516. Nought despitous =not pitiless, cruel. 517. Daungerous ne digne = domineering nor haughty. 523. Snybbe snub, reprove. For the nones. See note 1. 379. 525. Waytede after = sought or looked for. 526. Spiced over-scrupulous. 531. Swynkere = laborer. 534. Though him gamede or smerte = though it pleased or pained him. 536. Dyke and delve = to ditch and dig. 541. Tabard. See note 1. 20. — Mere = mare. People of quality would not ride upon a mare. 542. Reeve = steward, bailiff, officer. - Mellere: miller. = = 543. Sompnour summoner, in ecclesiastical courts. - Pardoner = seller of pardons or indulgences. 544. Maunciple: = an officer who purchased provisions for a college, etc. Lat. manceps, purchaser, contractor. 545. Carl = churl, hardy fellow. A.S. ceorl, country-man, churl. 547. That proved he well, for everywhere he came. Overal ther everywhere, wherever. Cf. Ger. überall, everywhere. 548. Ram. A ram was the usual prize at wrestling matches. 549. Knarre = knot. He was a thick-set, muscular fellow. 550. Nolde lift, off its hinges. = = = =newolde 551. Rennyng = running. 554. Upon the cop right = right upon the top. Cf. Eng. coping. bristles. A. S. byrst, a bristle, by a common transposi 557. Nose-thurles nostrils. A. S. thyrel, a hole. 563. Thombe of gold refers to the miller's skill in testing the quality of meal or flour by rubbing it between his thumb and forefinger. - Pardé = par Dieu, a common oath. 583. As hym list desire = as it pleases him to desire. 586. Sette here aller cappe = set all their caps to outwit, overreach. an expression meaning 590. His head was docked, or closely cut in front like a priest. 594. Auditour accountant. 597. Neet cattle. Cf. neat, cattle. 598. Stoor: 603. Herde = stock, store. = herdsman. Hyne hind, servant, farm-laborer. = 605. Adrad afraid. 606. Wonyng = dwelling. Cf. Ger. Wohnung, dwelling. 613. Mester 615. Stot = trade. French métier. = stallion. 616. Pomely gray = dappled gray. 617. Of pers. See note on l. 439. 621. Tukked = clothed in the long dress of a friar. 643. Can clepen Watte = can call Wat, or Walter. = 644. Grope try, test; literally, to feel with the hands. 646. Questio quid juris = = narrow. thin beard, or The question is, what is the law in the case. 652. Pulle a fynch was a common expression for cheating a novice. 653. Owher 656. But-if. See note 11. 351 and 582. 660. Each guilty man ought to be afraid of excommunication (cursyng). 661. Assoillyng = absolution. O. Fr. assoiller, Lat. absolvere. Significavit a writ of excommunication, which usually began, "Significavit nobis venerabilis frater," etc. in his power or jurisdiction. At his owne gise : 667. Ale-stake sign-post in front of an ale-house. It was usual to attach an ivy bush to an ale-stake. 679. By culpons on and oon = by shreds or strands one by one. 681. Trussed = packed up. 682. Him thought = it seemed to him. See note 1. 37. — The newe get the new fashion. 683. Sauf his cappe = except his cap. 685. Vernicle: = a miniature copy of the picture of Christ, which is said to have been miraculously imprinted on a handkerchief preserved in St. Peter's at Rome. 695. Oure lady veyl = = our lady's veil. See note 1. 88. 699. Latoun = a kind of brass or tinned iron. 700. Pigges bones, which he pretended were the bones of some saint. 702. Poure persoun: = poor parson. 705. Japes = tricks, impostures. 712. Affyle = file, polish. 726. That you do not ascribe (rette) it to my ill-breeding (vileinye). 728. Here cheere = their appearance. 741. Plato, a famous Greek philosopher, born about 420 B.C. 742. Cosyn = kindred or in keeping with. The language should be in keeping with the thing described. 744. Al = although. Cf. Eng. albeit. 750. Wel to drynke us leste = it pleased us well to drink. 753. Eygen stepe. See note 1. 201. = 754. Chepe Cheapside, a leading street in London, on which the wealthiest burgesses or citizens lived. = 761. Lordynges = sirs, gentlemen. Dim. of lord. 765. Herbergh = inn. 766. Don yow mirthe = I cause you to know. See note 1. 403. cause you mirth. Cf. Eng. "I do you to wit" 770. Quyte you youre meede 772. Schapen yow to talen: tales (talen). = grant you your reward. prepare yourselves, or get ready, to tell 785. To make it wys = to make it a matter of serious deliberation. 786. Avys advice, consideration. Cf. Fr. avis. = = = 819. Fet fetched. A. S. fetian, to fetch. 822. A morwe on the morrow, the 18th of April. 825. A litel more than paas = a little faster than a pace or walk. 826. The watering of St. Thomas was at the second mile-stone on the old road to Canterbury. 827. Bigan areste= did. halted. Bigan is sometimes used as an auxiliary 829. Forward = promise, covenant. A. S. foreword, covenant, agree 844. Aventure, or sort, or cas= by chance, or luck, or accident. = 845. Soth truth. Cf. Eng. in sooth. 848. Forward= = 'see note 1. 829. Composicioun agreement. 850. Seigh = saw. 854. A Goddes name = in God's name. 857. Right a merie chere a right merry countenance. |