of striking implied in 
 
 A.S. ggrd, a rod. 
 Gladen, to cheer, to make glad, 
 
 K. 1917. AUied to glitter, "And 
 
 oil to make his /ace to shine," 
 
 Ps. civ. 15. 
 Gladere, one who makes glad, K. 
 
 1365. 
 Glarjmg, staring, P. 684: (1) 
 
 shining; (2) evident ; (3) large, 
 
 easily seen. Allied to Lat. 
 
 clarus, gloria, Eng. glare. 
 Glas, gray amber or ambergris, 
 
 P. 152; any thing made of glass, 
 
 a glass case, P. 700. A.S.glaes. 
 
 From the root glare, glow; cf. 
 
 Ger. gleissen, to shine. 
 Gleede, a burning coal, K. 1139. 
 
 A.S. gled, from glowan, to glow; 
 
 Ger. gliihen. 
 Glowan (p. glowede), to glow, 
 
 shine, K. 1274. 
 Go (n), Goon (pres. sing. 70^^, pi. 
 
 go», goon, p.p. qo (n), goon), to 
 
 walk, to go, K."598, P. 771, K. 
 
 668, 2164, P. 377, 450, K. 1394. 
 
 A.S. gan [gangan], p.p. gangen. 
 Gobet, a small piece, P. 696. 
 
 O.Fr. go}), a morsel. Still in 
 
 colloquial use. 
 Godhede, divinity, godhead, K. 
 
 1523 ; cf . mgrn-hood. 
 
276 
 
 GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 
 
 Golyardeys, a buffoon, a glutton, 
 P. 560. 
 
 Gonne, pi. of gan (q.v.), began, 
 K. 800; did (v. aiix.), K. 1021. 
 
 Good, goods, property, P. 581. 
 A.S. r/od (s. & pi.) ; Lat. bona, 
 Gr. ayadu, are all used similarly. 
 
 Good (e),g0()d, P. 850. A.S.//oc7, 
 Goth, goths, Gr. uyaOog, Ger. 
 gut. The resemblance between 
 good and God is probably only 
 accidental. 
 
 Goost, a ghostf spirit, P. 206 ; 
 see note. A.S. gasl ; cf. gaze, 
 to terrify ; Ger. qeist, a spirit. 
 
 Goot, a goat, P. 688. A.S. gat. 
 
 Gooth, goeth, goes, K. 213. 
 
 Gospel, the gospel, P. 481. A.S. 
 god-spell, good tidings ; cf. Gr. 
 svay-yeXcov. 
 
 Goime, Gowne, a gown, P. 93, 
 301. W. givn; cf. Nor. Fr. 
 goune, It. gonna. 
 
 Governaunce, management, con- 
 trol. P. 281, K. 455. 
 
 Governynge, control, P. 599. See 
 note. 
 
 Grace, favor, P. 88, K. 262 ; gift, 
 P. 573. Lat. gratia, that given 
 without return ; cf. gratis. 
 
 Graunte, a grant, concession, 
 favor, K. 448. 
 
 Graunte, to grant, to promise, P. 
 786, K. 762. Fr. granter, ere- 
 outer. The two meanings have 
 different origin. 
 
 Grauntyng, permission, K. 1581. 
 
 Gree, a prize, K. 1875. Fr. gre, 
 Lat. gratum. 
 
 Greece, grease, P. 135. Fr. 
 graisse, Lat. crassus. 
 
 Greene, Grene, green, P. 103. 
 A.S. grene, from growan, to 
 grow ; hence the color of grow- 
 ing plants ; metaphorically ap- 
 plied to persons to denote im- 
 maturity ; cf. Lat. viridis, from 
 virei'e. 
 
 Grene, growth, prosnerity, K. 
 654. 
 
 Gret, Greet (def. and pi. grete, 
 grette, comp. grettere ; supl. gret- 
 teste), great, superior, P. 84, 137; 
 
 (comp.) P. 197, (supl.) P. 120. 
 A.S. great ; cf. Ger. gross. 
 
 Greve, a grove, pi. brandies, K. 
 637, 649. A.S. graef, from 
 grafan, to cut. So grove is used 
 in scripture for a graven image, 
 a statute ; cf. grave, grub. 
 
 Greve, to grieve, K. 59. Lat. 
 gravare, to oi)press. 
 
 Greye, gray, P. 152. A.S- graeg, 
 Ger. grau ; cf. Gr. ypala, an old 
 woman. " The original mean- 
 ing is probably parti-colored," 
 Wedgwood. 
 
 Greyn, grain, crops of grain, P. 
 596. Lat. granum. 
 
 Griffoun, a griffin, — a mythologi- 
 cal animal, a lion with an eagle's 
 head, wings, and talons, K. 1275. 
 
 Grisly, dreadful, K. 505. A.S. 
 grisJic, from qrisan, to dread. 
 
 Grope, to try,'test, P. 644. A.S. 
 grapian, to feel with the hand. 
 Ger. greifen ; cf. grab, grabble, 
 garble, grip, gripe, grapple, grasp, 
 &c. 
 
 Groynyng, stabbing, K. 1602. 
 See note. 
 
 Grueche, to murmur, grudge, K. 
 2187. Fr. groucher, to rumble. 
 
 Gruf, flat on the ground, K. 91. 
 See note ; cf. grovel. 
 
 Grym, Grim, fierce, terril)le, gritn, 
 K. 1184. A.S. grim , from grim- 
 man, to rage ; cf. grnm. 
 
 Grys, fur of the Siherian squirrel, 
 P. 194. Fr. gris, gray. 
 
 Guide, the marigold, K. 1071. 
 Mary's flower. 
 
 Gulty, guilty, P. 660. A.S. gglt, 
 crime, — that which must be 
 atoned for, from gijldan, to pay, 
 — crimes being usually punished 
 by fine ; hence guilt would sig- 
 nify : (1) the money paid as a 
 fine (cf. Ger. gelt) ; (2) the crime 
 thus atoned for ; (3) an expos- 
 ure to legal penalty. 
 
 Gurles, young people of either 
 sex, P. 664. See note. 
 
 Gyde, a guide, P. 804. A.S. and 
 Goth, ivitan, to watch over ; 
 Ger. weisen. 
 
GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 
 
 277 
 
 Gye, to guide, turn, K. 1092. Fr. 
 yuidcr, — the same word as 
 guide; cf. g'ii/-r()pe. See supra. 
 
 Gylt, guilt, k.' 907. See Gulty. 
 
 Gyngelen, to jingle, P. 170; cf. 
 Ger. kUngeln. 
 
 Gynne, to begin, K. 2160. 
 
 Gyse, fashion, manner, (juise, cus- 
 tom, K. 135, 350. Fr. yaise, 
 Eng. wise, Ger. iveise. 
 
 H. 
 
 Haberdasher, a dealer in miscel- 
 laneous articles, P. 361. See 
 note. 
 
 Habergeoun, Habergoun, a small 
 coat of mail, P. 76, K. 1261. 
 A.S. heals, neck, beorge, protec- 
 tion ; Ger. haUherg. 
 
 Habyt, physical temperament, 
 habit of body ; also customary 
 appearance, dress, K. 520. Fr. 
 habit, Lat. habitus. 
 
 Hadde, Hade, had, P. 554. Syn- 
 copated form of haved. 
 
 Hakke, to cut up, to cut with 
 many strokes, K. 2007. A.S. 
 hnccan ; cf. hatchet ; Fr. hacher, 
 to mince ; Eng. hash. 
 
 Haifa (adv.), half, P. 8. A.S. 
 hea/fe, Ger. halb. See note. 
 
 Halwes, shrines, saints, P. 14. 
 A.S. haliq, holy, Eng. hallow. 
 So AU-hallow-eve = All-saints- 
 eve. 
 
 Hamer, a hammer, K. 1650. A.S. 
 hamor. 
 
 Han, to have, P. 878. A syn- 
 copated form oH haven (inf.). 
 
 Happe, to happen, P. 585. Hap, 
 luck ; cf. hapi»/, mishap, ])erhaps. 
 
 Harde, firm, strong, K. 1277. 
 A.S. heard, Ger. hart, Goth. 
 hardus, Gr. mprog : ( 1 ) what is 
 firm or strong; (2) wliat may 
 be relied on ; (cf. hard//). 
 
 Hardily, certainly, P. 156. 
 
 Hardy, bold, daring, P. 405, K. 
 853 ; literally, strong. See Har- 
 de. Fr. hardi, A.S. heard, bold. 
 
 Hardynesse, boldness, K. 1090. 
 The idea of rashness is now as- 
 
 sociated with this word, ?iS fool- 
 hardiness, hardihood. 
 
 Haried, imrried, taken prisoner, 
 K. 1868. A.S. heriau, Fr.harier. 
 The origin may be Fr. harer, to 
 set on a dog. 
 
 Harlot, a youth, P. 617 ; later 
 denoting: (l)a person of low 
 birth, or one engaged in menial 
 service ; (2) a person of bad 
 conduct, especially a woman of 
 bad character. It originally 
 signified a young man. W. her- 
 lod, a youth ; cf. Lat. adulter = 
 adult. 
 
 Harlotries, youthful pranks, rib- 
 aldries, P. 561. 
 
 Harrae, harm, evil, misfortune, 
 calamity, K. 401, 1371. A.S. 
 hearm, Ger. harm ; allied to gram. 
 
 Harnays, Harneys, Herneys, 
 armor, harness, K. 148, 755, 
 1282. Fr. harnais, Ger. hamisch. 
 Probably allied to iron, although 
 Wedgwood suggests a different 
 derivation. It denotes: (l)iron 
 armor worn by men; (2) the 
 armor worn by horses ; (3) the 
 usual equipment of a horse ; 
 (4) that which serves the j)ur- 
 pose of equipment. 
 
 Harneysed, equipped, hung by 
 straps, P. 114. 
 
 Harpyng, harping, P. 266. A.S. 
 hearpe, Ger. harfe. Named from 
 tlie manner of playing it with a 
 hook to pick the strings. So 
 Gr. upTTi], a hook. 
 
 Harre, a hinge, P. 550. A.S. 
 heorra. 
 
 Hauberk, a coat of mail, K. 1573. 
 See Habergeon. 
 
 Hauke, a hawk, falcon, K. 1346. 
 A.S. ha/oc, from hebban (p.p. 
 ha fen), to lift; cf. havoc. 
 
 Haunt, skill, practice, P. 447. Fr. 
 hanter, to haunt. 
 
 Hawthorn, hedge-thorn, haw- 
 thorn, K. 650. A.S. haga-thorn, 
 Ger. har/edorn. 
 
 Hede, Heed, head, P. 198, 455, 
 551. A.S. heafod, from hebban, 
 to raise up. 
 
278 
 
 GLOSSABIAL INDEX. 
 
 Heeld, held, P. 337. A.S. heal- 
 
 dan, pr. heold, p.p. healden. 
 Heep, a large number, a large 
 amount, P. 575. ' A.S. heap, a 
 heap, legion, or company. Still 
 so used in Southern States. 
 Ger. haufe. 
 
 Hear, hair, P. 589, K. 191. A.S. 
 haer, Ger. haar. 
 
 Heete, to promise, grant, K. 1510. 
 A.S. hatan; of. best, behest. 
 
 Heath, the open country, a heath, 
 P. 6. A.S. haetli, Ger. heide, 
 whence heathen, hoijden = rus- 
 tic. 
 
 Heigh, Heih, high, great, K. 207, 
 910 ; hei(/her hand, upper hand, 
 superior, P. 398. A.S. heah, 
 Ger. hoch. 
 
 Hale, well-being, health, K. 413. 
 A.S. hael, hale, whole; Ger. heil. 
 
 Hala, to heal, K. 1848. A.S. 
 haelan, to heal, to make whole; 
 Ger. heil en. 
 
 Halla, hell, the unseen world, the 
 place of punishment, P. G58, K. 
 342. A.S. lielan, to conceal : 
 hence, literally, (1) the place 
 where the body is concealed, — 
 the grave ; (2) the place where 
 the spirit is concealed, — hades ; 
 (3) the place of future punish- 
 ment. Ger. Jiolle. 
 
 Helmas, helmets, K. 1751. A.S. 
 helm, from helan, to hide. 
 
 Halpen (pr. halp, p.p. holpen), to 
 lieln, to cure, when followed by 
 of, P. 18, 632. A.S. heli>a7i. 
 
 Ham, them, P. 11, 18. A.S. him. 
 
 Hemself (Hemsalvan), them- 
 selves, K. 39G. 
 
 Hang (pr. oihonge), hung, P. 160, 
 3-58. A.S. hamjaa, pr. heng. 
 
 Henna, hence, K. 1498. A.S. 
 hlmin. 
 
 Henta (n) (pr. hmte, p.p. hent), to 
 seize, get, P. 299, (pr.) P. 698, 
 K. 442, (pp.) K. 723. A.S. 
 hentan ; cf. to hunt. 
 
 Heraude, Herowd, a herald, K. 
 159. O.H.G. haren, to shout. 
 
 Herbergh, a harbor, an inn, P. 
 403, 765. A.S. here-bsorga, a 
 station where an army {here) 
 
 encamps on its march ; hecrrgnn, 
 to protect; Ger. herbergen ; cf. 
 burgh, bo rough. 
 Herd, haired, K. 1660. 
 Herde, a keeper of cattle, P. 603. 
 A.S. hijrde, a keeper ; cf. shep- 
 herd, cow-herd. Wedgwood in- 
 geniously derives herd from 
 harer, the cry made to set on a 
 dog. 
 Herde (p.p. of Aear), heard, P. 848. 
 Here, hair, P. 555, K. 530. A.S. 
 
 liaer, Ger. hiar. 
 Hera (gen. pi.) of them, their 
 
 [eorum), P. 11, 366; here aller, 
 
 of them all, P. 586. 
 Hera (dat. sing.) to this, here 
 
 agajjns, against this, K. 2281 ; 
 
 her inne, in this, K. 2215. 
 Here, to hear, K. 986. A.S. 
 
 hi/ran, heran. 
 Herinne, in this (company), K. 
 
 2215. Her is dative. 
 Herkne, imperat. pi. herhneth, K. 
 
 1674, P. 788, K. 985. A.S. 
 
 heorcnian, emphatic form of 
 
 hi/ran. 
 Herneys. See Harnays. 
 Hart, a hart, a stag, K. 817, 831. 
 
 A.S. heo7-t, Ger. hirsch. The 
 
 female is called a hind. 
 Herta, a heart, P. 150. A.S. 
 
 heorte, Ger. herz, Lat. cor. 
 Herte-spon, the navel, K. 1748. 
 Hest, command, K. 1674. A.S. 
 
 hatan. 
 Hetha (see Heath), a heath, the 
 
 open country, P. 006. 
 Hathanesse, heathen lands, P. 49. 
 Have, to heave, lift, P. 550. A.S. 
 
 hebban, pr. hof, p.p. ha/en, Ger. 
 
 heben. 
 Haw (a), color (hence also) com- 
 plexion. P. 394, K. 180; (pi.) 
 
 colors, K. 12-30. A.S. hiw, form, 
 
 color. 
 Hawe, to cut, heiv, K. 564, 2067. 
 
 A.S. heawan. 
 Hider, hither, P. 672. A.S. hider. 
 Hidous, hideous, K. 1120. O.Fr. 
 
 hidous. 
 Hidously, dreadfully, hideously, 
 
 K. 843. 
 Hight, promised, K. 1614. A.S. 
 
GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 
 
 279 
 
 hatan, to promise. Tliis verb 
 
 and the following are undoubt- 
 edly allied, although in A.S. 
 
 the preterites were formed dif- 
 ferently. 
 Highte, was called, is called, P. 
 
 616, 719, K. 333, 570. A.S. 
 
 he/if, pr. of haUm, to call, to be 
 
 called, to name ; Ger. heissen, 
 
 Goth, /uiitan, pr. Iidikdif. 
 Highte, in highte, aloud, on high, 
 
 K. 926. 
 Hihe, high, K. 1605. A.S. heuh, 
 
 Ger. hoch, Iivhe. 
 Him, himself, K. 2192. 
 Himselve, Hiniselven, dat. and 
 
 ace. of himself, P. 184, 528. See 
 
 note. 
 Hipes, hips, P. 472. A.S. hijpe. 
 Hire (sing, fern.) her, P. 120. 
 
 A.S. hire (gen. pi.) their, K. 
 
 25. A.S. heora. 
 Hit, it, P. 345, K. 604. A.S. hit, 
 
 gen. his. 
 Holde (pr. held, p.p. hold, hoi den), 
 
 to hold in esteem, P. 141, 182, K. 
 
 832, 1861, (p.p.) beholden, held, 
 
 K. 449 ; cf . Ger. behuUen, also 
 
 Lat. habere. 
 Holly, wholly, P. 590. 
 Holpen, (see Helpen), helped, 
 
 P. 18. 
 Holte, a grove, P. 6. A.S. holt, 
 
 Ger. holz. 
 Holwe, hollow, gaunt, P. 289. 
 
 A.S. hoi, a hole; Ger. hohl. 
 Holy, devoted to sacred purposes, 
 
 P. 17, 479, K. 1355. A.S. ha/i(/, 
 
 Ger. heilig. 
 Home, Hoom, home, hooni-cominrj 
 
 = return home, K. 26 ; homward, 
 
 towards home, K. 1881. A.S. 
 
 ham, Ger. heim. 
 Hond (s. and pi ), a hand, hands, 
 
 P. 108, K. 1245. A.S. hand. 
 Honest, honorable, P. 246. Lat. 
 
 honesVis. 
 Honestly, honorably, suitably to 
 
 one's station, K. 586. 
 Honge (n), (pr. henrj), to hang, P. 
 
 G76, K. 638. 
 Honte (r), a hunter, K. 780, 820. 
 
 A S. hunta, from hentan, to seize. 
 
 Honte (n), to hunt, K. 782. A.S. 
 huiitian. 
 
 Honting, hunting, on hontinq = a- 
 hunting, K. 829; cf. a-fishing. 
 See note. * 
 
 Hcod, hat, hood, P. 195, 612. 
 A.S. hod, from hjjd, a skin, a 
 hide ; alluding to the original 
 material. Ger. hut. 
 
 Hool (e), whole, P. 533. A.S. hal, 
 sound ; cf irholcsome. 
 
 Hoom, home, P. 400, hoom-coming, 
 return home, K. 26. 
 
 Hoomly, plainly, hovielike, in a 
 manner suited to home, P. 328. 
 
 Hoost, a landlord, host, P. 747, 
 751. Lat. hospes, one who treats 
 another as a guest ; Pr. hofe. 
 
 Hoot (e), Hote, hot, P. 687, 394. 
 A.S. hat, Ger. heiss. 
 
 Hoote, hotly, passionately, in- 
 tensely, P. 97, K. 879. 
 
 Hoppesteres, schippes hoppesterea, 
 hostile or opposing sliiiDS, K. 
 1159. See note. 
 
 Horn, a horn, a wind instrument, 
 P. 116, K.820 ; a drinking horn, 
 K. 1421. A.S. horn, Lat. cornn. 
 
 Hors (s. and pi.), a horse, horses, 
 1\74 (pl.)P. 598, K. 1634. A.S. 
 hors for hros, Ger. ross, O.N. 
 hross. 
 
 Hose (pi. hosen), stockings, P. 456. 
 A.S. hose, originally denoting 
 covering for the legs; Dutch, 
 hose = boots. 
 
 Host, an army, K. 16. Lat. hosfis, 
 an enemy. " The term hostis, 
 which primarily signified the 
 enemy against whom the expe- 
 dition was to be made, was com- 
 pendiously used for the military 
 service itself. . . . The expres- 
 sion would easily pass from mil- 
 itary service to the army on 
 duty, and thence to any numer- 
 ous asseml)lage." Wedgwood. 
 
 Hosteller, an innkeeper, a hostler, 
 P. 241. See Hoost, Fr. hofelier. 
 
 Hostelrie, a hotel, an inn, P. 23, 
 722. Fr. hotel, Lat. hospitalis 
 (hospes) ; cf. hospital. 
 
 Hote, hot. See Hoote. 
 
28o 
 
 GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 
 
 Hote, Hoote, to be called, K. 699. 
 See Highte. 
 
 Hounde, a dog, P. 146. A.S. 
 hiDid, Ger. hu7id, Eng. hound. 
 
 Houres, hours, P^416. Lat. /«ora. 
 
 Hous, a house, a religious estab- 
 lishment, a monastery, P. 252. 
 A.S. hits, Ger. haus, Lat. casa. 
 
 Housebond, a husband, P. 460. 
 A.S. hus, and hnnda, one inhab- 
 iting (buan, to dwell) with the 
 idea of mastery ; hence a mar- 
 ried man. See note. The word 
 retains its original force in hus- 
 bandman. 
 
 Househaldere, a householder, 
 freeholder, P. 339. 
 
 How, literally, in what (way)? 
 how that = how, P. 506, 642, K. 
 587. A form analogous to ivhi/. 
 
 Howie, to wail, K. 1959. Ger. 
 heiden, Lat. idulare ; cf. oivl. 
 
 Humblesse, hmiiility, K. 923. Fr. 
 humblesse, Lat. humilis, from hu- 
 mus, the ground. 
 
 Hunte (r), a hunter, P. 178, K. 
 1160, 1770. A.S. hunta. 
 
 Hunteresse, a huntress, K. 1489. 
 
 Hurte, to wound, K. 256, 258. 
 A.S. hip-t, wounded; cf. hurl, 
 hurtle. 
 
 Hurtle, to push, to strike, K. 
 1758. Frequentative of hurt. 
 
 Husst, hushed, K. 2123. An 
 onomatopoetic word; cf. lust, 
 ivhist. 
 
 Hyde, to hide, K. 623. A.S. 
 hjdan. 
 
 Hye, haste ; in hye, in haste, has- 
 tily, K. 2121. 
 
 Hye, high, K. 39. 
 
 Hye, to hie, to hasten, K. 1416. 
 A.S. higan; cf. higen, diligent, 
 from hgge, mind. The word 
 would thus seem to denote : (1) 
 mental activity; (2) physical 
 activity ; cf. quick, blive {by-live). 
 
 Hyhe, highly, on high, K. 1217. 
 
 Hyndren, to hinder, keep back, 
 K. 277. A.S. hindrinn, from 
 hinder, back; Ger. hind em. 
 
 Hyndreste, hinderraost, P. 622. 
 Supl. of hind. 
 
 Hyne, a servant, a hind, P. 608. 
 
 A.S. hina (higna), a domestic. 
 Hynge (pi. pr. o\i hongen),hung, 
 
 P. 677. 
 Hyre, wages, hire, P. 538. A.S. 
 
 hyr, Ger. heuer. Probably allied 
 
 to hijran, to obey, to hear. 
 
 I. 
 
 I, prefix, denotes the past parti- 
 ciple. 
 I-bete, beaten, hammered, K. 121. 
 
 A.S. bcatan. 
 I-bore, borne, P. 378. 
 I-chaped, fitted with plates of 
 
 metal, tipj)ed with metal, P. 
 
 366. 
 I-clenched, strengthened by 
 
 clinches, P. 1133. 
 I-do (n), I-doo, done, ended, 
 
 finislied, K. 1676. 
 I-faUe, fallen, P. 25. 
 I-fetered, fettered, K. 371. 
 If, if; if that, if so be that, if, P. 
 
 144, 399, K. 257. A.S. gif, 
 
 Goth, yabai. 
 I-go (iij, I-goon, gone, P. 286. 
 
 Now written, ago. 
 I-knowe, known, completely 
 
 known, P. 423. 
 niche, Hike, alike. A.S. gelice. 
 Hke, same, P. 64, 175. A.S. ylc. 
 In, with reference to, according 
 
 to, K. 2030. 
 Inequal, unequal, Iv. 1413. 
 Infinite, Infynyte, unnumbered, 
 
 unmeasured ; hence tliat which 
 
 cannot be numbered or meas- 
 ured, K. 1969. 
 Infortune, misfortune, malign 
 
 fortune, K. 1163. 
 Iniquite, injustice, wickedness, 
 
 K. 82. Lat. iniquitas = inequity. 
 Inne, an inn, K. 1578. A.S. inne. 
 Inne (adv.), within, P. 41, K. 
 
 760. 
 Inne,, to entertain at an inn; 
 
 inned, lodged, K. 1334. 
 Inough, enough, P. 373. Ger. 
 
 gemig, Goth ganohs, from ganau- 
 
 han, to suffice. 
 I-pynched, plaited, P. 151. Fr. 
 
GLOSSAEIAL INDEX. 
 
 281 
 
 pincer, to pinch. It acquires 
 
 the meaning to plait from the 
 
 means employed ; cf. to jjitik. 
 I-proved, proved, proven, P. 485. 
 Ire, wrath, ire. Lat. ira. 
 Iran, iron, K. 218, 1134. A.S. 
 
 iren, iscn, from ar, ore, denoting 
 
 also copper, Lat. aes, Ger. eisen : 
 
 literally denoting ///e //<e/«/, hence 
 
 iron by way of eminence. 
 I-ronne, run, P. 8 ; arranged, K. 
 
 1307. A.S. rinnan, yrnan; cf. 
 
 errand. 
 I-schadwed, shaded, P. 607. A.S. 
 
 scadirian, to shade. 
 I-schave, shaven, P. 690. A.S. 
 
 scdfan. 
 I-sehrive, shriven, confessed, P. 
 
 226. A.S. scrifan, to ordain, 
 
 enjoin. 
 I-shorn, shorn, sheared, P. 689. 
 
 A.S. sceran. 
 I-slawe, slain, K. 85. A.S. s/a- 
 
 gan, to slay : literally, to strike ; 
 
 cf. Ger. sc/dagen, to beat ; Eng. 
 
 slaughter. 
 I-stored, stocked, stored, P. 609. 
 • I-styked, pierced, stuck, K. 707. 
 
 A.S. sticcian, from stice, a stab; 
 
 cf. a "stitch in the back." 
 I-taught, taught, P. 127. A.S. 
 
 taecan. * 
 
 I-write (n), written, P. 161. A^. 
 
 ivritan. 
 I-wrye, covered, K. 2046. A.S. 
 
 wrikan, to cover. 
 
 J. 
 
 Jalous, jealous, K. 471. Lat. 
 ztlus, Fr. jaloux. 
 
 Jangler, a great talker, a babbler, 
 P. 560. Ft. jangler, to lie, jest. 
 
 Jape, a trick, P. 705. O.Fr. gaber ; 
 cf. gab. 
 
 Jape, to deceive, to befool, K. 
 871. See By -jape. 
 
 Jelousye, jealousy, K. 441. Fr. 
 jalousie, Lat. zelus. 
 
 Jewels, jewels, K. 2087. Fr. 
 jouel,joyaH, I^at gaiidixin. Hence 
 articles of dress worn to indi- 
 cate joy. 
 
 Jolitee, gayety, P. 680. From 
 jollg, Fi-.jolt ; allied to A.S. gal, 
 O.K. yule. ^ 
 
 Journee, a day's journey, K. 
 1880. ¥t. journee, LzX. diurnus; 
 hence, by synecdoche, denoting 
 extended travel. 
 
 Jousten, to joust, to engage in a 
 tournament, K. 1628. Fr.jous- 
 ter, Eng. jostle. 
 
 Joy (e), joy, K. 170,1015. Fr. 
 joie, Lat. gaudium. 
 
 Jugge, a judge, P. 814, K. 854. 
 Fv.juge, Lut. judex. 
 
 Juggement, judgment, P. 778. 
 Fv. jugenient, Lat. judicametitum. 
 
 Juste, to joust, P. 96. See Jous- 
 ten. 
 
 Justes, a tournament, K. 1862. 
 
 Justice, a judge, P. 314. Lat. 
 /».s' ; cf . just, jury, adjudicate. 
 
 Juwyse, judgment, condemna- 
 tion, K. 881. Fr. juise, Lat. 
 judicium. 
 
 K. 
 
 Kage, a cage, K. 436. Fr. cage^ 
 Lat. cavea, an enclosure for ani- 
 mals, a den. 
 
 Kaytyves, captives, caitijfs, K, 
 859. Lat. captivus. See Caytif. 
 
 Keep (e), care, attention, to take, 
 keep, to take care, to observe, 
 P. 398, K. 531. 
 
 Keepe, Kepe (pr. kepte, p.p. kep], 
 to care for, to observe, to guard, 
 P. 130, 276. 852. / kepenat, I 
 care not, K. 1380, 2102. A.S. 
 cepan. 
 
 Kembe (p.p. kemhd), to comb, K. 
 1285. A.^.cemhan, Ger. kammen. 
 
 Kempe, coarse, shaggy, K. 1276. 
 See note. 
 
 Kene, sliarp, P. 104. A.S. cene, 
 Ger. kuhn. 
 
 Kervere, a carver, sculptor, K. 
 1041. A.S. ceorfan, to cut. 
 
 Kervyng, carving, sculptured or- 
 naments, K. 1057. 
 
 Keverchef, a kerchief, P. 453. 
 Fr. couvrir, to cover, chef, the 
 head. 
 
282 
 
 GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 
 
 Knarre, a knot, hence a burlj 
 
 fellow^ P. 5J:U. See note, 
 ^nari'y, knotty, full of gnars, 
 
 K. 1119. Ger. knorre. 
 Knave, a servant, K. 1870. A.S. 
 
 cnapa, Ger. knahe, a hoy. 
 Kne, knee, P. 391. A.S. cneoio, 
 
 Ger. hiie, Lat. genu, Gr. yovv. 
 Knight, a kniglit, P. 42. A.S. 
 
 cniht, Ger. knecht: (1) a young 
 
 man; (2) a servant; (3) the 
 
 servant of a king ; (4) a person 
 
 engaged in military service. 
 Knighthede, knighthood, K. 
 
 1931. 
 Knobbes, hard swellings, pim- 
 ples, P. 633. A.S. c/;ae/>, a knop, 
 
 a button. 
 Knotty, knotty, K. 1119. AS. 
 
 cnott, from cnyttan, to knit, tie, 
 
 knot. 
 Knowe, pp. known, K. 345. 
 Knyf, pi. l-nijfes, a knife, P. 233, 
 
 K. 1141. A.S. cnif, Fr. canif; 
 
 cf. nip. 
 Knytte, to knit, K. 270. A.S. 
 
 CHI/tan, to knit ; cf to knot, to net. 
 Kouthe, known, P. 14. See 
 
 Couthe. 
 Kynde, nature, K. 543, 1593. See 
 
 note. A.S. ci/nd, from cennan, 
 
 to beget. 
 Kynde, good-natured, kind, P. 
 
 647. 
 Kyng, a king, K. 691. See note. 
 
 A.S. cipiing, from cunnan, to 
 
 know, to he able, cennan, to 
 
 beget. Ger. kdniq. 
 Kynled, kindled, "K. 1437; cf. 
 
 accendere, allied to cennan. 
 Kynrede, kindred, K. 428. A.S. 
 
 ci/n-raeden, cyn, from cunnan, to 
 
 know ; raeden, denotes state, 
 
 &,c. ; cf. hatred. 
 Kyte, a kyte, a bird of prey, K. 
 
 321. A.S. ct/ta, W. cud. 
 
 Jjaas, a belt, P. 392. Fr. lacs, 
 
 Lat. hiqneus. 
 Lace, Las, a lace, net, snare, K. 
 
 959, 1093. Lat. laqueus, a snare ; 
 
 hence: (1) a net, (2) what 
 binds or fastens; (3) a fabric 
 resembling a net ; cf. shoe-lace, 
 lasso. 
 
 Lacerte, a muscle, K. 1895. Lat. 
 lacertiis, a lizard. 
 
 Lad (p.p. ladde), led, brought, 
 K. 688, 1762. 
 
 Lady (e), (gen. ladii), lady, mis- 
 tress, K. 431 ; lady's, P. 88. A.S. 
 hlaef-dic/e, usually derived from 
 hlaf, loaf, and iveardic/e, warden ; 
 but this derivation seems doubt- 
 ful. 
 
 Lafte (pi. laffen, pr. of leve, p p. 
 /a/0, left, ceased, P. 492, K. 34, 
 (p.p.) K. 1158. A.S. laejan. 
 
 Lakke, to lack, P. 756, K. 1422 ; 
 cf. slack. 
 
 Langage, language, fair langage, 
 flattery, P. 211. 
 
 Lappe, a lap, P. 686. A.S. lappa, 
 a lap, border, hem, piece, — the 
 original meaning is now ex- 
 pressed hy flap ; cf. lapel, lapet, 
 flmp, flahbip 
 
 Large, freedom, at thi large = at 
 large, free, K. 425, 434 ; at his • 
 large, K. 469. 
 
 Large, free, coarse, P. 734 ; cf. 
 gross. 
 
 largely, fully, easily, K. 1050, 
 1080 ; cf . Lat. large. 
 
 Las. See Lace. 
 
 Lasyng, lacing, fastening with 
 laces, K. 1646. See Lace. 
 
 Lat (imperative), let, P. 188; lat 
 se, let us see, P. 831, K. 33 ; lai 
 be, let it be, cease, P. 840. 
 
 Late, lately, late ycome, lately ar- 
 rived, P. 77 ; late ischave, lately 
 shaven, P. 690. 
 
 Latoun, a mixed metal resem- 
 bling brass, P. 699. Pr. laiton 
 
 Launde, a lawn, an open cleared 
 space, K. 833 ; see note. W. 
 Han, a clear spnce. 
 
 Laurer, a laurel, K. 169. Fr. 
 hairier, Lat. laurus. 
 
 Lawe, a law, P. 577. From root 
 /(/// ,• hence = what is laid down 
 or fixed ; cf. Lat. lex (legs) 
 
 Laxatif, a laxative, a purge, R. 
 
GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 
 
 283 
 
 1898. Lat. Laxare ; cf. lack, 
 
 slack. 
 Lay, pr. of Lie, q.v. 
 Laynere, a tliony, K. 164G. Fr. 
 
 laniere ; cf. lantjard. 
 Lazar, Lazer, a leper, P. 242, 
 
 245. A corruption of Lazarus. 
 Leche-craft, medical skill, K. 
 
 1887. A.S. leche, a pliysician. 
 Leeds, a caldron, P. 202. Irish, 
 
 luclul, a kettle. 
 Leef (pi. leeces, leves), a leaf, K. 
 
 980. Ger. lauh. 
 Leef, dear, pleasant, K. 979. A.S. 
 
 Itof, from lu/ian, to love ; Eng. 
 
 lief, " Be him lotli or leef." 
 Leen, Lene, to give, lend, K. 
 
 2224. A.S. lac.nan, Ger. leihen ; 
 
 cf. loan. 
 Leep (pr. oUeap), leaped, K. 1829. 
 
 A.S. Ideapan, pr. hieop. 
 Leesyng, loss, losing, K. 849. 
 
 A.S. leosaii. 
 Leet (pr. of let), let, P. 128, 175 
 
 (v. aux.) ; leet cn/e, caused to 
 
 be cried, K. 1873 ; leet bnpige, 
 
 caused to be brougiit, K 20ol ; 
 
 leit comannde, commanded, K. 
 
 2007. A.S. laetan, pr. let, p.p. 
 
 laeten. 
 Leet, left, let be, P. 508. See 
 
 note. 
 Leeve, departure, K. 359; used 
 
 only in " to take leave." A.S. 
 
 leaf,lrfan, to permit, with faran, 
 
 to go, miderstood. 
 Leeve (def. of leef), dear, K. 278. 
 Leeve, to believe, K. 2230. A.S. 
 
 (jfledfan ; Ger. (jlauben. 
 Lef (imperative), leave, K. 756. 
 Lene, to lend, P. 611. A.S. lae- 
 
 nan, Ger. lehnen. 
 Lene, lean, poor, P. 287, 591. 
 
 A.S. hlaene, from hlinian, to 
 
 bend, hence = too poor to stand 
 
 erect. 
 Lenger (e), longer, P. 330, 821. 
 
 A.S. lang, comp. lengra, supl. 
 
 leii(/est. 
 Lepart, a leopard, K. 1328. 
 Lerne (p.p. lernede), to learn, P. 
 
 308, 575. A.S. komian. 
 Lese, to lose, K. 357. A.S. leosan, 
 
 pr. leas, p.p. loren ; cf. forlorn, 
 lorn. 
 
 Lessoun, lesson, a passage of 
 scripture read in divine service, 
 P. 709. Pr. le(^on, Lat. lectio, 
 from legeje. 
 
 Leste, pleasure, delight, P. 132. 
 A.JS. /y.s7, lust. 
 
 Leste, Liste, Lust (e), (imper- 
 sonal with ace), please, P. 583, 
 750, K. 493, 495 ; rue liste = it 
 pleases me ; him luste = it 
 pleased him ; us leste = it 
 pleased us. A.S. lystan, to 
 please, to be pleased. 
 
 Lest (e), least, K. 263; contr. 
 for littlest. 
 
 Lesynges, lies, leasing, K. 1069. 
 A.S. leasung, Goth, laus, empty, 
 vain. Allied to less, loose, lose. 
 
 Lete, Lette, to leave, K. 4(J5, see 
 note ; Utten of refrain from, leave 
 off. A.S. of-iaetan, K.459; cf. late 
 
 Lette, to hinder, K. 31, 1034. 
 This word antl the preceding 
 are from the same root, — late; 
 in one case the slow-moving 
 body is left ; in the other it 
 hinders one that would other- 
 wise go faster. 
 
 Letuaries, electuaries, P. 426 ; 
 metiicines to be licked up. 
 
 Leve, leave, permission, K. 206. 
 
 Lever (comp. of lief ), rather, him 
 ivas lever have, he would rather 
 have, P. 293. 
 
 Lewed, Lewd, unlearned, igno- 
 rant, P. 502; see note. A.S. 
 leode, people, Ger. leute ; cf. laitjj, 
 lay. 
 
 Leye (p. leijde, p.p. lei/d), to lay, P. 
 81 ; leye-to, take hold of, begin, 
 P. 841. A.S. to-lecgan. 
 
 Leyser, leisure, K. 330. Fr. loisir, 
 Lat. licere. 
 
 Licentiat, one licensed to hear 
 confession and grant absolu- 
 tion, P. 220. Lat. liceiitiatus. 
 
 Liche-wake, the watch (ivake) 
 held over a corps^e, K. 2100. 
 A.S. lie, Ger. leich, a body. 
 
 Licour, liquor, P. 3. Lat. liquor, 
 lajuere, to flow. 
 
284 
 
 GLOSSABIAL INDEX. 
 
 Lie (pr. lay, p.p. lain), to lie, P. 
 
 20. A.S. liajan, pr. /ae^r, p.p. 
 
 legen. See Ligge. 
 Lif, Lyf, life, K. 1918. A.S. Uf, 
 
 from libban, allied to lie, body. 
 Ligge, to lie, K. 1347; Uogijnfj, 
 
 lying, K. 153. A.S. licyan, lig- 
 
 gan. 
 Lighte, bright, pleasant, K. 925. 
 
 A.S. liht, Ger. leicht, Lat. lux, 
 
 lucere, to shine. 
 Lik, like to, K. 443. From A.S. 
 
 lie, a body. 
 Like (impers.), to please, if you 
 
 liketh = if it please you, P. 777 ; 
 
 him likede = it pleased hini, K. 
 
 1234. 
 Liknesse, similar circumstances 
 
 (coll. noun), K. 1084. 
 Lippe, lip, P. 133. A.S. lippa, 
 
 Lat. labium; cf. lap, flap, — the 
 
 loose part. 
 Lipsede, hsped, P. 264. A.S. 
 
 wlispian, to stammer; Ger. lis- 
 
 peln. 
 Liste. See Leste. 
 Listes, Lystes, lists, a space en- 
 closed for combats, P. 63, K. 
 
 1231, 1687 ; combats in the lists, 
 
 K. 994. Lat. lieium, a rope 
 
 Avhich marked the enclosure. 
 Litarge, litharge, protoxide of 
 
 lead, P. 629. 
 Lite (1), little, P. 438 ; moche and 
 
 lite = great and small ; i.e. high 
 
 and low, P. 494. 
 Lite (adv.), little while, K 476. 
 Lith, lieth, lies, K. 360. 
 Live (dat. of lif), on lijve, in life, 
 
 alive, K. 1840. 
 Lodemenage, pilotage, P. 403. 
 
 A.S. laedan, to guide, and Fr. 
 
 menage ; cf . loadstar, loadstone. 
 Loken, to see, look, K. 925. A.S. 
 
 tocian. 
 Lokkes, locks of hair, curls, P. 
 
 81. A.S.///cca?j, to pluck, hence 
 
 locc, a handful. * 
 
 Lokyng, sight, K. 1313. 
 Lend, land, P. 14. A.S. land.^ 
 Longe (n), to long for, to desire, 
 
 ■ P. 12. A.S. langian (from lang), 
 
 to stretch the mind after. 
 
 Longe (n), to belong, K. 1420; 
 
 cf. Ger. belangen. 
 Longe (adv.), for a long time, P. 
 
 286. 
 Longes, the lungs, K. 1894. A.S. 
 
 lunge. 
 Loode, a load, K. 2060. A.S. 
 
 Jiladan, to load. 
 Loode-sterre, a loadstar, the 
 
 north star, K. 1201. A.S. laedan, 
 
 to lead ; steorra, from steoran, to 
 
 steer. 
 Lord, sir, lord, — a title of honor, 
 
 P. 65. See note on P. 601. 
 Lordschipe, the authority or rank 
 
 of lord, K. 969. A.S. hlaford- 
 
 scipe. 
 Lordynges, lordlings, sirs, P. 761. 
 
 Ing is the A.S. diminutive and 
 
 patronymic termination. 
 Lore, doctrine, learning, P. 527. 
 
 A.S. lar. 
 Los, loss, K. 1685. A.S. las. 
 Losten (pi. pr. of leese), lost. 
 Loth, disagreeable, unpleasant, 
 
 P. 486, K. 979. A.S. lath; cf. 
 
 loathe. 
 Love, lover, K. 1448 : a common 
 
 synecdoche. 
 Love-daye, daj^s for arbitration, 
 
 law-days, P. 258. 
 Lovyere, lover, P. SO: y from i. 
 
 A.S. lufian, to love. 
 Lowde, " loudly, P. 714. A.S. 
 
 hhi.de, Ger. laut. 
 Lowe (adj. and adv.), low, K. 253 ; 
 
 O.E. lowe, law, lagh, which con- 
 nects with A.S. licgan, to lie; 
 
 Ger. liege n. 
 Luce, a pike, P. 350. 
 Lust, pleasure, P. 192, K. 892. 
 
 A.S. lust. 
 Lust (e), pleased, pleaseth, may 
 
 please, P. 102, K. 493, 495. 
 Lusty, vigorous, handsome, pleas- 
 ant, ardent, P. 80, K. 1253, 
 
 1258. 
 Lustynesse, pleasure, what occa- 
 sions pleasure, K. 1081. 
 Lye, destruction, K. 2157. A.S. 
 
 leg, laeg. 
 Lye, to iie, P. 659. A.S. leogan, 
 
 Goth, liugan, Ger. liigen. 
 
GLOSSAJRIAL INDEX. 
 
 28^ 
 
 Lyf, Hfe, P. 71. A.S. lif, from 
 
 A.S. libban, Ger. lebm. 
 Lyfly, life-like, K. 1229 ; cf. lively, 
 
 = quick ; i.e. living, 
 Lymes, limbs, K. 1277. A.S. lim. 
 Lymytour, a friar authorized to 
 
 ask alms within certain limits, 
 
 P. 209. 
 Lynage, Lyne, lineage, line of 
 
 descent, K. 252, 693. Fr. lig- 
 
 nfuje, Lat. Unea, a line. 
 Lynd, a linden-tree, bass wood, 
 
 K. 2064. A.S. lind. 
 Lystes, See Listes. 
 Lyte, little, K. 335; not, K. 865; 
 
 cf. Lat. minus, minime. A.S. hjt, 
 
 lytel. 
 Lyve. See Live. 
 Lyvere, livery, P. 868. See note. 
 Lyves, alive, living, K. 1537 ; a 
 
 gen. used adverbially. 
 
 M. 
 
 Maad, Mad, p.p. made, P. 394, 
 608, K. 747, mahcd. 
 
 Maat, dejected, K. 97. Pr. mat, 
 Ger. matt, feeble ; cf. check- 
 mate = ^hah mat; i.e. the king is 
 dead. 
 
 Mace, a club, K. 1266, 1701. Fr. 
 masse. 
 
 Mad, stricken out of one's senses, 
 insane, K. 1484. A.S. ge-maed, 
 troubled in mind ; cf mod, mind. 
 
 Madame, madam, P. 121. Fr. 
 from Lat. mea doinina. 
 
 Maist, mayest, K. 385. 
 
 Maister, Mayster (pi. viaystres), 
 master, chief or head (of a re- 
 ligious house), P. 261, 570. Lat. 
 magister from magnus, as minis- 
 ter from minus. 
 
 Maister (adj.), principal, maister 
 streete, the main street, K. 2044. 
 
 Maistcw", mayest thou, K. 378. 
 
 Maistrie, skill, superiority, mas- 
 terij ; for the maistrie = above 
 all others, P. 165. 
 
 Make, a mate, K. 1698. A.S. 
 7naca, a mate, one of the same 
 make; cf. match. 
 
 Make, to write poetry, P. 325; 
 
 cf . Gr. 'KOidv. 
 Maked (p.p.), made, K. 1666. 
 Maladye, malady, P. 419. Lat. 
 
 male-aptus, ill-fitted. 
 Male, a bag, portmanteau, P. 
 
 694. Fr. malle ; cf. ?yj.a//, Gael. 
 
 mala, a bag. 
 Manace, a menace, threat, K. 
 
 1145. Lat. minaciae. 
 Manasyng, threatening, K. 1177. 
 Mancioun, a mansion, K. 1116. 
 
 Lat. mansio, trom manere; cf. 
 
 manse. 
 Maner (e), sort, kind, manner, 
 
 P. 71, 140, 858, K. 1017 ; mauer 
 
 wight = sort of person ; Fr. ma- 
 
 niere, Lat. manus : literally, a 
 
 handling, the way in which a 
 
 matter is handled. 
 Manhede, manhood, P. 756. 
 Mankynd, mankind, the family 
 
 [kin) of man, K. 449. A.S. 
 
 man-cyn. 
 Manly, vigorous, masculine, 
 
 brave, P. 167, K. 129 ; man-like. 
 Mantel, a mande, P. 878. A.S. 
 
 mentel, Lat. mantehim. Literally 
 
 a hand-cloth ; hence a garment 
 
 covering the hands. 
 Mantelet, a short mantle, K. 
 
 1305. 
 Manye, mania, K. 517. Lat. 
 
 mania. 
 Many con, many a one, P. 317 ; 
 
 many a, P. 168. See note. 
 Marbel, marble, K. 1035. Fr. 
 
 marlive, Lat. mannor. 
 Marchaunt, a merchant, P. 270. 
 
 Fr. marchant, Lat. mercari, to 
 
 trade. 
 Marche, March (the month), P. 2. 
 
 From 3 furs. 
 Mariage, marriage, P. 212. Fr. 
 
 marier, Lat. mas, a male. 
 Marschal, marshal, one whose 
 
 duty it is to assign places ; 
 
 marschal in an halle, marshal of 
 
 the hall, P. 752. O.Ger. marah- 
 
 scalc {= horse servant), master 
 
 of the horse ; cf. mare. 
 Martirdam, martyrdom, death by 
 
 torture, K. 602. 
 
286 
 
 GLOSSABIAL INDEX. 
 
 Martyr, a martyr, P. 770. Liter- 
 ally, a witness. 
 
 Martyre, to torture, K. 704. 
 
 Mary-bones, marrow-bones, P. 
 380. A S. nimrg. 
 
 Matere, Mateere, matter, P. 
 727, Iv 401. Lat. materia. 
 
 Matrimoyn, matrimony, K. 2237. 
 Lat. inittrimoiu'um, mother-hood. 
 
 Maugre, Mawgre, in spite of, K. 
 811, 749, 1760. Fr. 7nal gre, 
 Lat. male gratnm. 
 
 Maunciple, an officer Avho had 
 the charge of purchasing vict- 
 uals for an Inn of Court, P. 544. 
 Lat. manceps, the superintend- 
 ent of a bake-house, — a baker. 
 
 May, can, to be able, P. 230, K. 
 415, 966. A.S. magan, to be 
 able ; cf . viight, mighty ; also 
 Lat. mag lilts. 
 
 Mayde, maid, P. 69 ; see note. 
 A.S. maegdh, Ger. magd, Goth. 
 mar/Its, a boy ; cf. Gael. mac. 
 
 Maydenhode, maidenhood, K. 
 1471. 
 
 Mayne, servants, K. 400. O.Fr. 
 mesiie'p, Lat. minores natii. 
 
 Maynteyne, to persist in, main- 
 tain, K. 920. Fr. inaintenir, 
 Lat. maan-tenere. 
 
 Mede, a meadow, mead, P. 89. 
 A.S. maed, originally wet land, 
 that being especially adapted to 
 grass ; cf. mud, Lat. madeo. 
 
 Medle, motley, a mixed color, P. 
 328. O.Fr. medler, Fr. ?neler, to 
 mix ; cf. meddle. 
 
 Meede, reward, meed, P. 770. 
 A.S. med, hire, Ger. miethe. 
 
 Mete (adv ), becomingly, suit- 
 ably, K. 1433. A.S. gemet; cf. 
 convenient. 
 
 Make, meek, P. 69. Goth. muTcs, 
 mild, soft. 
 
 Mellere, a miller, P. 542 ; cf. vieaJ. 
 
 Memory e, honor, honorable men- 
 tion, K. 1048 Lat. memorare, 
 to make honorable mention ; cf. 
 commemorate. 
 
 Men, (me, P. 149, 232, K. 558. 
 An indefinite pronoun ; cf. Ger. 
 man, Fr. vn. 
 
 Mencioun, mention^ K. 1077. Fr, 
 mention, Lat. mentio, mens. 
 
 Mene (pr. mente), to intend, wish, 
 say, mean, P. 793, K. 815. A.S. 
 maeuan, to tell, to have in mind ; 
 cf. Lat. mens. 
 
 Mereenarie, a hireling, P. 514. 
 Lat. merces, wages. 
 
 Mercy, pity, K. 60. Fr. merci, 
 Lat. misericordia. 
 
 Mere, a mare, P. 541. A.S. maere. 
 
 Merie, Mery (e), Murye, mirth- 
 ful, joyful, P. 208, 757, K. 641. 
 A.S. mgrig, from mi/r/Uh. 
 
 Meriely, pleasantly, mirthfully, 
 P. 714. 
 
 Meschaunce, misfortune, mis- 
 chance, K. 1151. 
 
 Mescheef, Meschief, misfortune, 
 P. 493, K. 468. Fr. meschef, 
 minns-chef, what turns out ill. 
 
 Mester, a trade, occupation, P. 
 613, see note ; lience also kind : 
 mester men, sort of men, K. 852. 
 
 Mesurable, moderate, P. 435. Fr. 
 mesure, Lat. metiri. 
 
 Mete, food, P. 127, 136. A.S. 
 mete, food, Goth. mats. 
 
 Mete, fit, K. 773. A.S. gemet, 
 metan, to meet; cf. convenient^ 
 from con-venire ; also "help meei; 
 for him." 
 
 Mete, to meet, K. 666. A.S. 
 metan, to meet, mot, an assem- 
 bly. 
 
 Meth, mead, a drink made of 
 honey, K. 1421. A.S. medu, 
 Goth, militli, honey. 
 
 Mewe, a coop, an enclosure, P. 
 349. Litei^ally a cage for hawks 
 while mewing or moulting ( Lat. 
 mutare), hence, as a verb, to 
 mew = to confine. 
 
 Might, power, victory, K. 998. 
 A.S. magan, to be able. 
 
 Might (pr. of may), could, was 
 able, P. 632. 
 
 Mighty, strong, large, P. 108, K. 
 565. A.S. mihtig, Ger. vuichtig. 
 
 Miracle, a wonder, Avonderful 
 deed, K. 930. Lat. miraculuin, 
 from inirari, to wonder at. 
 
 Mirthe, Myrthe, amusement^ 
 
GLOSSAEIAL INDEX. 
 
 287 
 
 pleasure, P. 766 ; a mirfhe, a 
 
 game, P. 707. A.S. mijrth. 
 Misbede (p.p. misboden), to mal- 
 treat, insult, K. 51. A.S. mis- 
 
 heodan. 
 Mo (o), more, P. 101, 544. A.S. 
 
 ma ; cf. Lat. ma-gnus, ma-jor. 
 Moche, much, P. 211 ; Jul moche, 
 
 very much, P. 132. A.S. inycel. 
 Mochel, greatly, much, P. 258, 
 
 K. 1992. A.S. mijcel, Scotch, 
 
 miclde. 
 Moevere, a mover, cause, K. 
 
 2129. Lat. viovere. 
 Mone, moon, P. 403. A.S. mona, 
 
 Ger. mond, Goth, mena, Gr. 
 
 Moneth (pi. monthcs), a month, P. 
 
 92, 704. The space of time 
 
 measured by a revolution of 
 
 the moon. A.S. nionath, Ger. 
 
 moiiaf, Fr. mois. 
 Moneye, money, P. 703. See 
 
 note. 
 Monk, a monk, P. 165 ; literally 
 
 one who dwells alone. Lat. 
 
 monachus. 
 Mood, anger, K. 902. A.S. 7nod, 
 
 mind, passion ; cf. Gr. dvfiog, 
 
 also moody. 
 Moone, moan, lamentation, K. 
 
 508. A.S. maenan. 
 Moot (pi. mote, pr. moste, muste), 
 
 may, must, ought, P. 232, 732, 
 
 735, 742. A.S. pres. sing. 1, 3, 
 
 mot ; 2, most: pi. moton, pr. mosfe. 
 Moral, correct in manner, P. 307. 
 
 Lat. mos. 
 More, greater (in rank), Jesse and 
 
 more, high and low, K. 898. See 
 
 note. 
 More, delay, K. 1945. Scotch, 
 
 ivith ontijn mar, Bruce iii. 793. 
 Mormal, a cancer, P. 386. Fr. 
 
 mort-mal. 
 Morne-milk, morning milk, P. 
 
 358. 
 Morsel, a bit, P. 128. Lat. morsus, 
 
 from mordf-re, to bite ; cf. bit. 
 Mortal, deadlv, fatal, occasioning 
 
 great loss of life, P. 61, K. 732; 
 
 cf. mortal enemy. Lat. mortalis, 
 
 7nors. 
 
 Morthre, murder, K. 398. A.S. 
 
 morther, morth, death ; cf. Lat. 
 
 mors. 
 Mortreux, a kind of broth or 
 
 soup, mortrewes, P. 384. So 
 
 named from a mortar in which 
 
 the ingredients were brayed. 
 Morwe, morrow, morning, P. 334. 
 
 A.S. liiort/en ; cf. f/ood morrow. 
 Morwenynge, morning, K. 204 ; 
 
 lengthened form oi morwe. 
 Mosel, a muzzle, K. 1293. Fr. 
 
 maseaa. 
 Most (e), greatest, K. 37, 1340; 
 
 a leader, P. 561. A.S. maest. 
 Mot (e). See Moot. 
 Motteleye, motley, stuff of mixed 
 
 colors, P. 271 ; see medle', W. 
 
 mnd-liw. 
 Mountaunce, amount, K. 712. 
 
 Fr. monte.r, to go up ; Lat. mons, 
 
 a mountain. 
 Mowe, can. be able, K. 2141. 
 
 A.S. magan. 
 Mows, a mouse, K. 403. A.S. 
 
 mus, pi. mys, Lat. mns, Ger. 
 
 mans, Gr. ,ui»f. 
 Murmiire, murmuring, K. 1601. 
 
 A representation of an indis- 
 tinct sound ; cf. Gr. iSdpjSapog. 
 Murtheryng, murdering, K. 1143. 
 
 A.S. morth, Lat. mors. 
 Murye, merry, K. 528. A.S. 
 
 mi/rig. 
 Myie, a mile, K. 646. A.S. mil, 
 
 Lat. mil/e, a tliousand (paces). 
 Myn (gen. of /), of me, P. 782, 
 
 K. 423. 
 Mynde, mind, remembrance, K. 
 
 544, 1048; cf. remind. A.S. 
 
 mijnan, to remember. 
 Mynour, a miner, K. 1607. Gael. 
 
 mrinn, ore, a mine. 
 Mynstralcye, minstrelsy, K. 1339. 
 
 O.Fr. menestrel, a workman; 
 
 Lat. minist'-riian, service. 
 Myre, mire, land so wet as to be 
 
 impassable, P. 508 ; cf. moor, 
 
 morass. Ger. moor, A.S. mere, a 
 
 pool, lake. 
 Myrour, a mirror, K. 541. Fr. 
 
 miroir, Lat. viirari, to view, to 
 
 admire. 
 
288 
 
 GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 
 
 Myscarie, to misbehave, do amiss, 
 P. 513 ; mis, negative, carry, to 
 demean one's self ; cf . deport- 
 ment. 
 
 Myselven, myself, for myself, P. 
 803. Properly used only in the 
 oblique cases. 
 
 Myshappe, to go ill with, to mis- 
 hap, K. 788. Prom mis and Jut p. 
 
 Myster, mode of life, occupation 
 (need), K. 482. O.Fr. mestier, 
 from Lat. ministerium; Fr. metier. 
 
 Myte, a mite, K. 700. A.S. mite, 
 any thing small ; cf . mote. 
 
 N. 
 
 Nacioun, a nation, P. 53. Lat. 
 
 natio, from nasci, to be born ; 
 
 cf. A.S. ki)i, , from, cennan, to 
 
 beget. 
 Naker, a kettle-drum, K. 1653. 
 Nam = ne am, am not, K. 2G4. 
 Namely, Namelyche, especially, 
 
 above all, K. 410, 817, 1851, 
 
 2186. A.S. nemlic. 
 Narwe, narrow, close-shut, P. 
 
 625. A.S. nearwa, from neah, 
 
 near. 
 Nas = ne was, "was not, P. 251, 
 
 550 ; nas not, was not, P. 428. 
 Nat, not, P. 177, 366. A.S. na- 
 
 iviht, nat. 
 Nath = ne hath, hath not, K. 65. 
 Natheles, nevertheless, none the 
 
 less, P. 35, K. 974. A.S. na- 
 
 the-less ; cf. Lat. nihilomimis. 
 Ne, not, P. 70; nor, P. 179; ne 
 
 . . . ne, neither . . . nor ; ne . . . 
 
 hut, only, P. 120. 
 Neede, needful, P. 304. A.S. 
 
 neade, Ger. noth. 
 Needes, Nedes, of necessity, 
 
 needs, K. oil, 2170. A.S. neades, 
 
 gen. of 7iead. 
 Needes-cost, necessarily, K. 619. 
 
 See note. 
 Needeth (impers.), needs; ivhat 
 
 needeth, what is the need of, P. 
 
 849. A.S. neadian, to compel: 
 
 ne-ead, not-happiness. 
 Neer, near, K. 581 ; nearer, fer 
 
 ne neer, more or less, K. 992. 
 
 Neat, cattle, P. 597- A.S. nyt, 
 neat, a beast ; by way of emi- 
 nence, cattle ; cf. neat leather. 
 
 Neigh, Neyh, nigh, wel ney'h, 
 nearly, K. 472 ; as neigh as, as 
 close as, P. 588. A.S. neah. 
 
 Neighebour, a neighbor, P. 535. 
 A.S. neahgebur, near-dweller. 
 
 Nekke, neck, P. 238, K. 360. A.S. 
 hnecca. 
 
 Ner, Nerre, Neer, nearer, P. 
 838, K. 110, 992 ; comp. of near. 
 
 Nercotykes, narcotics, K. 614. 
 
 Nere = ne ivere, were not, K. 17. 
 
 Newe, recently, newly, P. 365, 
 428. A.S. niive, Ger. neu, Lat. 
 novus, Pr. neuf, Gr. veog. 
 
 Nexte, nearest, K. 555. Supl. of 
 near; A.S. neah; supl. nyhst, 
 next. 
 
 Night, a night, nights, P. 23. 
 A.S. niht, Goth, nahts, Ger. 
 nacht, Lat. nox, Gr. vv^, W. nos. 
 
 Nightertale, night-time, P. 97. 
 A.S. niht and tal, a reckon- 
 ing. 
 
 Noble, well-known, famous, illus- 
 trious, splendid, P. 60, 496, 708, 
 K. 1027. Lat. nohilis (for gno- 
 hilis), that which is well known ; 
 lience (1) conspicuous or illus- 
 trious; (2) possessed of quali- 
 ties calculated to render one 
 illustrious. 
 
 Noght, not, P. 253, 648. A.S. 
 ne-aht. 
 
 Nolde = ne wolde, would not, P. 
 650, K. 45. 
 
 Nombre, number, P. 716. Fr. 
 nombre, Lat. numerus. 
 
 Nomoo, no more, P. 101. A.S. 
 ma. 
 
 Ndn, Noon, no one; (pi.) no, 
 none, P. 178, 210, 594, K. 1038. 
 
 Nones, for the nones, for the occa- 
 sion, P. 379. See note, P. 523. 
 
 Nonne, a nun, P. 118. Lat. non- 
 nus, nonna, a monk, a nun. 
 Literally, grandfather, grand- 
 motlier : cf. j^^pe ; i.e., papa, 
 father. 
 
 Noot, Not = ne wot, know not, 
 P. 284, K. 181, 482. 
 
GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 
 
 289 
 
 Noote, a note, P. 235. Lat. notns 
 
 {gnotus). a mark by wliich any 
 
 thing may be known. 
 Norisching, Norisschynge, nur- 
 ture, P. 437, K. 21^'J. Pr. 
 
 nourrir ; cf. nurse. 
 Nose-thurles, nostrils, P. 557. 
 
 See note. A.S. %/e/, a hole, 
 
 from thfirUan, to pierce ; cf . 
 
 thrill, triii, drill, throuf/h, thoi-oit(/h. 
 Not = ne icot, knows not, K. 405. 
 Not but, only, K. 1864; O.E. 
 
 nobbut. 
 Not heed, a head with close-cut 
 
 hair, P. 109. 
 Nother = ne other, neither, nor, 
 
 K. 88, 513. 
 Nothing (adv.), in no respect, K. 
 
 G61. 
 Nought, not, P. 74, 107. A.S. 
 
 naht, ne-a-wiht. 
 Nouthe, as nouthe, just now, at 
 
 present, P. 462. 
 Nyce, soft, foohsh, P. 398. See 
 
 note. Fr. nice, or A.S. hnesc. 
 Nys — ne . . . is, is not, there is 
 
 no, K. 43. 
 
 o. 
 
 O, 00, one, P. 253, K. 354. Ab- 
 breviated from one. 
 Oath, Oth (e), an oath, P. 120, 
 
 810. A.S. ath from a {aye, 
 
 ever) ; cf. ae, a law. 
 Obedient, submissive to proper 
 
 authority, willing, P. 851. Lat. 
 
 obediens ( ob-audiens ) . 
 Obeissaunce, obedience, K. 2116. 
 
 Fr. oheissance , Lat. obedire. 
 Observaunce, religious rites, K. 
 
 187, 1406. Lat. observantia. 
 Of, concerning, in regard to, P. 
 
 177, 401 ; of is also the regular 
 
 sign of the genitive case ; off, P. 
 
 782, K. 1818 ; out of, K. 1665 ; 
 
 by, K. 2119. 
 Ofifende, to injure, attack, K. 51, 
 
 1536. Lat. ojfendere. 
 Offensioun, damage, K. 1558. 
 OfiFertorie, a portion of scripture 
 
 said or sung while the alms is 
 
 being collected, P. 710. 
 
 Oflace, a position involving duties, 
 particularly of a public charac- 
 ter, P. 292 ; fel in office, entered 
 service, K. 560. L.a.t.officinm. 
 
 Offryng, an offertory service, P. 
 450 ; alms, P. 489. 
 
 Ofte sithe (s), oftentimes, P. 
 485, K. 1019. A.S. sith, time. 
 
 Ofte tymes, many times, often- 
 times, K. 454. 
 
 Oghte, ought, P. 660. A.S.ar/an. 
 
 Ok, Ook, an oak, K. 844, 1432. 
 A.S. ac, wliich form is still pre- 
 served in acorn = oak-corn. 
 
 Old (e), old, P. 175. A.S. aid, 
 Ger. alt, Goth, altheis, from alan, 
 to nourish ; cf. Lat. alere. 
 
 On, 00 (n), one, P. 148, et passim ; 
 on and oon, one by one, each by 
 itself, P. 679. A.S. an, Lat. 
 iinus. 
 
 On, against, P. 594. A.S. on, 
 Lat. in. 
 
 Ony, any, P. 552. AS. anig. 
 
 Oones, once, at oones, at once, P. 
 765. A.S. anes. 
 
 Oonly, only, K. 515, 731. A.S. 
 anlic. 
 
 Oype, opium, K. 614. Gr. bnog, 
 juice of a plant. 
 
 Opynyoun, opinion, doctrine, P. 
 337. Lat. opinio. 
 
 Or, ere, P. 255, K. 771 ; or that, 
 before that, P. 36 ; cf. Lat. antea, 
 or ever, ere, ever, or . . . or, 
 either . . . or, K. 627. 
 
 Oratorye, a place for prayer, a 
 small chapel, K. 1047. Lat. 
 oratorium. 
 
 Ordeyne, to ordain, K. 1695. 
 
 Ordres (sing, order), orders, P. 
 210. Fr. ordre, Lat. ordo. 
 
 Ordynaunce, a public order, K. 
 1709. 
 
 Orisoun, a prayer, K. 1514. Fr. 
 oraison, Lat. orafio. 
 
 Oth, an oath, P. 810. A.S. ath. 
 
 Other, either, K. 735 ; other . . . 
 or, either ... or. A.S.oththe. 
 
 Othre (pi. of other), othre thinr/es, 
 other things, P. 759. A S. other, 
 pi. othre. 
 Ought, aught, P. 389. A.S. aht. 
 
 19 
 
290 
 
 GLOSSAEIAL INDEX. 
 
 Ought (e) (pr. of oice), ought, P. 
 
 505. See note. 
 Oure (gen. pi. of ive), of us, our, 
 
 P. 695, 813, oure alther, of us all, 
 
 P. 82a. 
 Outhees, outcry, K, 1154. Mid. 
 
 Lilt. Iiutesiuni, Fr. liuer, to shout. 
 Outrage, excess, K. 1154. Lat. 
 
 ultra . 
 Outrydere, one who rides well 
 
 up with the hounds in hunting, 
 
 P. 166. 
 Over, upj)er, ovet^ lippe, upper lip, 
 
 P. 138. A.S. qfer. 
 Overal, everywhere, P. 216, K. 
 
 349 ; above all, chiefly, P. 249 ; 
 
 besides, K. 1992. Ger. uheral. 
 Overeste (supl. of over), upper- 
 most, P. 290. 
 Over-ryden (p.p. ridden over), K. 
 
 1164. 
 Overspradde (pr.), overspread, 
 
 P. 678. A.S. spraedftn. 
 Overthwart, across, K. 1133. 
 
 A.S. t/iweor, crooked ; cf. queer, 
 
 Ger. quer, athwart. 
 Owen, Owne, own, P. 336, 804, 
 
 K. 2219. A.S. a(7en,from agan, 
 
 to possess. 
 Owlier, any where, P. 653. A.S. 
 
 ohivaer. 
 Oxenford, Oxford, — the ford of 
 
 the river Ouse, P. 285. See 
 
 note. 
 Oynement, ointment, P. 631. 
 
 Lat. umjuenium. 
 Oynouns, onions, P. 634. Fr. 
 
 oignon, Lat. unio, A.S. yneleac. 
 
 P. 
 
 Paas, a footpace, P. 525 ; paces, 
 
 steps, K. 1032 ; a paas, at a pace, 
 
 hastily, apace, K 1359. 
 Pace, to pass, P. 175, K. 2140 ; to 
 
 Ijass on, proceed, P. 36, K. 744 ; 
 
 to surpass, P. 574. Fr. passer. 
 Paeient, a patient, P. 415, (adj.) 
 
 patient, P. 484. Lat. patiens. 
 Page, a servant, especially a 
 
 youth, K. 569. Fr. J>age, Gr. 
 
 TzaLdlov. 
 Paire, a pair, a set, P. 473. Lat. 
 
 par, equal, hence denoting any 
 thing divided into equal parts. 
 
 Pale, pallid, pale, P. 205. Lat. 
 ]>allidus. 
 
 Paleys, a palace, K. 1341. See 
 note. 
 
 Palfray, a saddle-horse, P. 207. 
 Fr. pale/roi, Mid. Lat. veredus ; 
 cf. Ger. pferd. 
 
 Palmer, one who has made a pil- 
 grimage to the Holy Land, and 
 who wears a palm branch as a 
 token, P. 13. 
 
 Pan, the skull, the head, K. 307. 
 A.S. panne, applied to the skull 
 as holding the brain. 
 
 Paradys, paradise, K. 379. 
 
 Paramentz, ornamental furni- 
 ture or clothing, K. 1643. Lat. 
 parare ; cf. apparel. 
 
 Paramour, gallantry, a lover, K. 
 1254, (adv.) with love, K. 297. 
 Fr. par amour. 
 
 Parchaunce, perhaps, P. 475 ; cf. 
 par cas. 
 
 Parde, an oath, P. 563, K. 454. 
 Fr. par Dieii. 
 
 Pardoner, a seller of indulgences, 
 P. 669. 
 
 Pardoun, a pardon, an indulgence, 
 P. 687, — the Latin equivalent 
 of forqiveness. 
 
 Parfiight, perfect, P. 422. Fr. 
 parfait, Lat. perfectus. 
 
 Parischen, a parishioner, P, 482. 
 Fr. paroissien. 
 
 Parlement : ( 1 ) a meeting for con- 
 sultation, K. 2113 ; (2) the de- 
 crees of such a meeting, K. 448. 
 Fr. parlement. 
 
 Part. See Partye. 
 
 Parte, a party, company, K. 1724. 
 Fr. parti, Lat. pars. 
 
 Partrich, a partridge, P. 349. Fr. 
 perdrix. 
 
 Party, partly, K. 195. Fr. en par- 
 tie. 
 
 Partye, Part, a party, K. 1588, 
 1799; part, K. 21-50. 
 
 Parvys, a portico before a church, 
 P. 310. See note. 
 
 Passant, Passyng, surpassing, K. 
 1249, 2027. Fr. passant. 
 
GLOSS APdAL INDEX. 
 
 291 
 
 Passe, to surpass, P. 448, K. 2231. 
 
 Patent, an open letter giving 
 l)ublic notice ut some grant, as 
 ofnobilitv, P. 315. 'La.t. patens. 
 
 Paye, to pay, F. 539. Lat. pacare, 
 to satisfy. 
 
 Payen, pagan, K. 1512. Fr. paien, 
 Lat. jMKjanus, a villager. 
 
 Payne, torture, K 275. A.^.pin. 
 
 Peire, Peyre, a pair, a set, P. 159. 
 Lat. par, hence : (1) two tilings 
 equal to each other ; (2) a num- 
 ber of equal things. Ptijrt plutis, 
 plates for breast and back, K. 
 12G3. 
 
 Penaunce, penance, P. 223; Lat. 
 poejuleiitia : pain, K. 457 ; Lat. 
 poena; cf. Gr. (j)ov6^. 
 
 Peples, people, K. 1055. Fr. peu- 
 ple, Lat. jiupiihis. 
 
 Perce, to pierce, P. 2. Fr. percer; 
 cf. jjei'k, prick. 
 
 Perfight, Perfyt, perfect, P. 72, 
 338. Fr. jxirfait, Lat. perfectus. 
 
 Perles, pearls, K. 1303. A.S. 
 jiearl. 
 
 Perrye, jewelry, precious stones, 
 K. 2078. Fr. perre, from pierre, 
 a stone ; Lat. pffra. 
 
 Pers, clotli of a bluish-gray color, 
 P. 017. 
 
 Persoun, a parson, P. 478 ; see 
 note, P. 702. ■ 
 
 Pertourben, to disturb, K. 48. 
 Lat. pertnrbare. 
 
 Peyne, pain, grief, K. 439. A.S. 
 pin, Ger. pein, hat. poena. 
 
 Peyne, to take pains, to endeavor, 
 P. 139. Fr. peiner. 
 
 Peynte, to paint, K. 1076. Fr. 
 peine! re, Lat. pine/ere. 
 
 Philosofre, a philosopher, an al- 
 chemist, P. 297. 
 
 Phisik, medicine, P. 433 Gr. 
 (pvaiKog, natural, — a singular 
 satire. 
 
 Pighte, pitched, thrown head-first, 
 K. 1831. Pitch and pick are 
 different forms of the same 
 "word. 
 
 Pikepurs, a pick-pocket, K. 1140. 
 
 Piled, stripped of hair, bald, P. 
 627 ; see piiHe. Fr. pele', a bald- 
 head ; cf. piUarje. 
 
 Piler, a pillar, K. 1135. A.S. pil, 
 
 a stake, a pile, Lat. ^>//a. 
 Pilgrimage, a journey to foreign 
 
 lands, especially for religious 
 
 purjioses, a pilgrimage, P. 13. 
 
 Lat. pn-'f/ritnis, Fr. jieierinar/e. 
 Pilour, a plunderer, a pillager, K. 
 
 149. Fr. piller, to rob. 
 Pilwe-beer, a pillow-case, P. 694. 
 
 Low Ger. heere, a pillow-case. 
 Pine, to pine away ; forpjjned, 
 
 pined away, P. 205. A.S. pin, 
 
 pain. 
 Pitanee, an allowance of appetiz- 
 ing food, to be eaten with bread, 
 
 hence a small portion, P. 224. 
 
 Fr. pitanee. 
 Pite (e), pity, K. 62, 893. O.Fr. 
 
 ])ile', Lat. pietas. 
 Pitous, compassionate, piteous, 
 
 pious, K. 1437. 
 Pitously, piteously, piously. 
 Place, residence, P. 007 ; an open 
 
 field, K. 1541. Fr. place, Ger. 
 
 platz. 
 Plat, plain, K. 987. Fr. plat, Ger. 
 
 platt. 
 Playen. See Pleye. 
 Playn, clear, plain, P. 790. Lat. 
 
 j>l(inus, level. 
 Playnen, to complain, K. 303. 
 
 Fr. plaindre, Lat. planc/ej'e. 
 Plentyvous, plentiful, P. 314. 
 Plesant, Plesaunt, pleasant, P. 
 
 138. Fr plaisant, pleasing. 
 Plesaunce, pleasure. K. 713. 
 Plese, to please, P. 010. Fr. 
 
 plaire, Lat. placere. 
 Pley (e), play, pleasure, K. 267. 
 
 A.S. pler/a. 
 Pleye (nj, Playen, to play, to 
 
 make sport, P. 236, 257. A.S. 
 
 plir/i(in. 
 Pleyn, full, plenary, P. 315. Lat. 
 
 plfnit.'i. 
 Pleyn (adv.), plainly, P. 727. 
 
 Lat. plane. 
 Pleyne, to plead, P. 327 ; to com- 
 plain, K. 462. Fr. plaindre, to 
 
 complain. 
 Pleynly, fully, K. 875. Lat. ple- 
 
 nnin. 
 Pleyynge, amusement, out-door 
 
 exercise, K. 203. 
 
292 
 
 GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 
 
 Pocok, peacock, P. 104. A.S. 
 pawa, Ger. pfau, Lat. pavo. 
 
 Point, gist of the matter, P. 790. 
 Lat. punctum, a prick : lience 
 (1) that which pricks; (2) the 
 mark made by a sharp instru- 
 ment ; (3) any small space or 
 time; (4) the poiiit towards 
 which discourse aims. 
 
 PoUax, an axe fitted to a handle, 
 K. 1687. A.S. pol, a handle, 
 "an axe for knocking one on 
 the poll or head.'' Wedgwood. 
 
 Pomel, top of the head, K. 1831, 
 O.Fr. pommel, Lat. pomum, an 
 apple ; hence any thing shaped 
 like an apple. 
 
 Pomely, dappled, pomeh/ gray, 
 dappled gray, P. 616. Fr. pom- 
 mt, an apple ; spotted like an 
 apple. 
 
 Pompe, reverential manner, P. 
 525. Gr. Tco/xnTj, a solemn pro- 
 cession, hence a stately man- 
 ner. 
 
 PoraiUe, the poor, P. 247. Fr. 
 
 Pore, poor. Ft. pauvre, Lat. paii- 
 pe7\ 
 
 Port, demeanor, carriage, P. 69, 
 138. Fr. />y/to', Lat. portare; cf. 
 deportment. 
 
 Portraiture, a painting, pictures, 
 K. 1110 Yr. pourtraire. 
 
 Portraying, painting, K. 1080. 
 
 Portreyour, a painter, K. 1041. 
 Fr. portraire ; cf portrait. 
 
 Pose, to suppose*, to put a case, 
 K. 304. Fr. appospr. 
 
 Post, a support, a pillar, P. 214 ; 
 see note. Lat. positns. 
 
 Pouche, a pocket, P. 368. See 
 note. 
 
 Poudre-marchant, a sharp sea- 
 soning powder, P. 381. 
 
 Poure, poor, P. 225. Fr. pauvre, 
 Lat. pauper. 
 
 Povrely, humbly, like a poor 
 man, K. 696. 
 
 Power, ability, authority ; po7ver 
 of, authority to grant, P. 218. 
 Fr. pouroir. 
 
 Powre, to pore, P. 185; allied to 
 bore. 
 
 Poynaunt, pungent, highly sea- 
 soned, P. 352. Fr. poignant, 
 Lat. puugens. 
 
 Poynt, the smallest particle, K. 
 1908; the gist of a matter un- 
 der discussion, K. 2113. See 
 Point. 
 
 Practisour, a practitioner, P. 422. 
 
 Praye, to pray, P. 743 ; to pray 
 for, K. 404. Fr. prier, Lat. 
 precari. 
 
 Preclie, to preach, P. 481. Fr. 
 precher, Lat. predicare. 
 
 Preest, a priest, P. 164, an abbre- 
 viation of presbyter. 
 
 Prelat, a prelate, a superior clergy- 
 man, P. 204. Fr. prelat, Lat. 
 preferre. 
 
 Prescience, foreknowledge, K. 
 455. Lat. pre-scientia. 
 
 Prese, to press, K. 1672, Lat. 
 preuiere, ])ressum. 
 
 Preve, to prove, P. 547. Lat. 
 probare. 
 
 Preye, to pray, K. 625, See 
 Praye. 
 
 Preyeres, prayers, P. 231. Fr. 
 prier, Lat. precari. 
 
 Pricasour, a hard rider, P. 189 ; 
 literally, a spurrer. 
 
 Prike, to incite, P. 11, K. 185; to 
 ride horseback, K. 1820. A.S. 
 prircian, to prick, to spur. 
 
 Prikke, a stab, a prick, K. 1748. 
 
 Prikyng, riding horseback, P. 
 191. Prick, a spur. 
 
 Prime, six o'clock, a. m., the first 
 quarter of the artificial day, K. 
 1331. Li\t. prima hora. 
 
 Prioresse, the Lady Superior of a 
 convent, P. 118. Lat. prior. 
 
 Pris, Prys, praise, prize, honor, 
 P. 67, 237 ; price, P. 815 ; prize 
 (in arms), victory, K. 1383; 
 Ger. preisen, to esteem. Lat. 
 pretium ; cf praise, prize, price. 
 
 Prisoun, confinement, imprison- 
 ment, K. 165, 237, 438. Fr. 
 prison, Lat. prcheusio. 
 
 Prively, privately, P. 609 ; secret- 
 ly, P. 652. Lat. pririis. 
 
 Processe, progress, K. 2109. Lat. 
 processus. 
 
GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 
 
 293 
 
 Properly, accovfling to the pecu- 
 liarities of each, P. 729. Lat. 
 proprie. 
 
 Propre, pecuHar one'vS own; propre 
 (juod, private property, P. 5^1. 
 See note. 
 
 Proude, valiant, K. 1740. A.S. 
 ])riU: (1) vigorous, handsome; 
 (2) feeling begotten by the con- 
 sciousness of possessing such 
 qualities. 
 
 Prys, prize, P. 67, 815. See Pris. 
 
 Pryve, secret, K. 1602. Lat. 
 privns. 
 
 Pryvyte, secret purpose, privity, 
 K. 5o3. Lat. privatus. 
 
 Pulle, to pluck, to pulle a finch, to 
 phick a finch, to clieat a green- 
 horn, P. 652 ; pulled, plucked, 
 plundered, and so poor, a pulled 
 hen, a worthless hen, P. 177. 
 Fr. piller, to rob; cf. peeled. 
 
 Pultrie, poultry, P. 598. Fr. 
 ponle, Lat. pulhis. 
 
 Punyssched, punished, P. 657. 
 Lat. })iuiitKS. 
 
 Purchas, receipts from alms, P. 
 256 ; any thing acquired by 
 effort. Fr. poar-chasser, to hunt 
 after. 
 
 Purchasyng, prosecution, P. 320. 
 See supra. 
 
 Pure, mere, very, the pure fettres, 
 the very fetters, K. 421. 
 
 Purfiled, ornamented, embroid- 
 ered, P. 193. Fr. pourfiler, to 
 work on the edge, to ornament 
 with gold thread ; cf. profile, to 
 p}ni. 
 
 Purs, purse, P. 656. Lat. bursa, 
 a hide ; cf. bursar, a treasurer, 
 bourse. 
 
 Purtray, to draw, to portray, P. 
 96. Fr. portraire. 
 
 Purveaunce, Purveauns, prov- 
 idence, plan, foresight, K. 394, 
 807, 2153. Lat. providentia. 
 
 Pye, a pie, P. 384, an abbrevia- 
 tion of ^jcs/^ (pastry). Fr. paste, 
 pate. 
 
 Pynche at, to find fault with, to 
 be captious, P. 326. Fr. pincer ; 
 cf. " to snap up one." 
 
 Pynche (p.p. i-pynched), to plait, 
 P. 151. See I-pynched. 
 
 Pyne, sorrow, pain, K. 466. A.S. 
 l>in, Ger. pciii. 
 
 Pyne, to torment, to pain, K. 888. 
 A.S. pinan, Ger. peinigen. 
 
 Pynne, a pin, P. 233. A.S. pinn, 
 W. pin, Gael. ]nnne, a pin, — the 
 radical idea is that of point. 
 
 Pynoun, a flag, streamer, pennon, 
 K. 120. Fr. pennon. 
 
 Q. 
 
 Qualme, sickness, K. 1156. A.S. 
 
 cwealm, pestilence, death ; Ger. 
 
 rpud. 
 Queen, Quen, a queen, K. 10, 
 
 24. A.S. cAcen, Gotli. qens, a 
 
 woman, — literally a mother ; 
 
 A.S. cennan, to bring forth; cf. 
 
 queem. 
 Queynte (pr. oi quench, p.p. queijnt), 
 
 quenched, K. 1453, 1476. A.S. 
 
 cicencan. 
 Queynte, quaint, odd, K. 673 ; 
 
 strange, wonderful, K. 1475. 
 
 Fr. coint, Lat. corjnitus. 
 Quicksilver, mercmy, P. 629 ; 
 
 live-silver. 
 Quod, quoth, said, P. 658, K. 49, 
 
 376. A.S. cwedhan. 
 Quok, Quook (pr. of quale), 
 
 quaked, trembled, K. 718, 904. 
 
 A.S. cwacian, Ger. quackeln ; cf. 
 
 quaq-xmre, icaq, uyvifjle. 
 Quyk, lively, quick.P. 306. A.S. 
 
 ctrlc, Goi\\.ka-ius; cf. Lat. y/yus. 
 Quyke, alive, K. 157. 
 Quyke, to revive, K. 1477. A.S. 
 
 cwiccian. 
 Quyte, to requite, pay, P. 770; set 
 
 free, K. 174. Fr. quitter, Lat. 
 
 quietare ; cf. quit, acquit, requite. 
 Quytly, freely, quite, at Uberty, 
 
 K. 934. 
 
 R. 
 
 Bad (p.p. of rede), read, K. 1737. 
 
 A.S. raedan. 
 Kafter, a rafter, K. 132. A.S. 
 
 raefier, from hrae/nian, to sup- 
 
294 
 
 OLOSSARIAL INDEX. 
 
 port, — hence the support of a 
 roof. 
 
 Rage, a raging (wind), K. 1127, 
 Fr. rac/e, Lat. rabies; Chaucer 
 also uses ragerie, wantonness. 
 
 Rage, to play, to sport vigorously, 
 P. 257. To act aimlessly as in 
 play. 
 
 Ransake, to search thoroughly, 
 Iv, 147. Icel. ransaka, to ex- 
 plore. The word did not imply 
 a disorderly search. 
 
 Rasour, a razor, K. 1559. Fr. 
 rasoir, Lat. radere, to scrape. 
 
 Rather, sooner, more willingly, 
 P.487, K. 295. A.S. hmthe, oi 
 one's own accord ; comp. of 
 rath, soon. 
 
 Raughte (pr. of reche), reached, 
 P. 136, K. 2057. A.S. raecan, 
 pr. raehte. 
 
 Rauneeoun, Raunsoun, a ran- 
 som, K. 106, 318, 347. Fr. ran- 
 gon, Lat. redempflo. 
 
 Real, Rial, Ryal, royal, regal, K. 
 160, 639. Fr. real, Lat. regalis; 
 cf. Hind, rajah, a prince. 
 
 Really, RyaUy, RyaUyche, roy- 
 ally, regally, P. 378, K. 829. 
 
 Rebel, a rebel, rebellious, P. 833, 
 K. 2188. Lat. re-bellum, 
 
 Rebellyng, rebelhon, K. 1601. 
 
 Reeche, Rekke (pr. roghfe, ronghte, 
 to care for, to reck, to heed, K. 
 540, 1387. A.S. reccan ; cf. 
 reckless. 
 
 Reccheles, reckless, P. 179. A.S. 
 recceleas. 
 
 Reconforte, to recomfort, to com- 
 fort, K. 1994. Lat. fortis. 
 
 Reeorde, to remember, remind, 
 P. 829. Lat. recordari. 
 
 Red, an adviser, counsel, P. 665. 
 A.S. raedan, to explain. 
 
 Rede, Reed (e), red, P. 90, 153, 
 K. 889. A.S. read, Goth, rauds, 
 Ger. roth ; cf. ruddij. 
 
 Rede, to advise, K. 2210, 2213. 
 A.S. raedan. 
 
 Rede, to read, P. 709. A.S. 
 raedan, Ger. redcn. 
 
 Redoutyng, reverence, K. 1192, 
 Fr. redouter, to fear. 
 
 Redy, ready, P. 21, 352. A.S. 
 raed, Ger. hereit. Allied to ridan, 
 to set out. 
 
 Reed, Rede, resource, plan, K, 
 358. 
 
 Reeve, an overseer, a steward, P. 
 542, 599. A.S. gerefa, Ger. graf; 
 cf. sheriff, i.e., shire-reeve. 
 
 Refuge: (1) a place of refuge; 
 (2) protection, Iv. 862. Lat. re- 
 fngere. 
 
 Refreische, to refresh, K. 1764. 
 See Fresshe. 
 
 Registre, a record, a register. 
 Fr. as from Lat. re-gesta. 
 
 Reyne, a kingdom, K. 8 ; by me- 
 toiiomg, a king, K. 766. Fr. regne, 
 Lat. regnum. 
 
 Reherce, to rehearse, P. 732. Fr. 
 rehercer, herse = a harrow ; lit- 
 erally to go over tlie ground 
 again with a harrow ; cf. col- 
 loquial use of "to rake up old 
 stories." 
 
 Rehersyng, a rehearsal, K. 792. 
 
 Reken, Rekne, to calculate, to 
 reckon, P. 401 ; to recount, 
 mention, K. 1075. A.S. recaw, 
 to tell, Ger. rechnen. 
 
 Rekenynge, account, P. 600. 
 
 Reliques, relics, P. 701. Lat. 
 reliquiae; literally, things left; 
 cf. relict, a widow. 
 
 Remedye, remedy, P. 475. Lat. 
 remedium, re-niederi, to heal 
 again. 
 
 Remenaunt, a remnant, P. 724. 
 Fr. remanant, Lat. remanere. 
 
 Rendyng, tearing, K. 1976. A.S. 
 rendan ; cf. rent, a tear. 
 
 Renges, ranks, rows, K. 1736. 
 Fr. renge. Probably allied to 
 A.S. raecan, to reach, to stretch 
 to, — the idea being that of a 
 line; cf. raiige of a gun. 
 
 Renne (pr. ran, ron, pi. ronne, p p. 
 ironne {n), ronne {n), to run, K. 
 903, 1777. A.S. yrnan, pr. am, 
 p.p. nrnen ; Ger. rennen ; cf, 
 errand, rennet (vulgo, runnet). 
 
 Rennyng, running, at a renngng, 
 on a run, P. 551. 
 
 Renoun, renown, wide-spread 
 
GLOSSARTAL INDEX. 
 
 ^9S 
 
 knowledge of one, P. 316. Fr. 
 
 renoin, Lat. re-no men. 
 Rente, regular income, revenue, 
 
 P. 256, 579. Fr. rente, from 
 
 rendre, Lat. reddere ; el*, render, 
 
 r( turns from an investment. 
 Rente (pr. of rende), threw down, 
 
 K. 132. A.S. rendan. 
 Repentaunce, penitence, K. 918. 
 
 Lat. re-penitentia. 
 R ;pentaunt, penitent, P. 228. 
 Repplicacioun, reply, rejoinder, 
 
 K. 'J6S. Lat. replicatio, literally 
 
 a folding back. 
 EepDrtour, a reporter, P. 814. 
 
 Lat. re-port(tre, to bring back; 
 
 cf. colporteur. 
 Rescous, rescue, K. 1785. O.Fr. 
 
 reAcoiis, Lat. re-excufere, to fetch 
 
 a thing out of pawn. 
 Res3, to shake, K. 1128. A.S. 
 
 hrrosan, to shake, fall. 
 Rssons, sayings, opinions, P. 274. 
 
 Fr. raison, Lat. ratio. 
 Resoun, reflection, reason, K. 
 
 908 ; reasonable, P. 847. 
 Resowne, to resound, K. 420. 
 
 Lat. risonnre. 
 Respite, delay, consideration, Iv. 
 
 9). O.Fr. respit, Lat. respectus. 
 Retenue, knights of, retainers, K. 
 
 1644. Fr. retinue, Lat. retinere. 
 Rette, to impute, P. 726. See 
 
 Aretted. 
 Reule, a ride, P. 173. A.S. rcgol, 
 
 Fr. regie, Lat. regulci, from regere, 
 
 to direct. 
 Reule, Rewle, to rule, P. 816, K. 
 
 814. Lat. regere. 
 Reuthe, pity, K. 1533; cf. ruth- 
 less. A.S. hreowinn, to be sorry 
 
 for. 
 Revel, a noisy gathering or feast, 
 
 K. 1859. O.Fr. revel, Lat. rabu- 
 
 Jnre ; cf. rabble. 
 Reverence, respect, P. 141 ; in 
 
 reverence, modestly, P. 805. Lat. 
 
 reverentia. 
 Rewe, a row, K. 2003. A.S. 
 
 Taenia, Ger. reihe. 
 Rewe (n), to be sorry for, to pity, 
 
 K. 1005, 1375. A.S. hreowian, 
 
 Ger. rcuen, Eng. rue. 
 
 R3wfuUeste, sadde!<t, exciting 
 
 most pity, K. 2028. 
 Reyn, rain, P. 492. A.S. regen. 
 Reyne, a rein, K. 46. Fr. renne, 
 from Lat. retinere. 
 
 Reyne, to rain, K. 677. A.S. 
 regnian, Ger. regnen. 
 
 Reyse, to make a military expedi- 
 tion, P. 54. A.S. raesan, Ger. 
 reisen, O.E. race, to rush ; cf. 
 mill-race. 
 
 Rially, RiaUyche, royally. See 
 Really. 
 
 Riche, rich, the rich, P. 248. A.S. 
 ric, wealth, pawer, Ger. reich, 
 Goth, reiks, ruler ; cf Lat. rex. 
 
 Richesse, riches, K. 897. Fr. 
 richesse. The noun in English 
 is collective with an apparently 
 plural termination. 
 
 Riden (pr. rood, pi. riden, p.p. 
 riden), to ride, P. 169, 328, 825. 
 A.S. ridan, Ger. reiten, — the 
 original idea being that of sway- 
 ing up and down, like the 
 motion of one on horseback. 
 
 Right, very, P. 288, even, wholly ; 
 P. 804 ; exactly, just, right mm, 
 just now, P. 767 ; rightes, rightly, 
 at alle rightes, in all respects, K. 
 994. A.S. riht, Ger. recht, Lat. 
 7-ectus. 
 
 Rightful, just, full of right, K. 
 861. 
 
 Rime, to tell in poetry, K. 601 ; 
 see note. A.S. rim. 
 
 Rite, Ryte, a religious ceremony, 
 K. 1044, 1426 ; to do rites, to per- 
 form religious ceremonies. Lat. 
 rite, in due form. 
 
 Robes, clothing, P. 296. Fr. robe, 
 A.S. renf, clothing. From I'ob, 
 reave [bereave), from the fact 
 that they were originally made 
 of skins of animals, which would 
 easily give rise to the figure of 
 robbing one animal of its dress 
 to make one for another. 
 
 Rome, to roam, K. 207 ; see note. 
 Literally, to go to Rome. 
 
 Ronne (n), pr. pi. of renne. 
 
 Rood (pr. of ride), rode, P. 390. 
 
 Rocs (pr. of ri/se), rose, P. 823. 
 
296 
 
 OLOSSABIAL INDEX. 
 
 Roost, a roast, P. 206. 
 
 Koote, rote, by roote, by rote, P. 
 327. Fr. route ; cf. routine. 
 
 Rore, to roar, K. 2023. A.S. 
 raran. 
 
 Roste, to roast, P. 147, 884. O.Fr. 
 rostir, Ger. riisten, to roast, from 
 rost, a grate, a gridiron. 
 
 Rote, a musical instrument, P. 
 230. 
 
 Rouke, to huddle, lie close, K. 
 460. Wedgwood refers to Dan- 
 ish rur/e, to brood, to hatch. 
 
 Rouncy, a hackney liorse, P. 390. 
 
 Round, full, rotund, protuberant, 
 K. 1310. Fr. 7'ond, Lat. rotundus. 
 
 Roundel, a song in which there 
 are repetitions, or a song with 
 a chorus, K. 671. Fr. rondelet, 
 a roundehn/. 
 
 Route, Rowte, a company, P. 
 622, K. 1295. O.Fr. route, Ger. 
 rotte. 
 
 Routhe, pity, ruth, it iras routhc, 
 it was sorrowful, K. 50. See 
 Reuthe. 
 
 Rudelyche, coarsely, rudely, P. 
 734. Lat. rudis, unwrought, 
 hence denoting the manners of 
 an uncultivated person. 
 
 Ruggy, rough, ragged, K. 2025. 
 A.S. hracod, O.E. rogcje, to tear. 
 
 Ruschyng, rushing, K. 783. A.S. 
 raesan, raes. But cf. Webster's 
 Diet. 
 
 Ryal, royal. See Real. 
 
 Ryally, royally. See Really. 
 
 Ryngen, to ring, K. 1742 ; an im- 
 itative word ; cf. to diiifj. 
 
 Rynges, rings, K. 1307. A.S. 
 hring, a circle ; Ger. ring. 
 
 Ryse (pr. roos), to rise, P. 33. 
 A.&T risan, pr. ras. 
 
 njt.= rideth, rides, K. 116, 123. 
 A.S. ridan ; 3d sing. pres. rit. 
 
 s. 
 
 Sacred, devoted to pious uses, 
 holy, K. 1063. Lat. sacer. 
 
 Sad, sober, staid, K. 2127. O.E. 
 sad, tirm, A.S. saed, satisfied, — 
 hence at rest. 
 
 Sadel, a saddle, K. 1804. A.S. 
 
 sadel, from sittan ; cf . settle, a 
 
 seat ; A.S. setl, Ger. sattel. 
 Sadly, firmly, K. 1744. A.S. 
 
 saed. * 
 Sake, cause, K. 942. A.S. sacu, 
 
 strife, suit at law ; Ger. sache. 
 Salte, salt, K. 422. A.S. sealt, 
 
 Goth, salt, Lat. sal, Gr. aAf. 
 Salue, to salute, K. 634. Fr. 
 
 siduer, Lat. salutare. 
 Saluyng, a salutation, K. 791. 
 Sangwyn, ruddy, P. 333, K. 1310. 
 
 Lat. sanguineus. 
 Sarge, a coarse woollen stuff, 
 
 serge, K. 1710. 
 Sauce, sauce, condiments, or veg- 
 etables eaten with meat, P. 129 ; 
 
 (Morris explains as = saucer). 
 
 Lat. salsus. 
 Sauf, save, except, P. 683, K. 
 
 1322. 
 Saugh (pr. of see), saw, P. 193, 
 
 764. A.S. seo?i, pr. seah. 
 Save, the herb sage, salvia, K. 
 
 1855. Lat. salvere, to be in 
 
 good heath. 
 Sawceflem, pimpled, P. 625 ; see 
 
 note. Lat. salsum-phlegma ; cf. 
 
 salt-rheum. 
 Sawe, a saying, a saw, K. 305 ; 
 
 discourse, K. 668. A.S. sagu, 
 
 from secgan, to say. The Icel. 
 
 form saga may be said to be 
 
 ahuost naturalized. 
 Sawtrie, a psaltery, P. 296. 
 Sayn (pr seide), to say, P. 284. 
 Scape, escape, K. 249. See note. 
 Searsly, parsimoniously, frugally, 
 
 P. 583. Lat. excerptus. 
 Schaft, an arrow, K. 604. A.S. 
 
 sceaft, a shaA^ed stick, from 
 
 scapan, to shape ; Ger. scha/i. 
 Schake (pp.), shaken, P. 406. 
 
 A.S. sceacan ; cf. to shuck. 
 Sehal, shall, P. 731 ; see note, 
 
 must, P. 853 ; and aij schal, and 
 
 ever must, K. 325. A.S. sceal. 
 Schame : (1) disgrace, K. 697 ; (2) 
 
 tlie feeling caused by disgrace ; 
 
 (3) a similar feeling due to 
 
 modesty. A.S. sceamu, Ger. 
 
 scham. 
 
OLOSSAEIAL INDEX. 
 
 297 
 
 Bchamfastnesse, modesty, P. 840. 
 Now incorrectly spelled shame- 
 facedness. 
 
 Schap, shape, form, K. 1031. A.S. 
 scapan, to form, to shape; cf. 
 landscape . 
 
 Schape (n), (p.p. schape (n), to 
 \)\an, purpose, / tcole schape me 
 = I will plan for myself, i.e. I 
 will adjust myself, P. 80'J ; fixed, 
 determined, K. 250, 534. A.S. 
 scapan, Ger. schaffen. 
 
 Schaply, fit (in shape), P. 372. 
 
 Scharp, sharp,P. 114. A.^.scearp, 
 from sceran [scearfan], to cut; 
 Ger. scharf. 
 
 Schave, (p.p.), shaven, P. 588. 
 A.S. scafan, Ger. schaben, to 
 shave. 
 
 Sche, she. A.S. sen, E.E. scho. 
 
 Scheeld, a shield, K. 12G4. A.S. 
 scijld, from scy/dan, to protect; 
 Ger. schild. 
 
 Scheeldes, shillings, crowns — a 
 coin marked with a shield, P. 
 278. Fr. ecu., Lat. scutum. Shil- 
 ling = shiddhvi. 
 
 Schene, Seheene, hright, beauti- 
 ful, P. 115, K. 651. A.^.scen, 
 from scinan, to shine ; cf. sheen, 
 Ger. schon. 
 
 Schent (p.p. of scAewf^e), destroyed, 
 K. 1896. A.S. scendan. 
 
 Schepne (pi. of schepen), stables, 
 K. 1142. A.S. scijpen; Ger. 
 schoppen, coach-house. 
 
 Schere, shears, K. 1559. A.S. 
 sceran, Ger. scheren, to cut. Prom 
 this root come share, plough- 
 share, shire, shore pot-sherd, shred, 
 short, skirt, shirt, sharp, ■'<hroud,&c. 
 
 Scherte, a shirt, K. 708. A.S. 
 sceort, short ; i.e., a short gar- 
 ment. 
 
 Schet (p.p.), shut, K. 1739. A.S. 
 scittan, to lock. 
 
 Schire, a county, P. 15, 356, 584. 
 A.S. sceran, to divide ; cf. shire- 
 town, sherijf^= shire-reeve. 
 
 Schirreve, a slieriff, reeve of the 
 shire or county, P. 359. A.S. 
 rjerefa, Ger. graf, A.S. reaf, a 
 tax-gatherer. 
 
 Schode, the temple, K. 1149. 
 A.^. sceadan, to divide; literally 
 = the dividing (of the liair) ; cf. 
 shed, shed-roof, wsiter-shed. 
 
 Scholde, should. 
 
 Schon (pr. of srhine), shone, P. 
 198. A.S. scinan, pr. scan. 
 
 Schoo, a shoe, P. 253. A.S. sceo, 
 Goth, skohs, Ger. schuh. 
 
 Schort, short, P. 93, 549, wanting, 
 deficient, P. 746. From A.S. 
 sceran, to shear, sceort, short. 
 
 Schorte, to shorten, P. 791. A.S. 
 scortian. 
 
 Schortly, Schorteliche, in a little 
 time, P. 30 ; briefly, P. 715 ; in 
 brief, K. 627. A.S. scordice. 
 
 Schot, a javelin, a missile weapon, 
 K. 1686. A.S. scot, a dart, 
 sreotan, to shoot. 
 
 Schowres, pi. of schower, P. 1. 
 A.S. sceor, a storm, Goth, skura 
 vindis, a storm of wind. 
 
 Sehrive (p.p. ischrive), to shrive, 
 to hear confession, P. 226. A.S. 
 scrifan. 
 
 Schul (n), (pi.), shall, K. 889. 
 A.S. Ic sceal, ice scnlon, p. sceo/de. 
 
 Schulde, should, ought to, P. 249, 
 745 ; cf. Ger. schul dig. 
 
 Schulder (pi. schnldres), a shoul- 
 der, P. 678. A.^.sculder. Prob- 
 ably from. sryW, a shield, alluding 
 to the shape of the shoulder- 
 blades. Wedgwood suggests 
 that its probable origin is sliov I. 
 
 Schuldered, shouldx-ed, P. 519. 
 
 Schyne, a shin, leg, P. 386, K. 
 421. A.S. scjpia. 
 
 Schyne, to shine, K. 118. A.S. 
 scinan ; cf. sheen, Ger. schon. 
 
 Schyveren, to break in pieces, 
 to shiver, K. 1747. Ger. schief- 
 ern; cf. A.S. sci/ftaii, also to 
 quiver, shives (of flax). 
 
 Science, learning, knowledge, P. 
 316. Lat. scientia. 
 
 Scole, a school, a particular style, 
 P. 125 (Gr. cxolri, leisure) ;'(!) 
 time given to intellectual pur- 
 suits ; (2) a place where leisure 
 is thus employed; (3) a style 
 peculiar to those thus engaged 
 
298 
 
 OLOSSABIAL INDEX. 
 
 together ; (4) a particular style 
 
 in general. 
 Seoler, a scholar, P. 260, In 
 
 A.S. scolere. 
 Scoleye, to attend school, P. 302. 
 
 O.Fr. escoloier. 
 Scriptures, writings, K. 1186. 
 
 Lat. scripturae. Now restricted 
 
 to sacred writings. 
 Seche, Seeke, to seek, P. 17, 784 ; 
 
 for to s^che, to be sought. A.S. 
 
 secan. 
 Seed, seed, P. 596. A.S. saed, 
 
 from saivan, to sow. 
 Seek (e), sick, P. 18. A.S. seoc, 
 
 Goth, sinks, Ger. siecli. 
 Seeknesse, sickness, K. 398. 
 Seene (pr. seigh, sei/h), to see, K. 
 
 56, P. 580, K. 97. A.S. seon, 
 
 seak. 
 Seet (pi. seeten), sat, K. 1217, 
 
 2035. A.S. sklan pr. saet. 
 Sege, a siege, K. 79. Fr. siege, 
 
 Lat. secies, a sitting or seat ; in 
 
 war opposed to storm. 
 Seide (pr. of seije), said, should 
 
 say, P. 183. 
 Seigh (pr. of seene), saw, P. 850. 
 Seistow, sayest thou, K. 267. 
 Seknesse, sickness, K. 453. A.S. 
 
 seocni/sse. 
 Selde,' seldom, K. 681. A.S. 
 
 seld {an), Ger. selten. 
 Selle, house, hall, P. 172. Fr. 
 
 salle. 
 SeUe, to give, P. 278. A.S. si/Uan, 
 
 to give ; the original idea seems 
 
 to be that of delivery. 
 Sellers, givers, P. 248. 
 Selve, same, that selve = that same, 
 
 that very, K. 1726 ; properly 
 
 dat. and ace. of self. A.S. seolf, 
 
 Ger. selb. 
 Seme (v. impers.), to seem, P. 39. 
 
 A.S. seman, to seem, to approve. 
 Semely, becomingly, pleasantly, 
 
 fitly, P. 123 ; proper, suitable, 
 
 P. 751. A.S. seman, Goth, sam- 
 
 jan, to please. 
 Sen (e), seen (e) (pr. seigh, sei/h), 
 
 to sQQ,for to sene = to be seen, 
 
 P. 134, K. 415, 449. 
 Sandal, a thin, rich silk, P. 440. 
 
 Sentence, meaning, P. 798 ; high 
 sentence ^ of great pith or mean- 
 ing, P. 306; decision, K. 1674. 
 Lat. sententia ; cf . sententious. 
 
 Sergeant of Lawe, a lawyer of 
 the highest rank, P. .309.' 
 
 Sermonyng, persuading, preach- 
 ing, K. 2233. Lat. sermo. 
 
 Servage, bondage, serfdom, K. 
 1088. Lat. servire. 
 
 Serve, to supply, wait upon, P. 
 749. Lat. servire. 
 
 Servysable, wiUing to perform 
 service, P. 99. 
 
 Serye, a series, K. 2209. Lat. 
 series, a row. 
 
 Sesoun, season, P. 19. Fr. saison, 
 Lat. satio. 
 
 Sessioun, session, P. 355. Lat. 
 sessio. 
 
 Seten (p.p. of sitte), sat, K. 594. 
 
 Sethe (p.p. sodden), to boil, P. 383. 
 A.S. seothan ; cf. suds. 
 
 Sette, to place, P. 507, 748 ; sette 
 asouper, prepare (set out) a sup- 
 per, P. 815. A.S. settnn (causa- 
 tive of sittan), pr, sette, p.p. 
 geset. 
 
 Setirte, agreement, security, to 
 defije the seurte^= to deny the 
 agreement, K. 746. An abbre- 
 viation of security. 
 
 Sey (e), Seyn (pr. seyde), to say, 
 P. 181, 468. A.S. secgan. 
 
 Seyh (pr. of sene), saw, K. 97. 
 
 Seyl, a sail, P. 695. A.S. segel. 
 
 Sejrnt, a girdle, P. 329. Lat. 
 cinctus. 
 
 Seynt (e), holy, a saint, P. 173, 
 697 ; seynte charite'= sacred char- 
 ity, K. 863. Fr. saint, Lat. sanc- 
 fus. 
 
 Shef, a sheaf, a handful, P. 104. 
 A.S. sceaf, Ger. schauh. 
 
 Shorteliche, briefly, K. 627. 
 
 Shrighte, shrieked, K. 1959. 
 
 Side, side, P. 112. A.S. sid, broad, 
 vast, long ; Ger. seite. 
 
 Siege, investment, siege, P. 56. 
 Fr. sie'ge (Lat. sedere), a seat: 
 hence the capture of a fortifica- 
 tion by investment, instead of 
 by assault. 
 
OLOSSABIAL INDEX. 
 
 299 
 
 Sigh, a sigh, K. 259. A.S. sican, 
 to sigh, to si/ce, to act like a sick 
 person. 
 
 Sight, foresight, providence^ K. 
 
 Signe, a sign, P. 22G. Fr. sir/ne, 
 
 Lat. signam ; cf . sit/naJ. 
 Sik (e), sick, P. 245. A.S. sic, 
 
 seoc ; cf . sican, to sighr 
 Sike, a sigh. 
 Sike, to sigh, K. 682. A.S. sican ; 
 
 cf. sick. 
 Siker, sure, certain, K. 2191. 
 
 Ger. sicher ; cf. Lat. securus. 
 Sikerly, surely, certainly, P. 137. 
 Siknesse, disease; in O.E. gener- 
 ally denoting epidemics, as the 
 
 Plague, P. 493. A.S. seocrujsse. 
 Singe (pr. soiiq, p.p. sonqe, sinu/e), 
 
 to sing, P. 711, K. 197. A.S. 
 
 singan, pr. sang, p.p. sungen. 
 Sire, sir (a title of respect), P. 
 
 355. Lat. senior. 
 Sistren (pi. of sister), sisters, K. 
 
 1(31 ; cf. brethren. 
 Sith (e), time, times, ofte sithes, 
 
 ofte sithe = often times, P. 455, 
 
 Iv. 1019. A.S. sith. 
 Sith, Siththen, since, afterwards, 
 
 K. 72, 434; siththen that = since, 
 
 K. 1244. A.S. sith, time, silh 
 
 than (^)os^m), afterwards; Ger. 
 
 seit. 
 Sitte (pres. 3d sing, sit, pr. sat, 
 
 p.p. seten), to sit, K. 741, 594. 
 
 A.S. sittan [he sit), pr. saet, p.p. 
 
 seten. 
 Sittyng, staying, P. 638. 
 Skalled, having the scall, or scab, 
 
 P. 627 ; cf. sca/fZ-head. A.S. 
 
 scgl, a scale, scijlan, to separate. 
 Skathe, loss, misfortune, P. 446. 
 
 A.S. sceathan, Ger. schaclen. 
 Sklendre, slender, P. 587. From 
 
 a root signifying to danqle. 
 Skyn, skin, K. 1284. A.S. scin. 
 
 Probably from scinan, to appear, 
 
 to shine. 
 Slake, slow, slack, K. 2043. A.S. 
 
 slaec, from slaw, slow. 
 Slee (n), Slen (pr. slough slowh, 
 
 p.p. sl.ayn), to slay, P. 63, 661, 
 
 K. 122, 260, 1608. A.S. slean 
 
 (slagan), pr. sloh, p.p. slagen; 
 
 Ger. scldagen; iti. slaughter, sledge, 
 
 sleet. 
 Sleep, Slep (pr. of slepen), slept, 
 
 P. 98, 397, K. 616. 
 Sleere, a slayer, K. 1147. A.S. 
 
 sluga. 
 Sleeve, Sieve, a sleeve, P. 93. 
 
 A.S. slef, atefan, to put on. 
 Sleighly, prudently, K. 586 ; see 
 
 note. O.N. slaegr, cunning. 
 Sleighte, cunning, contrivance, 
 
 craft, P. 604. 
 Slepen (pr. sleep, slep), to sleep, 
 
 P. 10, 98, 397, K. 616. A.S. 
 
 slaepan, pr. slep, p.p. slaepen ; 
 
 Ger. schlafen. 
 Slepy, sleep-inducing, K. 529. 
 Shder, slippery, K. 406. A.S. 
 
 slidh, slippery, slidan, to slide; 
 
 cf. sled, sleigh. 
 Sloggardye, sluggishness, K. 184 ; 
 
 allied to slack — lag, with inten- 
 sive s. 
 Slough, Slowh. See Slee. 
 Snierte (pr. smerte), (v. impers.), 
 
 to pain, grieve, P. 230, 534, K. 
 
 536. A.S. smeortan, to smart, 
 
 Ger. schmerz. 
 Smerte, smartly, i.e. so as to cause 
 
 pain, P. 149. 
 Smite, Smyte (pr. sing, smot, 
 
 smoot, pi. sniiten, imp. pi. 
 
 smiteth), to smite, P. 149, 782. 
 
 A.S. smitan ; pr. ic smat, we 
 
 sndton. 
 Smothe, smooth, smoothly, P. 
 
 676. A.S. sniethe ; cf. Ger. 
 
 schnueden, to hammer; also 
 
 sfiiith. 
 Smyler, a hypocrite, K. 1141. 
 
 See note ; cf. Ger. schmeicheln. 
 Smyhng, smiles, P. 119. Danish 
 
 sinile. 
 Smyteth. See Smite. 
 Smyth, one who forges with a 
 
 hammer, a smith, K. 1167. 
 
 A.S. smith. 
 Snare, a snare, a net, K. 632. 
 
 A.S. sneare, Ger. schnur, a string ; 
 
 cf. a snai'e drum, — a drum with 
 
 a string across the head. 
 Snewede, abounded, P. 345. 
 
300 
 
 GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 
 
 Snybbe, to rebuke, to snuh, P. 
 
 623 ; an intensive form of nip ; 
 
 cf. snip, snub-nose. 
 Soberly, sad, soberlike, P. 289. 
 
 Fr. sobre, Lat. sobrie. 
 Socour, assistance, K. 60. Fr. 
 
 secours, Lat. succiirrere. 
 Sodeyn, sudden. Fr. soudain, A.S. 
 
 soden. 
 Sodeynly, Sodynliche, suddenly, 
 
 violently, K. 200, 717. A.S. 
 
 soden lice. 
 Solas, solace, pleasure, P. 798. 
 
 Fr. solas, Lat. solatium. 
 Solempne, festive, P. 209 ; im- 
 portant, P. 364. Lat. solemnis. 
 Solempnely, pompously, with 
 
 affected dignity, P. 274. 
 Solempnity, a feast, K. 12. 
 Som (pi. some), one, some, P. 640; 
 
 som . . . som = one . . . another, 
 
 K. 397, 399. A.S. sum, som, 
 
 some, one, some one. 
 Somdel (e), somewhat, P. 174, 
 
 446, K. 1312. A.S. duel, a part ; 
 
 cf. dole, good deal, to deal. 
 Somer, summer, P. 394. AS. 
 
 sumer, Ger. sommrr, allied to sun. 
 Soraetime, a while, P. 65 ; some 
 
 = a, one. 
 Sompnour, a summoner, a sort of 
 
 sheriff for the ecclesiastical 
 
 court, P. 543. Lat. sub monere. 
 Sondry, sundry, sondrij londes, 
 
 lands widely separated, P. 14. 
 
 A.S. si/ndrig, sundor = separate ; 
 
 Ger. sondern. 
 Sone, a son, P. 79. A.S. sunu, — 
 
 from root su, to beget. 
 Sone, soon, K. 562. A.S. sona, 
 
 Goth. suns. 
 Song (e). See Singe. 
 Sonne, the sun, P. 7, K. 5. A.S. 
 
 sunne, Goth, snnno, Ger. sonne. 
 Soot (e), sweet, K. 2002. A.S. 
 
 sirnt, siref, Lat. sua vis. 
 Sop, a small bit, sop in wt/n, bread 
 
 dipped in wine, P. 334. A.S. 
 
 supan, Goth, snpon, to soak, to 
 
 dip bread in sauce. 
 Soper, that which is sopped or 
 
 supped, dessert, delicacies, P. 
 
 348. A.S. supan; cf. sip, soup. 
 
 Sore, grief, K. 1375. A.S. sar; 
 
 cf. sorry. 
 Sore, Soor, severe, K. 897 ; sore, 
 
 sad, K. 1837. 
 Sore, (adv.), sorelv, severely, P. 
 
 230, K. 257. A.S". save, Ger. sehr. 
 Sort, lot, destiny, P. 844. Lat. 
 
 sors. 
 Sorw3, sorrow, K. 93, 361. A.S. 
 
 sorh, Ger. sorge. 
 Sorwe, to grieve, to sorrow, K. 
 
 1966. A.S. sorc/ian. 
 Sorrowful, full of grief, K. 212. 
 Sory, sorrowful, K. 1140. A.S. 
 
 sarig. 
 Soth, truth, true, P. 845 ; for sothe, 
 
 in truth, P. 283 ; soth to sayn, to 
 
 tell the truth ; fal soth is seyd, 
 
 full true is it said, K. 767. A.S. 
 
 soth, truth, true ; cf. soothsayer, 
 
 for-sooth, in-sooth. 
 Sothely, truly, P. 117. A.S. 
 
 sothlice. 
 Sotil, Sotyl, skilfully arranged, 
 
 subtle, K. 196 ; skilful, K. 1191. 
 
 Lat. subtilis. 
 Soule. See Sowle. 
 Soun, a sound, P. 674. Lat. somts. 
 Souper, a supper, P. 748. A.S. 
 
 supan, Fr. souper. 
 Souple, pliant, flexible, P. 203. 
 
 Fr. souple, Lat. suppnex. 
 Sowe, a sow, P. 552. A.S. sug, 
 
 Lat. sus, Ger. vg, and Eng. swine, 
 
 are allied. 
 Sowle, Soule, the soul, P. 781, K. 
 
 1005. A.^.sawel,Goi\\.saiwala, 
 
 Ger. seek. 
 Sowne,to sound, P. 565; soivni/nge, 
 
 sounding, boasting, P. 275 ; har- 
 monizing with, P. 307. Fr. son- 
 
 ner, Lat. sonarc. 
 Spak (pr. oispeken), spake, P. 124. 
 Spare, to refrain from, P. 192, 
 
 737. A.S. sparian. 
 Sparre, a bar, the timbers of a 
 
 building, K. 132. A.S. sparran, 
 
 to bolt. 
 Sparthe, a battle-axe, K. 1662. 
 Speche, speech, more speche, fur- 
 ther words, P. 783. A.S. spaec. 
 Special, in special, especially, P. 
 
 444. 
 
OLOBSARIAL INDEX. 
 
 301 
 
 Speede (pr. spedde), to speed, to 
 
 wish success to, P. 769 ; to 
 
 hasten, K. o59. A.S. spedan. 
 Speken (pr. apak), to speak, P. 
 
 142. A.S. specan, spreaoi. 
 Spende (pr. spente, p.p. spent), to 
 
 expend, P. 300, 645, 806. A.S. 
 
 speudan ; cf . Lat. expendere, to 
 
 weigh out. 
 Spare, a spear, K. 117. A.S. 
 
 spere. 
 Spiced, drugged, and so changed 
 
 in its nature, P. 526. See 
 
 note. 
 Spicerie, spices, K. 2077. 
 Spices, species, kinds, K. 2155. 
 
 Fr. e'pices, Lat. species. 
 Spirites, spirits, animal spirits, 
 
 K. 511. See note. 
 Spores, spurs, P. 473. A.S. 
 
 spura ; ci. spurn, spear. 
 Sprad (p.p.), spread, K. 2045. 
 
 A.S. sprdfdnn. 
 Springen, Sprynge (p.p. spj-on^e), 
 
 to spring up (of the day), to 
 
 dawn, P. 822, K. 579, 1315, 
 
 1351. A.S. sprenr/an, to burst 
 
 fortli ; cf. daipbrealc. 
 Squar, square, size, K. 218; see 
 
 note. Fr. esquarre, Lat. quadra, 
 
 from quatuor, four. 
 Squyer, an attendant who bore 
 
 the knight's shield, P. 79; squi/er 
 
 of the chamhre, " Knight of the 
 
 iloyal Bedchamber," K. 582. 
 
 Fr. €cu}jer, a squire [ecu, a shield) : 
 
 (1) an armor-bearer; (2) one 
 
 having the right to carry arms ; 
 
 (3) any person of distinction. 
 Stable, a stable, a standing-place, 
 
 P. 28. Lat. stabulum, from stare, 
 
 to stand; cf. A.S. steal, a room. 
 Stabled, established, K. 2137. 
 
