[228]. 'Straight as a line,' i. e. directly, at once.
[294]. See Manc. Ta. H 333, and note.
[299]. 'Thou understandest and knowest enough proverbs against the vice of gossiping, even if men spoke truth as often as they lie.'
[308]. 'No boaster is to be believed, in the natural course of things.'
[328, 329]. drat, dreadeth. Cf. 'Felix, quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum.' But Chaucer took it from Le Rom. de la Rose, 8041-2: 'Moult a benéurée vie Cil qui par autrui se chastie.'
[340]. 'And a day is appointed for making up the charters' (which will particularise what she has granted you); metaphorical.
[349]. richesse, abundance; not a happy word, but suggested by the Ital. text: 'I sospir ch'egli aveva a gran dovizia;' Fil. iii. 11. Dovizia (Lat. diuitiae) is precisely 'richesse.' Bell has rehetyng, i. e. comforting (from O. F. rehaiter, reheiter), which gives no sense; and explains it by 'reheating!'
[354]. lusty, lusty person; cf. Cant. Ta. A 165, 208.
[377]. 'Or durst (do so), or should know (how).'
[380]. stokked, fastened in the stocks; cf. Acts xvi. 24.