[1771]. Dares, i. e. Guido, who professes to follow Dares; see note to Book Duch. 1070.
[1778]. I. e. Chaucer was beginning to think of his Legend of Good Women.
[1786]. Here begins the Envoy (interrupted by ll. 1800-1827). Compare the last three lines of the Filostrato (ix. 8):—
'Or va'; ch' io prego Apollo che ti presti
Tanto di grazia ch' ascoltata sii,
E con lieta risposa a me t'invii.'
[1787]. 'Whereas may God send power to him that wrote thee to take part in composing some "comedy," before he die.'
[1789]. 'Do not envy any (other) poetry, but be humble.'
[1791]. Imitated from the concluding lines of the Thebaid, xii. 816:—
'nec tu diuinam Æneida tenta,