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    The Canterbury Tales

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      1125 Wher seystow (= seyest thow) do you say this

      1127 me list ful ivele pleye I have no inclination to joke

      1129 It nere to thee… no greet honour it would not be very honourable for you

      1132 til to

      1133 for to dien in the peine even if we were tortured to death

      1134 departe separate

      1136 in noon other caas in any other situation leeve dear

      1137 forthre assist

      1140 withseyn gainsay

      1141 of my counseil my confidant

      1142 been aboute be intent on

      1144 sterve dies

      1147 counseil counsellor

      1150 might power

      1152 agein in answer

      1154 outrely plainly

      1155 par amour as a lover

      1156 wistest nat did not know

      1158 affeccioun of holinesse religious devotion

      1160 min aventure what happened to me

      1162 pose put the case

      1163 Do you not know well the old saying of learned men

      1165 pan head

      1166 yeve given

      1167 positif lawe the law specific to an individual society, as distinguished from the ‘natural law’ which governs human kind as a whole

      1168 al day all the time

      1169 moot nedes must of necessity maugree his heed in spite of himself

      1171 Al be she whether she is

      1174 verraily truly

      1175 dampned condemned

      1176 us gaineth no raunsoun no ransom is of any use to us

      1178 noon nothing (lit. none)

      1179 wrothe angry

      1182 noon oother nothing else for it

      1183 if thee list if it pleases you ay always

      1185 moote must

      1186 everich each take his aventure take his chance

      1188 leiser for to seye leisure to relate (it)

      1189 to th’effect to get to the point

      1191 Perotheus Pirithous

      1193 Sin thilke day since the time

      1195 pleye amuse himself wont accustomed

      1199 that oon one

      1201 list me nat to write I do not want to write

      1203 yeer by yere for years on end

      1206 leet let

      1207 wher that him liste overal anywhere he pleased

      1208 gise manner

      1209 forward agreement endite write

      1212 o stounde for an instant

      1214 acorded agreed

      1215 lese lose

      1216 reed course of action

      1217 him spedde (= spedede) hastened

      1218 lith to wedde is a pledge (for his behaviour)

      1222 sleen kill waiteth prively secretly looks for a chance

      1225 is me shape I am destined

      1228 elles otherwise

      1229 Yfetered fettered

      1230 hadde I been I would have been

      1235 aventure chance event

      1236 dure remain

      1238 yturned thee the dis thrown the dice for you

      1240 sin since

      1242 caas chance

      1244 bareine destitute

      1246 nis (= ne is) is neither

      1249 sterve to die wanhope despair

      1250 lust source of joy

      1251–2 pleinen… On complain about in comune in general

      1253 gise fashion

      1254 devise conceive

      1256 moerdre murder

      1257 wolde… fain would gladly (be)

      1258 of his meinee by his household

      1260 witen know

      1261 fare behave

      1263 noot (= ne woot) does not know

      1264 slider slippery

      1266 seken fast after search earnestly for

      1268 nameliche especially

      1269 wende imagined

      1271 parfit heele perfect happiness

      1272 Ther whereas

      1274 I nam but deed I am as good as dead

      1275 that oother the other

      1278 Resouneth of echoes with yowling wailing

      1279 pure fettres very fetters

      1283 at thy large at liberty

      1284 And you care little about my sorrow

      1285 manhede valour

      1287 werre war

      1288 aventure chance event tretee negotiation

      1289 to as

      1290 moste nedes lese my lif must inevitably lose my life

      1294 sterve die

      1295 moot must

      1299 up sterte sprang up

      1300 hente (= hentede) seized

      1301–2 So furiously that to look at he was like the box-tree, or like dead, cold ashes

      1305 atthamaunt adamant (a mythical rock of great hardness)

      1306 parlement decision graunt decree

      1307 In what way is mankind more obligated to you

      1308 rowketh huddles, cowers

      1310 areest confinement

      1313 What (kind of) government exists in this (divine) foresight

      1315 penaunce suffering, distress

      1316 observaunce duty

      1317 letten of refrain from

      1318 Theras whereas lust pleasure

      1320 pleine lament

      1323 lete I to divinis I leave to theologians

      1326 Who has done harm to many an honest man

      1328 thurgh through the agency of

      1329 eek wood also furious

      1330 wel ny very nearly

      1331 waste ruined

      1332 sleeth slays

      1334 stinte of cease speaking about

      1335 stille quietly

      1340 mister plight

      1343 to been deed until death

      1344 upon his heed on pain of death

      1347 axe ask

      1349 That oon the one

      1350 moot must

      1353 demeth as yow liste judge as it pleases you

      1356 Ful ofte a day many times in a day swelte (= sweltede) fainted

      1358 concluden sum up

      1360 shal shall be dure last

      1362 That so that wex grew shaft shaft (of an arrow or spear)

      1364 falow sallow

      1366 mone lamentation

      1368 stent stopped

      1372 gere behaviour ferde acted

      1374 hereos lovesickness (n.) manye mania

      1375 humour malencolik melancholic humour (see n. to GP 333)

      1376 Biforen in front celle fantastik part of the brain controlling ideas and the imagination

      1377 up-so-doun upside-down

      1378 habit bodily condition

      1379 daun sir

      1380 What why endite write

      1387 slepy yerde sleep-inducing staff (n.)

