740. Donegild is dissyllabic here, as in l. 695, but in l. 805 it appears to have three syllables. Chaucer constantly alters proper names so as to suit his metre.
743. sadly, steadily, with the idea of long continuance.
747. lettre; here the singular form is used, but it is a matter of indifference. Exactly the same variation occurs in Barbour's Bruce, ii. 80:—
'And, among othir, lettres ar gayn
To the byschop off Androwis towne,
That tauld how slayn wes that baroun.
The lettir tauld hym all the deid,' &c.
This circumstance, of exchanging the messenger's letters for forged ones, is found in Matthew Paris's account of the Life of Offa the first; ed. Wats, pp. 965-968.
748. direct, directed, addressed; French text 'maundez.'
751. Pronounce horrible as in French.