Chaucer's Works, Volume 2 — Boethius and Troilus

by Geoffrey Chaucer

[26]. Ixion, who was fastened to an ever-revolving wheel; see Georg. iv. 484; iii. 38; Ovid, Met. iv. 460.

overthrowinge, turning over: 'Non Ixionium caput Velox praecipitat rota.'

[27]. Tantalus, tormented by perpetual thirst; Ovid, Met. x. 41; iv. 457.

[29]. Tityus: 'Vultur dum satur est modis Non traxit Tityi iecur.' Cf. Verg. Aen. vi. 595-600; Ovid, Met. iv. 456. And see Troilus, i. 786-8.

[34]. But we wol: 'Sed lex dona coërceat.'

[37]. But what; quoted in Kn. Tale, A 1164.

[42]. and was deed: 'occidit.' The common story does not involve the immediate death of Orpheus.

[49]. loketh, beholds: 'uidet inferos.' The story of Orpheus is excellently told in King Alfred's translation of Boethius, cap. xxxv. §6.

BOOK IV.

Prose 1. [5]. forbrak, broke off, interrupted: 'abrupi.'