 O.Fr. establir. 
 Stalke, a stalk, K. 178. Danish, 
 
 stilk, a handle ; allied to stock, 
 
 stick. 
 Stalke, to walk slowdy, stealthily, 
 
 K. 621. A.S. staeJcan, to walk 
 
 witli feet lifted high. 
 Starf. See Sterve. 
 Statue, statue, K. 117. ¥t. statue, 
 
 Lat. statua, stare. 
 
 Statute, a law enacted by a legis- 
 lative body, as distinguislied 
 from the unwritten law, P. 327. 
 Fr. statnt, Lat. statuere. 
 
 Staves (pi. of stajf), bludgeons, 
 statis, K. 1652. A.S. stucj'. 
 
 Stede, place, in stede, in place, in- 
 stead, P. 231. A.S. stede; cf. 
 hed-s'tead, steady, steadin^t. 
 
 Steede, a horse, a steed, K. 1637. 
 A.S. steda, a horse; cf. stud. 
 
 Steep, bright, P. 201. Semi- 
 Saxon, steap ; so " stcpe stones, 
 " stepe starres." 
 
 Steer, a steer, a yearling bullock, 
 K. 1291. A.S. steor; cf. Lat. 
 taurus. 
 
 Stele (pr. stal, p.p. stole, stolen), to 
 steal, P. 562. A.S. stelan, Ger. 
 sUdib'n, Goth, stitan. 
 
 Stemede, shone, P. 202. O.E. 
 steeni, a flame. 
 
 Stenten (pr. sfente, p.p. stent), to 
 stop, to check, K. 45, 510. A.S. 
 sfintan, to be blunt ; cf. stunt, 
 stint, stent. 
 
 Sterne, strong, K. 1296. A.S. 
 Sterne. 
 
 Sterre, a star, P. 268. A S. 
 steorra, a star, steorran, to steer, 
 i.e. by the stars ; cf. star-board = 
 steer-side ; cf. also A.S. streou-nn, 
 to strew. Sansc. stri, to scatter, 
 Gr. ucTTip, Lat. stella (steru/a). 
 
 Stert, a bound, at a stert (at a 
 bound), quickly, K. 847. 
 
 Sterte (pr. sterte, p.p. stert), to 
 start, leap, K. 94, 186, 222, 644. 
 Dutch, storten, Ger. stUrzen; cf. 
 st((rtle. 
 
 Sterve (pr. starf, p.p. istorve, stor- 
 ven), to die, K. 75, 286. A.S. 
 steor fan, Ger. sterben, Eng. starve: 
 (1) to die by hunger; (2) to die 
 by any means. 
 
 Steven, voice, K. 1704 ; at unset 
 stevene, witiiout previous ap- 
 pointment. A.S. stefn, a voice, 
 an agreement. 
 
 Stev/e, a fish-pond, P. 350. From 
 Dutch stau, a dam. 
 
 Stif, strong, firm, P. 673. A.S. 
 stif, A.S. steif. 
 
302 
 
 GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 
 
 Stille, quietly, still, K. 145. A.S. 
 
 sti/le. 
 Stith, an anvil, K. 1168. A.S. 
 
 st/'th, a post, (adj.) firm; from 
 
 sfandan, to sUind; cf. stithij. 
 Stiward, a steward, P. 579. A.S. 
 
 stiward = stowe-weard , the keeper 
 
 of a mansion or place : hence, 
 
 overseer in general ; cf. stow, a 
 
 place. 
 Stok, stock, family, K. 693. A.S. 
 
 stoc, a trunk. 
 Stoke = steke, to stick, stab, K. 
 
 1688. AS. sticinn, to stab. 
 Stomble, to stumble, to walk as 
 
 on stumps, K. 1755. 
 Stones, gems, precious stones, P. 
 
 609. 
 Stonge (n) (pp.), stung, stabbed, 
 
 K. 2"21. A.S. stim/an, stick, to 
 
 stab, is allied. 
 Stoon, a stone, P. 774. A.S. start, 
 
 Ger. stein, Goth, stains. 
 Stoor, store, property, P. 598. 
 
 O.Fr. estor. 
 Stories, histories, K. 1297. An 
 
 abbr. of history. 
 Stot, a stallion, P. 615. A.S. 
 
 stotte, stod, a horse. 
 Stounde, a moment, an hour, K. 
 
 354. A.S. stnnd, Ger. stande. 
 Stoute, Stowte, strong, P. 545; 
 
 bold, K. 1276; cf. stout-hearted. 
 
 A.S. stolt, Ger. siolz. 
 Strangle, strangling, K. 1600. 
 
 Lat. strangulare. 
 Straughte (pr. of strecche), 
 
 stretched, K. 2058; cf dis- 
 traught. 
 Straunge, foreign, P. 13. O.Fr. 
 
 estrange, Lat. exlraneus. 
 Stre (e), straw, K. 2060. A.S. 
 
 stre, splints, streow, straw, streow- 
 
 ian, to scatter : hence, that 
 
 which is spread; cf. Lat. ster- 
 
 nere. 
 
 Strecche (pr. sfm.^^/i^e), to stretch. 
 
 A.S. strercan, pr. stnht.e. 
 Streem, a stream, current, P. 402; 
 
 beams of light, K. 637. A.S. 
 
 stream, Ger. stroni. 
 Streepe, to strip, K. 148. A.S. 
 
 strupan, Ger. streifen. 
 
 Streyt, strict, narrow, P. 174; 
 direct, K. 832. Lat. strictus. 
 
 Streyt (e), closely, P. 457 ; imme- 
 diately, straiyk-wsiy, P. 671, K. 
 792. 
 
 Strif, Stryf, strife, contest, K. 
 976, 1580. O.Fr. estrif, Ger. 
 streben . 
 
 Strike [of flax), a handful that 
 may be hackled at once, a hank, 
 P. 676. From the verb to 
 strike. 
 
 Strof (pr. oi stryve), vied with, K. 
 180. 
 
 Strond, a strand, a beach, P. 13. 
 A.S. strand, border, edge. 
 
 Strong, sinewy, strong, mighty, 
 K. 566, 1515. A.S. Strang; 
 cf. string. 
 
 Strook, a stroke, K. 843. From 
 strike. 
 
 Stryve (pr. strof), to strive, to vie 
 with, to dispute, K. 180, 819. 
 O.Fr. estriver, Ger. streben. 
 
 Stubbes, stubs, stumps, trees 
 broken off at some distance from 
 the ground, K. 1120. A.S. stijb ; 
 cf. stubble, stump. 
 
 Stynte (pr. sti/nte), to stop, cease, 
 K. 476, 1490. See Stente. 
 
 Subtilly, craftily, P. 610. Lat. 
 subtilis — fine-spun. 
 
 Suflasaunce, a sufficiency, that 
 which suffices, P. 490. 
 
 Suffisaunt, suflicient, K. 773. Pr. 
 suffisant, Lat. sufficiens. 
 
 Sunge. See Singe. 
 
 Surcote, an overcoat, P. 617. Fr. 
 sur = over. 
 
 Surgerye, the surgical art, P. 413 ; 
 for surgeon?!/ ; surgeon is con- 
 tracted from chirurgeon. Gr. 
 Xeipovpyia, literally, handicraft. 
 
 Sustene, to sustain, K. 1135. 
 Lat. sustinere. 
 
 Suster, sister. A.S. siveostor, Goth. 
 swistar, Ger. schwester, Sansc. 
 swasri. 
 
 Sute, a suit (cloth), K. 2015. Fr. 
 suite, suirre, to follow ; hence 
 denoting things belonging to- 
 gether, "a suit of clothes," "a 
 suit of rooms." 
 
GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 
 
 303 
 
 Swan, a swan, P. 206. Ger. 
 schwan ; cf. A.S. swinsian, to 
 
 sing. 
 
 Swelte (pr. sicelte), to sigh like a 
 I)erson tainting, to faint, K. 498. 
 A.S. sweliaii, to die ; cf. sweiier. 
 
 Swerd, a sword, F. 112. A.S. 
 siceord, Ger. sc/acert. 
 
 Swere (pr. saw, swoor, p.p. i- 
 swore (n), to swear, affirm, P. 
 454, 810 ; see note, K. 003. 
 A.S. swerian, to swear; cf. an- 
 swer = and-swear, to speak in 
 return; A.S. swarian, to an- 
 swer. 
 
 Swete, sweet, P. 5, 265. A.S. 
 swete, O.S. swoti, Gotli.S(;//s (for 
 swot is), Lat. suavis, Ger. siiss. 
 
 Swich, such, so great, P. 3, K. 4. 
 A.S. swi/c (swa-lic). 
 
 Swote, Swoote, sweet. See 
 Swete. 
 
 Swough, a storm, the noise made 
 by a storm in the trees, — tlie 
 songhirici (sigliing) of the wind, 
 K. 1121. A.S. sweg, a sound. 
 
 Swoune, to swoon, K. 55. A.S. 
 swiiucm. 
 
 Swymbel, a moaning, K. 1121 ; 
 dim. of O.E. sicim, sighing. A.S. 
 swima, giddiness ; cf. a " swim- 
 ming in tiie head." 
 
 Swyn (s. & pi.), swine, P. 598. 
 A.S. sicin, Ger. schwein, Goth. 
 swein. Allied to soiv. 
 
 Swynk, labor, toil, P. 188. A.S. 
 SIC inc. 
 
 Swynke, to labor, toil, P. 186. 
 A.S. swincan, allied to swing; 
 cf. " a swingeiuf/ blow." 
 
 Swynkere, a laborer, P. 531. 
 
 Syde, side, upon that other sjjdt, on 
 the other hand, K. 417. 
 
 Syke, a sigh, K. 1062. 
 
 Syke, to sigh, K. 2127. A.S. 
 si/can, to sigh, si/ce. 
 
 Symple, artless, guileless, P. 119. 
 Lat. simplex. 
 
 Syn, since, P. 601, 853; an abbr. 
 of sithens, sithen. A.S. sith-than ; 
 cf. sifh. 
 
 Syth, since, K. 72, afterwards. 
 A.S. sith. 
 
 T. 
 
 Tabard, a sleeveless coat em- 
 broidered with the arms of the 
 wearer, originally worn by 
 noblemen, — subsequently worn 
 by heralds ; hence any similar 
 coat, a farmer's blouse, P. 
 541. 
 
 Table, a table, P. 100. Fr. table, 
 LaVtalnUa. The A S. for table 
 is bord. 
 
 Taflfata, taffeta, a fine silk stuff", 
 P. 440. 
 
 Taille, tally, took by taille, bought 
 on credit, P. 570. Fr. tailler, to 
 cut, — alluding to the method 
 of keeping accounts by notches 
 cut in a stick ; cf. retail, detail, 
 tailor. 
 
 Take (pr. toh, took, p.p. take (n), 
 imp. s. tak, pi. taketh), to take; 
 to take our weije, to journey, P. 
 34, 789, K. 1789. A.^.tacan; 
 allied to Lat. tanejere, to touch ; 
 hence : ( 1 ) to receive any thing 
 in the hand; (2) to take hold 
 of; (3) to begin any thing. 
 
 Takel, an arrow, tackle, P. 106 ; 
 an outfit, — what one takes, 
 what is necessary. A.S. tacan, 
 to attach. 
 
 Tale, a discourse, story, K. 30, 
 •719. A.S. taelan, to blame, tel- 
 lan, to speak, tael, a story, a 
 slander ; cf. to/e-bearer, teW-tale. 
 
 Talen, to tell tales, P. 772. A.S. 
 taelan. 
 
 Tallage = to allege, K. 2142. 
 Lat. allegare. 
 
 Tame, tame, subdued, K. 1320. 
 A.S. tain, Ger. z(dun ; cf. temian, 
 to tame, to yoke ; Lat. doniare, 
 Gr. daimv, to tame 
 
 Tapicer, a maker of tapestry, P. 
 362. Fr. tapis. 
 
 Tappestere, a tapster, P. 241 ; 
 tap is allied to stop. A.S. tap- 
 pestre. 
 
 Tare, the vetch, — used to denote 
 any small amount, K. 712. 
 
 Targe, a small shield, P. 471. Fr. 
 targe, dim. target. 
 
3^4 
 
 GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 
 
 Tarie, to tarry, K. 1962. O.Fr. 
 targer ; cf. Lat. tardus. 
 
 Tart, sharp, pungent, P. 381. 
 A.S. teart, from tearan, to tear. 
 Tart, the noun, is from ¥r. 
 tarte, Lat. tortus. 
 
 Taryinge, delay, P. 821 ; cf. tardy. 
 
 Tas, Taas, a heap, K. 147, 151, 
 1G2. Fr. tas. 
 
 Tathenes = to Athens, K.^ 165. 
 
 Tavern, an inn, P. 240. 'Fr. ta- 
 verne, Lat. labema, a liut made 
 of boards ; lience a boarding 
 place ; as board = table. 
 
 Teche, to teach, P. 308, 482. A.S. 
 taecan. 
 
 Teene, mischief, harm, K. 2248. 
 A.S. teona, injury. 
 
 Tempest, a storm, P. 406 (see 
 note) ; a notable time, K. 26. 
 
 Tendite = to endite, tell, K. 351. 
 
 Tendre, tender, P. 6 ; soft, P. 
 150. Fr. tendre, Lat. tener, soft. 
 
 TentCj a tent, K. 163. Fr. tente, 
 Lat. tendere, to stretch. 
 
 Teres, tears, K. 422. A.S. tear, 
 iaeher, Goth, tagr, Gr. Jckpu, 
 Lat. laa-yma, W. deigr. 
 
 Terraes, sessions of the court, P. 
 323; terms, technical terms, P. 
 639; hmit, end, K. 171. Fr. 
 terme, Lat. terminus, a limit; 
 hence: (1) an end; (2) a logical 
 term, — the ends of a proposi- 
 tion; (3) that which is ended, 
 e.g. a term of years. 
 
 Testers, head-pieces, helmets, K. 
 1641. O.Fr. teste, the head. 
 
 Text, a text, the subject of dis- 
 course, P. 177. Fr. texte, Lat. 
 text us. 
 
 Thabsence = the absence, K. 
 381. 
 
 Thank, thanks, P. 612; his thonkes, 
 of his own accord, willingly, 
 eagerly, K. 768, 1249; here 
 thankes, of their own accord, 
 eagerly, K. 1256. A.S. thane, 
 thencan, to remember. 
 
 Than (ne), then, P. 12. 
 
 Tharraes = the arms, the branches, 
 K. 2058. 
 
 Tharray — the array, P. 716. 
 
 That, Avho, P. 310; to that de. 
 
 gree, so that, K. 581, 1568. 
 Thavys = the adcice, the agree- 
 ment, the sanction, K. 2218. 
 The, thee, K. 225, 335 (adv. ^ 
 
 eo), the more — more by this, P. 
 
 802. See note. 
 Theatre, an amphitheatre, K. 
 
 1027. From the Gr. to view. 
 Theef, a thief, K. 467. A.S. iheof, 
 
 Goth, thiubs, Ger. dieb. 
 Theflfect =: the effect, the result, 
 
 K. 331 ; the conclusion, K. 629. 
 Thei, they, P. 745. See note. 
 Thencens = the incense, K. 1419. 
 
 Fr. encens, Lat. incendere, to 
 
 burn. 
 Thenchauntementz = the en- 
 chantments, K. 1086. 
 Thencres = the increase, P. 275. 
 Thentre = the entrance, K. 1125. 
 
 Fr. entree. 
 Ther (indefinite pron.), there, P. 
 
 43, 79 ; where, P. 34, 647 ; on 
 
 this occasion, P. 259 ; then, K. 
 
 321; ther as = whither, to that 
 
 (place) which, P. 34; Avhere, 
 
 in that (place) which, P. 172, 
 
 249, K. 126 ; ther as, there 
 
 where, K. 2000. 
 Ther fore ( = for this), for this 
 
 reason, therefore, P. 189, 444. 
 
 A.S. for-tham. 
 Therto (=to this), besides, also, 
 
 in addition, P. 153, 325, 536; 
 
 eek therto, and also, P. 757, K. 
 
 566; to it, K. 1251. 
 Therupon (= upon this), at this 
 
 time, P. 819. 
 Therwith (= with this), then, 
 
 upon that, K. 441 ; cf. thereupon. 
 Therwithal (= wholly with this), 
 
 therewith, with this, P. 566 ; 
 
 at tliat very time, K. 220. 
 Thes, these, K. 673. 
 Thestat = the estate, P. 719. 
 Thider, thither, K. 834. A.S. 
 
 thider, from the. 
 Thikke, close together, K. 217. 
 
 A.S. thin, Ger. dirk. 
 Thilke, that, the like, P. 182, K. 
 
 335. A.S. thillic, thijlc ; literally 
 
 like this, or that. 
 
GLOSSABIAL INDEX, 
 
 305 
 
 Thing (s. and pi.), a portion, to 
 make a thing, lo write a poem, 
 P. 325 ; litel thing, a small por- 
 tion, P. 490 ; incidents, things, 
 P. 736. A.S. thincg. '"Die 
 primitive meaning seems to be 
 discourse, tiien solemn discus- 
 sion, judicial consideration, 
 council, court of justice, law- 
 suit, cause, sake, matter, or 
 subject of discourse." Wedg- 
 wood. Allied to thencan, to call 
 to mind. 
 
 Thinke, Thynke, pr. thoughte (v. 
 impers.), to seem, me thinketh, 
 it seems to me, P. 37 ; if. thoughte 
 me, it seemed to me, P. 385 ; him 
 thoughte, it seemed to him, P. 
 682 ; ns thoughte, it seemed to us, 
 P. 785. A.S. thincan. 
 
 Thinke (v. pers.), to remember, 
 to think, K. 748. A.S. thencan. 
 
 Thinne, thin, small in quantity, 
 P. 679. A.S. thyn, thenian, al- 
 lied to Lat. tendere, to stretch. 
 
 Thirle, to pierce, K. 1852. A.S. 
 thirlian, to i)ierce, clriU, from 
 thurh, through ; cf. thrill, trill, 
 drill, nos-tril. 
 
 Thise, these, P. 701. A.S. thaes. 
 
 The (pi.), the, those, P. 498, K. 
 265 ; them, K. 1493. A.S. tha. 
 
 The, then, K. 135. A.S. tha. 
 
 Thoflace = the office, the sacred 
 duty, K. 2005. Lat. ofjicium. 
 
 Thonke. See Thank. 
 
 Thorisoun = the orisoun, prayer, 
 K. 1403. O.Fr. orison, Lat. 
 oratio, from orare, to pray. 
 
 Though, although, though that, 
 although it be that, P. 68. A.S. 
 theah, the demonst., uh (Lat. 
 ce, que) ; cf. qaanquam. 
 
 Thought, anxiety, care, melan- 
 choly, K. 1374. A.S. thoht. 
 
 Thousand, a thousand, K. 811. 
 A.S. thusend, Goth, thusundja, 
 taihun, ten, sund (hund), one 
 hundred. 
 
 Thral, a slave, a serf, K. 694. 
 A.S. thrall, Gael, traill. 
 
 Thredbare, bare to the thread, 
 threadbare, P. 290. A.S. thraed. 
 
 Thread, thread, K. 1172. AS. 
 thraed from thraimn, to twist ; 
 Ger. drehtn, alluding to the 
 original method of spinning. 
 
 Threissha, to thresh, P. 536. A.S 
 thcrscan, to beat, Ger. dreschen. 
 
 Thresta, to thrust, to force one's 
 way, K. 1754 ; of. A.S. thrist, 
 bold, Goth, trudan, to tread. 
 
 Thridda, third, K. 605, 1413. 
 A.S. thridda, from thri. 
 
 Thriftily, carefully, in the man- 
 ner of a thriving man, P. 105. 
 From thrive, thrift. 
 
 Throng, a crowd, throng, K. 
 1754. A.S. thring, thringan, to 
 crowd, Ger. dringen. 
 
 Thurgh, through, K. 62, 362. 
 A.S. tJiurh, Ger. durch ; cf. 
 thorough, thorough/are. See 
 Thirle. 
 
 Thurghfare, a thoroughfare, a 
 journey, K. 1989. A.S. thurh- 
 fare. 
 
 Thurgh-girt, to pierce through, 
 K. 152. See Girt. 
 
 Thurghout, quite through, 
 throughout, K. 238. 
 
 Thus, in this manner, P. 7C1. 
 Formed from the demonst. as 
 how from the interrogative. 
 A.S. (inst. case), thgs. 
 
 Thysalvan, thyself, K. 316, Lit- 
 erally a dative = by thyself. 
 
 Til, to, K. 620. O.N. td, to ; cf. 
 until. 
 
 To (verbal prefix) has an inten- 
 sive force, Ger,.t«. 
 
 To, at, P. 30 ; for, K. 1853. 
 
 To-breste (p.p. to-brosten), to burst 
 asunder, ta break to pieces, K. 
 1753, 1833, 1899. A.S. to-herstan. 
 
 Togidre, together, togidre alle, all- 
 together, P. 824. A.S. to-gaedre. 
 From gather. 
 
 To-hewen, to hew to pieces, K. 
 1751. A.S. to-heawan. 
 
 ToUen, to toll, to take toll, P. 
 562. A.S. toll, Ger. zoll, a tax ; 
 cf talian, to compute. Wedg- 
 Avood refers to Lat. telonium. 
 
 To-morwa = the morrow, P. 780. 
 See note. 
 
 20 
 
3o6 
 
 GLQ^SARIAL INDEX. 
 
 Tonge, the congue, P. 712. A.S. 
 
 tunge, Goth, tttggo, Ger. zunge, 
 
 Lat. lingua (dingua). 
 Tonne-greet, as large as a tun, K. 
 
 113G. Fr. tonne, a barrel, Lat. 
 
 tina, a Avine vessel. 
 Too, a toe, K. 1868. A.S. ta {tan 
 
 = a twig, sprout), — as though 
 
 the toes were sprouts growmg 
 
 from the feet. 
 Took (pr. of fake), conjectured, 
 
 understood, K. 140. A.S. tac- 
 
 m'an ; cf . token. 
 Top, foretop, P. 590. 
 Toret, a turret, K. 1051. Fr. 
 
 tonrette, dim. of tour, Lat. tnrris. 
 Torettz, rings, a ring affixed to 
 
 the collar of a dog, whereby he 
 
 might be fastened, K. 1204. 
 Tormente, to torment, to torture, 
 
 K. 456. O.Fr. tori)ienfer. See note. 
 Tome, to turn, K. 162. Fr. tour- 
 
 ner. 
 To-sehrede, to shred to pieces, 
 
 torn to shreds, K. 1751. A.S. 
 
 to-sceadan ; cf. A.S. sceran, to 
 
 cut. 
 Toun, a town, P. 217 ; see note. 
 
 A.S. tun, an enclosure, tijnan, to 
 
 enclose; from tan, rods, the 
 
 means by wdiicli enclosure is 
 
 effected ; cf. yard. 
 Tour, a tower, K. 172, A.S. tor?-, 
 
 Fr. tour, Lat. turris. 
 Trace, a track, P. 176. Fr. trace, 
 
 Lat. tractus ; cf. trail. 
 Trapped, decked, K. 1299. Fr. 
 
 drap, cloth ; cf. draped. 
 Trappures, trappings, K. 1641 ; 
 
 cf. drapery. 
 Traunce, a trance, K. 714. Fr. 
 
 transe, Lat. transitus : (1) death ; 
 
 (2) a state resembling death, 
 
 syncope. 
 Travaile, labor, toil, K. 1548 ; see 
 
 note. Fr. travail. 
 Trays, traces, K. 1281. O.Fr. 
 
 trace, Lat. trahere, to draw. 
 Trede, to tread, K. 2164. A.S. 
 
 tredan, Ger. treten. 
 Tresoun, treachery, a violation 
 
 of allegiance, K. 1143. Fr. tra- 
 
 hison, Lat. traditio. 
 
 Trespace, Irespass, K. 960. Fr. 
 
 trespai>ser. 
 Tresse, a tress, K. 191. Fr. tresse. 
 