      1388 wered wore

      1389 as he took keep as he (Arcite) took note

      1391 wende go

      1392 thee shapen ordained for you

      1394 how sore that me smerte however severely it pains me

      1395 fare go

      1398 I recche nat to sterve I do not care if I die

      1403 sith since

      1404 Of by

      1405 bar him lowe lived in a humble fashion

      1407 wel ny almost

      1409 cladde him clothed himself

      1411 privetee private affairs

      1413 nexte way quickest way

      1415 profreth offers

      1416 drugge and drawe labour and draw water devise direct

      1418 fil in office got employment

      1420–21 espye Of find out about

      1424 long tall big strong

      1430 degree rank

      1431 gentil noble condicioun character

      1433 were would be

      1435 worshipful honourable

      1436 his vertu excercise put his ability to good use

      1437 is spronge has spread abroad

      1439 taken him so ner placed him in a position of such intimacy

      1443 rente income

      1444 honestly suitably sleighly secretly

      1447 bar him behaved

     
    1448 hath derre holds dearer

      1452 seten sat

      1453 Forpined wasted away

      1455 destreineth torments

      1456 wood mad

      1461 passe proceed

      1462 fil happened

      1465 aventure chance

      1466 shapen destined

      1468 brak broke out of

      1471 clarree spiced and sweetened wine

      1472 nercotikes narcotics opie opium

      1473 wolde were to

      1474 sleep slept

      1476 faste by close at hand

      1477 nedes-cost of necessity moste had to

      1479 dreedful fearful stalketh steals

      1483 To Thebesward towards Thebes

      1484 werreye make war

      1485 outher either

      1487 entente plein whole purpose

      1489 neigh near care misfortune

      1493 Phebus Phoebus, the sun

      1494 orient east

      1495 greves bushes

      1499 murye beautiful

      1500 doon his observaunce to pay tribute to

      1501 point object

      1502 startlinge prancing

      1506 By aventure by chance gan to holde held

      1507 gerland garland

      1508 wodebinde woodbine, honeysuckle

      1509 ayein the sonne in the sun

      1512 I som grene gete may I may get some greenery

      1513 lusty cheerful

      1514 sterte plunged

      1519 Nothing Not at all

      1520 trowed believed lite little

      1521 go sithen many yeres for many a year

      1523 It is a good thing for a man to conduct himself with equanimity

      1524 unset stevene unarranged rendezvous

      1526 sawe speech

      1529 roundel rondeau (n.) lustily gaily

      1530 studye reverie

      1531 hir queinte geres their strange moods

      1532 croppe tree-top breres briars

      1533 boket bucket

      1535 reineth rains

      1536 gery capricious, changeable

      1538 gerful changeable array her state

      1539 Friday is seldom like the rest of the week

      1540 sike sigh

      1544 Woltow will you werreyen make war on

      1548 bulte built or before

      1551 verray ligne true line of descent stok stock

      1552 caitif enslaved

      1556 biknowe acknowledge

      1559 felle cruel

      1560 fordo destroyed

      1562 martyreth torments

      1563 outrely utterly

      1564 brenningly burningly

      1565 Ystiked thrust careful sorrowful

      1566 shapen determined erst than my sherte before my shirt (i.e. before I was born)

      1568 wherfore for which

      1570 mountaunce of a tare value of a tare (i.e. not a jot)

      1571 So that provided that to youre plesaunce to please you

      1573 up sterte sprang up

      1576 quook trembled

      1577 tale words

      1578 As he were wood as if he were mad

      1579 buskes bushes

      1580 wikke wicked

      1581 hent caught

      1583 to my counseil sworn sworn to be my supporter

      1585 bijaped tricked

      1589 namo no one else

      1591 wepne weapon

      1592 am astert have escaped by grace by good fortune

      1593 drede doubt

      1595 Chees choose asterte escape

      1596 despitous scornful

      1599 sit (= sitteth) sits

      1600 Nere it were it not

      1603 of by

      1604 diffye reject seuretee pledge

      1606 verray fool fool that you are

      1607 maugree al thy might in spite of everything you can do

      1609 wilnest to darreine hire wish to lay claim to her

      1610 trouthe word

      1611 witing knowledge wight person

      1613 harneis armour

      1615 mete food

      1618 slee slay ther where

      1622 leid his feith to borwe pledged his word

      1623 out of alle charitee lacking all brotherly love

      1624 regne power

      1626 his thankes willingly

      1630 dight prepared

      1631–2 mete to darreine The bataille fit to engage in combat

      1635 yset arranged

      1638 regne of Trace kingdom of Thrace

      1639 stondeth stand gappe gap, opening in the forest

      1641 greves thicket

      1646 me mishappe I should meet with misfortune

      1647 ferden acted hewe complexion

      1648–9 Since they both knew each other, there was no ‘Good day’ nor salutation

      1650 rehersinge repetition (of what had been said before)

      1651 heelp helped

      1654 foinen thrust wonder longe for an amazingly long time

      1655 wene think

      1656 wood furious

      1659 frothen foam at the mouth

      1660 anclee ankle

      1661 lete hem… dwelle leave them to continue

      1663–9 see n.

