[539]. 'Because men cover them up,' &c.
[586]. were never, never would be; were is in the subjunctive mood.
[611]. Thascry, for The ascry, the alarm. Ascry occurs in Wyclif, Prov. vii. 6.
[615]. latis, lattice. The reading yates, gates, is wrong, as shewn by l. 617.
[618]. Dardanus, ancestor of Priam. Cf. Dardanidae, i. e. Trojans, Verg. Aen. i. 560, ii. 72, &c. Troy had six gates, according to Guido; the strongest of these was Dardanus; see the allit. Destruction of Troy, ed. Panton and Donaldson, l. 1557, Lydgate, Siege of Troy, b. ii. c. 11, and Shakespeare's Prologue to his Troilus.
ther open is the cheyne, where the chain is open, or unfastened. Alluding to the chains sometimes drawn across a street, to block it against horsemen. The sense is, 'he will come down this street, because the others are blocked.'
[621]. happy, fortunate. It was a lucky day for him.
[627]. a pas, at a foot-pace; see Prol. A 825, and l. 620 above.
[637]. an heven, a beautiful sight; cf. Sq. Ta. F 558.
[639]. tissew, lace, twisted band; from F. tistre, to weave.