4751. a slowe, a moth; F. taigne (Lat. tinea). But I know of no other example. Hence were, in the next line, must mean to wear away, to fret; cf. note to 4712.
4755. 'And sweethearts are as good in black mourning as when adorned in shining robes.' Cotgrave, s. v. Amourette, quotes a proverb: 'Aussi bien sont amourettes Soubs bureau, que soubs brunettes; Love bides in cottages, as well as in courts.' A burnet was a cloth of a superior quality; see note to l. 226.
4764. For That read But, answering to the F. Qui ... ne.
4768. Genius is one of the characters in a later part of the F. text, l. 16497 (ed. Méon).
4790. avaunt, forward; F. 'Ge n'en sai pas plus que devant.'
4793. For ever read er, i. e. ere, before; for the rime.
4796. can, know. parcuere, by heart; F. 'par cuer.'
4831. 'For paramours only feign.' But the original has: 'Mes par Amors amer ne daignent,' i. e. 'But they do not deign to love like true lovers'; unless it is a mere exclamation, 'I swear by Love.'
4859. 'To save the progeny (or strain) of our species'; cf. Cl. Ta. E 157.
4875, 6. Not in the original. It seems to mean—'who very often seek after destroyed increase (abortion) and the play of love.' Cf. tenen, to harm. But no other instance of for-tened is known, nor yet of crece as short for increes (increase). However, the verb cresen, to increase, is used by Wyclif; see cresce in Stratmann, ed. Bradley.