 Literally, a braid of three 
 
 strands. 
 Trete, a treaty, K. 430. Fr. traits, 
 
 Lat. tracfatus. 
 Tretys, slender, w^ell-propor- 
 
 tioned, P. 152. 
 Trewe, trusty, P. 531. A.S. 
 
 treowa, trust, Goth, triggws, true. 
 Trewely, truly, simply, P. 481. 
 Trompe, a trumpet, P. 674, K, 
 
 1316. Fr. trompe, O.H.G. trumba, 
 
 a drum ; cf . trondione. 
 Tronehoun, a staff, a spear han- 
 
 die, K. 1751. Lat. truncus. 
 Trone, a throne, K. 1671. Fr. 
 
 troiie, Lat. tlironus. 
 Trouthe, truth, P. 46, 763 ; troth, 
 
 agreement, K. 752. A.S. treowth, 
 
 that in wdiich one may trust ; 
 
 A.S. treowian, to trust. 
 Trowe, to believe, P. 155, 524, K. 
 
 662. A.S. treowian, to trust. 
 Trussed up, tied up, P. 681. 
 
 O.Fr. torser, Fr. trousser, Lat. 
 
 torquere, to twist. 
 Tukked, clothed, P. 621. A.S. 
 
 tucian, to clothe, O.E. tuck, Ger. 
 
 tuck, cloth. 
 Tunge, a tongue, P. 265. See 
 
 Tonge. 
 Tuo, two, P. 639. A.S. tuoa, Ger. 
 
 zwei, Lat. duo. 
 Turneynge, a tournament, K. 
 
 1699 ; part, of tome. 
 Twenty, twenty, P. 24. A S. 
 
 twentig ; twen = twain ; tig, Lat. 
 
 dec-em, Gr. df/ca, ten. Ten, O.S. 
 
 tehan, Goth, iaihun = Lat. de- 
 cern. 
 Tweye, two, twain, P. 704, 792, 
 
 K. 40, 270, 836. A.S. twegen, 
 
 tiva ; ct. twin, to twin (separate), 
 
 twine, twist,' twig, tway-h\side,twi- 
 
 light, twelve, twenty. 
 Twine (p.p. tivine), to twine, to 
 
 spin, twined, K. 1172. A.S. 
 
 twinan (from twa), to spin ; cf. 
 
 twist (a cord). 
 T Wynne, to separate, depart, P. 
 
 835. From two. 
 
OLOSSAPdAL INDEX. 
 
 307 
 
 Tyme, the proper time, K. 974. 
 
 A.S. tima, time; yetimian, to 
 
 happen. 
 Typet, a hood, cowl (used as a 
 
 pocket), tippet, P. 233 ; dim. of 
 
 tape, a baml. 
 Tythes, tenths, tithes, P. 486. 
 
 A.S. teotha, from tijn, ten. 
 
 u. 
 
 Unces, small portions, P. 677 ; 
 literally ounces, Lat. uncia, a 
 twelfth part of a lb. = an ounce; 
 of a foot = an inch. 
 
 Uncouth, Uncowth, rare, un- 
 known, K. IGo'J. A.S. uncut/i, 
 from cunnan, to know. 
 
 Undergrowe, undergrown, P. 
 156. 
 
 Understonde, to understand, to 
 venture, P. 746. A.S. under- 
 standan, Ger. unterstehen. 
 
 Undertake, to affirm, P. 288; lit- 
 erally to take upon one's self; 
 of. undertaking . 
 
 Unknowe (p.p), unknown, P. 
 126, K. 548. 
 
 Unkonnyng, ignorant, inex- 
 perienced, K. 1535; cunnin;/ == 
 knowing. A.S. cnnnan, to know. 
 
 Unset, not previously agreed 
 upon, K. 666. 
 
 Unto, till, until, K. 286. Goth. 
 xinte. 
 
 Untresse d, unfastened, unbraided, 
 K. 1431, See Tresse. 
 
 Untrewe, untruly, P. 735. 
 
 Unwist, unknown, K. 2119. A.S. 
 icita n . 
 
 Unyolden (p-p), imyielded, un- 
 conquered, K. 1784. A.S. (/ijl- 
 dan, to pay. 
 
 Up, upon, K. 849. 
 
 Up-haf (pr. of up-heve), raised up, 
 K. 1570. A.S. hebban. 
 
 Upright, lying upon the back, K. 
 1150. A.S. np-areht, erect. 
 
 Upriste, uprising, K. 193. 
 
 Up-so-doun, upsidedown, K. 519. 
 iSo is the old relative sim^ cor- 
 rupted into side by a false ety- 
 mology. 
 
 Upsterte, started up, arose, K. 
 
 441 ; cf. noun, upstart. 
 Up-yaf (pr. of np-(jive), gave up, 
 
 sent up, K. 1569. 
 Usage, experience, K. 1590, Lat. 
 
 vsus. 
 utterly, wholly, K. 296, 705. A.S. 
 
 utor, comp. of ut. Prom the 
 
 idea of remoteness or extremity 
 
 readily passing to the idea of 
 
 completion. 
 
 V. 
 
 Vasselage, service as a vassal, 
 valor, K. 2196 ; from W. gwas, 
 a youth, arose the Mid. Lat. 
 vassus, a retainer, a vassal. 
 
 Vavasour, one next in dignity to 
 a baron, P. 360. Allied to vas- 
 sal, valet. 
 
 Veil, a vail, P. 695 ; strictly the 
 sail of a ship. Lat. velum {vehu- 
 lum), from vchere, to carry. 
 
 Venerye, hunting, the chase, P. 
 166, K. 1450. Lat. venari ; cf. 
 t"e;»'sort = game taken in hunt- 
 ing ; so used in Gen. xxvii. 3. 
 
 Ventusyng, cupping, K. 1889. 
 Lat. ventus, the blood being ex- 
 tracted by atmospheric press- 
 ure. 
 
 Venym, venom, poison, K. 1898. 
 Lat. venenum, poison. 
 
 Verdite, decision, verdict, P. 787. 
 Lat. vere-dictum. 
 
 Vernicle, a handkercliief having 
 upon it a picture of Christ, P. 
 685. See note. 
 
 Verraily, truly, P. 338. Fr. vrai, 
 Lat. vet-e. 
 
 Verray, true, very, P. 72, Fr. 
 vrai, Lat, veruni. 
 
 Vertu, ability, power, K. 578, 
 1391, 1891. Fr. verta, Lat. vir- 
 tus, from vir, a man. 
 
 Vertuovis, active, energetic, P. 
 251 ; upright, virtuous, P. 515. 
 Lat. vir. 
 
 Vese, a storm, a rush of wind, K. 
 1127. 
 
 Vestimentz, garments, vestments, 
 K. 2090. Goth, wasti, Lat. testis. 
 
3o8 
 
 GLOSSABIAL INDEX. 
 
 Veyn, vain, K. 236. Fr. vain, 
 
 Lat. vanus, empty, 
 Veyne, a vein, P. 3 ; vei/ne blood, 
 
 blood of the veins, bleeding, K. 
 
 1889. Lat. vena. 
 Viage, a voyage, a journey by 
 
 sea or land, P. 77, 723. Lat. 
 
 viaticum, passage money, Fr. 
 
 voyage. 
 Victorie, victory, K. lo8L Fr. 
 
 victoire, Lat. vincere, to conquer. 
 Vigiles, vigils, a religious service 
 
 held in tlie evening, P. 377 ; see 
 
 note. Literally, watchitu/s. 
 Vileinye, Vilonye, ungentleman- 
 
 ly conduct, P. 70 ; see note ; 
 
 low breeding, P. 726 ; depraved 
 
 discourse, P. 740 ; to do vileinye, 
 
 to cause disgrace, K. 84. 
 Visage, countenance, that which 
 
 is seen, P. 628. Lat. visas ; cf. 
 
 Ger. gesicht. 
 Visite, to go to see, to visit, P. 
 
 493, K. 336. Lat. videre, to see. 
 VitaiHe, victuals, P. 248, 569, 
 
 749. Lat. victualis, from vivere, 
 
 to live. 
 Vouchesauf, to grant, vouchsafe, 
 
 P. 807, 812. to vouch or guar- 
 antee safety. Lat. vocare salvum. 
 Voyde, to expel, evacuate, throw 
 
 out, K. 1893. 
 
 w. 
 
 "Waar. See "War. 
 
 "Wages, wages, promised reward, 
 K. 945. A.S. ived, a pledge, 
 Lat. vas, Mid. Lat. vadium, Fr. 
 gage, gages, money paid to a 
 person as a pledge for his ser- 
 vices. 
 
 "Waillyng, mourning, bewailing, 
 K. 508. Icel. valla, to lament. 
 
 "Wake-pleyes, funeral games, 
 games played while watching 
 the dead, K. 2102 ; wake = 
 Avatch. A.S. tvacian. 
 
 "Wal, a Avail, K. 132. A.S. weall, 
 Lat. vallum. 
 
 "Walet, a wallet, a knapsack, P. 
 681 ; cf Fr. mallette, dim. of 
 vudle, bag. 
 
 Walk, walking, K. 211. See 
 note. 
 
 Wan (pr. of wijnne), won, earned, 
 P. 442 ; conquered, K. 131. 
 
 Wan, pale, K. 1598. A.S. ivan, 
 from ivanian, to wane, — the 
 appearance of one in waning 
 health. 
 
 Wandryng, wandering, wanton- 
 ness ; cf . Cant. T. 6237 ; sulfer- 
 ing(?), P. 467. See note. 
 
 Wane, to Avane, to decrease, K. 
 1220. A.S. Iranian, to diminish. 
 
 Wanhope, despair, K. 391. Hope 
 that has waned. 
 
 Wantoun, free, unrestrained, P. 
 208. A. ^. ivan = un, itowen^=- 
 educated, from teon, to train. 
 
 Wantounesse, Avantonness, af- 
 fected nicety that seeks to be 
 different from others, P. 264. 
 
 Wantyng, missing, lack, K. 1807. 
 A.S. u-ana, deficiency. 
 
 War, Waar, aAvare, P. 157 ; Avary, 
 cautious, P. 309 ; / was waar, I 
 Avas aware, I perceived, P. 157 ; 
 he was war. Is.. 38. A.S. ivar ; 
 cf Ger. wahren, to perceive. 
 
 Ward, a suffix denoting situation, 
 direction, P. 793 ; see note. 
 A.S. weard, weardes ; cf. Lat. 
 vert ere, to turn. >• 
 
 Ware, to Avarn, to beAvare, P. 
 662. A.S. warian. 
 
 Waste, Avasted, ruined, K. 473. 
 A.S. iveste, Lat. vastus. 
 
 Wastel-breed, fine Avhite bread, 
 P. 147. A.S. loist, victual, O.Fr. 
 gasteau, a cake. 
 
 Wawes, waves, K. 1100. A.S. 
 ivaeg, ivagian, to wave, ivag. 
 
 Wayke, Aveak, K. 29. A.S. wac, 
 from ivican, to give Avay, Ger. 
 weichen. 
 
 Waylle, to Avail, K. 73 ; to cry, 
 wa-la, wo ! 
 
 Waymentyng, A\'ailing, lamen- 
 tation, K. 137, 1063. O.Fr. 
 ivaimenter, to lament, cry, ivoe! 
 
 Wayte, to Avatch for, look for, P. 
 525, K. 364; to attend to, P. 
 571. A.S. waeccan, Ger. zoachten. 
 
 W^ebbe, a Aveaver, P. 362. A.S. 
 
GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 
 
 309 
 
 wehha, a weaver, icefan, Ger. 
 
 rceben, to weave ; cf. ivife. 
 Wedde, a pledge, K. 350. A.S. 
 
 iced, hence wedding, wedlock. 
 Wedden, to wed, to marry, K. 
 
 10, 974, 2240. A.S. weddian, to 
 
 covenant, to proniijfe. 
 "Wede, clothing, K. 148 ; see note. 
 
 A.S. waed. 
 Weel, well, K. 68, 1265. A.S. 
 
 ivael, icel. 
 "Wei, full, very, K. 653 ; wel better, 
 
 much better, K. 390 ; wel neyh, 
 
 very nearly, K. 472. A.S. wel, 
 
 Ger. rcold. 
 "Welaway, alas ! K. 80. A.S. 
 
 wa-la-wa, wo-oh-wo, sometimes 
 
 spelled well-a-dcii). 
 Welcome, a salutatory interjec- 
 tion, P. 762, 854. A.S. wilcume, 
 
 ivilcumian, to greet. 
 Wele, weal, wealth, K. 37. A.S. 
 
 wela, from well, Ger. wohl. 
 Welle, a spring, a source, K. 
 
 1425. A.S. we(dl, from weallan, 
 
 to boil, spring up. 
 Wende (n) (pr. icente), to go, to 
 
 wend (one's way), P. 16, 21, K. 
 
 1356, 1412. A.S. wendan, Ger. 
 
 wenden. 
 Wane (pr. icende), to ween, to 
 
 vainly hope, K. 411 ; to sup- 
 pose, think, K. 797. A.S. 
 
 wenan, to hope, to think, Goth. 
 
 icengan, Ger. icdhnen. 
 Wenged, winged, K 527. 
 Wepe (n), (pr. iceep, ivep, p.p. 
 
 ivepen), to weep, to weep aloud, 
 
 P. 144, 230, K. 1487. A.S. 
 
 wepan, Goth, icopjan, to call, to 
 
 cry, A.S. ivop, outcry; cf. whoop, 
 
 war-ichoop, ichooping-counyv. 
 Wepen (pi. wepne), a weapon, K. 
 
 733, 743. A.S. iraepen. 
 Were, to protect, K. 1692. A.S. 
 
 iverian, to defend ; cf . to wear. 
 Were (pr. iverede), to wear, P. 
 
 75, 564. A.S. iverian. 
 Werken, Wirche, to work, to 
 
 act, P. 779, K. 1901. A.S. 
 
 wifrcan, Ger. iverhen. 
 Wern = weren, pi. of were, P. 
 
 591. 
 
 Werre, war, P. 47, K. 429. Fr. 
 
 guerre, A.S. ivaer, Du. werre. 
 Werreye, to make war upon, K. 
 
 626, 686. O.Fr. werrier, from 
 
 werre, guerre, war. 
 Werse, worse, K. 366. A.S. ivi/rs, 
 
 coinp. of weor, bad. 
 Werte, a wart, P. 555. A.S. tceart, 
 
 Ger. warze. 
 Wessch (pr. of n-asache), washed, 
 
 K. 1425. A.S. wascan, pr. irosc. 
 Wette (pr. wette), to wet, wetted, 
 
 P. 129. A.S. waet. 
 Wex, wax, P. 675. A.S. weax. 
 Wexe (pr. ice.re), to increase, to 
 
 grow, K. 504. A.S. ivea.ran, 
 
 pr. weoT, Ger. wachsen, Goth. 
 
 ivahsjan. 
 Wexyng, increasing, growing, K. 
 
 1220. 
 Weye, a way, P. 34, 467, 771. 
 
 A.S. weg, Goth, icigs, Lat. via. 
 Weye, to consider, to weigh, K. 
 
 923. A.S. icegan, to move, to 
 
 weigh ; figuratively, denoting 
 
 mental action. Cf. po7ider, de- 
 liberate. 
 Weyle, to wail, K. 363. To cry, 
 
 wa-la. 
 Weymentynge, lamentation, K. 
 
 44. See Waymentynge. 
 Whan (ne), wlien, 1^. 5; whan 
 
 that ^^ when (it is that), P. 1, 
 
 801. 
 What, why, P. 184 ; well then ! 
 
 P. 854 ; in what respect, K. 171. 
 
 Lat. rpiid; rchat . . . what, partly 
 
 . . . partly, K. 595. Lat. quid . . . 
 
 quid. 
 Wheel, Whel, a wheel, K. 67, 
 
 1165. A.S. hweol, allied to Goth. 
 
 icahvjan ; Lat. volcere, Eng. ical- 
 
 low. 
 Whelkes, pimples, swellings, P. 
 
 632. A.S. hwi/lca, a swollen 
 
 vein ; cf . tcale, weal, ivheal. 
 Wher, where, K. 1952. A.S. 
 
 liwaer. 
 Wher, whether, K. 990, 1394. 
 Where, in what place, irhere as, 
 
 where, there where, K. 255 ; 
 
 where that, where (it is that), 
 
 K. 39. 
 
3IO 
 
 GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 
 
 Wherfore, for which, K. 710. 
 
 Wherwith, with what, P. 302. 
 Whether, whether that, whether 
 (it is that), P. 570. 
 
 "Whether, which of two, K. 998, 
 a comp. form of ivhich. 
 
 "Which, what, what sort of, P. 
 40 ; which that, who, P. 796, K. 
 1203 ; which, K. 138 ; which a, 
 what sort of a, K. 1817. A.S. 
 hwH/Iic htvylc = like what. 
 
 Whii (es), whilst, P. 35, 397. 
 A.S. hivil, time; cf awhile. 
 
 ■Whilom, formerly, once, P. 795, 
 K. 1, 1545. A.S. hwilum, dat, 
 pi. of hivil ; ct. seld-oin. 
 
 Whit, Whyte, white, P. 238, K. 
 195, A.S. hwit, Goth, hiueits, 
 Ger. weiss, Sansc. Qvita. 
 
 "Whoso, whosoever, P. 731. A.S. 
 swa-hiod-swa. Swa (so) is a pro- 
 noun ; cf. sucli, swilc ; Goth. 
 swa-leiks ; cf. Lat. qn.isquis. 
 
 "Widewe, a widow, P. 253, K. 
 313. A.S. widuwe, Lat. vidua, 
 Sansc. vi-dhaoa = without-hus- 
 band. 
 
 "Wif, a woman, wife, P. 445. 
 A.S. loif, from we fan, to weave : 
 cf. wif-mnn, woman, ivaepman, 
 weapon-man. The word origi- 
 nally denoted sex rather than 
 marriage. Cf. good-wife, house- 
 ivife. 
 
 "Wight, a creature, a man, P. 71, 
 326. A.S. loiht, Ger. ivicht ; cf. 
 ivhit, aught. 
 
 "Wight, weight, K. 1287, 1662. 
 A.S. iviht, from wecjan, to weigh. 
 
 "Wikke, bad ; physically weak, 
 morally wicked, K. 229. A.S. 
 wican, to be weak, sioican, to 
 deceive; cf. iviccian, to bewitch. 
 
 "Wikkedly, craftily (using the arts 
 of the wizard), K. 877. See 
 note. A.S. wiccian, to enchant ; 
 cf. loitch. 
 
 "Wilne, to desire, wish, K. 751, 
 1256. A. S.. wiinian. 
 
 "Wiltow, wilt thou, K. 686. 
 
 "Wilwe, a willow-tree, K. 2064. 
 
 Wind, a breeze, wind, P. 170. 
 Root wa, to blow. 
 
 "Wirche (pr. icroughte, p.p. wroght), 
 
 to work, P, 497, K. 154, 1901. 
 
 A.S. wijrcan, pr. worhte ; cf. Gr. 
 
 Ipyov, work. 
 Wis = iwis, certainly, K. 1928. 
 
 A.S. gewis. 
 "Wisdom, "Wysdom, "Wisdam, 
 
 learning, P. 575. A.S. wisdom. 
 "Wise, Wyse, manner, mode, K. 
 
 480, 1386. A.S. wise, Ger. weise; 
 
 cf. guise. 
 "Wisly, certainly, surely, truly, 
 
 K. 1005, 1376. A.S. wislice, 
 
 Ger. gewisslich. 
 "Wiste. See "Wite. 
 "Wit, judgment, understanding, 
 
 P. 279, 573, 746. A.S. wit, 
 
 mind. 
 Wite (I, he wot, thou wast, we 
 
 iviten, pr. iviste), to know, P. 
 
 224, 280, 389, K 298, 305, 936, 
 
 976. A.S. witan; pr. wiste; cf. 
 
 wittij. 
 With, with, at the same time 
 
 with, P. 856 ; by, P. 406, 705; in 
 
 composition usually = a^rtms^ 
 "Withalle, besides (with all the 
 
 rest), P. 127 ; in spite of all, P. 
 
 283. 
 Withholde (pp.), maintained, 
 
 held with, P. 511. 
 Withouten, without, P. 538, 783, 
 
 K. 347; besides, P. 461. A.S. 
 
 loithutan. 
 Withsayn, Withseie, to gainsay, 
 
 to speak in opposition to, P. 
 
 805, K. 282. A.S. wifh-saeg;,en. 
 "Wityng, knowledge, iveeting. K. 
 
 753. A.S. witan, to know. 
 "Wive, "Wyve, dat. of wife. K. 
 
 1002. 
 Wodly, fiercely, madly, K. 443. 
 
 A.S. wod, violent, mad ; cf. 
 
 wadan, to go with force; Woden, 
 
 Wednesdaij . 
 "Woful (comp. ivqfullere), full of 
 
 woe, unfortunate, K. 205, 521, 
 
 ll98, 482. 
 Wol (e) (2 pres. wolt, pi. woln, 
 
 wolle, pr. wolde, pi. ivolden), will, 
 
 P. 27, 723 ; wish, P. 803, 805, 
 
 K. 31, 766, 1263; ivolde him 
 
 schake (subj.), might (did) 
 
GLOSSAEJAL nWEX. 
 
 311 
 
 shake him, K. 615. A.S wil- 
 lan, ic, he, wille, thu wiit ; pi. 
 u'illatli ; pr. s. ivolde, pi, icoldon. 
 
 Wommanhede, womanhood, wo- 
 manly feeling, K. 890. 
 
 ■Wonder, wonderful, K. 121.3; 
 wonderfully, P. 483, K. 796. A.S. 
 wundor, icundrnm, Ger. wunder. 
 
 Wonderly, wondrously, P. 84. 
 A.S. wundorlice. 
 
 "Wone, custom, P. 335, K. 182. 
 A.S. ivtme, wunian, Ger. ivolinen, 
 to dwell. 
 
 Wone (pres. p. wonynq), to dwell, 
 P. 388, K. 2069. A.S. loiwian. 
 
 "Wonyng, a dwelling, P. 606. 
 A.S. iviniunq, Ger. ivohnmig. 
 
 Woo, wailing, lamentation, K. 
 42 ; an exclamation of sorrow, 
 P. 351. A.S. ica, Lat. vae. 
 
 Wood, Wode, mad, furious, P. 
 184, 582, K. 471. A.S. icod, 
 Scot. ivud. 
 
 Woode, a forest, K. 664. A.S. 
 ivndii. 
 
 Woodebynde, W'Oodbine, K. 650. 
 A.S. wuduhind. 
 
 Woodecraft, hunting, P. 110. 
 
 Woodnesse, madness, insane 
 rage, K. 1153. A.S. wodnes. 
 
 Wook (pr. of wake), awoke, K. 
 635. A.S. wacan, pr. icoc. 
 
 Woot, Wot. See Wife. 
 
 Worsehipe, honor, K. 1046. A.S. 
 weorthsc/'/ie. 
 
 Worsehipe, to honor, to pay re- 
 gard to the ivorth of one, K. 1393. 
 
 Worschipful, honorable, K. 577. 
 
 Worstede, a woollen cloth, P. 
 262. So named from Worstead, 
 the town where it was first 
 manufactured. 
 
 Worth, equal in worth to, P. 
 182; worth while, P. 785. A.S. 
 ireortJte. 
 
 Worthinesse, bravery, P. 50. 
 
 Worthy, Worthi, of worth, de- 
 serving of honor, noble, P. 43, 
 217 ; brave. P. 68 ; able, P. 579. 
 
 Wost. See Wite. 
 
 Wrastle, to wrestle, K. 2103. 
 A.S. uvaesdian, from ivraestan, 
 to writhe, to wrest. 
 
 Wrastlynge, wrestling, P. 548. 
 Wrecche, a wretch, K. 73 ; 
 
 wretched, K. 248. A.S. icraecc.a. 
 Wrecchede, wretched, K. 63. 
 
 A.S. wntec. 
 Wreke, to avenge, to wreak, K. 
 
 103. AS. wrecan. 
 Wrethe, a wreath, K. 1287. A.S. 
 
 trrath, what is twisted. 
 Wrighte, a mechanic, P. 614. 
 
 A.S. ivyrhta, from icijrcan, to 
 
 work ; now used only in com- 
 pounds ; e.g. ivheehcrif/ht. 
 Writ, a writing, Hofij Writ, the 
 
 scrii)tures, P. 739. A.S. writ. 
 Wroth, angry, K. 321. A.S. 
 
 trrat/i, from icrithein, to twist. 
 Wroughte,Wroght. SeeWirche. 
 Wyd (e), spacious, broad, P. 28; 
 
 large, P. 491, K. 897. A.S. wid, 
 
 Ger. weit ; cf . void. 
 Wyke, a week, K. 681 ; fyfiy 
 
 ivijkes ■= a year, K. 992. A. S. 
 
 icice, Ger. icoche. 
 Wymmen, women, P. 213. A.S. 
 
 wifmen, loefen, to Aveave ; cf. 
 