      1669 eft afterwards

      1671 Be it whether they are

      1673 by concerning

      1675 hert stag

      1676 daweth dawns

      1678 hunte huntsman

      1681 bane slayer

      1682 Mars god of war Diane Diana, goddess of hunting

      1683 er before

      1688 ful faste by very near

      1690 the streighte wey hath holde has taken the direct route

      1691 launde clearing

      1692 wont have accustomed to take

      1694 han a cours at hunt

      1697 Under the sonne all around (n.)

      1699 breme fiercely boles bulls

      1702 ook oak

      1703 nothing not at all

      1704 smoot struck

      1705 at a stert at a bound

      1706 Ho stop

      1707 lesing loss

      1710 what mister men what kind of men

      1715 what nedeth what need is there of mo more

      1717 caitives captives

      1718 encombred of burdened by

      1720 refuge protection

      1721 seinte holy

      1723 thow knowe it lite you don’t know it

      1725 on his heed on pain of death

      1729 japed tricked

      1735 broken broken out of

      1737 hoote passionately

      1739 axe ask juwise punishment

      1743 conclusioun decision

      1745 dampned condemned recorde confirm

      1746 There is no need to torture you with a cord

      1748 wommanhede womanliness

      1752 falle befall

      1753 gentil noble

      1754 nothing but for love only for love

      1756 bothe lasse and moore both the greater and the less (i.e. of all ranks)

      1759 theras where

      1760 aslaked grown calm

      1761 renneth soone is quick to arise

      1762 quook trembled sterte quivered

      1763 in a clause briefly

      1764 trespas offence

      1771 wepen evere in oon wept constantly

      1773 softe quietly

      1777 despitous haughty

      1778 maintene persist in

      1780 kan no divisioun recognizes no distinction

      1781 weyeth weighs after oon equally

      1784 on highte aloud

      1785 a ah

      1787 No obstacles are effective against his power

      1788 cleped called

      1789 at his owene gise as he pleases

      1790 as that him list devise as he is pleased to direct

      1792 quitly at liberty

      1794 witen know

      1795 lith lies

      1796 maugree hir eyen two in spite of themselves

      1799 but if he love unless he loves

      1800 sit (= sitteth) sits

      1801 Be they noght wel
    arrayed are they not in a fine condition

      1804 wenen for to be think they are

      1805 for aught that may bifalle whatever happens

      1806 game joke

      1807 jolitee sport

      1808 Kan… thank owes… thanks

      1809 woot knows this hoote fare these passionate goings-on

      1810 cokkow cuckoo

      1811 assayed tried out

      1812 or… or either… or

      1813 I know it from my own experience, long ago

      1816 distreine torment

      1817 laas net

      1818 trespaas offence

      1821 And if

      1822 dere harm

      1825 everydel completely

      1826 axing request faire willingly

      1827 of lordshipe for patronage

      1829 To speke of in terms of

      1836 Atones at once

      1837 al be him looth or lief whether he likes it or not

      1838 pipen in an ivy-leef ‘jump in the lake’ (lit. whistle in an ivy leaf)

      1840 However jealous or angry you are

      1841 forthy therefore

      1841 degree condition

      1843 him is shape it is ordained for him

      1844 devise contrive

      1845 for plat conclusioun with finality, definitely

      1846 Without protest

      1847 take it for the beste adopt it as the best course

      1848 wher that him leste where he pleases

      1849 daunger resistance

      1850 fer ne ner neither later nor sooner

      1851 Everich each

      1852 listes (jousting in) the lists (n.) up at alle rightes in every respect

      1853 darreine lay claim to

      1854 bihote promise

      1856 wheither whichever

      1858 spak spoke

      1859 Sleen slay contrarye opponent

      1860 to wive as a wife

      1861 grace stroke of luck

      1863 rewe have mercy

      1864 evene impartial

      1866 taken captured

      1868 avis opinion holdeth yow apaid be content

      1869 conclusioun fate

      1870 lightly cheerfully

      1874 doon so fair a grace granted such a favour

      1877 namely especially ofte sithe often

      1880 hise its

      1881 trowe believe deme think

      1882 dispence expenditure

      1884 maken up build

      1887 circuit circumference

     


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