[873]. Chaucer meekly allows that the eagle's explanation is a likely one. He was not in a comfortable position for contradiction in argument, and so took a wiser course. The eagle resents this mild admission, and says he will soon find out the truth, 'top, and tail, and every bit.' He then eases his mind by soaring 'upper,' resumes his good temper, and proposes to speak 'all of game.'
[888]. Cf. Dante, Par. xxii. 128, which Cary thus translates:
'Look downward, and contemplate, what a world
Already stretch'd under our feet there lies.'
[900]. Unethes, with difficulty; because large animals could only just be discerned. The graphic touches here are excellent.
[901]. Rivér-es, with accent on the former e (pronounced as a in bare). Cf. Ital. riviera.
[907]. Prikke, a point. 'Al the environinge of the erthe aboute ne halt nat but the resoun of a prikke at regard of the greetnesse of hevene'; tr. of Boethius, bk. ii. pr. 7. 17.
'And doun fro thennes faste he gan avyse
This litel spot of erthe, that with the see
Enbraced is';