88. who that understode, ‘if a man understood,’ subjunctive: see notes on Prol. 13, 460.
104 ff. From Ovid, Met. xiii. 750 ff., where it is told at greater length. The circumstance, however, of Polyphemus running round Etna and roaring with rage and jealousy before he killed Acis, is added by Gower, possibly from a misunderstanding of l. 872. It is certainly an improvement.
128. it myhte noght be let &c. See note on i. 3365.
196. as he whilom &c. This suggestion is due to our author: cp. i. 2355 ff.
252. who overthrowe, Ne who that stonde. The verbs are probably singular and subjunctive: cp. iii. 665.
258. And am: cp. note on i. 1895.
261. Cp. Chaucer, Cant. Tales, G 746 ff., where the Ellesmere MS. has in the margin ‘Solacium miseriorum’ &c. The quotation does not seem to be really from Boethius.
265 f. ‘When I see another man labour where I cannot achieve success.’ For this use of ‘to’ cp. Prol. 133, &c.
283. to hindre with, ‘whereby to hinder’: cp. i. 452, 2172.
291 ff. This story, as Prof. Morley points out, is to be found among the fables of Avian, which were widely known. Gower has amplified it considerably. The fable is as follows: