21. Blue was the colour of truth. See note 36 to the Squire’s Tale.
22. Blife: quickly, eagerly; for “blive” or “belive.”
23. It will be seen afterwards that Philogenet does not relish it, and pleads for its relaxation.
24. Feat: dainty, neat, handsome; the same as “fetis,” oftener used in Chaucer; the adverb “featly” is still used, as applied to dancing, &c.
25. Solomon was beguiled by his heathenish wives to forsake the worship of the true God; Samson fell a victim to the wiles of Delilah.
26. Compare the speech of Proserpine to Pluto, in The Merchant’s Tale.
27. See note 91 to the Knight’s Tale for a parallel.
28. Flaw: yellow; Latin, “flavus,” French, “fauve.”
29. Bass: kiss; French, “baiser;” and hence the more vulgar “buss.”
30. Maximian: Cornelius Maximianus Gallus flourished in the time of the Emperor Anastasius; in one of his elegies, he professed a preference for flaming and somewhat swelling lips, which, when he tasted them, would give him full kisses.