Part 67 (2/2)

17. Cicero (”De Republica,” lib. vi.) wrote the Dream of Scipio, in which the Younger relates the appearance of the Elder Africa.n.u.s, and the counsels and exhortations which the shade addressed to the sleeper. Macrobius wrote an elaborate ”Commentary on the Dream of Scipio,” -- a philosophical treatise much studied and relished during the Middle Ages.

18. See the Monk's Tale for this story.

19. Andromache's dream will not be found in Homer; It is related in the book of the fict.i.tious Dares Phrygius, the most popular authority during the Middle Ages for the history of the Trojan War.

20. In principio: In the beginning; the first words of Genesis and of the Gospel of John.

21. Mulier est hominis confusio: This line is taken from the same fabulous conference between the Emperor Adrian and the philosopher Secundus, whence Chaucer derived some of the arguments in praise of poverty employed in the Wife of Bath's Tale proper. See note 14 to the Wife of Bath's tale. The pa.s.sage transferred to the text is the commencement of a description of woman. ”Quid est mulier? hominis confusio,” &c.

(”What is Woman? A union with man”, &c.)

22. Col-fox: a blackish fox, so called because of its likeness to coal, according to Skinner; though more probably the prefix has a reproachful meaning, and is in some way connected with the word ”cold” as, some forty lines below, it is applied to the prejudicial counsel of women, and as frequently it is used to describe ”sighs” and other tokens of grief, and ”cares” or ”anxieties.”

23. Undern: In this case, the meaning of ”evening” or ”afternoon” can hardly be applied to the word, which must be taken to signify some early hour of the forenoon. See also note 4 to the Wife of Bath's tale and note 5 to the Clerk's Tale.

24. Ganilion: a traitor. See note 9 to the s.h.i.+pman's Tale and note 28 to the Monk's Tale.

25. Greek Sinon: The inventor of the Trojan Horse. See note 14 to the Squire's Tale

26. Boult it from the bren: Examine the matter thoroughly; a metaphor taken from the sifting of meal, to divide the fine flour from the bran.

27. Thomas Bradwardine, Archbishop of Canterbury in the thirteenth century, who wrote a book, ”De Causa Dei,” in controversy with Pelagius; and also numerous other treatises, among them some on predestination.

28. In a popular mediaveal Latin treatise by one Theobaldus, ent.i.tled ”Physiologus de Naturis XII. Animalium” (”A description of the nature of twelve animals”), sirens or mermaids are described as skilled in song, and drawing unwary mariners to destruction by the sweetness of their voices.

29. ”Nigellus Wireker,” says Urry's Glossary, ”a monk and precentor of Canterbury, wrote a Latin poem int.i.tuled 'Speculum Speculorum,' ('The mirror of mirrors') dedicated to William Longchamp, Bishop of Ely, and Lord Chancellor; wherein, under the fable of an a.s.s (which he calls 'Burnellus') that desired a longer tail, is represented the folly of such as are not content with their own condition. There is introduced a tale of a c.o.c.k, who having his leg broke by a priest's son (called Gundulfus) watched an opportunity to be revenged; which at last presented itself on this occasion: A day was appointed for Gundulfus's being admitted into holy orders at a place remote from his father's habitation; he therefore orders the servants to call him at first c.o.c.k-crowing, which the c.o.c.k overhearing did not crow at all that morning. So Gundulfus overslept himself, and was thereby disappointed of his ordination, the office being quite finished before he came to the place.” Wireker's satire was among the most celebrated and popular Latin poems of the Middle Ages. The a.s.s was probably as Tyrwhitt suggests, called ”Burnel” or ”Brunel,” from his brown colour; as, a little below, a reddish fox is called ”Russel.”

30. Flattour: flatterer; French, ”flatteur.”

31. Losengeour: deceiver, cozener; the word had a.n.a.logues in the French ”losengier,” and the Spanish ”lisongero.” It is probably connected with ”leasing,” falsehood; which has been derived from Anglo-Saxon ”hlisan,” to celebrate -- as if it meant the spreading of a false renown

32. Dan Russel: Master Russet; a name given to the fox, from his reddish colour.

33. Geoffrey de Vinsauf was the author of a well-known mediaeval treatise on composition in various poetical styles of which he gave examples. Chaucer's irony is therefore directed against some grandiose and affected lines on the death of Richard I., intended to ill.u.s.trate the pathetic style, in which Friday is addressed as ”O Veneris lachrymosa dies” (”O tearful day of Venus”).

34. ”Priamum altaria ad ipsa trementem Traxit, et in multo lapsantem sanguine nati Implicuitque comam laeva, dextraque corusc.u.m Extulit, ac lateri capulo tenus abdidit ensem.

Haec finis Priami fatorum.”

(”He dragged Priam trembling to his own altar, slipping on the blood of his child; He took his hair in his left hand, and with the right drew the flas.h.i.+ng sword, and hid it to the hilt [in his body].

Thus an end was made of Priam”) -- Virgil, Aeneid. ii. 550.

35. Jack Straw: The leader of a Kentish rising, in the reign of Richard II, in 1381, by which the Flemish merchants in London were great sufferers.

36. Beams: trumpets; Anglo-Saxon, ”bema.”

37. ”All scripture is given by inspiration of G.o.d, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of G.o.d may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” -- 2 Tim. iii.

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