In the Pistil of Swete Susan (Laing's Anc. Pop. Poetry of Scotland), l. 305, Daniel reproves one of the elders in these terms:—
'Thou hast i-be presedent, the people to steere,
Thou dotest now on thin olde tos, in the dismale.'
In Langtoft's Chronicle, l. 477 (in Wright's Polit. Songs, p. 303), John Baliol is attacked in some derisive verses, which conclude with:—'Rede him at ride in the dismale'; i. e. advise him to ride on an unlucky day. Cf. The Academy, Nov. 28, 1891, p. 482; &c.
The consequence of 'proposing' on an unlucky day was a refusal; see l. 1243.
1208. A priest who missed words in chanting a service was called an overskipper; see my note to P. Plowman, C. xiv. 123.
1219. Similarly, Troilus was reduced to saying—
'Mercy, mercy, swete herte!'—Troil. iii. 98.
1234. 'Unless I am dreaming,' i. e. unintentionally.
1246. Cassandra. The prophetic lamentation of Cassandra over the impending fate of Troy is given in the alliterative Geste Hystoriale (E. E. T. S.), p. 88, and in Lydgate's Siege of Troye, bk. ii. c. 12, from Guido de Colonna; cf. Vergil, Æn. ii. 246.