18301. Val. Max. iv. 5. The story is also given in the Confessio Amantis v. 6372 ff. with a slight variation in the details, and it is alluded to in Vox Clam. vi. 1323. It is to be noted that the same corruption of the original name Spurina, into ‘Phirinus,’ is found in all three.
The lines corresponding to 18301 f. are Conf. Am. v. 6359 f.,
‘Of Rome among the gestes olde
I finde hou that Valerie tolde’ &c.
18303. Ot, ‘there was,’ for ‘y ot.’
18317. dont, ‘because of which.’
18324. Celle alme, ‘the soul’: see note on 301.
18329. Dont answering to ‘ensi,’ in consecutive sense, as often.
18348. qant s’esbanoie, ‘in his glory’; lit. ‘when he diverts himself.’
18371. ‘What can I say more except that God honours thee?’