[29] Similarly, in Fragment A of the Romaunt, we find róte riming with swóte, 1025, 1661; and, on the other hand, thròtes riming with harlòtes, nòtes, 191, 507. By way of a glaring contrast, note the rime abood (abòòd) with wood (wóód) in Fragment B of the Romaunt, l. 3159.
[30] Theoretical forms are denoted, in philology, by a prefixed asterisk.
[31] An apparent exception occurs in A.S. cēace, Anglian cēce, M.E. chēke, mod. E. cheek; with unstable ē. Its ēa is unusual, and due to the preceding c. The Du. form kaak shews that its vowel really answers to Germanic ǣ, Goth. ē.
[32] As already noted above; p. [xxiv].
[33] Spēre, with close long e, means 'sphere.' It makes all the difference to the sense as well as to the rime.
[34] Whatever test be applied to Fragment B of the Romaunt, the result is always the same, viz. always against its genuineness. Thus it has the rime clène, gréne, 2127; and actually séén, clèèn(!), 2921; clèn-e being always dissyllabic in Chaucer.
[35] Nede once occurs as need, riming with hèèd, head, B. Duch. 1253.
[36] For clear examples of a contrary practice, cf. the rimes gréne, clène, Compl. of the Blk. Knight, 125; Flower and the Leaf, 289; Rom. Rose (B), 2127; wéne, lène, Rom. Rose, 2683.
[37] There once rimes with dere, adj., Legend, 1870. See note 39 below.
[38] Were twice rimes with dere, adj., B. Duch. 773, Clk. Ta., E 882. See note 39 below.