μεσσόθεν ἰσοπαλὲς πάντη, τὸ γὰρ ὄυτε τι μεῖζον
οὔτε βεβαίοτερον πέλει.
i.e. 'equidistant from the centre in all directions; for there is nothing greater (than Him), and nothing more immoveable.'
[152]. Plato. From Plato's Timaeus, 29 B: ὡς ἄρα τοὺς λόγους ὧνπερ ἐισὶν ἐξηγηταί, τούτων ἀυτῶν καὶ συγγενεῖς ὄντας. Chaucer quotes this saying twice; see Cant. Tales, A 741-2, H 207-210.
Metre 12. [3]. Orpheus. This well-known story is well told in Vergil, Georg. iv. 454-527; and in Ovid, Met. x. 1-85.
Trace, Thrace; as in Cant. Ta. A 1972.
[4]. weeply, tearful, sorrowful: 'flebilibus.'
[5]. moevable should precede riveres; 'Silvas currere, mobiles Amnes stare coegerat.' Chaucer took these two lines separately.
[12]. hevene goddes, gods of heaven: 'superos.'
'Illic blanda sonantibus Chordis carmina temperans