[39] Dere usually has close e (A.S. dēore); but it also rimes with there, were; see notes 37, 38 above, and cf. A.S. dȳre.
[40] Or we may read Mercuri', mury', mari'd, tari'd, beri'd, to-scater'd, contráry', and so on.
[41] MSS. E. Hn. Ln. have Dauit, but it is a childish alteration; of course David is meant. Hl. Cp. Pt. have Dauid.
[42] Better written ones only three lines below; nothing is gained by making words rime to the eye.
[43] The frequent use of o for short u (cf. A.S. duru) by Anglo-French scribes is a source of some trouble to the student.
[44] See vol. i. p. 93, French text, ll. 1-4; p. 94, ll. 19, 33; p. 95, l. 44; &c.
[45] I only cite the pages; all in vol. ii.
[46] All of the alleged exceptions are easily explained by remembering that Gower habitually used Kentish forms. Thus the Kentish for minde is mende; it therefore rimes with ende, wende. The Kentish for pit is pet (still in use), which rimes with let, set. The Kentish for hilles is helles, which rimes with elles. Hid is Kent. hed, riming with fled. Sin is Kent. senne, riming with kenne. Lesseth (Gow. iii. 12) should be lisseth, gives relief; cf. iii. 82, l. 19. It does not appear that Gower is wrong in a single instance.
[47] Correctly printed hedde in Chalmers' British Poets, ii. 67. Pauli's edition is a sad snare.
[48] When writing in French, Gower rimes loisir with obeir; in Balade XXXIV (quoted by Warton).