Ipse repertor opis uaccas pauisse Pheraeas
Fertur, et a nostro saucius igne fuit.'
Ipse repertor opis means Phœbus, who 'first fond art of medicyne;' Pheraeas, i.e. of Pherae, refers to Pherae in Thessaly, the residence of king Admetus. Admetus gained Alcestis for his wife by the assistance of Apollo, who, according to some accounts, served Admetus out of attachment to him, or, according to other accounts, because he was condemned to serve a mortal for a year. Chaucer seems to adopt a theory that Apollo loved Admetus chiefly for his daughter's sake. The usual story about Apollo is his love for Daphne.
[674]. 'Even though I had to die by torture;' cf. Kn. Ta. A 1133.
[686]. 'Until it pleases him to desist.'
[688]. 'To mistrust every one, or to believe every one.'
[694]. The wyse, Solomon; see Eccles. iv. 10.
[699]. Niobe; 'lacrimas etiamnum marmora manant;' Ovid, Met. vi. 311.
[705]. 'That eke out (increase) their sorrows,' &c.
[707]. 'And care not to seek for themselves another cure.'