15 264. habit. Dress. We retain the word with same meaning in riding-habit.
16 300. Appeach. To impeach. Old form.
17 334, 335, 336, 339. Alexandrines, possibly used by Dryden in such close succession to show Arcite's violent emotions.
17 342 Aesop's hounds. The hounds of the fable by Aesop. Their story is told in succeeding verses.
17 346, 347. These verses indicate a condition with which both Chaucer and Dryden were very familiar.
17 358. Pirithous. A legendary hero, between Theseus and whom existed strong friendship. A Centaur's discourtesy to the bride at the wedding of Pirithous was avenged by Theseus in the battle with the Centaurs.
17 364. His fellow to redeem him went to hell. Chaucer and Dryden have here confused the story of Theseus and Pirithous with account of Castor and Pollux. Theseus did not go to the lower world to rescue Pirithous; but went with him to abduct Proserpina, and they were both seized and held by Pluto, till Hercules rescued Theseus.
18 382. Finds his dear purchase. Finds his purchase to be dear, i.e., expensive.
19 414. Fire, water, air, and earth. These were regarded by the ancients as the primary elements of created matter.
20 433. a certain home. The house is a definite existence.