 Ger. iveib, from icehen. 
 Wymple, a covering for the neck, 
 
 chin and face, laid in folds, 
 
 worn by nuns, P. 151. Ger. 
 
 irimpel ; cf. gimp. 
 Wymple, to cover with a wim- 
 ple, P. 470. 
 Wyn, wune, P. 334. A.S. win, 
 
 Ger. wein, Lat. vinum, Gr. 
 
 olvog. 
 Windowe, a window, K. 1130, 
 
 i.e. wind-door. O.Norse, vind- 
 
 aurja, wind-eye ; the A.S. was 
 
 eaffduru, eye-door. 
 Wynne (pr. ican), to gain, win, P. 
 
 427, 442 ; to gain advantage of 
 
 one, P. 594. A.S. winnan, to 
 
 toil, get by labor. 
 Wynnynge, gains, winnings, P. 
 
 275. 
 W'yppyltre, the cornel-tree, K. 
 
 2065. 
 Wys, affable, well-mannered, P. 
 
 68; (cf. guise, manners), wise, 
 
 skilled, P. 309, 569. A.S. wis. 
 Wyse. See Wise. 
 Wyve. See Wive. 
 
312 
 
 GLOSSABIAL INDEX. 
 
 Y. 
 
 Yaf (pr. of give), gave, P. 177. 
 Yate, a gate, K. 557. A.S. gat. 
 Ybete (p-P- of beat), beaten, 
 
 forged, neioe ybete, newly forged, 
 
 K.1304. A.^.beatan. 
 Ybrent (p.p. oibrenne), burnt, K. 
 
 88. A.S. brennan; cf. bixmd, brown. 
 Ybrought, (p.p ), brought, K. 253. 
 Yburied, buried, K. 88. A.S. 
 
 byrigan ; cf. Ger. bergen, A.S. 
 
 beorgan, to liide, Eng. burrow. 
 Ycleped, Yclept (pp. clepen), 
 
 called, P. 376, 410. A.S. ge- 
 
 clipod. 
 Ycome, come, P. 77. 
 Ycorve (p.p. of kerve), cut, K. 
 
 H55. A.S. ceorfan. 
 Ydel, idle, K. 1647. A.S. idel, 
 
 vain, Ger. eitel. 
 Ydoon-of, doffed, K. 1818. 
 Ydrawe, drawn, P. 396, K. 86. 
 Ydropped, bedropped, bedewed, 
 
 K. 2026. 
 Ydryve (n) (p.p. oidryve), driven, 
 
 K. 1149. 
 Ye, the eye, K. 1149. 
 Ye, yea, K. 809. See note. 
 Yeddynges, romances, poetic 
 
 tales, P. 237. A.S. ykldian, to 
 
 sing. 
 Yeeldyng, the yield, return, P. 
 
 596. A.S. gyldan, to pay. 
 Yeer, Yer (s. & pi.), a year, 
 
 years, P. 82, 601. A.S. gear. 
 Yeldehalle, a guild-hall, the room 
 
 where a corporation or guild 
 
 usuall}^ met, P. 370. Dan. gilda, 
 
 a feast ; cf. company. 
 Yelpe, to boast, K. 1380 ; see 
 
 note. A.S. gelpan, Eng. yelp. 
 Yelwe, yellow, P. 675. ' A.S. 
 
 geolmve, Ger. gelb ; cf. gold. 
 Yeman, a yeoman, P. 101. See 
 
 note. 
 Yards, a rod, P. 149; see note ; 
 
 a yard long, K. 192. AS. gyrd. 
 Yeve (n), Yive (p.p. yei^e, yeven), 
 
 to give, P. 223, 487, K. 57. A.S. 
 
 gifan . 
 Yfovmd, found, K. 353. Ger. 
 
 gefunden. 
 
 Ygrounde, sharpened, ground, 
 
 K. 1691. 
 Yholde (p p. of hold), considered, 
 
 K. 1516 ; held, K. 2100. 
 Yif, if, K. 412. A.S. gif, Goth. 
 
 yabai, ibai. Sometimes errone- 
 ously referred to gifan, to give. 
 Yifte, a gilt, K. 1340. A.S. gift. 
 Yit, yet, in addition, besides, P. 
 
 70 ; hitlierto, K. 1056 ; yit now, 
 
 just now, K. 298. A.S. get. 
 Ylik, Yliche, alike, P. 592, K. 
 
 1876. A.S. gelic. 
 Ymages, images, P. 418. Lat. 
 
 imago [mimago), imitari {mimi- 
 
 tari), to imitate. 
 Ymaginacioun, conception, K. 
 
 236 ; see note. Lat. imaginatio. 
 Ymaginyng, conceiving, plotting, 
 
 K. 1137. 
 Ymaked, made, K. 1997. A.S. 
 
 qemacod. 
 Ymet, met, K. 1766. 
 Ymeynd (p.p. of rnenge), mingled, 
 
 K, 1312. A S. mengian, Ger. 
 
 mengen, to mix ; cf . mi)igle. 
 Ynned, lodged, entertained, K. 
 
 1334. A.S. irinian. 
 Yolden (p.p. of yeelde), yielded, 
 
 K. 2194. A.S. 'gyldan. 
 YoUe, to yell, to cry aloud, K. 
 
 1814. A.S. gyllan, giellan, to 
 
 yell ; cf. galan, to sing. 
 Yollyng, yelHng, loud crying, K. 
 
 420 ; vulgo, yowling. 
 Yond, there, yonder, K. 241. 
 
 A.S. geond, Ger. jeti-er ; cf. be- 
 
 yond. 
 Yong (e), young, P. 7, 79, 213. 
 
 A.S. geong, Ger. jung, Lat. ju- 
 
 venis. 
 Yore, a long time, ful yore agon, a 
 
 very long lime ago, K. 955. 
 
 A.S. geara, allied to gear, a 
 
 year. 
 Youre (gen. pi.), of you, P. 783. 
 
 A.S. eower. 
 Yourself (pi.), vourselves, K. 977. 
 Youthe, youtii, P. 613. For 
 
 youngth, which form is used by 
 
 Spenser. 
 You (dat. and ace), you, P. 34, 
 
 38. A.S. eow. 
 
GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 
 
 Z^Z 
 
 Ypayed, paid, K. 944. 
 
 Yralt, bereft, plundered, K. 1157 ; 
 
 see note. A.S. reajian. 
 Yre, anger, ire, K. 14i4. Lat. ira. 
 Yroiinen, run ovei', K. IbtJo. 
 
 A. 8. be-j/rnan. 
 Ysene, seen, to be seen, P. 592. 
 
 A. IS. (jesuiven. 
 Yserved, served, K. 105. 
 Yslayn, slain, K. 1850. A.S. 
 
 (jeslaei/en . 
 Yspreynd (p.p. of sprenge), 
 
 sprinkled over, scattered, K. 
 
 1311. A ^.spre)iga7i, to s\)vink\e. 
 Ystert, escaped, K. 734. 
 
 Ystorve (see Starve), dead, died, 
 K. 1156. A.S. steorj'an, Ger. 
 sterben. 
 
 Yteyd, tied, P. 457. A.S. r,e-tead. 
 
 Ytorned, Yturned, turned, K. 
 3«(), lliOl. Pr. tounier. 
 
 Ywrought (p p. of icyrche), made, 
 wrought, P. 196. 
 
 Ywympled, decked with a wim- 
 ple, P. 470. 
 
 Z. 
 
 Zephyrus, the west wind, a 
 zephyr, a gentle breeze, P. 5. 
 

 
 ;>V J 
 
Old and Middle English. 
 
 [Anglo-Saxon.] 
 
 Beowulf: An Anglo-Saxon Poem. 
 
 ( Vol. I. of the Library of Anglo-Saxon Poetry?) Contains also the 
 Fight at Finnsburh. With Text and Glossary on the basis of Heyne's 
 fourth edition, edited, corrected, and enlarged by James A. Harrison, 
 Professor of English and Modern Languages, Washington and Lee 
 University, and Robert Sharp, Professor of Greek and English, Tu- 
 lane University of Louisiana. Second Edition, revised. i2mo. Cloth, 
 x-j- 325 pages. Mailing price, 3i-25; Introduction, $1.12. 
 
 This edition is designed primarily for college classes. It has been 
 recommended by Professors Dowden and Nicoll to their classes in 
 the Universities of Dublin and Glasgow. 
 
 Private letters from Mr. Henry Sweet, Mr. Furnivall, Prof. \V. W. 
 Skeat, Prof. Toller of the Owens College, Manchester, and many 
 other scholars, heartily commend the work. 
 
 P. A. March, Prof, of Anglo-Saxon, 
 Lafayette College : The best there is 
 for class use. {Nov. 2, 1885.) 
 
 A. ^elia,rae, Maitre de Conferences 
 a la Faciilte des Le tires de Paris .-An 
 admirable book, which I shall often 
 have occasion to quote, and shall be 
 most happy to recommend, (fan. 23, 
 1886.) 
 
 Dr. S. M. Shute, P?-of. of English 
 in Columbian Univ. : The issues of the 
 Library of Anglo-Saxon Poetry are 
 just what students need, and have long 
 needed, and it is to be hoped that they 
 will soon become indispenable text- 
 books in a required course for a de- 
 gree. . . . Since I have used your very 
 successful and admirable edition of 
 Heyne's Be6wulf, the results are much 
 more satisfactory. {Jan, 19, 1886,) 
 
 Hiram Corson, Prof of English, 
 Cornell Univ. : This edition is altogeth- 
 er the one best adapted to the wants of 
 American students. I have used it in 
 my post-graduate course in Anglo- 
 Saxon, and shall continue to do so. 
 {Feb. 1886.) 
 
 The Nation, in a Review of the 
 Second Edition : The editors have prof- 
 ited conscientiously by the criticisms 
 of their several reviewers. Wherever 
 feasible, mistakes have been corrected 
 in situ, by cutting the plates. Longer 
 corrections are given in the supple- 
 mental pages, 320-323. Pages 324-5 
 give " Recent Readings and Sugges- 
 tions" advanced by German and Eng- 
 lish scholars within the last two years. 
 Thus revised, the American Be6wulf is 
 a fresh evidence of editorial zeal and 
 indefatigable industry. 
 
OLD AND MIDDLE ENGLISH. 
 
 CcBdmon's Exodus and Daniel. 
 
 ( Vol. II. of the Library of Anglo-Saxon Poetry.'^) Edited from Grein, 
 with Notes and Glossary, by Theodore W. Hunt, Professor of Rhetoric 
 and EngUsh Language in Princeton College. Second Edition, revised. 
 i2mo. Cloth. 121 pages. Mailing price, 65 cts. ; Introduction, 60 cts. 
 
 This edition is designed mainly for college classes, and includes 
 5S9 lines of the "Exodus," and 765 of the "Daniel," with Intro- 
 duction, Notes, and Glossary. There is no part of our oldest 
 poetry as good as Caedmon, which is so difficult of access in this 
 country, and of which there is more immediate need. "It is a 
 matter of honest pride," says Professor March, " to see American 
 scholars publish a neat and convenient edition of it." 
 
 notes in a sufficient number of instan- 
 ces to convince us of their soundness 
 and reliability. 
 
 The Athenasum, London: The 
 volume will be helpful, and we welcome 
 it and the promised series heartily. 
 
 The British Mail, London : It is 
 in every respect admirably adapted to 
 aid the Anglo-Saxon student. 
 
 The Independent, N'ew York: 
 An admirable addition to the series of 
 Anglo-Saxon poetry. 
 
 The Advertiser, Boston : The edi- 
 tion is concise, accurate, and conven- 
 ient, and commends itself to all practical 
 students. 
 
 The Schoolraaster, Lo?tdon : We 
 have tested the vocabulary and the 
 
 Andreas : A Le,^end of St. Andrew. ' 
 
 (^Vol. III. of the Library of Anglo-Saxon Poetry.') Edited with Critical 
 Notes by W. jNI. Baskervill, Professor of English Language and 
 Literature in Vanderbilt University, Text and Notes, viii + 78 pages. 
 Paper. 25 cents. To be issued soon in Cloth, w'ith Glossary. 
 
 Prof. Richard P. Wlilcker of Leipzig made, with his own hand, 
 a minute and painstaking collation of the Ms. with the printed 
 text. Soon after his return from Vercelli he sent the present 
 editor (one of his former pupils) this collation, and on it the Ameri- 
 can edition of the poem is based. Grimm's, Grein's, and Kemble's 
 editions have been freely used. The chief canon of criticism fol- 
 lowed has been to adhere to the reading of the Ms. wherever it was 
 possible. This has led to a wide divergence from the other editors 
 in several places, and it is hoped that in consequence thereof a better 
 text is here griven than has heretofore existed. 
 
 T. W. Hunt, of Princeton College : 
 It is very neatly issued and in text and 
 notes is highly satisfactory. 
 
 Modern Languag-e Notes {J. 
 W. Bright) : The editor's work bears 
 the stamp of great care and industry. 
 
OLD AND MIDDLE ENGLISH. 
 
 An Old English Grammar. 
 
 By Eduard SiEVERS, Ph.D., riofessor of Cermaric Philology in the 
 University of Tiibingen; translated and edited by ALBiiRTS. CooK, Pii.D. 
 (Jena), Professor of the EngHsh Language and Literature in the Uni- 
 versity of California. Mailing price, ^1.25; for introduction, $1.12. 
 
 It seems to be admitted that sound scholarship in Old English 
 is at present impossible without the use of Sievers' Grammar, and 
 the opinion is gaining ground that, without sound scholarship in 
 Old English, there is none in English of any date. Professor Cook 
 being a student of philology in the University of Jena when Sievers' 
 Grammar was passing through the press, and having not only seen 
 the Ms., but read the proof-sheets, was in a position peculiarly 
 favorable for understanding the author''s views. 
 
 In the translation, the original plan of the grammar has been left 
 intact. With the exception of one or two unimportant re-distribu- 
 tions of matter, the modifications are confined to excisions, addi- 
 tions, 'changes in terminology, and changes in accent. Important 
 supplementary matter has been furnished by articles in various 
 philological journals. With regard to accent, the third edition of 
 Sweet's Reader has been followed. 
 
 Hitherto, Old English Grammars have virtually been founded 
 upon the language of the poetical texts. This is to be deplored, 
 especially when we consider that the manuscripts in which they are 
 contained are uniformly late ; that the texts themselves were com- 
 posed at an earlier period, and frequently in another dialect ; and 
 that, in our present versions, ancient forms are jumbled with more 
 modern ones, and specimens of the most widely separated dialects 
 are occasionally united in the same composition. 
 
 In the present treatise, on the other hand, the language of the 
 older prose writings has, to a greater extent than heretofore, been 
 chosen as the basis of grammatical investigation, since it is safe to 
 assume that they represent in some measure a single dialect. 
 
 The historical method has been followed, and the author has 
 endeavored to discriminate between early and late forms. 
 
 It is hoped that his version will be found not only to present in 
 English the most approved text-book on the subject, but to present 
 it in a form better adapted for the use of students, and in some 
 respects more in accord with the views of the best authorities. 
 
OLD AND MIDDLE ENGLISH. 
 
 OPINIONS AND REVIEWS. 
 
 American Journal of Philolo- 
 gy : The well-recognized merit of 
 Sievers' unrivalled Angelsdchsische 
 Grammatik created an imperative de- 
 mand for an English version. That 
 this demand would be met was inevit- 
 able ; how it would be met was doubt- 
 ful. Delay and apprehension are now 
 happily removed by the appearance of 
 this volume. 
 
 The characteristic feature of Sievers' 
 work is its independence of preceding 
 Anglo-Saxon grammars, and its de- 
 pendence upon the most authentic 
 documents of the earliest periods of 
 the language, discriminated as to age 
 and dialect. Prof. Cook's leading 
 purpose has been to supply to our 
 insthutions of learning a serviceable 
 text-book. To this end the require- 
 ments of a perspicuous and idiomatic 
 style, and of a clear and consistent 
 terminology, have been well met. 
 
 In the distribution of the matter and 
 the variety of the type, such an im- 
 provement of the original is effected 
 as might in itself almost justify the 
 new version. 
 
 Deserving of notice, moreover, is 
 the care with which Prof. Cook has 
 corrected many erroneous cross-refer- 
 ences, his amplification of the Index, 
 and his excellent modification of the 
 system of accentuation. We need 
 hardly add that the work is worthy of 
 general acceptance. 
 
 The Independent: It may be 
 said to mark an era in the history of 
 Old or First English, somewhat as did 
 Thorpe's first edition of Rask's Gram- 
 mar (1830). Upon no scholar among 
 us could the work of presenting this 
 grammar in modern English form 
 have more appropriately fallen than 
 upon Prof. Cook. 
 
 The volume is a scholarly edition of 
 
 a scholarly original, and is not only 
 translated into English, but is made as 
 English in spirit and method as such a 
 work can be. 
 
 The Schoolmaster, London : Both 
 as a work of reference and as a text- 
 book, this volume is a valuable addi- 
 tion to the resources of the English 
 student. 
 
 Prof. Henry Johnson {Bowdoin 
 College), in the ''Andover Review" : 
 Every student of English owes a great 
 debt of thankfulness to Prof. Sievers 
 for making his Angelsdchsische Gram- 
 matik. It was published in 1882, and 
 was recognized at once as far superior 
 in fulness and accuracy of treatment 
 of the oldest English dialects to all 
 preceding grammars of the language. 
 It was founded on the prose literature. 
 Since 1882 the most important contri- 
 bution to Old English grammar is the 
 publication of emendations of his 
 grammar. Besides these materials, 
 Prof. Cook has incorporated in the 
 American edition the results of the 
 work of other scholars up to the pres- 
 ent, and has produced what is by far 
 the best Old English grammar to be 
 had. 
 
 Charles F. Richardson, Prof, of 
 Anglo-Saxon and English, Dartmouth 
 College: Anglo-Saxon students have 
 been waiting with interest for the 
 work, and it is fortunate that it has 
 been translated by a competent Am- 
 erican scholar, himself a pupil of the 
 author. 
 
 W. D. McClintock, Director of 
 the College of English, Chautauqua 
 University : I am greatly pleased with 
 Prof. Cook's translation of Sievers' Old 
 English Grammar, and shall use it in 
 our classes. 
 
OLD AND MIDDLE ENGLISIL 
 
 Chaucer's Parlament of Foules. 
 
 A revised Text, with Literary and Grammatical Introduction, Xotes, and 
 a full Glossary. By T. R. L(nJNSBURY, Professor of English in the 
 Sheffield Scientific School of Yale College. i2mo. Cloth, iii pages. 
 Mailing price, 55 cts.; Introduction, 50 cts. 
 
 The editor has collected all the facts that are known in regard 
 to this work, and discusses the chief theories that have been 
 advanced as to its production or character. 
 
 F. J. Child, Professor of English 
 Literature in Harvard University : It 
 is so good a book that I am inclined 
 to slight even better poetry for it. 
 
 S. H. Carpenter, late Prof, of 
 Eng. Lit., Univ. of Wis.: No work 
 equalling this in scholarship has yet 
 
 appeared in America, so far as I know, 
 upon any Old English author. 
 
 F. A. March, Prof of Anglo-Saxon, 
 Lafayette Coll. : It has a great deal of 
 good work in it. Surely any college 
 or good high-school class can read 
 Chaucer with ease and interest from 
 this volume. 
 
 Carpenter's Anglo-Saxon Grammar and Reader. 
 
 An Introduction to the study of the Anglo-Saxon Language, comprising 
 an Elementary Grammar and carefully graded selections for Reading, 
 followed by Explanatory Notes and a Vocabulary. By Stephen H. 
 Carpenter, late Professor of Rhetoric and English Literature in the 
 University of Wisconsin. i2mo. Cloth. 212 pages. Mailing price, 
 70 cts. ; Introduction, 60 cts. 
 
 This book is designed rather to prepare the way for more ad- 
 vanced works like those of Dr. March, than to supersede or come 
 into competition with them. At the same time it lias proved satis- 
 factory as a complete introduction to the study of Anglo-Saxon. 
 
 Carpenter's English of the XIV. Century. 
 
 Illustrated by Notes, Grammatical and Philological, on Chaucer's Pro- 
 logue and Knight's Tale. By Stephen H. Carpenter. i2mo. Cloth. 
 313 pages. Mailing price, ^i.oo; Introduction, 90 cts. 
 
 Prepared with the design of affording the means of a critical 
 study of early English, to a younger class of pupils than have hith- 
 erto been able to pursue it profitably ; and, as it is only from a 
 careful study of literature that a thorough acquaintance with a lan- 
 guage can be gained, the work is also intended to serve as an intro- 
 duction to the study of English Literature. 
 
OLD AND MIDDLE ENGLISH. 
 
 Beowulf, and The Fight at Finnsburgh . 
 
 Translated by James M. Garnett, M.A., LL.D., Professor of the 
 English Language and Literature in the University of Virginia. With 
 Facsimile of the Unique Manuscript in the British Museum, Cotton. 
 Vitellius A XV. Second edition, revised. i2mo. Cloth. 146 pages. 
 Mailing price, ^i.io; Introduction, ^i.oo. 
 
 J. Earle, Prof, of Anglo-Saxon in 
 the Univ. of Oxford, Eng. : It is a very 
 complete piece of work, bringing the 
 whole subject up to the very front line 
 of its progress, and supplying not only 
 a readable translation on a new plan, 
 but also what was much wanted, a com- 
 plete guide and index to all parts of the 
 study of the poem. {Nov. 22, 1882.) 
 
 W. W. Skeat, Prof of Anglo- 
 Saxon in Cambridge Univ., Eng. : I 
 am very glad to have it, as it contains 
 so much that is useful. 
 
 J. Schipper, Prof of English 
 Philology in the Univ. of Vienna : An 
 excellent translation. I read it over 
 with the greatest delight at one sitting. 
 
 F. J. Child, Prof of English Lit- 
 erature, Harvard University : An ex- 
 cellent version of Beowulf, a book 
 which I am glad to have for many rea- 
 sons. I think your idea as to the kind 
 of translation desirable is entirely right, 
 and you have carried it out with no 
 wrenching of the modern dialect to 
 suit the old. From your book no one 
 can fail to get a large part of the im- 
 pression which the original should 
 give ; and I think that many, with it in 
 hand, will be encouraged to try to 
 make out the old sc6p's song, who 
 would never have attempted this with- 
 out your aid. {Dec. 3, 1882.) 
 
 Francis A. March, Prof of Eng- 
 lish and Comparative Philology in 
 Lafayette Coll. : It seems to me to 
 
 show great care and labor, and to be 
 as complete and accurate as could be 
 reasonably expected from anybody. A 
 great part of it is happy, — gives the 
 thought and rhythm both. This is the 
 best translation so far in our language, 
 and will do honor to American scholar- 
 ship. 
 
 William Hand Browne, Asso- 
 ciate and Librarian in Johns Hopkins 
 Univ. : I have succeeded in collect- 
 ing in this library every edition of that 
 work, every translation, and — except 
 one or two — every dissertation on the 
 poem that is known to exist. I have, 
 therefore, from the point of information 
 at least, some ground to go on when I 
 say that in my judgment Prof. Garnett's 
 translation is greatly superior to any 
 that has appeared ; reflecting, as no 
 other does, the form and color as well 
 as the statements of the original. 
 
 J. A. Harrison, Prof in Washing- 
 ton and Lee Univ., Lexington, Va. : It 
 meets, I think, a very decided want, 
 and meets it well. The bibliography 
 alone is of the greatest value to collec- 
 tors and Beowulf students. 
 
 The Nation, N.Y. : It supersedes 
 the work of all previous editors, German 
 or English. Professor Garnett's general 
 remarks and criticisms are also admir- 
 able. We congratulate American 
 scholarship upon having at last 
 achieved in our speech of to-day a 
 thoroughly honest and intelligible re- 
 production of our earhest great poem. 
 
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