733. ‘For I shall not declare this in my defence, that’ &c.; a somewhat different use of the word from that which we find in the quotations given by the New Engl. Dict., ‘Excuse v.’ i. 1. d.
761 ff. The story of Mundus and Paulina is historical, related by Josephus, Ant. xviii. 66 ff., and after him by Hegesippus, ii. 4, from whom it was taken by Vincent of Beauvais, Spec. Hist. vii. 4, and also doubtless, directly or indirectly, by Gower. It is told in verse by Godfrey of Viterbo, Pantheon, xv, but it is certain that this was not Gower’s source.
771. Which: for this use of the relative in a consecutive clause, which is very common in our author’s style, see note on 492, and cp. 801.
773. thilke bore frele kinde. Human nature is described as frail from birth, and by its weakness causing blindness of the heart.
776 f. ‘And such were the fortunes of this tale of which I would speak,’ i.e. this was the passion which determined its course.
816. his thonk pourchace, ‘win their gratitude towards himself.’
833. ‘In which a false heart was concealed,’ an instance of inverted order, for which cp. ii. 565,
‘Whiche as he wot is puyson inne.’
872. hire, cp. 367.
894. which stod thanne upon believe, ‘which then was thought to be possible.’