δώρων, οἷα δίδωσι, κακῶν, ἕτερος δὲ ἐάων.
Cf. notes to Wyf of Bathes Prol. D 170, and to Leg. of Good Women, 195.
[54]. in the entree: 'in Iouis limine': ἐν Διὸς οὔδει.
[61]. realme: 'intra commune omnibus regnum locatus.'
Metre 2. [1]. hielde, pour: 'Tantas fundat opes, nec retrahat manum Pleno copia cornu.'
[8]. as fool-large, like one that is foolishly lavish: 'Multi prodigus auri.'
[11]. other gapinges: 'Alios pandit hiatus.' Some MSS. have Altos, but Chaucer evidently read Alios, as in MS. C.
[13]. to any ... ende; rather, 'within a prescribed boundary'; 'Certo fine retentent.'
Prose 3. [22]. princes. These were, in particular, Festus and Symmachus. Boethius married Rusticiana, the daughter of Symmachus. Hence the allusion to his fadres-in-lawe (socerorum) just below, in l. 26; where the right sense is parents-in-law. See Stewart's Essay, p. 24.
[23]. leef: 'delectusque in affinitatem principum ciuitatis, quod pretiosissimum propinquitatis genus est, priùs carus, quam proximus esse coepisti.' Hence the whiche thing really refers back to affinitee, which is hardly obvious in the E. version.